VOLUME 53, NUMBER 3 / 3190 BENET LANE, COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO 80921-1509 / Summer 2016 www.benethillmonastery.org “We“We areare thethe aromaaroma ofof ChristChrist toto God.”God.” -2-2 CorinthiansCorinthians 2:152:15 Message from Prioress By Sister Clare Carr, OSB, Prioress Dear Friends and Families, “Through us (Christ) spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing Him. For we are the aroma of Christ.” (2 Cor. 14b -15a) Throughout our lives, we spread the sweet presence of Christ, by how we love each other. This summer we had the privilege of journeying with a variety of groups who have been the fragrance of Christ in our lives. They have loved us and shown us His love. We are so blessed with all of you who have made this summer possible for us. Again and again we have been embraced, reconnected and reconciled with many families and individuals with whom we have ministered throughout the state of Colorado as we celebrated the end of our 50th Jubilee. We enjoyed the reunion of our alumnae from Benet Hill Academy and remembered with them their journey of fifty years since their graduation. (page 6) We are so grateful to the staff atSisters’ Thrift & Boutique who celebrate their 4th anniversary this summer. This endeavor was made possible by the hard work of Sandy Bauers, store manager, and her staff and volunteers. (page 8) At the monastery we look forward to the remainder of the year filled with sacred art, music, films and educational/spiritual experiences. We welcome you to join us for an enriching class, a beautiful concert or a thought-provoking film. (pages 9-11) The aroma of Christ among us is evident as you peruse the pages of this Review. I hope you will find some time to visit us. Remember, the fourth Sunday of every month, we gather after our Sunday Mass to enjoy Sister Lucile’s legendary cinnamon rolls and coffee. Blessings, In deepest sympathy we remember our dear sisters and their families who have lost loved ones. Sister Naomi Rosenberger, OSB for the loss of her sister, Patricia Vaughn and her cousin, Linda Abbott Hanlan. Cover Photo: The flowers were the very first image taken on a new digital camera Aimee Farrell (Oblate) received as a gift from her husband, Jim, many years ago. A Vowed Life: Sister Katherine Wawersich Celebrates her 75th Jubilee The scripture quote from Mark describes how Sister Katherine “All at once they looked around and saw no Wawersich keeps her eyes fixed on her relationship with God one with them anymore, except Jesus alone.” and her service of love. Sister -Mark 9:8 Katherine is ninety-five years young and has lived her vowed Benedictine life gracefully for In 1948 Sister Katherine was a founding member of Saint seventy-five years. Her quiet Paul’s Monastery in St. Paul, Minnesota. For many years she humble way is to welcome, accept was Director of Music and Liturgy in the monastery and and embrace all those she meets. simultaneously was choral director and chair of the music department at the community high school. She earned Another gift of Katherine’s is her deep appreciation for all of God’s baccalaureate degrees in music and history, and a master’s creation expressed through the poet Gerald Manley Hopkins, degree in music and liturgy. “The world is charged with the grandeur of God.” In 1981 Katherine and four other sisters founded a new From the beginning of her life she was steeped in the Benedictine community, Spirit of Life Monastery, and settled in the tradition from early education and her parish community, staffed Denver area. There she ministered as a staff chaplain at Mercy by Benedictine sisters and monks. Hospital and later as Pastoral Associate at Saint Jude’s Parish in Lakewood, Colorado. Born to Reinhold and Catherine (Baumgartner) Wawersich, Katherine grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her younger In September 2003, Sister Katherine formally transferred her brother Reinhold (Tony). Their mother died when Katherine vows to Benet Hill Monastery. She continues to share her love was five and Tony was two years old. Katherine was called in a of Benedictine life, music and liturgy. She is grateful to still profound way during second grade with the gift of inner knowing offer hospitality to friends, family and guests. Participation that she would be a sister! in community life, prayer and common table keep her life balanced. She is an avid reader and enjoys conversations on Sister Katherine made her first profession in 1941 at Saint many topics including the latest world and church issues, Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph, Minnesota. Within a few years theology or current literature. It is easy to see the joy, gratitude after profession, Saint Benedict’s Monastery had grown so large it and compassion in Sister Katherine’s life as she lives the became necessary to make several new foundations. Benedictine tradition. 2 50th Jubilee Concert Sisters Enjoy a Jubilee Feast By Thomas Wilson, Music Director By Sister Rose Ann Barmann, OSB Saturday evening, June 18th after a special “Vespers of Remembrance” marking the closing of our Jubilee Year, the sisters enjoyed an elegant meal planned and prepared by Richey Osborne (Kitchen Supervisor) and her gracious hostesses. Our dining room glowed with candlelight, fresh flowers and white tablecloths. Pictures of each sister served as a place card at the tables and as each one found her photo, they exclaimed, “Oh, my how lovely, beautiful and wonderful.” During dessert, the sisters watched a DVD of our founding day, June 14, 1965. Sisters laughed and cheered the names of those from our community who have gone to heaven before us. Words and reflection on ‘Human and Divine’ concert in honor of the Sisters’ Jubilee Celebration from Sister Clare thanked the community for their gracious presence Music Director, Thomas Wilson: during this year of celebrations. She gave accolades to Sister Naomi Rosenberger, Jubilee Chair, to Sisters Mary Jane Vigil and Anne The Chamber Orchestra of the Springs was honored to be part of Benet Stedman for the prayerful liturgies, to Sisters Mary John Thomas Hill’s 50th Anniversary and to present a new concert format that aligns and Rose Ann Barmann for coordination of the Jubilee Events in the with Benet Hill’s mission of reflection, meditation and quiet prayer. Music is outlying areas of Colorado. This was a moment of joy and gratitude essential in our lives; deep listening exponentially intensifies the experience. for all of us! The formalities of the concert hall--when to applaud, how to respond to the concertmaster and conductor’s entrance, how to dress, what others think of your behavior and attire--can inhibit the listening experience. By sharing a concert with no formalities or applause, we collectively shared a deeper, more meaningful event. For musicians and audience alike, this was a singular event and a path to an unparalleled musical and spiritual experience. “Gratitude is the music of the heart, when its chords are swept by the breeze of kindness.” -Author Unknown L to R: Sisters Anne Stedman, Joseph Marie Jacobsen and Mary Glenn enjoy this special occasion. Closing Liturgy for our Jubilee Year By Sister Anne Stedman, OSB “Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision of tomorrow; gratitude is the memory of the heart.” -Melody Beattie During each celebration the primary gift was to remember, reconnect and give thanks for the people we had served and journeyed with over the past fifty years. These experiences were heart-rending and heart- expanding. The sisters bless the Denver community at the January 17, 2016 Jubilee Celebration. A prayer-filled collage of Scripture, music and blessing gathered these many experiences into our final Eucharistic Liturgy. Scripture The two prayers of intercession (quote above) were central passages, filled with thanksgiving, prompted our response to Jesus’ to the closing Eucharist of our 50th Jubilee on June 19, question: “Who do you say I am?” Joining with Peter in his response 2016. We began the year with the glory of the shofar’s call, we, too, embraced Jesus’ command to, “Build my church.” The music, the proclamation of Jubilee, and the trumpet joining the proclaiming praise, gratitude and commitment, reminded us that we assembly singing Praise We Now the Lord Our God (our are the body of Christ. We are called to be His presence- embracing community’s Te Deum). servant ministry by acing justly, loving tenderly and walking humbly with God. The blessing, which had culminated each of our celebrations, Throughout this year of Jubilee, we traveled on pilgrimage focused on our Sunday assembly. Our community surrounded the to the San Luis Valley, Walsenburg, Pueblo, and Denver assembly with lighted candles and gestures singing: Parishes of Christ the King, St. Cajetan’s and Our Lady of Fatima. We also held a celebration of 50 Years of Blessings “May the Light of Christ surround you, here at the Monastery with six hundred people last July 18, the love of Christ enfold you, the power of Christ protect you, 2016. the presence of Christ watch over you, forever and ever. Amen” 3 Community Days Community Retreat By Sister Jan Ginzkey, OSB By Sister Clare Carr, OSB The Sisters of Benet Hill Monastery have been engaged in a This June we had the joy of having our community retreat with Fr. Jerome yearlong self-study that began in November 2015. The first part Kodell, OSB from Subiaco Abbey in Subiaco, AR. Fr. Jerome took us on a of the study is to review our goals and progress since 2011 in journey though parts of Genesis and Exodus in the Old Testament.