News

October 30, 2008 —

These past few months have seen significant change within our community. Our prioress, Mother Monica Kamplain, resigned her office in September: in addition to governing our community, the added burden of our building project was great and was taking its toll. She is getting much-needed rest now and we are looking forward to the day she will be back among us.

Sr. Mary Elizabeth Kloss – now Mother Mary Elizabeth - has taken over the helm and is acclimating herself to our Northeastern weather again. Born and raised in the Chicago area, she entered St. Scholastica’s in 1975, and until 2003 could be found doing just about anything here at the Priory: from novice mistress to kitchener and shopper (we are at present being spoiled by her cooking, and the local store personnel are overjoyed to see her dear face again.) In September of 2003 she was sent to our daughter house Our Lady Queen Monastery located in Tickfaw, Louisiana, to help out, and in 2004 Mother Monica assigned her there as the superior.

During these last five years our two communities have gotten to know and love one another. St. Scholastica’s drove down to Tickfaw in February of 2005 and stayed with the community for a couple of weeks, and the nuns of Our Lady Queen Monastery, along with Mother Mary Elizabeth, drove up to Massachusetts and stayed with us over Christmas and New Year’s of 2006. Although each house has its own unique history, our Benedictine contemplative charism is the same, and each community has been enriched by the other. Four nuns reaching ripe old ages have died in Tickfaw over those five years and now their life stories are a gift to both of our houses.

We thought that the relationship between mother and daughter house would continue, but in the past few months God’s plan has become clear: our two communities are now going to become one. We have the great joy of welcoming the nuns from “down South” to “up North” and forming one stronger and richer community here in Petersham.

We ask your prayers for this work of God in our lives, and we ask your help to bring it about. Just now we have an addition in Petersham that is 75% completed and paid for. But we will need to finish the rest to enable our 93-year-old Sister with her wheel chair to have mobility throughout the monastery. It will also allow our Southern sisters snug warm bedrooms (what we call cells) and will create space for new members in this blessed monastic vocation of seeking God, praising Him and welcoming our guests and retreatants to share in our lives or prayer.

Pray for us! We do for you!