39, 3 ST. SCHOLASTICA MONASTERY,

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1 Vol. 39, No. 3 ST. SCHOLASTICA MONASTERY, Fort Smith, AR November, 2010 Thanks to the talents of Sister Louise Sharum, St. Scholastica Monastery has a two-volume history--write the Vision Down, covering the first hundred years of monastery history, and Until the Morning Star Rises, covering the next 25. As a companion to these two books, Joyful Gifts features the poems and prose of 27 sisters, the musical compositions of seven more, original artwork, and nostalgic photos gleaned from yearbooks, academy newsletters, old Horizons, and photo archives covering a roughly seventy-year period from 1940 to the present. While Sister Louise s books present a factual history, Joyful Gifts, in beautiful, reflective verse perfect for bedtime reading, reveals the hearts and souls of the holy women who taught so many of us, nursed us back to health, and were our spiritual mentors in parishes, on retreats, and through their friendship. - Sister Simon Edelhuber, a gifted nurse and water colorist, brought a whimsical, joyful vision to her nature poetry. - Sister Cabrini Schmitz, alumna, teacher, journalist, and prioress, in sensitive reflections and centennial speeches, chronicles the many emotions and challenges of a sister s daily walk with God. - Sister Consuella Bauer, principal, superintendent of schools, and diocesan director of religious education, brought imagination, sensitivity, and craftsmanship to her prolific writing. Whether she is writing about spirituality, nature, community, friendship, or family, each sister s contribution--from the music of Sister Stephen Smreker, who passed away in 1944, to the poetry of Sister Cecelia Brickell, who made her perpetual profession in July--is as unique as the jigsaw puzzle pieces the sisters fit together in the community room, forming a perfect--and compelling--picture of twentieth century monastic life. The Joyful Gifts committee--maryanne Meyerriecks, Communications Director; Sisters Christine Eckart and Cabrini Schmitz; and alumnae Dorothy Sullivan and Debbie Bentley--spent many hours reading and selecting poetry, poring through old photographs, and shedding an occasional tear or two to assemble a book that will be treasured and read, laughed, cried, and prayed with for years to come. Through the miracle of print on demand publishing, the monastery is able to offer Joyful Gifts for only $18.75 a copy at our Gift Shop, at other local Catholic bookstores, through Amazon.com, by contacting the sisters at or by calling (479)

2 A Message From the Prioress As I begin sharing my thoughts with you in this issue of Horizons, I recall and ponder Psalm 148 in praise of God s creation. We have been blessed in many ways this spring, summer, and autumn. Spring was filled with repairs to our monastery building. So, for the plaster, dust, cement, sawing, hammering, and noise of all kinds, we praise you, God, that all is completed. Last winter we, as a Chapter, voted to hire the Realm Group from Minnesota to help continue the work we had begun with Sister Barbara Dannhausen to look to our future. Sister Judith Jewison, O.P. and her partner, Mrs. Robin Eggert have been with us, directing us to look beyond our fears into the future. They have held monthly on-site meetings with us since April. No sister is left out of the Circle of Sharing, contributing her piece of wisdom. We have come through some painful but growing times with them. So, for the growing pains, tears, and honest sharing, bringing us all to a joyful spirit of hope, we praise you, God. Summer brought hot weather to our area with little rain. It also brought the usual and traditional time for vacations, renewing family ties, and other sundry things that summer brings. Among those was a perpetual profession, jubilee celebration of eight of our sisters, the entrance of a postulant, and the celebration of Sr. DeChantal s 104th birthday. We praise you, God, for all these wonderful happenings. In a few weeks we will come to the end of the Church Year of The last Sunday in November begins the beautiful season of Advent. We LISTEN to the CALL of the Prophet Isaiah inviting us to walk in the light of the Lord and to be AWARE of the signs of the coming of the One who will fulfill the promise made long ago. This beautiful season is intermingled with feasts of Mary, who gave her humble yes to the mystery of the Incarnation. May the Season of Advent bring us all to a joyful Christmas Season. Hope is the power behind love. -St. John Climacus Welcome, Postulant Sandra! L to R: Postulant Sandra Nelson is welcomed to the community on September 14 by Sisters Maria, prioress; Kimberly, vocation director; and Dolores Vincent, formation director. Sandra Nelson of Campbell, California, who entered St. Scholastica Monastery as a postulant on September 14, felt drawn closer with each succeeding discernment visit to the monastery. There was and continues to be a beautifully mysterious presence of reassuring peace and comfort that touched upon all my senses, she said. During each visit to the community I was blessed with a true purpose as to what God was asking of me revealing himself to me in very significant ways as I experienced life with the sisters. The structure of prayer, community time, ministry and personal time for learning, meditation/reflection and recreation is balanced in such a way that I had recognized it in myself and the manner in which I feel called to live this gift of life to be quite similar to these sisters who had been chosen by God. Postulant Sandra is currently studying Benedictine spirituality, the Rule of Benedict, and Scripture with Sister Dolores Vincent and other instructors while sharing in the daily work and prayer life of the community. Join us in welcoming Sandra as she begins her monastic journey. Vol. 39, No. 3 Horizons November, Horizons is published three times a year by the: Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery P.O. Box 3489, Fort Smith, AR Phone: Monastery@stscho.org Website: FAX: Anyone is welcome to be on the mailing list at no charge. Maryanne Meyerriecks...Managing Editor Sister Elise Forst, OSB...Editorial Advisor Calvert McBride...Printers

3 From the Development Office By Sister Elise Forst, OSB As I sit in my office these fall days, I am observing the gradual transformation of the red maple tree outside my window. Last week only a few red leaves graced some of the outer branches. The changes from day to day have been hard to detect, but after a week a great transformation is obvious. Now various shades of red and orange are all around the tree and creeping ever deeper into the inner branches. A wonderful image for the way transformation works in each of our lives and in the life of our community. From day to day change isn t dramatic, but when we compare the present to some point in the past, we are amazed at the difference. As we work each month with Sister Judith Jewison and Robin Eggert from Realm Group, we here at St. Scholastica have a strong sense of being involved in a transformational process. They are guiding us in looking with loving eyes on all the changes we have experienced and foreseeing with hopeful hearts some possible changes that will enable us to move into the future with greater zeal and vitality. At this point we are like the maple tree daily changes are occurring, but they are so slight that we don t recognize them. We trust that the Spirit at work among us will lead us to a future as glorious as the maple tree is becoming. Our main call right now is to make the next best step. As our steps into the future become clearer to us, we will be sharing more with you, our faithful friends. You have been and continue to be our loyal companions on this journey. We are grateful for all the ways you assist us your prayers, your volunteer service, your advice, your financial support, your love and encouragement. You have recently received our fall appeal letter asking for your continued help. We thank those of you who have already generously responded. This issue of Horizons gives you an additional way to help us. We are presenting a wish list for your consideration. See the shortened version below. A longer version is on our web site, under Ways to Help. Thank you for considering helping us with any of these items. The coming season of Advent calls us to transformative waiting for the presence of Christ to be renewed in each of our lives. We pray that your spirits will be renewed these coming days and ask your continued prayer for us as we grow into the transformation awaiting us. Please remember us when revising or making your will. Our legal name is St. Scholastica Monastery, Fort Smith, Arkansas. Come to our Bake Sale at St. Scholastica Retreat Center, 2nd Floor Saturday, December 11 8:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sunday, December 12 10:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. All our recipes contain a cupful of blessing leavened with prayer and wrapped in love. New this year: Beautiful Fair Trade Gift Items at the Oblate Table. Oblate Table proceeds will benefit St. Mary Orphanage, Mbale, Uganda 3

4 Sister Cordelia Lange, OSB In Loving Memory Sister Cordelia Lange, OSB of St. Scholastica Monastery, Fort Smith, entered into eternal life on August 10, 2010 at the age of 94. She was born on May 4, 1916 in Nazareth, Texas to John and Louise Lange. She entered St. Scholastica Convent in 1931 and made her monastic profession on June 24, She received her state elementary school teaching certificate in She earned her Bachelor s Degree in Education from Marymount College, Salina, Kansas, in 1957 and her Master s Degree in Theology from St. John University, Collegeville, Minnesota, in She taught from 1934 through 1997 except for a one year period, , when she worked at St. Joseph Orphanage. She taught in St. Joseph School, Paris; St. Benedict, Subiaco; St. Joseph, Center Ridge; St. Mary, Barling; St. Joseph, North Little Rock; St. Augustine, Dardanelle; St. Mary, Altus; and St. Scholastica Academy, Fort Smith. She spent the last thirty years of her teaching career in St. Joseph School, Amarillo, Texas. In her nine years as a high school teacher at St. Scholastica Academy, she assisted the formation director in training aspirants and novices. She retired to St. Scholastica Monastery in An accomplished seamstress, Sister Cordelia made vestments and assisted in the monastery gift shop after her retirement. Sister Cordelia is survived by her sister, Sister Corinne Lange, OSB, the members of her monastic community, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers and four sisters. Sister Jane Fladung, OSB Sister Mary Jane Fladung, OSB, formerly known as Sister Mary James, 87, of St. Scholastica Monastery entered into eternal life Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010, in Olathe, Kansas. She entered St. Scholastica Convent as a postulant, August 28, 1938 and made her first profession on June 24, She received a Bachelor s Degree in French from Mount St. Scholastica College, Atchison, Kansas and taught at St. Mary School, Barling; St. Joseph School, Paris; St. John School, Brinkley; St. John School, Fort Smith; St. Joseph School, Ada, Oklahoma; St. Joseph School, Billings, Missouri; St. Gabriel School, Kansas City, Missouri and St. Pius X School, Moberly, Missouri. In 1969, Sister Jane was among the founding members from St. Scholastica who started a new monastic community, Our Lady of Peace Monastery, in Columbia, Missouri, where she served as sub-prioress. In 1976 she became a Vista volunteer and co-founder of Koinonia House, a place for women in crisis situations. In her later years, Sister Jane taught others how to live in the present moment, teaching by example. She was a present to others reminding them of the presence of Christ with them always. In 2010, Our Lady of Peace Monastery was dissolved, and Sister Jane transferred to St. Scholastica. Sister Jane is survived by two sisters, Margie Korte and Rosemary Hogan, both of Ottawa, Kansas; two brothers, Gene Fladung of Louisburg, Kansas; and John Fladung of Olathe; many nieces and nephews and her religious community. She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters and one brother. Oblate Karen Munsil Karen Anne Munsil, 59, of Mena, Arkansas died Wednesday, July 21, 2010 in Hot Springs. She was born October 9, 1950 in New York City. She was a service dispatcher for the telephone company. Karen began the Oblate program in September, 2009 and enrolled in May, She is survived by her son, Brien Munsil of Houston, Texas; two sisters, Ellen Estevens of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Norma Nordenstrom of Houston, and a grandson. Oblate Regina M. Chase Regina Weiss Taylor Chase, 88, of Fort Smith passed away on July 1, She was a member of Immaculate Conception Church and made her oblation on September 18, She moved to Fort Smith in 1947 with her husband, Ken O. Taylor, who preceded her in death in She chose to remain in Arkansas and raise her four children there, remarrying Bob Chase, Engineering Department Head at St. Edward Mercy Medical Center, in Regina Chase was best known publicly for her nursing career. She graduated from the nursing program at Grasslands Hospital in New York, and became instrumental in developing the surgical recovery room at Columbia Medical Center. Locally she worked as an R.N. in Fort Smith until becoming the Director of the LPN School based at St. Edward Mercy Medical Center, a position she held more than twenty years. Living to the age of 88, she enjoyed over 25 years of retirement with her beloved family, her volunteer work, her prize-winning crafts and her garden room. 4 She is survived by four children: Fort Smith residents, Doug Taylor and CharMaine Beleele; California resident Ken Taylor; and Joe Taylor of Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has been a joyous grandmother to thirteen grandchildren including Fort Smith resident Jennifer Taylor Ervin who has presented her with three great grandchildren.

5 OBLATE NEWS St. Scholastica Monastery places no geographical boundaries on prospective oblates. Marie Gordon and Jean Daly, volunteer visitors from Leamington Spa, England, decided to become Oblates after spending several months in the monastery. They have kept in touch with the sisters, and Jean even accompanied Sister Hilary Decker on her summer teaching assignment to three monasteries in Kenya and Uganda. Sister Magdalen Stanton, Oblate Director, tries to visit groups who are far from the monastery at least once a year. There are now two large Oblate groups active in Missouri--Springfield Oblates, directed by Sister Stephanie Schroeder, and Columbia Oblates, directed by Sister Barbara Bock. Both Missouri groups have active lay leaders who organize meetings, prayer gatherings, and ministry work. Last month Sisters Barbara, Stephanie, and Regina traveled to visit their respective oblate groups to pray and share with them. Columbia, Missouri: Sister Barbara Bock attended the October 9 gathering of the Oblates who were associated with Our Lady of Peace in Columbia, Missouri. The meeting began with a meditative prayer service and closed with evening praise. The theme was Justice. Maureen Doyle, a former staff member of St. Francis Catholic Worker House in Columbia, spoke about the Catholic Worker movements and the work of St. Francis in giving shelter to homeless men. She shared that the poor have taught her about compassion and generosity. Springfield, Missouri: Sisters Stephanie and Regina Schroeder, who started the group of Oblates in Springfield in the early 1980 s, attended an Oblate meeting there last month. The first Springfield Oblate group made oblation in 1984 and are affiliated with the monastery here in Fort Smith. Five of that group are still living, with some able to be quite active in their parishes. There were 34 Oblates when Sisters Stephanie and Regina left their Springfield parish to return to the monastery, and the sisters continue their close relationship with the group. Sister Stephanie visits Springfield whenever possible, to meet and pray with the group, give presentations on the Rule, and preside over enrollments and final Oblations for those who cannot travel to Fort Smith. Marie McCann is the local Oblate contact. Presently there are 29 members including two enrollees and two inquirers. The members are from the five parishes in Springfield. They come together for meetings at the Paulette Center which is part of the Diocese s Catholic Center. The Springfield Oblates have always been and still are very active in their parishes. Many took their turn working in the Kitchen serving three meals a day to the poor every day for years and now several meet every Tuesday and Thursday to bag doughnuts from the stores and bring them to the food pantry to be distributed to the poor. Many come together at St. Joseph Church each morning of the week to pray the Liturgy of the Hours. Two groups meet at Marie McCann s house each week throughout the year for Scripture Study and prayer. Fort Smith, Arkansas: In addition to their monthly Oblate meetings, the oblates who attend monthly meetings at the monastery have started taking occasional group day trips. Their first trip was to Hesychia House of Prayer in New Blaine, where they enjoyed visiting with core community members Sisters Louise Sharum, Andrea Loran, and Ethel Marie Sonnier, touring the property, seeing the hermitages, and meeting the 30 head of cattle Sister Louise affectionarely dubs our lawnmowers. The Oblates are going to sponsor a Fair Trade Gift Item table at the monastery bake sale December 11 and 12, donating the proceeds from their sale to St. Mary Orphanage, Mbale, Uganda, a desperately poor institution that Sister Hilary visited in August. Individually, the monastery has been blessed by its many oblate volunteers. In the picture to the right, Oblate Haymeé Giuliani brings her Trinity Junior High School Religion class to the monastery cemetery on All Souls Day to pray for all those who have died. Haymeé also teaches Spanish to a number of sisters every Monday afternoon in her Trinity classroom. Although St. Scholastica Monastery Oblates are sometimes separated by distance, they still form a community of prayer with the sisters. Let us remember to pray for one another this Advent and Christmas season. O Loving God, I ask your blessing this day on all the Oblates of Saint Benedict and those with whom we are affiliated. Help us to become people of prayer and peace. Though scattered far and wide, help us to be together in the spirit of your love. Give us hearts wide enough to embrace each other as well as those whose lives we touch. Enable us to listen and to learn from each other and those around us each day. May we be models in our homes, neighborhoods, and communities of wise stewardship, dignified human labor, sacred leisure, and reverence for all living things. Above all, O God, may our presence among others be a constant witness of justice, compassion, and hope to all. Amen. (Alliance for International Monasticism prayer; adapted by Sue Walkoviak,oblate of St. Scholastica Monastery, Duluth, MN) 5

6 Scho Girls Reunion July Photos by Charmaine Beleele St. Scholastica Academy s youngest alumnae--the Class of 68--are now 60 years young, but, like the sisters who taught them 42 or more years ago, they have the energy, vitality, and spirit of women who are much younger. During their triennial reunion, they partied, prayed, and visited the weekend away--beginning with a wine and cheese party Friday night, continuing with lunch, a business meeting, and a banquet on Saturday, and concluding with Mass concelebrated by Msgr. John O Donnell and Father David McKillin and a farewell brunch on Sunday. The sisters enjoyed reminiscing and socializing with those who traveled from all over the U.S. to attend the reunion as well as local alumnae whom they are able to see more frequently. NEWS BRIEFS Sister Maria DeAngeli attended the Leadership Conference of Women Religious annual meeting in Dallas, Texas August Network for Women Religious Conference in Denver, Colorado September and the Catholic Press Association Workshop in Little Rock October Sisters Kimberly Prohaska and Rachel Dietz attended the 60th anniversary of Assumption Abbey, a Cisterian community in Ava, Missouri. Sister Kimberly Prohaska ran a Vocation Booth at Youth 2000, Marche, on October 10; spoke at a Catholic Campus Ministry Adult Vocation Call on October 14, and led monastery tours for Trinity Junior High School students on November 5. Sister Elizabeth Rossi attended the Subprioress/House Coordinator Meeting at Sacred Heart Monastery, Cullman, Alabama from September Communications Director Maryanne Meyerriecks attended the National Communications 6 On November 12-14, Sister Kimberly, Director of Catholic Campus Ministry at University of Arkansas Fort Smith, attended the CCM State Retreat in Subiaco.

7 2011 Retreat Preview St. Scholastica Retreat Center s 2011 schedule will bring back some favorite presenters from previous years as well as introduce visitors to some new ones. The Center begins its retreat year with the popular Silent Directed Retreat. Eight Directors will be available to work with up to 25 retreatants. Through daily prayer, reading, journaling, spiritual direction, and silence, participants grow closer in their relationship with God. The sisters will also welcome guests to spend the Triduum in silent prayer with them on the Triduum Retreat, Holy Thursday through Easter Sunday (April ) Sister Macrina Wiederkehr, whose upcoming book will be going to the publishers in 2011, will present three retreats. In the Labyrinth Retreat on March 18-20, she will co-present with Clara Jane Rubarth, a master gardener, retired professor, and President of the Fort Smith Historical Society. Clara Jane was instrumental in building a labyrinth on Fort Chaffee Grounds adjacent to the Cooperative Extension building. Sister Macrina will also present a Lenten Day of Recollection February 26 and an Advent Retreat, There is So Much Grace in Waiting, on December 2-4. Sister Hilary Decker will lead the five-day summer retreat this year, focusing on the Psalms through the modalities of community prayer, meditation, and creative expression. Nick Cole, whose Centering Prayer retreat was well-received last year, will lead a three-day retreat in All who participated in his 2010 retreat requested that this retreat be offered in a longer time format next year, and we are sure that it will bring blessings to the retreatants. Father Matt Linn, SJ, who taught a large and enthusiastic gorup how to reverse the aging process in 2009, will return in May to teach rejuvenated retreatants how to deal with prickly porcupines (aka difficult people.) John King will once again offer a Lenten retreat on Thomas Merton in a shorter mini-weekend format. Our two new presenters are Cackie Upchurch, Director of Little Rock Scripture Study, who asks the question, Where does hope come from and what could it look like when we allow hope to be the anchor of our soul (Hebrews 6:19)? on September She will be followed on October by Sister Therese Elias, OSB, a Benedictine sister from Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, Kansas, who will help retreatants reclaim their forgotten Celtic legacy as they celebrate the goodness of creation, the nearness of the Saints, and the power of the Trinity in our midst. Presentations will utilize ancient poetry, art, song, storytelling, and Celtic Christianity s beautiful legacy of prayers and blessings. The Center will continue to offer Retreat in Daily Life and Spiritual Director Formation. In Fall, 2011-Spring, 2012, Retreat in Daily Life, Introduction to Spiritual Direction, Spiritual Classics, and Practicum II will be offered Retreat Schedule January 6-9 Silent Directed Retreat Directors: Sister Rachel Dietz et al. February Thomas Merton Presenter: John King February 12 Caregivers Day of Recollection February 26 Lenten Day of Recollection Presenter: Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr, OSB March Labyrinth Retreat Presenters: Clara Jand Rubarth and Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr, OSB April Triduum Retreat April 28-May 1 Centering Prayer Retreat Presenter: Nick Cole May How to Deal With a Prickly Porcupine Presenter: Fr. Matt Linn, S.J. July A 5-Day Retreat on the Psalms Presenter: Sr. Hilary Decker, OSB September Moving Beyond Fear to Hope Presenter: Cackie Upchurch October Celtic Spirituality Presenter: Sr. Therese Elias, OSB December 2-4 Advent Retreat: There Is So Much Grace in Waiting Presenter: Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr, OSB With her award-winning book, Seven Sacred Pauses, Sister Macrina Wiederkehr, OSB teaches us to live mindfully through the hours of the day. Now, with the release of her 2011 limited edition inspirational calendar, A Year of Beauty, she gives us the opportunity to live mindfully and prayerfully throughout the year. The calendar, whose proceeds will benefit the Retreat Center, is available for $10 at St. Scholastica Gift Shop, on our website at or by phone order at (479) ext Purchase Joyful Gifts and A Year of Beauty together for $25 and save $

8 St. Scholastica Monastery Justpeace is continuing its monthly witness at the southeastern corner of Creekmore Park on the first Sunday of each month from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. to pray for diplomatic solutions in the wartorn countries of Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Holy Land. During October and November, Justpeace dedicated its film series to educating the public about fracking. Fracking is hydraulic fracturing for natural gas drilling, an unsafe environmental practice which can negatively impact water, air, soil, and human health. In October, the monastery showed Gasland, a Sundance Film Festival Award winning documentary covering fracking damage all over the United States. In November, members of Arkansans for Gas Drilling Accountability (AGDA) brought slides and footage of Arkansas properties damaged by fracking. Tentative dates for future films are Monday, January 3 and Monday, February 7. Keep informed about our events at Facebook.com. Our fan page is St. Scholastica Monastery Fort Smith South Albert Pike P.O. Box 3489 Fort Smith, AR Monastery@stscho.org Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Fort Smith, AR Permit: No. 429 Return service requested Tapestry by Sr. Roberta Hyland, OSB Mary sings softly to the Babe within, Who is waiting to be born anew In every soul through the gentle silent Word. - Sr. Maria De Angeli May love and peace be born anew in your hearts as we rejoice in Christ s coming to be one with us. You will be remembered with gratitude in our Masses and community prayers during this joyous season. 8