Fifty Years of Monastic Profession

     On August 3, 2013 at St. Walburg Monastery, we celebrated Diamond and Golden Jubilees at Evening Prayer. Prior to the celebration, Sister Mary Catherine, Prioress, asked each of the jubilarians to reflect on 50 or 60 years spent living her profession in this Benedictine community. At the ceremony we were invited to share our reflections with all who were present at the celebration.

      The reading for Evening Prayer was Eph. 3: 14-21. This reading speaks of being firmly rooted and grounded in love so that we will be filled with the fullness of God.

      As one of the Golden Jubilarians I was led by Spirit to give testimony as below. I hope it gives you a glimpse into the power of living in this community in the School for the Lord’s Service as St. Benedict calls the monastery.

     As a senior at St. Henry High School in the spring of 1960, I attended a vocation retreat at Marydale Retreat House. Father Evanston, the director, asked each retreatant individually, “If Jesus stood before you today and asked to come, follow him as a religious sister, would you consider saying yes?” To this question I gave a resounding NO. Then on August 22, 1961, after hearing a persistent call to enter religious life by Jesus, I entered St. Walburg Monastery longing for God and stability and naively thinking to escape the trials of life.

     Today I stand before you knowing that I am deeply rooted and grounded in the love of Christ and in this amazing group of Christ-centered women whose lives, love and affirmative support through the years have provided the rich soil allowing this growth to occur. Our life in prayer, work and communal living heave bonded our lives firmly together in intertwined rootedness as we faithfully seek God together until we arrive together into the eternal kingdom of God.

     Without this rich soil I know I would have been too weak to answer if God said, “Today I set before you life and death. Choose.” Today I give a resounding YES to choosing to serve God anew in this Benedictine community.

            Sr. Joan Gripshover, OSB