Holy Angels Echoes The Olivetan Benedictine Sisters Winter 2020 Vol. 37 No. 1 www.olivben.org

St Bernards Expands Christ-Like Healing

good work, you must pray to [God] most earnestly to bring it to perfection” (RB Prol. 4)—Fr Jerome Kodell, OSB, Emeritus of Subiaco , presided at the blessing of the new chapel and its new altar. Located between the Emergency Department and the Surgical/ICU tower, the chapel is easily accessible to anyone seeking the comfort of Christ’s presence. Mother Johanna Marie cuts the 1900 ribbon at the tower dedication on At the official ribbon-cutting, Mother December 10th. Johanna Marie, members of St “First of all, every Bernards leadership, and Mayor Harrold Perrin spoke about the time you begin a good On December 10, the Sisters and the history of St Bernards and the staff of St Bernards Healthcare benefits the tower will bring to work, you must celebrated the opening of the Medical Northeast Arkansas. Fr Jerome Center’s new surgical and intensive walked through the entire tower to pray to God care tower in downtown Jonesboro. bless all the new facilities, after The eye-catching tower of glass and leading prayers for the employees most earnestly to steel is a striking contrast to the six- and patients who will use them. bring it to perfection." room, wooden frame home that served as our first hospital building in Saint Benedict 1900. Yet, through all the changes 2020 that have taken place in the last 120 years, the mission of St Bernards has remained the same: “to provide Christ-like healing to the community through education, treatment and health services.”

Before the festivities began, the Sisters gathered in the tower’s new chapel. Following St Benedict’s advice—“every time you begin a

Fr. Jerome Kodell, OSB Message from Activities & Meetings

the Prioress November 10 - Srs Dominica, Romana, Christopher, and Maria Rose attended the 125th anniversary of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Blytheville.

November 15 - During the annual St Bernards Board Retreat, the Sisters attended presentations on Catholic identity in healthcare by our Sr Maria Christi and Nate A group of Sisters listen to a Hibner of the Catholic Health Mother Johanna Marie Melnyk, OSB presentation at St Bernards Association. Board Retreat. For Christmas, I gave each of the Sisters a copy of Bible Basics for Catholics by December 4 - Mother Johanna Dr. John Bergsma, a professor at Marie and Sr Cecilia attended the Franciscan University of Steubenville. unveiling new history wall at the They were very pleased with their gift Five Rivers Medical Center in but, in retrospect, I realize that it might Pocahontas. seem rather an odd choice. After all, we study Scripture during our initial December 6 - Several Sisters formation as Sisters, we read and pray it every day at holy Mass and Divine attended the Doctors' Christmas Office, and we pray with it personally Party. during lectio divina—surely we know the basics by now? Well, one response would December 8 - Srs Thérèse and be that the Bible is such an historically Sr Cecilia stands next to the Therese Marie attended the complex and theologically dense History Wall at the Saint Nativity Celebration and dinner collection of literature, that we must keep Bernards Five Rivers Medical St Anthony's Church in Weiner. studying to go deeper into it—and that is Center. absolutely true. January 28 - Srs Mary Clare and Glorea attended the ordination of Another response, however, would be Sympathy Bishop Francis Malone in that it’s not merely a difficult text, but Shreveport, Louisiana. one that is “alive and active” (Hebrews 4:12)! That means, as theologian Hans & Prayers Urs von Balthasar wrote, “The Word of God may well require of me today something it had not demanded The Sisters extend sincere Holy Angels Echoes yesterday.” Continuing study can help us sympathy and prayers to those Quarterly Publication of the gain a fresh perspective on verses and who lost a loved one recently: Olivetan Benedictine Sisters stories that we have heard hundreds of Sr Elaine Willett and family, on Editor ~ Sr. Glorea Knaggs times, and enable us to hear God speaking Proofreader ~ Sr. Virginia Baltz anew. But study alone won’t achieve it: the death of her sister, Rose Marie Circulation ~ Sr. Thérèse Johnson & von Balthasar warns us that, “in order to O'Neill, who died December 26, Sr. Virginia Baltz perceive this demand, I must in the depths and on the death of her sister-in- St. Bernards Print Shop law, Lois Willett, who died Fonts by KG Fonts of my being, be open and attentive to the Benedictine Medal Cover Image - Courtesy Word.” January 7. of Wikimedia Commons: CC BY-SA 3.0

The Sisters posed for the camera on Easter Sunday. Christmas at the Convent

The Convent was festivly decorated with a Crèche around every corner!

(L-R): Sr Ann Marie, Mother Johanna Marie and Sr Miriam assist Chaplain Fr Mike in blessing the Nativity on Christmas eve.

Also during the employee Christmas party, Sr Dominica and members of our infirmary staff (L- (L-R): Bonita Jones, our cook, celebrated at the employee R): Bianca Alberto, Vivian Overturf and Norma Christmas party with Sr Marya and Sr Glorea. Flores enjoyed the refectory Christmas tree .

Vocations Activities During the past few months, Sr Mary Clare, Vocations Directress, participated in the following events:

November 3 – Vocations talk at St Jude’s in Jacksonville.

November 5 & 7 – Vocations talks at CTK School in Little Rock.

November 16 – Women’s retreat for the University of Arkansas.

December 30-January 3 - Sr Mary Clare and Sr Catherine attended the FOCUS SLS 2020 Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

January 18-19 - Weekend for Life with the Youth of the Diocese of Little Rock. (L-R): Sr Catherine and Sr Mary Clare Please pray for all those discerning a call to our community! enjoyed serving at the FOCUS Summit in Phoenix, Arizona. Olivetan Benedictine Sisters, Inc. NON-PROFIT Benedictine Oblates of Holy Holy Angels Convent Newsletter ORGANIZATION PO Drawer 1209 ~ Jonesboro, AR ~ 72403-1209 US POSTAGE Angels Convent RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED PAID PERMIT NO. 102 Oblates of St. Benedict associate JONESBORO, AR themselves with a Benedictine community in order to strengthen their Baptismal commitment and enrich their Christian way of life. Anyone interested in joining the Oblate program of Holy Angels Convent, please contact Sr. Mary John Seyler, OSB [email protected]

First Mass in the New St Bernards Chapel Shortly after the grand opening, the Sisters attended the first Mass at the new St Bernards Chapel. Fr Jerome Kodell, OSB celebrated the Mass with Fr Mike Sinkler, Chaplain, as concelebrant, and he blessed the new tabernacle before the Blessed Sacrament was reserved there. Fr Jerome Kodell, OSB came from to be our celebrant.

The Sisters gathered in thanksgivng at the Sr Maria Christi, VP of Mission first Mass in the new St Bernards Chapel. Services and Director of Pastoral Care, reads at Mass. Are you or is someone you know considering a vocation to Religious Life? Contact Sr Mary Clare Bezner, Vocation Directress, at [email protected] or 870-273-6872.