Redemptoristine Round Up Continues

Contemplative nuns from five different countries gather at our monastery for renewal, formation, and lots of fun just in being together.

Sister Katherine Hanley, CSJ offers her wisdom concerning the Samaritan woman at the well and her encounter with Jesus. Sr. Kitty invited us to go into the depths of the living water Jesus offers.

We enjoyed a great post-Easter party in which it wasn't so easy to pass around even plastic eggs. The prizes inside made it worthwhile and so did the laughter.

Sisters diligently take notes during a presentation by Brother Donald Bisson, FMS. His topic for the day was, "Community Life as Spiritual Practice."

Today was a pilgrimage day for a trip to Stockbridge, Massachusetts. We visited the Norman Rockwell Museum in the morning. Later all twelve of us enjoyed lunch in a small sandwich shop that withstood our invasion with good humor.


Then we were off to the Shrine of the Divine Mercy were a dear Brother gave some sisters a tour of the grounds in his motorized cart.

This is a statue of Pope John Paul II on the grounds of the Shrine. Many of the huge tents erected for Divine Mercy Sunday remain up and provided welcome shade on this gloriously sunny and warm day. They tell us the temperature hit 95 degrees at home!

Before the drive back home we delighted in the opportunity to participate in the Divine Mercy Novena said daily at 3pm in accord with the inspiration given to St. Maria Faustina. These prayers were followed by Benediction and special blessing with and veneration of a relic of the saint.

Region Formation Meeting at Esopus

Redemptoristine
'Roundup'

Redemptoristine contemplative nuns from around the world are meeting at our monastery this week. We are thrilled to have sisters with us whose native lands include Thailand, the Philippines, Ireland, Slovakia and the good ole U.S.A. The topic is formation. In the language of religious communities formation means in-service education for those just entering the Order or in-service education at another level for those who have more experience but are eager for information and spiritual renewal.

We've had the benefit of great speakers (more to come on that score), enjoyed terrific meals and conversation, shared recreation (if pass the Easter egg is recreation) and, of course, prayed the Liturgy of the Hours together and been united around the table of the Lord at Holy Eucharist. All has been a tremendous blessing.

AND the weather has been the most beautiful with all the signs of spring and new life filling our eyes wherever we look.

More to come.

Redemptorist Brothers of the North American Region

Redemptorist Brothers of the North American Region - Canandaigua, NY

Last week I had the great good pleasure of attending a meeting of twenty seven Redemptorist Brothers of North America. They came from all parts of the U.S. (Biloxi, Grand Rapids, Denver, Washington, DC, South Carolina, Chicago, Wisconsin), Canada, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, St. Lucia, and Domenica. The topic under discussion was the current state of religious life and the expectations of those entering religious life today. Since I am a newly minted Vocation/Formation Director (aka recruiter and novice mistress) it was thought that I would benefit from what the speakers had to offer. And the Brothers, of course, were most welcoming.

Since these meetings are not only about input but sometimes even more importantly about sharing and mutual support for ministry, I did not spent my free time with them. However, our shared discussions and conversations at table provided wonderful and blessed incite into their dedication to the Redemptorist charism for serving the poor and the most abandoned and their faithfulness to the particular vocation of brothers in our Church.

Unlike the days of old, their ministries vary greatly and include hospitality, maintenance, finance, a variety of parish ministries, retreat house ministry, executive assistance in health care for elderly priests, ministry to youth, cooking, music, mentoring those in formation, missions, preaching, etc., etc. In other words, the scope of their work is impressive and so was their commitment to service. To use and old term, they were edifying.

As for content: I came away with two outstanding lessons. The first is that the greatest crisis in religious life today is not aging, or dwindling numbers. Rather the greatest crisis may be the growing tendency to being insufficiently rooted in contemplation; contemplation of God; contemplation of creation; contemplation of the present moment. Contemplation is the place from which all relationships, commitments and ministries grow. In addition, a life rooted in contemplative prayer can prevent unhealthy coping mechanisms from taking over our lives. While this certainly was support for my own vocation, the speaker directed his remarks to the Brothers and also to any one who desires to walk the spiritual path. Certainly this is a challenge in our age and our culture. It is even a challenge here in the monastery.

The second lesson is that those who are coming into religious life today, those so totally immersed in the nature of our times, are drawn by their desire for community and mission. Congregations and orders who hope to attract and keep new members must examine themselves for the vibrancy and health of their community life and their expressions of dedication to the stated mission of their group. Young men and woman are looking for the real, real expressions of the ideals of community and mission. We must ask ourselves, "Are we living these values in a way that demonstrates obvious attributes?" This is the stuff of personal and communal examinations of conscience.

I am very grateful to the Redemptorist Brothers for allowing my participation, for being so welcoming and for being the instruments of grace and encouragement in my life.