July 28

We're getting ready for Community Days–preparing for Committee meetings etc. The opening event is a Dinner Out Thursday night. Benefactors have invited the Community to be their guests at their restaurant. Then comes Community Retreat, Aug. 1-6. Topic is Thomas Merton: On Prayer and Community. That will be good. We will pray for you. Pray for us, too.

July 27

Sr. Miriam had a 10 year old visitor. Lizandra helped in the garden, had lunch with us and then played Guess-tures (charades) with Sr. Miriam, Sr. Mary David, and another young guest, LT. It was a fun day for all.

Sr. Mary David finally made another batch of FROG jelly. (3 cups of crushed Figs, Raspberry Jell-O, splash of Orange and pinch of Ginger) The jelly was a hit; it is already 2/3 gone and not even 24 hours old.
 

July 22 
  
The priest shortage has affected us.  Since the Abbey's promise in 1911 to "provide a priest for us as long as they had a priest," we've been blessed with daily Eucharist.  July 11 was the last day we had a monk presider. God has been good--  priests in the area have come to say Mass for us most days.

Several guests have enjoyed Noon Prayer and lunch with the Sisters this week, among them were those visiting for spiritual direction and  2 of our volunteers.


July 14


Karen Bray, affiliate, was here to give two hours of volunteer service on her  day off. She also got some rest/relaxation after cleaning and shared in Vespers/Eucharist and supper
 with us.

July 14

Sr. Mary David gave a vocation talk to 65 teen Peer Ministers on retreat for the week at the Abbey.  Br. Jacob had invited her to co-host the session with him.  She told them of the Benedictine values and how we live them today.  They  also learned  that "the nuns came first to St. Leo" and how "nunks do it different from monks ie. "Sisters express the charism differently than male monastics"  Ryann went along, so the teens were also told about being a volunteer and affiliate. 

July 11

Since Sunday celebration preempted the Feast of St. Benedict we celebrated with a sung 2nd Vespers.

July 10

Oblate, Beatriz and her sister, Claudia, came to pick figs. They picked a dishpan full in less than an hour. They were excited for they had figs when growing up in Columbia.

July 9

After a week the crows discovered the figs! A cloud of them settled on the trees, eating the fruit on the top branches. There is plenty for all.
 

July 7

Spray Day-- Annual spraying for bugs in every room. Much tidying up preceded this.

We had a Special Dinner to honor Theresa Smith's retirement as Director of Development.
Fr. Damian was also thanked for his years of service.

July 6

A Moving Day-- Work is begun to get Front Office painted and carpeted.

July 4

Supper Party with decorations, good food and a Light Show (sparklers & poppers) Definitely a Nun Party–it was all over by 8 pm.
 

July 3

Sr. Atanasia, OSB, visiting and hopeful for a scholarship to Saint Leo University, arranged a surprise visit with Sr. Winny who lived with us 4 yrs while studying. Sr. Mary David saw her and talked with her in Tanzania on Skype !

First figs were picked. Usually the crows alert us they're ripe. The figs are late this year.


June 30  

 Installation of Sr. Roberta Bailey, OSB as 13th prioress of the Benedictine Sisters of FL took place at Morning Praise. Bishop Robert Lynch and specially invited guests later celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving with the Sisters at 10:30 am. The Bishop was very supportive and had a special blessing for S. Roberta. A luncheon followed.
   (See the Bishop's reflections on his visit and some nice pictures on his Blog on the Diocesan website)  www.dioceseofstpete.org
Sr. Roberta requested the prayers of all; she explained, paraphrasing the Rule of St. Benedict, "It is only with God's grace that I will be able to take the place of Christ in this community, to be a focus of unity, to teach by example and love, and to guide my sisters in seeking God in a faithful expression of the Rule of Benedict today."

Click Here for a News article about Sr. Roberta


June 27
     

At supper we had a surprise Thank You presentation to Sr. Mary Clare for her 12 years as prioress. She received  a bag with flowers (with prayer promises for her) and other goodies.

June 23-25   

The Teen Youth Choir from St. Ignatius in Tarpon Springs came for a 3 day retreat   (12 girls and 1 guy).   On their last night they did a sung Taize prayer service for us. It was so beautiful, prayerful and meditative! It was based on the Song of Songs. The Chapel was dimly lit and candles were in abundance. We were invited to come into the sanctuary and light a candle and pray.



When they got ready to leave the next day some were in tears not wanting to leave.  I know they will come again.  Their leader wants to come back and offer another Taize evening prayer in December.

June 21
   
3 pm CRACK! Computer screens went black; phones and elevator - dead.   A transformer had blown. After supper, sky south of here was BLACK as never before. A good downpour followed. Thunder in the distance but no severe weather for us, just much needed Rain.  The phones came back by 8 pm, the elevator revived by the next morning.

June 19   

Sr. Mary Dorothy's birthday song was strong/Full with voices of the St. Ignatius Men's Retreat group added to our own.   

June 18   

Chapter Delegates, Sisters Roberta and Eileen, left for the Chapter.

By accident/providence, Sr. Mary David checked the cards she keeps on retreat groups and discovered that the St. Ignatius Men's Retreat who haven't been here in 4 yrs don't usually have Friday supper or Sunday dinner with us.  She called to confirm and sure enough the 13 men were not to arrive until 7 pm that night.  They are very happy to be here again and their singing voices surely are a lovely harmony.

June 16-19  
 
These have been unusually warm days with temps in the 90's.  One day it was 96' with heat index over 100 degrees.  We have gotten a little rain on several days which cools it a bit.

June 16 
  

Sr. Mary Clare left for Atchison, KS where the Federation of St. Scholastica Chapter is being held.  She went early as she is on the liturgy committee for those days.

June 15   

Oblate, Iris Salcedo, came for lunch.  She got a graduation card for finally graduating from High School after 10+ years.  She is newly retired from teaching.

Two  consultants from the Zeilinski Co. were also here for 2 days of assessing our Development Office.
 

June 13
   
Affiliate/Volunteer, Ryann Underwood worked all afternoon with the 52 teens  who came to the Lake House for the Diabetes Camp.  It was a special time for them; they participated in various activities involving Karate and they also enjoyed a Karate demonstration by some of the Black Belts. Ryann is currently a Brown belt at Lake House Tang Soo Do.
 

June 9 
 
A special day for the 6th grade girls from Saint Anthony School. We had not been at the FOCUS 11 day sponsored by the Diocese when they went so a special event was planned for them at the Monastery. They got to see a poster of Sisters involved in different activities;  they got a Tour and heard some history of our early days in 1889 and how we'd come to teach at St. Anthony School. The 10 girls  were given "gifts" and told they each are a Gift. They prayed Noon Prayer with the Sisters, and then ate their bag lunches in the dining room with the Sisters and enjoyed a surprise of homemade cookies!

June 4-6

Come and See + Vocation Discernment Retreat. Two women in their 20's and Affiliate, Ryann, also participated. Each woman had a Sister prayer partner who sat with her at supper and shared her vocation story. The retreat was a mix of guided/together and silent/alone times. The participants got to share in our life of prayer and community, and had individual conferences with the Vocation director to discuss a vocation self-test. (The self-test is on our website on the vocation page–if you are interested) The favorite part of the retreat for all was the Open Forum with the Community where they could ask any question re: Benedictine Community and prayer. We had an excellent conversation re: celibacy. Since the retreat ended on Corpus Christi, a bonus was the fact that the Blessed Sacrament was exposed after Mass until after Vespers. Our retreatants and the Sisters prayed in adoration --a special intention was vocations.

June 3

Lesvie Clare, (her name means "wisdom") a Saint Leo University volunteer who gave us nine hours of service, came for Vespers/supper. She will return home to the Bahamas next week. She was a big help to us last month. We still tease her that her grandmas taught her how to clean "like a nun".
 

May 23   

Oblate Sunday (18 in attendance) topic: Stewardship/caring as a way of "Preferring Nothing to the Love of Christ" James Won and Veronica Jhang made oblation; Diane Cheshier was accepted as a candidate.
 

May 22 
 
Elizabeth Mathai became a postulant at a rite before Vespers.  The Oblates were happy to be part of this celebration. We are all happy to have Elizabeth take this step in becoming a Sister.
 

May 21-23   
 
Oblate Retreat (8 in attendance) "Good Zeal: Openness to the Spirit" Since it was Pentecost weekend some prayer/reflection centered on the Gifts of the Spirit as we recognized that openness to the Spirit is shown in our openness to others in hospitality and respect. "All gifts are given for the common good."
 

May 20

Sr. Mary David gave 12 students from Saint Anthony School their 8th grade retreat at the Monastery. Included in the retreat activities was a Tour of the Monastery, Noon Prayer and lunch with the Sisters.
 

May 18

Sr. Mary David preached at the Novena to the Holy Spirit service held at Our Lady of Grace Church in Beverly Hills, FL. She was invited and hosted by Oblate, Le Anne Milian.
 

May 17

A grand Employee Banquet was enjoyed by employees, volunteers and Sisters. It is an annual celebration to show our loving gratitude to those who are more than "employees" to us and who consider their time with us more than a job.
 

May 15-16

Nancy Counihan, Holy Name Academy ‘45, cashed in on a gift certificate given her by her daughter to "enjoy a peaceful, relaxing weekend at the Monastery" She had a great time, as she relaxed and visited with the Sisters.
 

May 13

Elizabeth returns "home ready to start her new life" after 6 week visit with family in India. On May 22 she will become a postulant.

We had meetings with strategic planning consultants from 2-5 pm. They had interviewed 2 of the monks, some Oblates, and our affiliates earlier.
 

May 6-8, 2010

Months of prayerful preparation ended in sacred days of discernment/election.  Sr. Roberta Bailey, O.S.B. was chosen to serve as prioress for the next 6 years. With God's grace she will animate, enable and give life, spirit and unity to the community by her loving example and teaching of Gospel values.

Sr. Roberta has been a Benedictine Sister of Florida for over 50 years; she has shared in leadership as a member of the monastic council and chair of committees.
She is presently the principal at St. Anthony School. She is a respected educator and known throughout the state. Her installation will be on June 30, 2010.


May 3


Sr. Mary David and Volunteers, Barb and Ryann, spent almost 5 hours cleaning one of our HUD houses to ready it for new occupancy. Those Volunteers clean like nuns! We built 2 HUD houses years ago so there would be some nice and affordable housing in the area.

April 30


Sisters Mary David, Roberta, Donna, Oblate volunteer Barbara and affiliate, Laura attend the Diocesan sponsored Conference, "Living Eucharist" at the Tampa Convention Center with 500 others. They got to hear Brian Heir, Timothy Radcliff, OP, J. Glenn Murry, SJ and attended several breakout sessions ranging in topic from Liturgy, Ministries of Mercy to Vocations as all ways we are "Sent"– the theme of this last of 3 year sessions.
 

April 25

Affiliate, Karen Bray came for Sunday Eucharist & dinner. She was surprised by the Birthday card, candle and song. The 26th is her special day.

April 24 
  
Women's Day of Reflection, "Listening with the Book" Sr. Mary David led the day for 15 from Sacred Heart parish in St. Joe. All were pleased, built community, strengthened faith, loved the meal/prayer with Sisters and the Tai Chi movements done after sessions   that recalled the parables they had contemplated.


April 17 
 
A Singles Group (8) from Land O' Lakes, Our Lady of the Rosary parish came for a Tour, lemonade and Questions/Answers with Sr. Mary David.  This is part of a "driving pilgrimage" suggested by the diocese.

 



April 17

Relay For Life - Cancer fund-raiser in San Antonio.  A few of us walked several miles for exercise and witness, too.  A luminary was lit in Sr. Germaine's memory.  Sisters Mildred, Jean and Roberta enjoyed a meal before doing the survivor's lap at the start of the |
Relay for Life.

 



April 16
     
University Leadership group (14) came to the Monastery for a class day (9 am - 4 pm) They are all specially chosen employees of the University.  Sr. Mary Clare gave them class on OSB Values, then Sr. Mary David gave them a Tour;  they had prayer/lunch with the Sisters, and another class. 


April 15 
    
Awards Night at the University.  Sr. Germaine got a plaque for her "passion, dedication and support of Saint Leo University. She had served 12 years on the Board of Trustees.  There were also many others who got awards:  outstanding organization, staff member, m/f in each class; the new Student Government Union officers were sworn in, and 100 students named in Who's Who!  The most touching part was how supportive and proud all were of the others.

April 14 
 
Sr. Mary David and volunteer, Barbara went to the University program: "Ecce Homo" a one man drama as Pontius Pilate reflected on his encounter with Jesus.


April 10

Community Day - among the activities was watching the DVD from Bread for the World.  We wrote letters at leisure and had them blessed at Sunday Vespers.  It was a new way of doing our Offering of Letters.  A total of 38 letters were sent to our legislators asking them to strengthen and protect policies that will benefit low-income families.
 

April 4

Easter Day liturgy was even more beautiful! The chapel was packed! The joy and singing just kept building–He is Risen! He is Here! Alleluia!!
The Peterson Family joined us for dinner. The family has ties to the Community from way back; all 8 members and the Sisters, too, had stories to share. A good time and a good meal was had by all.


April 3


Waiting Day–much preparation was done for celebration of Easter–the Chapel was decked out with flowers, the dining room table set with the best china, eggs were colored...
We got word that Louise Bedgood died. She had been our housekeeper for ages; she retired about 5 years ago. RIP


The Easter Vigil was beautiful. The weather perfect for our blessing of the fire and procession. There was a reception afterwards prepared by Sisters Dianne and Eileen which everyone enjoyed.

April 2

Good Friday was a solemn day of prayer/fasting and solitude.
Early that morning Sr. Mary Clare announced the death of Janie Barthle. Janie was like part of our family. She was an employee, the wife of our maintenance man, the mother of Jenna, a receptionist. For Janie it was indeed a Good Friday; for the rest of us her death was a sharing in the sufferings of Christ.

The Service of the Lord's Passion at 3 pm was led by Sr. Mary Clare.

April 1

Sr. Mary David baked bread for the Eucharist and prepared the altar of repose in our parlor. The feast of friendship and service was celebrated with a special meal which preceded the evening Eucharist; we had adoration until 11 pm.

March 29

Sr. Nilla helped Sr. Mary David prepare food for the Ministerial Association's luncheon to be served after Holy Week Services at the Presbyterian Church in Dade City. After delivering the food, Sr. Mary David shared in the service for Holy Monday
 

March 25

We had meetings with strategic planning consultants from 2-5 pm. They had interviewed some of the monks, some retreat group leaders and our affiliates earlier.
 

March 24

Elizabeth finally got her passport so was able to leave for India as planned.
 

March 23

We got word that Bishop Leroy Mattheison died today. He was the brother of our now-deceased Sr. Rosaria. He had been instrumental in the getting the "Peace Pastoral" written in 1983.

March 22

We celebrated the feast of St. Benedict with good liturgy and meals.

March 19-21

Community Days with Sr. Cecilia Dwyer, OSB, prioress at Bristow, VA. As part of our preparation for discernment/election of a new prioress in May, she helped us set Directional Goals for the next 6 years.

Note: Sr. Germaine Bevans, O.S.B entered eternal rest
         on February 12,2010. Click here to see
Obituary for Sr. Germaine

March 12 
 
A Deacon group will meet at the Monastery for prayer and group support.

March 10
 
 
Sisters, volunteers attended the Model Sedar Meal sponsored by University Ministry.

March 9 
 
The work of power cleaning the building started.  The smell of bleach was strong. This is preparation for repainting the Monastery exterior.  Last painting was 14 yrs. ago. It has weathered well.  Now it is time to renew/repaint.  All were asked to vote for a favorite paint color

March 8   

Sisters Mary David and Mary Romana visited the mobile "Museum of Modern Slavery"  at Saint Leo University.  It is a statement on the oppression suffered by farmworkers in our state--truly eye opening  heart-rending.

We hosted a number of Sisters who joined us for Vespers, supper and a Lenten Penance Service.

March 1
   

Our traditional Lenten Soup Supper drew 65+ guests who prayed Vespers with us, shared a meal of home-made breads and soups, and learned about the work of feeding the hungry in Pasco County from our Sr. Jean, the director of Daystar Hope. Alms of cash or canned goods were given to Daystar where 5+ tons a month are given to the local poor. A wonderful evening fed "spiritual, emotional, social and physical hungers" of all as our Corporate Commitment directs.


March 1   

After more than a year of waiting/petitioning, Elizabeth, volunteer/affiliate,  went to the  last and crucial interview in Tampa with her lawyer and supporting documents re. her immigration status. Much prayer, patience and fees have finally brought her a  green card , ie. status of permanent residency. We celebrate with her.  Now she can visit her family in India and be sure she can reenter this country. Now she can become a postulant.
 

February 12

Just before 9 am, Sr. Germaine, with Sisters and family members nearby,  arrived at the end of her journey of 75 yrs. and entered into the eternal life and love of God for whom she so longed.   Sr. Germaine was a cherished Benedictine Sister of FL and the Vicar of Religious for the Diocese of St. Petersburg.


February 11

University students (12) from the "Women in the Church" class visited. They heard about St. Scholastica, Benedicta Reipp (the first Benedictine nun to come to the US in 1852)  and the Benedictine Sisters of Florida  from Sr. Mary David.  They shared Noon Prayer and lunch with the Sisters.

In the afternoon the Honors class (8), "Christian Vision" came for a Tour; then Sr. Mary David answered questions they had emailed her earlier re: Benedictinism. Dr. Anderson's added dialogue enriched the conversation.

February 10   
 
St. Scholastica Day.  The monks (22) and volunteers (3) were invited for Vespers and supper.  Volunteers, Jo Shine, Beatriz Galvis and Barbara Alexander  got to help with dishes!

February 9   

Sr. Germaine has battled cancer since May 2009. She came back to the Monastery and Hospice care on February 1st.  Community friend,  Fr. Ed Lamp came tonight; we all gathered and anointed S. Germaine. We thanked her and she thanked us and said she loved us. The whole ritual was healing for us all; it was good to share/cry/then hug one another.

February  4   

We are treated to a dulcimer concert at supper by our retreatant, Maddie MacNeil.

February 3

On the feast of St. Blaise, we had the traditional blessing of throats.  We were anxious for the day to come as many of us have had "ailments of the throat" these past months.

February 2 
We had a lovely liturgy for Candlemas.  We said Morning Praise in the Community Room, had the blessing of candles, and then processed with lighted candles into the Chapel for the Liturgy.

January  19
   
We acted as Food Angels serving lunch to 33 Habitat workers building houses in Dade City.  On Mon. a group got together to make the sandwiches; the next day several delivered the meal and ate with the workers. Many were involved in the Corporate Commitment action to "feed the hungry".

January 15   
 
After the terrible earthquake, suffering people in Haiti are remembered in prayer by the Sisters.  Special intercessions/prayer were included in Compline.  Personal alms, and a Community donation, as well as collections at the Sunday Eucharist will be sent to Catholic Relief Services.

January 6-13

We've had the heat on for over a week. This is not typical FL– usually there are four days when the heat goes on all Winter. We've had record low temps in 20's several days now.
The oranges are still on the trees. If they freeze, the crop is lost; if it stays too cold for too long, the trees die.  There was ice to be scraped off windshields yesterday; frost on the ground made it look like snow. The sky is clear and the sun shines brightly today; it is warmer.


January 3


Happy Epiphany! We had a wonderful Liturgy and Dinner. In the evening we had a procession/prayers throughout the house as we did our traditional House Blessing; which concluded with Vespers and Supper.

 

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