Potato Digging Every fall, we dedicate a morning with all hands on deck to harvest our potato patch. We usually harvest enough potatoes to take us until next year’s harvest. That seems to be the case this year. We grow, red, white and Yukon gold potatoes. It is actually fun to dig them up. It… Read more
Sr. Joan Garrity On October 2nd, the Feast of the Guardian Angels, our beloved Sr. Joan Garrity passed from this earthly life to eternal life. We celebrated her funeral two days later on a beautiful autumn morning. Sr. Joan entered monastic life at our Motherhouse in Wrentham, Massachusetts in 1961 at the age of 21.… Read more
Summer Classes This summer we have have been having a series of classes with Fr. Doug Wathier. Fr. Wathier, a former Loras College professor and currently pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Waverly, Iowa. Our classes have been on Christian anthropology. We’ve had classes on Irenaeus, Augustine, Hadewjich, Julian of Norwich and Karl Rahner. Our… Read more
Derecho Last week we experienced a derecho for the first time. It produced very strong winds, and the National weather service advised people to stay inside and away from windows. It didn’t last that long, maybe 30 minutes. The derecho winds did not do any damage to the abbey buildings, thank God, as we just… Read more
New Melleray’ Abbey’s 175th Anniversary On July 16th New Melleray celebrated their 175th anniversary of foundation. It is the 2nd oldest Cistercian abbey in the United States. Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky was founded a year earlier. We celebrated the day with Eucharist at 10:30 AM with archbishop Thomas Zinkula presiding. Mass was followed by a… Read more
New Roofs Last summer we had a severe hail storm that didn’t last long but did an enormous amount of damage to all of the abbey roofs. This summer we are having them all replaced which will take several weeks. Now, with this intense heat it is hard on the roofers, so they start early… Read more
Birds We’ve had a couple of unusual bird sightings recently. The peacock, who belongs to a neighbor has been visiting quite frequently and has been seen all over our property. He is quite majestic but so far no one has seen him spread his wings. He is a very curious bird and likes to look… Read more
Easter Vigil This year for our Easter Vigil we went to New Melleray Abbey to celebrate the feast with our brother monks. The lighting of the Easter fire was done in the Chapter Room. Individual candles were lit from the newly lit Paschal Candle, representing the light of Christ. We then processed into the church… Read more
Sr. Madeleine renews her vows On Holy Saturday Sr. Madeleine renewed her vows for one year. The junior professed do this yearly until solemn profession when they make a life long commitment. Read more
Recent Events Our new Archbishop of Dubuque came for a first visit; celebrating Mass and then joining us for brunch. Archbishop Thomas Zinkula, however, is no stranger to us. He was a diocesan priest before being appointed Bishop of Davenport, Iowa. When he was a diocesan priest he visited the abbey often , especially coming… Read more
Christmas 2023 This year the novitiate decorated our Christmas tree. They chose to use red, white and green ornaments. Our tree is placed in the center of our refectory and remains there the entire Christmas season. We have several more days to enjoy it. It will come down on January 9th, the day after the… Read more
Christmas at the Abbey At the Abbey we are very much into the Advent season until Christmas Eve. We begin to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve in the evening. We have a special Compline in the refectory on Christmas Eve that includes the blessing of the tree by the abbess and the first lighting of… Read more
59th Anniversary of Foundation Last Saturday, November 4th we celebrated our 59th anniversary of foundation. We always reminisce and listen to stories on that day. We have two foundresses at OLM, M.Gail and Sr. Joan. It is fun to compare their memories of that day. Sr. Kathleen prepared a power point presentation on life here… Read more