Welcome a new Bridgettine Sister from Columbus, Oh!
Tomorrow is the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it is the anniversary of the re-founding of the Bridgettine Order. As such, it is when the Order’s postulants will receive the holy habit as well as a new name and enter the novitiate.
In Rome, Mother Fabia will clothe the first American vocation in decades in the habit and give her a new name in religion. It’s an exciting day! Laura Ruffner entered the Order from Columbus after she graduated from OSU. She was a member in SPO Ohio.
Locally we will celebrate Sr Fabiola’s 25th anniversary of vows! Stay tuned for pictures of the celebration!
Father Stash challenges us to invite God to give us the Grace to appreciate what a devotion to Mary can do for our life and in our family’s life. IMG_9622
A wonderful group of women enjoyed a Saturday morning mini-retreat at the Bridgettine Convent on May 14th. Fr. Stash shared a beautiful reflection and a panel of mothers of Seminarians and priests shared their wisdom of raising young men to hear the call of God.
Everything has been broken down into phases. Now that the sisters are here and getting established they are welcoming people into the spirit of their family. They host gatherings, offer moments of prayer, and lend an ear to those who need someone to listen.
They are in need of finishing their residence so as to accommodate more sisters. At present there are four sisters but they need to accommodate up to 10 for the purpose of maintaining the schedule of prayer and the balance of community life.
The most pressing need right now is to build a proper Chapel where the people who wish to come and pray can do so. The desire of the sisters is to have Jesus available for Adoration every day so that those who need to pray and want to pray may be able to do so.
The chapel will be the heartbeat of the whole convent and grounds.
Once the chapel is finished a residence wing for visitors will be built. This wing will afford the sisters space to welcome people overnight. The primary guests must be and will be those who are weary from being caregivers to loved ones in hospitals.
The priority is the Chapel! If Jesus is not first and foremost at the center of all of this then everything will be in vain.
The strength needed to listen, to love, to be patient, to welcome, and to accompany those who are caregivers or even those who are just beaten up by the world can only come from spending time with the Lord Jesus in prayerful adoration.
Regarding the chapel, what is needed?
The sisters NEED PRAYERS! We should never underestimate the power of prayer!
The sisters need people to join them in adoration! People should know they are welcome to come and spend time in prayer, once a day or once a week!
There is no need for a chapel if people aren’t going to use it.
That makes sense, what about the Chapel building itself, what is the most pressing need?
The chapel phase is broken into two parts, the building of a bell tower and walkway and then the chapel proper.
The walkway or cloister walk will connect the residence of the sisters, or the cloister, to the chapel proper.
The ringing of bells calls the sisters to prayer and invites the whole world to know Jesus is about to be adored.
Mr. Chris Meyers, http://meyersarchitects.com/, has designed a beautiful chapel which will accommodate around 75 people. It will be small in the eyes of the world but it will be intimate for the purpose of prayer and listening to Jesus.
How can people help?
First, PRAY!
Second, PRAY some more! Especially for vocations to the Bridgittine sisters.
Third, prayerfully consider donating to this cause.
The Bridgittine sisters have an account at the Catholic Foundation and can receive donations in person.
What is an interesting detail or development regarding the sisters’ presence?
Good question! I would have to say that after a year here in Columbus their way of life and fidelity to Jesus started to attract attention from young women who are discerning a call to be a religious sister.
One young woman from Columbus has already entered the community and several others are carefully praying about also joining the sisters.
May we all walk with Jesus like the Women of Jerusalem during this Lent and always. Fr. Stash’s words of wisdom were well received on Saturday morning by over 100 women.
‘Jesus paused along the way to the cross because He knew the Women of Jerusalem needed to see themselves in His eyes. May we all see in His eyes our reflection.’ May you feel His love and His hope this Lent and give to Him all generations in love, not fear!
Thank you Fr. Stash and The Bridgettine’s for another intimate women’s mini-retreat! The Bridgettine Sisters Chapel and Retreat House continues to be a Bethany (a home) for authentically Catholic spiritual formation!
