LeavenLeaven St. Walburg MonasteryCovington,Kentucky

BENEDICTINESISTERS

LEAVENSpring 2006

Published threetimes a yearfor the friends ofSt. Walburg Monastery

Editors: SistersDeborah Harmeling,Christa Kreinbrink,Martha Walther

Spring Issue 2006Volume 25Number 1

www.stwalburg.org

Celebrations and New Life at theCelebrations and New Life at theCelebrations and New Life at theCelebrations and New Life at theCelebrations and New Life at the

MonasteryMonasteryMonasteryMonasteryMonastery

On March 9, 2006 Srs. Nancy Kordenbrock, Christa Kreinbrink and MaryCarol Hellmann (left to right)represented St. WalburgMonastery at the LINK (Literacyin Northern Kentucky) 9th AnnualCorporate Spelling Bee. Theirparticipation brought thecommunity a flurry of fame,including local, national and international press coverage through the AP Wire, a briefappearance on the Today Show, an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Sr.Mary Carol was quoted in the March 20 issue of Time Magazine. See p. 4-5 and ourwebpage at www.stwalburg.org/coverage.htm for more information.

Seven young women from Ohio Wesleyan University spent their spring break fromMarch 11-18 living monastic life at St. Walburg Monastery. They experienced a “balance ofservice and prayer,” and the community experienced an infusion of new life and energy.

Left: Cate Daily, KayAlbright, Sr. DorothySchuette, StephanieBolongeorges and JulieEvans enjoy visiting at Motherof God Parish where Sr.Dorothy serves as PastoralAssociate. See p. 5, & 7 formore information and photos ofthe week.

Sr. Rita Bilz (far right)celebrates at her retirement dinnerwith her kitchen staff and friends:Nancy Nitschke, Kim Messer,Joyce Ailstock, and ClaudiaMoran. See p. 3-4 for article onSr. Rita and our new Food ServiceManager, Maureen Smain.

The Chronicles2 LEAVEN /Spring 2006

By Sr. Andrea Collopy

The Benedictine Sisters are deeply grateful for thesupport provided by our benefactors. You are remem-

bered whenever the community gathers for prayer. Forpurposes of donations, bequests, and annuities, ourlegal title is St. Walburg Monastery of Benedictine

Sisters of Covington, Kentucky, Inc. continued on p. 3

December 24-25—Our traditionalChristmas observance includes sungEvening Prayer, a fine dinner, a giftexchange, and a party in the lowerlevel to begin our celebration. Ablanket of snow did not greet usChristmas morning, but the mildweather and light rain made travel inthis area less hazardous. A morningof liturgical celebration followed bythe traditional brunch contributed tothe joy and blessings of this holytime.December 29—The communityhonored Sr. Rita Bilz (see articleon p. 3) with a retirement dinnerparty. She received gifts as well as abag of appreciative notes from thecommunity. Sr. Rita has served thecommunity in the kitchen for forty-six years. Someone calculated thatshe was responsible for at least47,000 meals. Sr. Rita Brink,prioress, praised our honoree forher “creativity in recipes andpresentation—poetry in the culinaryarts.”January 1—We welcomed ournew Food Service Manager,Maureen Smain, (see article on p.4 ) on her first official day at St.Walburg Monastery. Her SundayMain Meal at Noon, the first ofmany to come, introduced thecommunity to Maureen’s carvingskills as we passed through theserving line.January 9—Celebration of theBaptism of the Lord closed thelongest possible Advent and theshortest Christmas season. Treesand decorating disappeared.January 10—Sisters joined thestaff and friends of Hilda Dethragein celebrating her 90th birthday and40th year as Nursing Assistant at

Dear Friends,

Over the years you have given your friendshipand support to the Benedictine Sisters of St.Walburg Monastery as we serve the young andthe old, the sick and the poor, the stranger andthe guest.

From teaching young girls of immigrant familiesin 1859 to serving today through healthcare, spiritual direction, counselingservices, education, pastoral services, shared lectio, prayer and mutualdays of reflection, we have been able to share our lives and the richnessof God’s love with others. As we look for new ways to respond to God’scall and to minister to others, we face a changing society and feweryoung women choosing a commitment to the monastic life.

Our monastic life of prayer and hospitality affords us the opportunity towitness to the work of the Gospel in ways different from many. Theministry of prayer that daily engages our older members helps sustain usand gives to others a silent witness of the presence of God in their midst.

We have been affirmed and supported by your presence and your kindgenerosity over the years. With this issue of LEAVEN and eachsucceeding issue, we will include an envelope for your convenience. Yourgifts of support are appreciated and enhance our efforts to seek God incommunity life and to minister to others. You may also support us byvisiting our webpage at www.stwalburg.org and making an online gift byclicking on Invest in Our Future.

As we continue to support one another in prayer, hospitality andoutreach, may God continue to enrich our lives with love and the joy ofEaster. Happy Easter to all!

In Christ’s love,

Rita A. Brink, OSBPrioress

Letter from Sr. Rita Brink, Prioress

LEAVEN /Spring 2006 3

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continued on p. 4

Madonna Manor. She began hercareer there as a volunteer but whenthe facility needed more help, Hildabegan to serve regularly andcontinues.January 11—Sr. EmmanuelPieper’s newest banner providedfood for meditation during OrdinaryTime between the Christmas and Lentseasons. A sketch of the bannerappeared on the cover of the Octoberworkshop entitled “A People ofEndless Eucharist” as well as in thelast issue of LEAVEN. Sr. Emmanuelreceived so many favorablecomments that she was encouraged tocreate a banner. Our collection ofbanners is a community treasure.January 13-14—Sr. AileenBankemper presented a workshop,Skills for Relational Monastic Living,for the community of St. Scholastica,Boerne, Texas. January 22-23—Srs. Cecilia Dwyer of Bristow,Virginia, and Anne Shepard ofAtchison, Kansas helped thecommunity to draft directionalstatements for use in the April electionof prioress. (See article on p. 5-6. )January 26-February 2—Sr. RitaBrink participated in the annualConference of Prioresses meetingheld at Fort Smith, Arkansas. Theprincipal agenda item was the reviseddraft of Wisdom from theTradition, a document in process forBenedictine women.February 10—The Feast of St.Scholastica. The community andassociates celebrated Eucharist in thelate afternoon followed by dinner andEvening Prayer.February 17—Srs. AileenBankemper and Justina Franxmanpresented a retreat day for parish staffentitled “Celebrating Parish

Two million is a big number! But then you have been in charge of themonastery kitchen and preparing the meals for 43 years as well as three yearsprior kitchen service. It all adds up. Forty-seven thousand meals and with at leastsixty persons per meal is satisfactionfor well over two million hungrymouths!

December 29, 2005 markedthe end of a much-revered era for St.Walburg Monastery. The community,along with kitchen staff, gathered tohonor and thank Sr. Rita Bilz(pictured right), our most capable chefwho has passed the torch aftercompleting the aforementioned heroicfeat. “Graciousness, generosity,creativity, humor, good will andnumerous wholesome qualities” weremarks of her service. We have beenblessed with delicious, wholesome meals full of variety and wonderful surprises.

Those who witnessed and partook of her grand buffets could easilyrecognize the characteristics with which Sr. Rita Brink,prioress, described Sr. Rita. “She is a polished poet in herpresentation, an architect and a sculptor in her creations offruit pyramids, watermelon baskets, pineapple palm trees,tomato roses and frozen swans—toname just a few.” The prioress alsolauded the role of Sr. Rita as a

teacher who instructed so many of us in the fine art oftomato slicing, carrot peeling, jello molds, foodpresentation and so much more.

So what do you do now that you have retired? You arise in the morningwith the community instead of before them. You go through your recipes lookingat ones you have always wanted to try and not gotten around to preparing. You

schedule the kitchen to continue your dreams and youreserve Wednesdays to continue making your ever sofamous pies. You make plans to visit Jungle Jim’s hugegrocery and you pursue your hobby of country music.

Sr. Rita Bilz describes herself as a “plain Jane.”We think of her as so much more. But perhaps it is justthat humility that has made her years so successful.They were never about her. They were and continue to

be gift to us and for the glory of God.Sr. Mary Rabe

Honoring Sr. Rita BilzFeeding over two million guests and sisters over

forty-six years

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4 LEAVEN / Spring 2006

Community.” It takes a community tomake a parish.February 24-25—Celebration of theFeast of St. Walburg began on Fridaywith Evening Prayer and a dinner. OnSaturday Rev. John Cahill, ourchaplain, presided at 9:30 Eucharist.February 28—Mardi Gras alwaysbrings a party but this year’s wasspecial. Maureen Smain preparedNew Orleans specialties for everytaste. Our Louisiana natives thoughtthey were back home! In the eveninga community get-together with goodconversation AND a New Orleansspecial—praline cheese cake, Frenchfried (hot and not-so-hot) mushroomsand other goodies helped us get readyfor Lent.March—The March issue of St.Anthony Messenger published Sr.Colleen Winston’s review ofMother Angelica: the remarkablestory of a nun, her nerve and anetwork of miracles, a book byRaymond Arroyo.March 9—A local adult spelling beeattracts national attention. St. WalburgMonastery team (Srs. ChristaKreinbrink, Mary Carol Hellmannand Nancy Kordenbrock)represented us in the 9th AnnualCorporate Spelling Bee after fouryears absence. The monastery teamhad won three times before taking abreak and came back to face thecurrent champions, the Boone CountyPublic Library which had won threetimes as well. These teams joined 21other teams to benefit LINK, aprogram for adult literacy in NorthernKentucky. The Kentucky Postprinted a clever article written byJanice Gallagher which was picked upby the AP Wire. The word spread toNBC, The Today Show, the CanadianBroadcasting Corporation andnewspapers all over the world. (See

Shortly after beginning employment at St. Walburg Monastery asFood Service Manager, Maureen Smain said, “ I feel so comfortable, likeI’ve always been here.” Maureen grew up on the corner of Amsterdam Roadin view of the monastery gates. The Benedictine sisters at St. Joseph Schoolin Crescent Springs taught her, and she worked at Madonna Manor forseventeen years. She says that she feels like she has always been associatedwith the sisters and knows everybody.

When her brother opened a restaurant seven years ago he luredMaureen to be the chef. But she says she felt out of place there. She likesplanning menus and cooking, but she missed the people contact. One day last

fall Maureen was visiting Sr.Joseph in the SWM Infirmary,and Joyce Ailstock, a long-timekitchen employee, told her that Sr.Rita Bilz was retiring and thesisters were looking for herreplacement. Joyce invitedMaureen to apply. Maureenwasn’t looking for a job andreplied “No.” As she began todrive home, she thought about itand decided to go back and “talkto people”. She said she realizedthat she “had been missing thatatmosphere”.

Here she says, “I am able tofix meals for people whoappreciate them, not like at therestaurant where I had no rapportwith people. I had felt out of placeat the restaurant, but I don’t feelout of place here.”

Sr. Benedict Bunning gotMaureen started in food service. Maureen had taken a job at MadonnaManor in nursing care, but Sr. Benedict saw in her other possibilities andasked her to work in the kitchen with Sr. Joseph. She also arranged forMaureen to study Dietary Management at the University of Kentucky atLexington and travel with two other students for two years of classes whileshe worked at the Manor. Sr. Benedict was a vital presence for Maureen andshe herself was often in the Manor kitchen, even doing some special cooking.

Maureen loves planning parties, doing special menus for feastdaysand making people happy. She is always thinking of something new to do.She says she “wants to keep it new for the Sisters”. Sr. Henrietta told her “Itis OK to repeat an item.” Maureen also sees that the monastery is home tothe sisters and she wants the sisters to feel welcome to come in and use thekitchen and feel at home there. Numerous comments have been heard in thedining room about how good everything tastes and how “Maureen is spoilingus”. Indeed the sisters, guests and lay employees at the monastery aredelighted that we have such an able successor to Sr. Rita Bilz, our HeadCook for 47 years who built a superior reputation for good meals at St.Walburg Monastery in the spirit of Benedictine hospitality.

Sr. Dorothy Schuette

Welcome, Maureen Smain!

LEAVEN /Spring 2006 5

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our website at www.stwalburg.org/coverage.htm) for media coverage.The librarians defeated us in the12th round. Our team missed theword chimopelagic. The librariansspelled it and then spelled their ownword trinitrotoluene, also known asTNT. The competition ended with abang and lots of money raised foradult literacy.March 11—Sr. DeborahHarmeling presented a day ofreflection and insight entitled “Teachus to Pray: Growth in OurRelationship with God.” Aboutsixty-five participants listened,prayed and reflected. The day wasthe 13th event sponsored andorganized by the Center ofSpirituality Committee (Srs. AileenBankemper, Cathy Bauer,Deborah Harmeling, JustinaFranxman and Kim Porter). Weare experiencing a growingaudience and a wider ecumenicalpresence at these events.March 11-18—Six students andtheir moderator from OhioWesleyan University in Delaware,Ohio, spent their spring break withus. While many college studentsspend this week relaxing in Florida,students from OWU opt to use thistime in service projects of variouskinds. Our visitors, whose interestwas women in community, chose tospend time learning about andfollowing the schedule and workactivities of St. Walburg Monastery.They were a joyful and exemplarypresence during their week with us.Sr. Cathy Bauer, vocationdirector, her assistants and thecommunity were truly Benedictinein their hospitality.March 17--Sr. Dorothy Schuettehas been appointed by Bishop

If you think every election involves endless opinion polls, fund raising,inflammatory TV ads plus campaign slogans, promises and speeches, then read on.Election in a monastery is an alternative process. Here are a few basic facts andprinciples helpful for understanding the difference between a political election and amonastic election.

FactsWe hold election of prioress every four years.Members in perpetual profession have the right and obligation to vote. Theymust be present to cast a ballot (Email, phone or proxy votes are notpermitted.)Any member who has been professed five years or more is eligible to beelected prioress.A quorum (50%) of community members must be present and an absolutemajority is required for a valid election.St. Walburg Monastery belongs to the Federation of St. Scholastica. Thefederation president, Sr. Esther Fangman, presides at the election,confirms the appointment of the secretary and tellers, receives the votes,

effects the election by asking the oneelected for her acceptance of theoffice and finally confirms the election.

PrinciplesSt. Benedict, in chapter 64 of his

rule, says that a guiding principleshould always be that the wholecommunity acting unanimously in thefear of God selects the one placed inoffice.

Benedict’s criteria in making a choice are goodness of life and

wisdom in teaching. Church law gives community members the right and obligation to elect a prioress. Because election in

a monastery is a juridic act as well as a religious act, the Church furtherrequires certain conditions: prayerful discernment, knowledge ofcandidates, objectivity, freedom of the voters and time for the convergenceof insight in the community. Community members are to avoid asking forvotes, directly or indirectly, for themselves or for others.Community members are required to hold in confidence whatever is said byanother or about another and the results of all balloting.Prior to 1974 the community conducted elections very simply. The

community assembled in chapel and cast ballots. Eight good prioresses wereelected this way. Beginning in 1974 the community gradually took more time tobecome informed and responsible for the decision we make. We now use astructured discernment process keeping us open to the guidance of the Spirit whileconsidering the thoughts and ideas of other community members. The processrespects our obligation to make a free and informed decision that is good for thecommunity.

2006--Election Year at the Monastery

continued on p. 6

Past prioresses (left to right) Srs. MaryCatherine Wenstrup, Justina Franxmanand Ruth Yost talk about somethingserious at a community meeting.

6 LEAVEN /Spring 206

The Chronicles continuedRoger Foys to the SocialConcerns Committee of theCatholic Conference of Kentucky.One of her charges is to assist withthe improvement of ministry to jailand prison inmates.Winter/Spring 2006—It has beena strange season! A few really colddays but many of above normaltemperature. Much rain in January;little in February; abundance inMarch. Very little snow. Insects,little animals, trees, flowers, peopleare confused. The end of Februarysaw a small clump of daffodils in fullbloom. BUT there is one sure signof winter’s end and the approach ofspring—the mallard ducks arecasing the courtyard for a goodnesting site.March 21—The Feast of St.Benedict and the first full day ofspring brought an early morningwinter snow storm, icing the roads,canceling school and bringing anunexpected holiday. The communitycelebration with Eucharist andfestive dinner proceeded onschedule with a large attendance ofcommunity members andassociates. A beautiful blue sky andmuch warmer weather the next daymade quick work of the lastremnant of winter. (We hope!)April 1-2—Julie Evans, one of theOWU students who spent herspring break with us returned for avisit. In an email Julie said, "I’vefinally started listening to my heart… I think I learned this from beingaround you all and letting myself bequiet. It came from the silenceduring prayers and lectio. It camefrom taking time to let God speakto me instead of being frustratedthat I wasn’t doing enough to hearGod. I finally stopped and listened -'with the ear of my heart' asBenedict would say."

Srs. Cecilia Dwyer, Bristow, Virginia, and Anne Shepard ,Atchison, Kansas will facilitate the discernment process that begins Thursday,April 20. In January of this year these two sisters led us through a preliminaryprocess to develop direction statements for the next four years. New directionstatements are the result of reflection on the community’s work during the pastfour years and then identifying and agreeing on what we want to do in the nextfour years. Read our three direction statements in the box below.

The discernment process begins as groups of six or seven sisterssuggest persons they believe could serve as prioress. The entire communitythen hears each name and the reasons given. After prayer and reflection thecommunity limits the list of possible candidates to some reasonable number—perhaps four to six. These sisters are asked to speak with the communityabout their gifts, limitations and willingness to serve. They also respond toquestions from community members.

When the community members are ready to cast ballots, thecommunity moves to the chapel and opens the Chapter of Election. Thissolemn ritual opens with a hymn to the Spirit, the reading of Chapter 64 of theRule of Benedict and a reflection on the reading by Sr. Esther. Each sistercasts her ballot according to her date of entrance into the community. Ballotsare counted and then read aloud. Before the presider confirms the election ofthe new prioress, each member of the community comes to the front of thechapel and offers her support to the one elected. The ritual closes with afestive hymn.

Every term of office has an established beginning and end. Theprioress begins her term on June 7. Installation, not inauguration, takes placeon or near that date and the feast of Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood ofChrist. On this feast the community celebrates the nourishment that makes usone in Christ. Join us in prayer as we prepare for the election that will takeplace on April 23, 2006. We will let you know who is elected.

Sr. Mary Catherine Wenstrup

2006--Election Year at the Monastery continued

Direction StatementsAdopted by the Monastic Chapter January 22, 2006

We will use collaborative and inclusive processes forstrategic planning and decision making; we willcultivate open and reverent interpersonalcommunication skills within the community.

We will design a structured formation program forthose discerning membership in the community; wewill provide for and encourage community membersto participate in ongoing formation opportunities.

We will share Benedictine spirituality and thecommunity’s hospitality through further developmentand expansion of the services and programs of theCenter of Spirituality.

LEAVEN /Spring 2006 7

Alternative Spring Break: March 11-18, 2006

There was dancing in the monasterydining room as the students fromOhio Wesleyan Universitycelebrated “this monastery trip as aonce-in-a-lifetime thing.” Left,Katrena Kugler shows off herversion of an Irish jig while right,Julie Evans and StephanieBologeorges perform a moderncan-can. One of the students said,"Not one sister met my pre-conceived stereotype; they blew allthe myths I had away! I learnedhow powerful it is to be a woman."

The Women in Community team from Ohio WesleyanUniversity included: (front row, left to right) KayAlbright, campus minister, Cate Daily, CarrieChristian, Jasmine Jenkins and Katrena Kugler.Pictured in the back row are (left to right) Sr. CathyBauer, St. Walburg Monastery vocation director andthe week’s coordinator and OWU students StephanieBologeorges and Julie Evans. The students went towork with 24 different sisters during the week,participated in the Liturgy of the Hours and spent oneday together at HONK (Housing Opportunities ofNorthern Kentucky) painting the inside of a house.They also had a chance to visit and have dinner at the small group residences on the monastery grounds.

On Saturday March 18, thecommunity assembled atnoonday prayer to give thanksfor the graces of the week andto bless the departing students.Each woman received aBenedictine cross. Left:Stephanie says goodbye to Sr.Martina Arnold. Sr. Cathygives a Benedictine cross toStephanie while Cate andKatrena wait to receive theirs.

St. Walburg Monastery2500 Amsterdam RoadCovington KY 41017-5316www.stwalburg.org

BENEDICTINESISTERS

A Generous Gift Helps Readers Keep ReadingRecently Sr. Philomena was on phone duty when she received a call from Elaine Fite, who is a niece of

deceased Sr. Hilarine Deavy. Elaine wanted to know if the monastery could use a “reading unit” for the visuallyimpaired. Mrs. Fite’s mother had died and the familywas looking for a place that could use this special pieceof equipment. Sr. Philomena gave Elaine an enthusiasticaffirmative answer, stating that several of our sistershad visual problems and could benefit from such amachine.

This piece of equipment has opened newworlds of print for many of our sisters. It is a XeroxTelesensory unit and is located in the infirmary diningroom. Unlike most contemporary hi-tech equipment,this model is simple to operate. It has a flexible base onwhich any reading material is placed and movedhorizontally or vertically. The screen above magnifiesthe print, and the reader has the option to focus it blackon a white background or white on a blackbackground. Many sisters (including Sr. David Ruschmann, above) use the machine daily. We may have to establisha sign-up sheet for its use. Thank you, Elaine Fite.

Sr. Andrew Hellmann

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