Oblate Day 2020: Introduction
by Sister Susan Hutchens, Prioress
Welcome to this gathering of Oblates of the Sisters of St. Benedict, St. Mary Monastery. In thinking last October of all that might happen in the months until we held this Oblate day gathering, who of us would have predicted we would be in the middle of a 100-year global pandemic?
At the monastery, you have seen some of our “activities” via our e-newsletter, and Connecting Point, and on our website. First and foremost, and much to our sadness, we have stayed home and inside. But – we are grateful that we are all healthy, and we thank our employees for their conscientious efforts in helping us stay that way. We have been strict about keeping safe protocols: washing hands often, using gallons of hand sanitizer, wearing masks in the dining room and around our faithful lay employees.
We do venture out for lovely walks and fresh air; some sisters have worked in their gardens; and we make trips to our local library service for curbside pickup. We prepare sack lunches for the hungry, via the St. Joseph Evening Meals Program at Rock Island Township Hall. We also continue to fill back-packs for the homeless – a program sponsored by the Moline Police Department. We pray for all of the deceased of the area and we pray for you and others as we receive prayer requests.
With Sr. Bobbi’s continued creativity, Benet House Retreat Center is still active, although all programs have been changed to being virtual. But that hasn’t stopped seekers of faith from registering, even from as far away as Nova Scotia and Canada, the east coast and the west coast.
Sr. Stefanie teaches each day at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy in East Moline and resides at Benet House for safety reasons. She still manages to do ordering and curb-side pickup for all of us at places like Walmart and Target.
During the summer we enjoyed “Monastery Matinees” - movie fests of old musicals, and award-winning movies. We sometimes play games together at community night, while keeping social distancing. And twice we have enjoyed Sister Marianne’s historical presentations of the early days of our community.
We have come to appreciate our liturgies together in new and deeper ways. Having Eucharist only once a week, and not at all from Easter until early July, except for our two funerals, has made us recognize the depth of our relationship with Christ – not only in the Eucharist, but in one another. Learning new hymns and having a new liturgy director has allowed us to give thanks with new appreciation for the beauty of music in our lives. We have all learned what a Euphonium is (our director plays one) and realized we are still able to make beautiful music even with fewer voices. We look forward to the time when you might be able to join us again for liturgy.
By sitting only two at a table, we have learned new things about each other. We hope you have also learned some new things about yourselves, your lives, your loves, and desires during these stationary and very unusual days. Especially we hope you’ve learned how important your Benedictine connection is – it is one we remember daily at our Evening Prayer when we pray for you, our Oblates.
May this day fill you with ever new zeal – the kind of which Benedict speaks that leads to God and everlasting life.
Blessings on your day!