Contacting Me After Entrance

Writing

• You can write me anytime, and I will receive all mail I am sent when it comes.
• I can write, but only three letters a month. As you can guess, that won't go very far! It may be a while before I'm able to get back to you, but I will defintely enjoy and appreciate any mail I get from you!
• In recent years the sisters have been allowed to write back to everyone who writes them at Christmas, but they do not know if that will always be the case.
• I've never asked anyone what's the right way to address the sisters, but this is what I've always done, and I know the letters get there!

           Sister Brooke Gauthier
           Sister Servants of the Eternal Word
           3721 Belmont Road
           Irondale, AL, 35210

• Somehow, they're legally within both Birmingham and Irondale city limits, so you see their address written both ways. Either way works.

Retreats

• The sisters usually have two-three retreats a month, and the schedule is available on their website. Most are open to anyone, but there are also more specified retreats (mens', mother/daughter, confirmation etc). They run from Friday evening thru Sunday afternoon.
• You can absolutely visit me during retreats, but I wouldn't have a lot of spare time. I would have my duties to keep me busy, and would want you to have the prayerful retreat you came for. Visiting with the sisters is mostly during meals, but there are sisters around most of the time. I just don't know how to "guestimate" how much I would be around. 
• Ususally, the second year after entrance is the novice's cannonical year, which is a year especially focused on prayer and formation. During that year the sister is less active in the apostolate work, and one result is that she barely sees retreatants. In other words, check that I'm not in my cannonical year before you book a retreat, hoping to see me :)

Other

• The sisters publish a newsletter about four times a year, which you can read online or receive in the mail.
• They also have a "What's New" page on the website, with approximately monthy news and pictures.
• The sisters use email, and if you write to the address on the website, they will see it and probably respond. However, there is no way to contact me directly, by email.
• If you call Casa Maria, you can leave a message with the sister who answers, and they will get it to me. They will sometimes try to find the sister you're looking for, to let you talk directly to them, but I don't know what to guess about that.
• Absolutely send prayer requests by letter, email, or phone.

Summer Photo Post

     I was trying to come up with something ordinary to post about, like I used to. A sewing project or something to show that life's moving along the same as always. But that's just not the way it is. It's three weeks until my entrance, and life is anything but ordinary right now! I thought it was a good time for a photo-post, though, to show a few events from the summer.

     As a head's up, the blog will not be here after my entrance. I've decided to either delete it, or limit access. Either way, you won't be seeing it anymore :)

Aunt Susie, Ben & Ian came to visit in May! It was great to see them all.

I want to know how Yoda found his way to a western store.



A long overdue dinner with our families.



Fireworks!

Our first time at the waterpark here - before we went on any rides.

BOOT CAMP! (staff picture, minus a few people)

A spur-of-the-moment pysanky night (night as in, 10pm-2am)

     And, a few pictures from a quick trip to Alabama. Two friends and I were able to fly out for the first profession of two sisters. The first day, Elizabeth (one of three who will be entering with me) and her mom took us for an afternoon at the Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament.

      The next day was filled with the Mass and professions, which were beautiful,  and a lot of food and celebrating! About a hundred people came for the day, and it was very nice to meet so many of the family and friends of the sisters. Many of them stayed overnight as well, so we really got to spend a lot of time with everyone. I couldn't stop smiling that day! It was such a beautiful occassion.



Please keep us all in your prayers.

May it please the supreme and divine Goodness to give us all abundant grace

ever to know His most holy will and perfectly to fulfill it.

- St. Ignatius of Loyola

SsEW Formation Stages

          Many people have asked me questions about what it will be like for me after I enter the Sister Servants, so here is an overview of the different stages. This is the formation process for the Sister Servants, but most womens' orders are similar. There is still so much that I will continue to learn after entering, so I'm trying to keep it simple!



Postulant

(First Year)

          On her entrance day, a girl goes to live in community with the other sisters as a postulant. She wears a brown skirt and vest outfit and is addressed as "Sister" but keeps her baptismal name. The postulant year is one of transition into the religious life and discernment of whether it is right for her. The community also discerns whether they believe she should stay. She may leave at any time if that is the decision, but they say that even if you are not called to give your whole life in the community, God had a purpose for having you there, even just a little while! As a postulant, she begins classes, including Father Hardon's Marian Catechist distance course.

Novice

(Second & Third Years)

          After completing the year of postulancy, the sister asks to be received into the community as a novice. She receives the habit of the order, but with a white veil, and she receives a new name. Each sister submits three names to Mother, and Mother can choose from those or choose something entirely different.  The two years a sister spends as a novice are heavily focused on study and deepening her prayer life, preparing her to make her vows if she chooses to do so. During this time she is still absolutely free to leave if it is discerned that she should.






Temporary/Junior Professed

(Fourth - Eighth Years)

          At the close of her third year in the community, the sister may make her first profession of the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience according to the constitution of the order. At this time she receives the brown veil. These vows are only for one year, and are renewed for four successive years. She is still free to leave when her vows expire if she so chooses, but the first vows are made with the intention of perseverance.

Perpetual/Final Professed

(Lifelong)

          And so, after a total of eight years in the community, the sister makes perpetual vows. In doing so, she joyfully offers to live not for herself, but for Christ. She joyfully binds herself to observe the evangelical counsels in a radical way, freeing herself of the weights of the world, so she may live with her mind and heart focused on God alone.

          Please pray for all those who are discerning vocations to the priesthood or religious life, that they may have the desire, means, and the courage to follow God's calling. He is so good and loving!

Below is the average daily schedule of the sisters, as posted on their website.
5:30 am    Rise
6:00          Holy Hour
7:00          Office of Readings and Morning Prayer
8:00          Breakfast and Cleaning Duties
8:30          Novitiate Classes / Study / Apostolate & Convent Duties
11:40        Daytime Prayer, Holy Mass , and Rosary in succession
1:00          Lunch
2:00          Spiritual Reading, Divine Mercy Chaplet and Recreation (for Novitiate)
                Apostolate & Convent Duties
5:30         Evening Prayer and Rosary
6:30         Dinner, Followed by Recreation (whole community)
8:15         Rosary and Night Prayers
9:15         Retire
10:00       Lights Out

May it please the supreme and divine Goodness to give us all abundant grace

ever to know His most holy will and perfectly to fulfill it.

- St. Ignatius of Loyola

About the Sister Servants

Almost all the sisters, plus their Chaplain and their dog. Mother Mary Gabriel and one other sister are missing.

A depiction of the legendary meeting of
Sts Francis and Dominic. I believe the painting 
is from St. John Lateran's in Rome.

This is going to be my info-packed post about the Sister Servants, which I will keep a link for on the sidebar. There is still so much I will continue to learn after entering, and I would just be clumsy if I tried to say it now, so this will be simplified.

       The Sister Servants of the Eternal Word are a Roman Catholic womens' relgious order located in Irondale, Alabama. They were founded in the 1980's by Mother Mary Gabriel and currently have twenty sisters. The order is very unique in its blending of Franciscan and Dominican heritage, but the teachings and lifestyles of the two saints join together seamlessly, and with beautiful results. As one of the sisters once wrote to me, "Both of these great saints emphasized humility and charity, teaching the faith by the holy witness of their lives. Their example challenges each member of our community to strive for personal holiness in order to be an effective teacher of the Catholic Faith. We believe that we can only teach the faith effectively by a life of authentic charity, a genuine love of God and neighbor."

       The Sisters have an active apostolate, though they lead very prayerful, contemplative lives. They are dedicated to catechesis, the study and spreading of the truths of the Catholic Faith. Their contemplative and studious life gives them the means of building up their own prayer life and knowledge, which they share with others.

These sisters are certainly not the sterotypical stern and unhappy nuns.
If anyone enjoys life, they do!

       The retreats they host provide a constant source of learning and growth to those who attend them, and for the sisters themselves. The retreat conferences are given by outstanding speakers from around the country, mostly priests. The sisters also operate a bookstore to help further nourish the spiritual life outside of retreats, with materials availiable both at Casa Maria and online. Click here for their new page of free mp3s of past conferences! When invited, the sisters have sometimes spoken at parishes and youth events. Currently, a few sisters teach classes for First Communion and Confirmation preparation at a Catholic school, but that is not a set part of their apostolate.

       Casa Maria is the name of the combined convent and retreat house, tucked away in the beautiful foothills of the Appalachain Mountains, minutes down the road from the EWTN station. The retreats are peaceful and refreshing, with the option to join the sisters for daily Mass, Rosaries, and the Divine Office, and about four conferences. This picture shows the layout of the buildings, though they have now finished building all the way to the point of the arrow. Only the large chapel and retreat dining room are left, but they expect to wait a few years before they have sufficient funds to begin building again. The left wing of the building are the retreat rooms and temporary chapel, and the right wing is the sisters' convent. The sisters' side is actually two stories, built into the hill, so it is much larger than it appears. There is a pond behind Casa Maria, and walking paths all around the grounds.

Sisters in the temporary adoration chapel
in the retreat house

I hope this helps answer some of your questions. I'll be posting separately about the formation process etc.

Here is the average daily scheudle of the sisters, as written on their website.

Retreat schedules are different!




5:30 am   Rise
6:00         Holy Hour
7:00         Office of Readings and Morning Prayer
8:00         Breakfast and Cleaning Duties
8:30         Novitiate Classes / Study / Apostolate & Convent Duties
11:40       Daytime Prayer, Holy Mass , and Rosary in succession
1:00         Lunch
2:00         Spiritual Reading, Divine Mercy Chaplet and Recreation (for Novitiate)
                Apostolate & Convent Duties
5:30         Evening Prayer and Rosary
6:30         Dinner, Followed by Recreation (whole community)
8:15         Rosary and Night Prayers
9:15         Retire
10:00       Lights Out

May it please the supreme and divine Goodness to give us all abundant grace

ever to know His most holy will and perfectly to fulfill it.

- St. Ignatius of Loyola

The Monster Movie: Finis

I can hardly believe it.

It's finished.

At last.

     A few of you may remember my posting about the movie Katie, Chris, some friends and I have been working on for the last few years. We didn't expect it to take nearly this long to finish, but as the project got longer, the editing program slowed down more and more. We took really long breaks out of frustration.



 

      But we finally did it! Every last detail is finished, burned onto a DVD with a fancy menu and special features. For your viewing pleasure, I am including a preview we made with shots from the first half or so of the movie. The movie itself is titled Justin's Monstrous Adventure and is a half-hour long - quite a record for us!

Hope the preview makes you smile, and maybe even laugh a bit!

 

May it please the supreme and divine Goodness to give us all abundant grace

ever to know His most holy will and perfectly to fulfill it.

- St. Ignatius of Loyola

The Happy Result of a Distraction

       The other day when I was at Mass and adoration, I caught a glimpse of a lady's rosary case, and I admit that I forgot all about praying for a minute. Though I often carry a rosary around in my purse, I don't have a case, so I'm always worried about it getting tangled or broken. All the cases available to buy have plastic, snaps, zippers, magnets, or something noisy, and I couldn't think how to make one that was any better. You know how in a quiet chapel, right when you want to be quiet and unobtrusive, everything is noisy.

       So this lady's case intrigued me because it simly had a slit that the flap slipped in to! How brilliantly simple. Of course, on the way home, I was brainstorming for what I could use to make a similar one. And below you see the results of said brainstorming. Once again, all from bits I had on hand at home, finished within an hour's time. I could have a lot of fun with variations on this...



 

Materials: 16 gauge clear vinyl; optional calico or fabric of choice; coordinating thread.

Step 1: cut vinyl and calico rectangles to the desired size. Basically the finished width you like, by three times the height. Fold the vinyl into thirds to see the proportions. On the part that will be the flap, draw the rounded-v shape, and cut. Cut a slit in the front of the pocket wherever the flap sits nicely.

Step 2: Hold the vinyl and calico together with paper clips, to avoid pin-holes. Zig-zag stitch the two together all around the edges.

 Step 3: Fold the front of the pocket up over the back, and zig-zag on the sides through both layers, sewing them together.

Step 4:Touch up the zig-zag on the flap if it needs filling in.

Looking back, I see that I could have done a buttonhole through both vinyl and calico, instead of cutting a slit. But I hate buttonholes... so I'm not regretting it too much. :)

May it please the supreme and divine Goodness to give us all abundant grace

ever to know His most holy will and perfectly to fulfill it.

- St. Ignatius of Loyola

Cleaner Supply Inc.

One of my co-workers at JoAnn's has been telling me about Cleaner Supply Inc., and I finally went to look at it. Despite it's being a primarily dry cleaner's resource, they sell a tailoring things as well!

$0.50 zippers, anyone?

Dual Duty thread, 6,000 yds for $16?

(at least black, white, and

basic colors would be worth it!)



250 pins for $3.50?



12 yd 1/4" elastic for $ 2.95?

Get the idea? I'm not bothering to check my facts, but those are all, I think, less than half the cost at a store. Any store. The zippers, especially, caught my eye. Oh, and they do have the color charts available when you click on a particular item.

They also have garment bags, lint rollers etc that would be well worth buying at a wholesale price!

There is no minimum for ordering, but my co-worker says shipping is something like $5-$7, so you need to order several things to make the svings worthwhile. At least one of you needs to take advantage of this, because I won't be sewing that much between now and my entrance!

May it please the supreme and divine Goodness to give us all abundant grace

ever to know His most holy will and perfectly to fulfill it.

- St. Ignatius of Loyola

Operation Postulant Prep

       I am making all sorts of preparations for my entrance to religious life in September! Of course, I'm cleaning out my things at the house (two more trash bags of fabric scraps gone and one more to give away), finishing up projects around the house, and working through my to-read shelf of books. As always, books keep getting added faster than I'm getting through them. I wonder how it happened that six of the biggest books I own are there... I'm getting much better about reading on my breaks at work again. And I'm soaking up every minute of time left with family and friends here.

My pile of accumulating postulant gear.
Books not included.

       There are also a number of things I need to purchace before going, and the searches have been rather interesting - even taking me into two hunting stores.

     The shoes were especially fun. I like cute, slip on shoes, and I have not owned a pair of lace-ups since I was little. My mom and I were both laughing each time I tried on a pair. They felt ridiculous, but I was excited to be making preparations for entering!

       Once, Chris was with me as I was searching clearance racks for a certain kind of shoe. I had found one pair, a little more expensive than I wanted, that I carried as I continued looking. Chris eventually suggested that maybe I should pray to St. Anthony to help me find some (St. Anthony is known as the patron saint of lost items). I smiled, and as I kept looking, I said a quick prayer along the lines of "St. Anthony, it certainly would be wonderful if you could help me find the right shoes for a better price." Less than a minute later, I came across a second pair of the shoes I was already carrying, but marked down to a lower price! There was no difference between the two. No flaws or difference in comfort. I smiled, thinking of all the times God has helped me, has answered these silly little prayers with utmost love and thoroughness. I felt rather abashed that I hadn't prayed for help in finding the items I needed before... and I bought the shoes.

O happy day, when my coat arrived!

      Finding the right coat was also quite tricky. There isn't much need for long, warm coats in July, you know! Maybe in Australia, but not in Texas. Several times I found good ones online, but only red XL's were left or something. I ended up ordering the perfect coat, but there were two different ways to get to it on the website. By one set of links, everything was normal, but by the other, the coat was no longer available. I was on pins and needles waiting to see if it would actually come, or if I would get an email saying my order had been cancelled. As you see, it did come! And it is as perfect as I had hoped.





May it please the supreme and divine Goodness to give us all abundant grace

ever to know His most holy will and perfectly to fulfill it.

- St. Ignatius of Loyola

Fresh From the Garden

Three of my potted plants, when they were just wee little sprouts

       This is the first year I've grown any kind of garden, and I am enjoying it very much!
I just ate my first (so-far only) green pepper, which was delicious. I've begun using the basil and mint also, but I'm hoping the chives will grow more before I pick any.



       The first time I used the basil, I simply tossed a handful of leaves in a saucepan with olive oil, tomato, and some italian seasonings. I used the mixture to top some grilled chicken, along with a little parmesian cheese. The same mixture would be really great on a grilled cheese, too.

Photo not mine, but pretty much what I did.









I've been experimenting a little bit with infused water, which has endless possibilities. It seems like a lot of people mix strawberries and basil, but I haven't tried that yet. Pretty much any combination of fruit, herbs, and cucumbers goes!













May it please the supreme and divine Goodness to give us all abundant grace

ever to know His most holy will and perfectly to fulfill it.

- St. Ignatius of Loyola

A Cheater's Quilt

    
        So far as sewing goes, quilting seems to be coming out of the walls lately! Well, this fabric was not from my stash. But both front and back were remnants of clearance fabric. All together it cost something like $8, and I've always loved classic Pooh. And it's a pre-printed panel, so I only had to sandwich everything and quilt the layers together! And it was a perfect chance to try my walking foot, which I've never used, and which I now love. I'll be using it constantly. Thanks Brittany!
      
       Around the border, some of the squares have the words saying "Small Pieces of Fluff". That was the last thing needed to convince me to buy it. It sounds just like something my family would say. Oh, and I know it all looks crooked, but that's the way it's printed, not how I sewed it! It also looks far more wrinkl-y in the photo than in person :-/

       Obviously, we have no little ones in the family just now, so it's going to have to wait for the arrival of a little somebody we hope will appear one day.

May it please the supreme and divine Goodness to give us all abundant grace

ever to know His most holy will and perfectly to fulfill it.

- St. Ignatius of Loyola

NEWSFLASH

The date for my entrance to the Sister Servants has been moved to September 8th.

I'll have almost two more months than I thought I would have at home. Mentally and emotionally, it's going to be difficult, switching gears abruptly. I know it's for the best in the end, and I'll certainly make good use of the time! Just the same, it was a bit of a shock to hear...

I have multiple blogposts in the works, if only I could finish 'em up!

May it please the supreme and divine Goodness to give us all abundant grace

ever to know His most holy will and perfectly to fulfill it.

- St. Ignatius of Loyola

May Casa Maria Trip

This may come as a bit of a shock, I know, but my blog does not receive a whole lot of traffic - and that's how I like it! Seeing as that's the case, when I'm writing, I'm talking to YOU. Yes, you! I'm going to write a post about the Sister Servants, their apostolate, their daily life etc. Please ask me any questions you have regarding them, religious life, what I'll be doing, contacting me, the habit... chances are, someone else is wondering the same thing. I want to make sure I answer those questions in the post, or somehow.

       It was all in the blink of an eye, but I'm back from another trip to Alabama! This trip was specifically to introduce my family to the Sister Servants and show them what everything is like. We left the house dark and early at 5am on Thursday, and our flight took off with the steward saying "Fasten your seat belts, raise your trays, lower your expectations, and you're sure to have a GREAT flight." He kept us laughing the whole way with his flight commentary. When we landed and pulled into the gate, he said in perfect courtroom stateliness "All rise" as everyone stood.

A basic neighborhood in the Birmingham area - lots of hills

The view from the top of the hill on the sisters' property,
looking over the pond and Casa Maria

       The Birmingham/Irondale area is absolutely beautiful! After being in Texas, the foothills seem like mountains, the greenery is lush, and everything was generally lovely. We looked around Birmingham a little bit, and when we arrived at Casa Maria, ten or so sisters stopped what they were doing to come meet my family. It was so good to see them all again!

       That evening we went to the EWTN TV station, to watch the filming of Life on the Rock (a Catholic teens' show). Katie and Chris even sat on the stage, behind the host for the show!

Just arrived at EWTN!

Getting the set and cameras ready.
Others did end up sitting on the stage with Katie and Chris, too.

       The next morning, everyone else slept in late while I helped prepare the retreat house for the weekend and chatted with the sisters. It was past eleven as we were leaving Casa Maria and I told a sister that we were headed out for breakfast. "Breakfast?!" She was quite shocked, though a little reassured when I changed it to 'brunch'. She didn't know how badly we all needed those extra hours of sleep!

          In the afternoon we had a very long, excellent meeting with the Vocation Directress, the sister who helped me through my discernment. She will also be my novice mistress after I enter, meaning she guides the new sisters through the transition into religious life, teaches classes etc. My family was able to ask many questions, and she helped to explain a number of things more thoroughly.

Katie watering flowers with one of the sisters

       I can't help thinking of novice mistresses as the mother hens of the novitiate, looking after the newest chicks until they're big enough to take care of themselves. Naturally, the postulants and novices have the general reputation of being awkward, late, confused etc. Just about every sister has her funny stories of what she broke, did, or said when she was still new to the community, and that the others will never let her live down! 

          

        The real retreat began Friday night, and the rest of the weekend was a rotation of prayer, conferences, meals, and free time. A few sisters were around at all times, and we spent a great deal of time talking with them, as well as the other retreatants. Sunday afternoon, we even met the girl who will be entering with me in July! She, her mom, sister, and nephews were able to make it for just a short visit. It was wonderful meeting, you, Elizabeth!

       One of the sisters is a talented artist, and that afternoon Chris showed her a drawing he'd been working on, and asked her advice. She gave him many good tips, and ended up showing him her binder of clippings, photos and such that she collected for inspiration.

      

Elizabeth and I: the future postulants!

 

       Monday morning we were surrounded one more time by a "flock" of sisters, as Katie says, to say goodbye before leaving for the airport. We had a long day there, waiting for a flight, but the time passed quickly. We even ran into both Mother Assumpta Long (foundress of a community we knew well in Michigan) and Crystalina Evert (author & speaker)! Somehow, we managed to all snag comfy armchairs in the one area of the airport without TVs blaring. It was actually quite nice, for an airport. And, obviously, we all made it back to Texas safe and sound. It's less than two months until I make the trip again.

The time is flying fast, and soon I'll be back in Alabama, but wearing brown!

May it please the supreme and divine Goodness to give us all abundant grace

ever to know His most holy will and perfectly to fulfill it.

- St. Ignatius of Loyola