Vocation News Highlights
August 29, 2011 – Rite of First Profession
Surrounded by her formation directors and witnesses, Sister Ann Marie Wainright reads her First Monastic Profession
On Monday, August 29, at Evening Prayer in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel at St. Scholastica Monastery, Sister Ann Marie Wainright and the St. Scholastica Community celebrated her Rite of First Monastic Profession in which the candidate promises “stability, fidelity to the monastic way of life, and obedience” for a three year period. After this period she and the Community will decide if she is ready to make the Perpetual Monastic Profession. During the ceremony Sister Ann Marie was presented with the Benedictine pin and Community documents.
As a soon-to-be-Postulant, I was truly impressed with this very meaningful and beautiful ceremony. I think the part that touched me most was Sister Ann Marie’s entrance into the Chapel and down the aisle. All the Sisters were lined up on either side of the aisle facing Sister Ann Marie as she made her way to the front, which seemed such a strong message of their loving encouragement, respect, and support. They then began statio, which from the very first time I saw it, was very moving and touched me greatly. Statio is the silent gathering of the Community before processing together to prayer, in which the Sisters bow before the altar, which represents Christ, and to each other, acknowledging Christ present in them.
I was very pleased that Sister Ann Marie asked me to participate in her Monastic Profession. I have great admiration for her ability to write and speak eloquently of her strong faith and deep love of God. I am also very grateful to her for so efficiently and patiently training me in the intricacies of being a sacristan. Although I am older, she will surely be a guide and mentor for me as I begin my own journey.
—Submitted by Elizabeth Farias who was accepted as a Postulant three days later.
September 1, 2011 – Two Women Enter Postulancy
On Wednesday, September 1, 2011, Linda Sellards and Elizabeth Farias were accepted as Postulants by the Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery, Duluth, Minnesota.
 Postulant Linda Sellards declares her desire to become a Postulant. |
 Postulant Elizabeth Farias proclaims her wish to become a Postulant |
After satisfactorily completing the Affiliate stage of Initial Formation, Linda and Elizabeth have now moved into the Monastery where they will participate in the prayer, work, and life of the Community while taking classes in Scripture, prayer, and Benedictine history. This Postulant stage is a period of transition to the Benedictine life that may last from a minimum of six months to two years.
Postulants and their Director Sister Michelle Dosch (front row) at Prayers
During this ceremony, The Liturgy of the Hours prayer books, a medal of St. Benedict, and an apron were given to each of them. These symbolize commitment to the Benedictine life of prayer, community, and work.
Sister Michelle Dosch, the Director of Postulants and Novices, will be their guide. Postulant Elizabeth hails from Early, Iowa and Postulant Linda is from Hermantown, Minnesota. Both expressed excitement, gratitude, and joy upon being received by the St. Scholastica Benedictine Community.
August 29, 2010 – First Monastic Professions
On Sunday, August 29, 2010, at Evening Prayer, Sister Gretchen Johnston and Sister Mary Carla Flood made their First Monastic Professions.
- Novice Sister Gretchen Johnston signs her Profession.
Upon satisfactory completion of the one-year novitiate, candidates may request to enter the Community by making a public monastic profession of stability, fidelity to the monastic way of life, and obedience for a period of three years.
- Novice Sister Mary Carla Flood reads her First Profession to the Community.
The document, written personally by the novice, is read aloud before the Prioress and Community. It is then signed at the altar by the candidate, the prioress, and two witnesses.
- Sister Lois Eckes, Prioress, blesses Sister Gretchen (left) and Sister Mary Carla
The newly professed members are then blessed by the Prioress and the Community.
- The Community blesses the newly professed members.
August 27, 2010 – Entering the Novitiate
Standing at the baptismal fountain on Friday, August 27, 2010, just before Evening Prayer, Postulant Linda Wainright made her request to Prioress Lois Eckes and the Community to enter the novitiate. The novitiate is a year of intense concentration on the spiritual life during which the novice studies the Rule of St. Benedict and other spiritual classics on prayer and monastic life.
- Community witnesses the noviatie ceremony
In the ceremony she received a copy of the Holy Rule and a large Benedictine medal on a chain. A novice is now called “Sister, ” and she may choose to take a new name.
- She receives the noviate medal.
Postulant Linda is now Sister Ann Marie Wainright.
August 22, 2010 – Sister Dorene King Makes Her Perpetual Profession
One of the most joyful events in the life of a monastic community is the profession of a woman who has journeyed with us for a few years and is ready to make her lifetime commitment of seeking God with us in this community. Sister Dorene King celebrated this choice on Sunday, August 22, 2010. Sister Dorene came originally from California where she grew up and had several years of teaching experience. Later she became an ordained Lutheran minister but found her way to the Benedictine community in Richardton, North Dakota, and then to St. Scholastica Monastery here in Duluth.
Sister Dorene and Sister Donna process into the Chapel.
The profession ceremony begins with a procession in which the Sister about to make perpetual promises carries a lighted lamp and a document in which she has written out her commitment.
She places her lamp on the altar.
She places this lamp on the altar and lays her document on a small table that already has the ring to be blessed and that will be given to her later in the ceremony.
Father William Graham presided at the Eucharistic celebration at which Sister Dorene made her promises of fidelity to monastic life. His powerful homily used some of the significant imagery from Scripture, especially of the five wise virgins from Christ’s parable.
After the homily Sister Dorene affirmed her commitment and asked for God’s help in sustaining her in living it.
While the Litany of the Saints was sung, Sister Dorene prayed for God’s help. Following this she read the document she had written her threefold promises of Benedictine life—Obedience, Stability, and Fidelity to monastic life here at St. Scholastica Monastery.
Then she faced the congregation and sang the ancient prayer, Suscipe, three times and the monastic community repeated this plea each time: “Receive me, O Lord, according to your word and I shall live and do not fail me in my hope.”
Sister Lois, Prioress, then gave Sister Dorene a solemn blessing.
The ring was then blessed by Father Graham, and Sister Lois placed it on Sister Dorene’s ring finger as a sign of her perpetual promise.
Ring of Perpetual Promise
Sister Dorene was acclaimed by all of those gathered for the Eucharist.
Acclamation by Community
Following Eucharist those present greated Sister Dorene in a reception line by the entrance to the Monastery and joined together in Rockhurst Dining Room for a celebratory meal.
Sister Luce Marie Dionne Makes First Monastic Profession 12/27/09
On December 27th during Evening Prayer, we celebrated one of the most joyous events in the life of a religious community. Sister Luce Marie Dionne made her First Monastic Profession, a three-year promise to live a life of stability, fidelity to monastic life, and obedience in our Monastery.
Sister Luce Marie had completed the first stages of a discernment process. During this time of discernment she studied, among other things, The Rule of Saint Benedict, monastic history, and the history of our community and experienced the common life of prayer and work in this Monastery. She will now spend a few days with her family in Maine.
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