May 3, 2009 Gathering

After praise, Mass and brunch, our meeting began with a centering song.  We acknowledged those asking for prayers.

Cynthia reviewed the descriptions of jobs needing volunteers for our upcoming Annual Retreat taking place June 19 – June 21, 2009 and asked that the sign up sheets be marked.  If you are planning to come to the retreat and have not notified Sister Roni, please call her at St. Gertrude Monastery so that we may register you for a room.

Oblate Story – Flo Petrosky spoke about her journey today.  Her first encounter with St. Gertrude Monastery was in 1967.  Her mother was the chairman of a dinner, so Flo came and worked in the kitchen with the German sisters.  The next time she came was when she helped a high school class from North Caroline do a good deed.  They collected canned goods and money for St. Martins Ministries.  Later she was a sponsor working with the high school honor society.  Hoping to inspire the kids, ground them, and increase their selflessness she involved them with the Benedictine School Special Olympics swim team at the YMCA.  After that experience the high school kids wanted to make something for the Benedictine kids so they made each one a sock monkey doll.  Still much later she met Lois and Lucky Buesgens who brought her to an oblate meeting.  While relating a story of a relative (and thinking she was better than them) to Sister Immaculata, she was reminded by Sister that God loves her relative just as he loves her.  She concluded with the story of how Sister Roni asking us to choose who we might be in the crowd around Jesus as he entered Jerusalem, caused her to learn from her own son that he understood fully as he talks to God and Jesus all the time.  She expressed her thankfulness at being an oblate.  [Please consider sharing your story next year.]

Sister Roni summarized our year noting that we have focused on obedience.  We learned that St. Benedict spoke about listening, being attentive to the Word of God and developing a prayer life.  Benedict notes that we will be transformed if we:

• Learn the will of Christ
• Hear the Word of God
• Refrain from vain, harmful speech
• Refrain from idle gossip and inane conversations
• Find silent places in mind & heart; places before breaks, in the halls, in our bedrooms, no radio, TV, or telephone
• Learn the meaning of our day
• Ground ourselves in prayer, lectio, and reading
• Listen silently to the present, the past, and to others.

We worked on contemplative lectio.  Look at the spiritual reflection of the past year below, discuss and share.  Sometimes what we share becomes meaningful to us.

• How have I grown through the study of obedience this year?
• Am I able to listen attentively?
• Has my prayer life been nourished?
• Do I notice a change in the way I interact with God?  With my family?  With friends and others I am with on a daily basis?
• What areas will help me to continue growing in the love of God and neighbor?

Hope to see you at our Annual Retreat on June 19 – June 21, 2009!