That time of year ... when yellow leaves, or none, or few do hang upon the bough . . .

There's been a distinct shift from summer to fall this past week - some days are still hot. Eighty-one the other day. But nights are very cool - and mornings are crisp and chilly. The leaves are starting to turn. They say it'll be a short foliage season this year because of the long summer drought. But it's turning out to be spectacular!

So let me tell you about my Sunday at Visitation Monastery

in the Monastic Immersion Experience:

Morning prayer is at 8:30 on Sundays (7 AM M-F, 8 on Saturday). I love going to Morning Prayer. Our two houses are only a block apart, so it takes very little time to transition from Girard to Fremont where we have Morning Prayer.

By the time I got to the kitchen this morning, I could hear the little gong signaling that it was time to begin.  Sister Mary Frances was already playing a prelude on the little organ in the chapel when I got there.

We all stop at the shelves and pick up our books - finding my way through the office books is still a challenge for me, but today was just a regular Sunday - Week 2 in the 4 week rotation of psalms. The chapel is tiny. There's room for just the six chairs, a bench across the back where Sister Mary Frances sits at the organ, and the beautiful cruciform Christ backed by the stained glass window. (The window was made deliberately transparent, so we can see out to the street and the intersection of Fremont and 15th. What happens outside those windows is meant to be part of our prayer.)

We each have our assigned chair. I am tucked in between Sisters Mary Virginia and Mary Margaret on the outside wall. Across from me are Sisters Katherine, Karen, and Suzanne. Our Chinese Sister-in-Residence, Mary Mau and our VIP Intern Anna sit on the bench on either side of Mary Frances.

The Sacrament is reserved in our chapel, so each sister makes a profound bow in that direction as she enters. The routine has become familiar - and my heart always leaps for joy when I take my place.

Because I have a condition called Sjogrens, my vocal cords don't work well, so I try hard not to compromise the sound of singing and chanting by sneaking my thin, creaky voice in between those on either side of me as the two sides sing antiphonally. I find that I am always happy when my favorite psalm passages happen to occur when it's "my side's turn." Strange thing to be made happy by something so simple.

Each week, different sisters are assigned different roles in celebrating the Divine Office. I haven't quite figured out what each one actually does, but it's second nature to them: there is a chantress, a reader, an office planner (who picks the hymns?) and an officiant.  I don't have any of these roles; I just have to try to keep my place, be on the right page, and join in when it's "our turn." And keep my voice "invisible."

Sometimes visitors are with us. There weren't any this morning. I look at the figure of Christ and the glorious window. I look at the vase of flowers placed at the foot of Christ. And I look at the feet of the sisters, and I think, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who bring good tidings . . . "

The Divine Office is very simple: In morning, mid-day, and evening there are three psalms, each with its own antiphon. We all sing the antiphon. One sister sings the opening two lines of the first stanza, the rest of those on her side chime in with the rest. The next stanza is sung by the those of us in the other choir, like playing tennis with our voices - and then the antiphon. Then there is a pause and we are free to speak of something that has to do with the psalm or the reading or with our life in the neighborhood.

Today some shared thoughts on the workshop we went to last night at the Basilica on Faithful Citizenship; it was taught by Father Michael Joncas (the writer of many of my favorite songs, including On Eagles' Wings) and reviewed the pastoral letter of the U.S. bishops on how we Catholics should form our consciences when preparing to vote. And, to my surprise, it was an amazingly helpful and illuminating evening for all of us. He laid out the principles so clearly - and made so clear that once we'd moved through those steps, we each had to consult our own consciences and make a determination based upon our own prudential judgment as to how to mark our ballots. No one - not even the bishops, not even the pope - can violate the sanctity of the individual conscience. The consistent teaching of the church has been that one is obliged to act by his or her own conscience - even if that conscience may be in error! What a great thing to hear that articulated so clearly once more.

Then the organ began and we sang the next antiphon, and chanted the next psalm. And again paused to talk briefly about the things that have happened in the neighborhood in the past few days: a terrible massacre at a business only a mile from here where six people were killed and two more lie in hospital in mortal danger; a fight where homeless people hang out behind the local supermarket where a man was stabbed to death. And a dear friend awaiting news as to whether her chemo is going to save her life.

And then the next antiphon, the next psalm.  After that there was a reading from scripture. Then we sang a response. And then we sang the antiphon for the Canticle of Zechariah which is sung every morning. And then there was a dismissal.

After Morning Office, we always put our books back in our baskets on the shelf and gather in a little circle in the front hall. As soon as all are present, we bow to one another, saying  in unison, God be praised! Good morning, dear Sisters!

 The first time I saw this happen, last summer when I visited, I was filled with a stab of pure delight! I said inside myself, I love this! Why do I love this? And every day I have been here since, I am delighted once more. I feel the love of these people for one another that has been tempered over the years, and I am glad to share in it. Then we share announcements for the day, special requests and concerns (has anyone seen my lost green sock?), who has the car signed out for when? and so forth.

As soon as our morning "meeting" was finished, we piled into the van and headed for Ascension church for Sunday mass. Sister Mary Mau and Sister Mary Frances decided to walk - it's only about three or four blocks. They actually beat us there. I found my favorite spot down by the music group, and settled in. Mary Mau and Virginia joined me in that pew. I like to watch the musicians - and I wanted a good vantage point for taking a few more pictures.

My favorite musician is Pedro. I think he's about 10 years old, and quite a good musician. I love to watch him taking his role so seriously among the adults there.

Sr. Mary and Sr. Mary Virginia joined me in my pew:

Father Michael O'Connell delivered the homily today. He was grim. He spoke about the violence in the neighborhood the past week: the massacre, the knifing. And

some of the other tragedies of the past few months. A three-year old whose family rule is that if you hear gun-shots while you are at dinner, you take your plate upstairs where there's an interior room that will be safe. A gunshot tore through the wall of his house and killed him on the stairs. A short time later, a five year old, asleep on his grandmother's sofa was killed when his house was riddled with bullets from an automatic rifle. A short time later a homeless man was accosted one night on the sidewalk outside the church by a gang of young people and beaten to death. Father Michael told us that there were special sensors posted on power-poles throughout the city. They record all instances of gunfire and can be used to triangulate and find the source of the shooting. In 2011, there were more than 800 shots fired in our neighborhood.

Father Michael told us that at the conclusion of the service, after we had blessed the children of the parish, we would all process down the street to the site where the homeless man was knifed, and we would hold a prayer service there. So out we went to the closing song, out the front door and down the sidewalk, servers leading the way, carrying the processional cross, Father Michael and Patty Stromen leading the way.

Then we returned home. Four sisters live in each of our houses. I live in Girard. There were only three of us home for breakfast. Sister Karen has been out of town at a meeting of the Visitation Federation in Washington, DC. So Sister Mary Frances fried bacon and eggs for our breakfast, and we made some toast and shared our meal at the dining table while reading the Sunday New York Times.

Afterward, Mary Frances and I helped clean up after breakfast while Mary Virginia made a pecan pie for dinner tonight. Then we all went about our own affairs. I worked on my messy desk for a while. (Yes, it followed me all the way here from Forks!)

And then I went out to take a walk. I decided I wanted some pictures of the newly turned foliage before it is gone. They say we have another week of this gentle autumn weather and then it will turn cold and blustery. I walked all over the neighborhood. I met people I knew here and there - and was glad to share in the general good will that the sisters have earned in the neighborhood. It was a beautiful day.

And now I am working on this blog, downloading my pictures, and trying to get those stacks of paper organized and put away. I'm going out in an hour or so to a performance of Mexican music and dance with Anna. Some of the other sisters went to the show last night while I was at the workshop on Faithful Citizenship with the rest. So we'll miss Evening Prayer at 5 PM. That's when the show starts. We have the car checked out (and Anna will drive! I'm not very comfortable driving at night - nor driving the Prius). We'll miss dinner, too, but we'll warm ours up in the microwave when we return.

And I've just remembered! I must save time before I leave to set the table for dinner. That's one of my responsibilities -

Later . . . 

Anna and I went to Celebremos MEXICO! a program of music and dance presented by my friends Sevaro and Melina Garcia as "a way of sharing the culture and heritage of Mexico with the community."

And then back to Girard to find the other sisters all deeply engaged in a game arond the dining table. Today is the beginning of the Moon Festival - a mid-autumn festival in China, so they were playing Sr. Mary Mau's favorite game, Spinner dominoes, between dinner and night prayer. I warmed up my dinner and ate it as I watched the game conclude.

Then upstairs to our little Girard chapel for Night Prayer which is very brief: one psalm, a responsorial, and the Canticle of Simeon.

We sing, 
              Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; 
              watch over us as we sleep, 
              that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, 
               and asleep rest in his peace.

              Lord, now you let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled . . . 
                        (the prayer of Simeon upon seeing the infant Jesus presented in the
                        temple . . .) then a closing prayer ending every night with these words:

              May the all-powerful Lord grant us a restful night and a peaceful death. 
                         Amen. 

Then we sang the refrain of Gentle Woman and finished as always with a short litany of saints.

A few sisters went downstairs to catch the 9 o'clock news. The Fremont folk went back to the other house. And I came up to finish this blog.

It's a simple life here. I've just finished my third month. I'm half way through my stay here. I love every day. Every moment.

(Note: these blogs do not necessarily occur in chronological order. 

Sunday morning - Mass at Ascension Parish

Mass is said here at Visitation Monastery about three times a week. Other days the sisters go out to parish masses in the neighborhood. On Sundays, they most often go to Ascension Parish, just four blocks away. I went with them last summer and loved it. And I went again today for the second time since my arrival on July 5.


Ascension Parish is "doing church" in the way I believe it's meant to be done: it's inclusive, vibrant, down-to-earth, REAL. The music group is superb - a pianist, drums (of more than one kind), and a group of singers who are g-o-o-d! Including a young boy who is amazing.


There is no air-conditioning in Ascension Church and it's HOT in Minneapolis! Two big fans blow through open doorways up by the front - and that's where the sisters have headed both of these past two Sundays. Right next to the fan and the music group. This Sunday the pew in front of us was filled with children who, I believe, have parents in the music group.



I look around the church and I see diversity everywhere - old people, young adults, families, lots and lots of children, a truly multi-cultural church. The sign out in front reads, All are Welcome! and it's obviously true!




The pastor here is Fr. Michael O'Connell, who has served in some very important roles in this diocese: he has been Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of Minneapolis-St. Paul (which he calls a fancy title meaning CEO of the diocese); he also served for many years as Rector of the Basilica of St. Mary, an enormous edifice which serves as spiritual home to 5400 families. In recent years, he chose to become pastor of relatively small Ascension Parish in N. Minneapolis where he has created a place of safety and welcome for all people in this neighborhood which is rich, diverse, and a place where violence is commonplace.

The church itself is old - it is lovely, old-fashioned, has ornate statuary and beautiful stained glass windows and Stations of the Cross. The picture at the right was taken as the the procession was beginning in the back of the church - the pews filled up simultaneously with the arrival of the priest, servers, and lay ministers.

The service began with the baptism of a baby: Caedon George . . .  (apologies to the family if I've misspelled his name here). Father Michael reminded us - as he instructed this lovely little boy - that in our baptism we are annointed Priest, Prophet, and King. He built on that idea in his homily later - in which he reminded the community, quite solemnly and quite simply, that a man had been attacked and killed on the sidewalk outside the door of the church where the fan was sitting, just a few days ago. Two weeks ago a five year old boy was shot at 8:30 in the morning as he lay on the sofa in the livingroom as a volley of gunfire was sprayed into the house - part of a feud between gangs. And a little farther back in time, a 3 year old was shot when stray bullet came through the wall of his house as he was carrying his dinner upstairs to a "safer room." Father Michael spoke with sorrow and told people, we must be prophets. Our children are killing each other.

Blessing of the children

At the conclusion of each service, it is customary here for the priest to call up all children and youth to the altar. They gather around Father, and all the people in the church raise and extend their hands over the children as he blesses them. Then the recessional begins, with the children leading the way out of the church, followed by Father, the servers, and the ministers. What a lovely custom. These children will grow up knowing that they were acknowledged and loved by the whole parish every Sunday of their lives.


This Sunday there is to be "blessing of gardens," so they all process out the side door into the church yard, where everyone follows, and all gather once more, as Father explains that every year, these "memory gardens" are blessed once more.

Linda and her fellow lay minister carry the holy water and sprinkle it liberally in every part of the garden as the priest and people pray the blessing.


Then it's time for the ice-cream social! 


So now it is Sunday afternoon, and I have some time to write - but not everything I wanted to write!  There is so much I want to share!  I'll save for another day some of the other experiences and impressions of these first days at Visitation Monastery. I'll have to choose from some of these:

• I attended an all day meeting on Saturday with some of the sisters in St. Cloud, MN - Region 11 of the Leadership Council of Religious Women. Richard Gaillardetz, a professor of theology at Boston College who specializes in "questions of ecclesiology" (or how authority works in the church). He presented a fascinating review of Vatican II and related it to current church events.Morning Prayer as we drove north. I got a quick drive-around tour of St. Johns at Collegeville on the way to the meeting. And I won a door prize at the meeting! (Note paper - for those little paper notes we used to write before email. Remember?)

• We had a young couple and their Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy - and a young woman who has been on a retreat at Jane House - for dinner last night. There has been someone for dinner nearly every night. Lots of tables to set, meals to cook, and dishes to wash. 

• Today two of the sisters are going to a baseball game (don't ask me who's playing).

• Another sister left this morning for a family reunion out of state.

• Another sister is returning tonight from a family visit.

• Sister Karen made peach/banana sorbet for dessert tonight. (I might even learn to cook here!)

• One of the sisters had news today of a death in her family.

I am thinking of St. Anne's and yesterday's memorial service for dear Richard Haberman. 


And my daughter-in-law MaryBeth who is running a 5K in Ocean Shores today - in the rain.  They will be starting back to California later this week. I am missing them already - and I'm not even there.

My life is amazingly rich - and I am extraordinarily happy.