Sisters will celebrate Year of Consecrated Life

Pope Francis has asked Catholics worldwide to “Wake up the World” with a fourteen month celebration of the lives of women and men religious.  This year of Consecrated Life began on the First Sunday of Advent November 29, 2014, and ends on February 2, 2016, the World Day of consecrated Life.  Its purpose is to “make a grateful remembrance of the recent past” while embracing “the future with hope”.

All of us have been called and live a consecrated life; religious, married, single…God has invited us to share in the fullness of LIFE in our particular vocation.  Each Sister at Benet Hill consecrated her life to Christ and to the service of the people of God through our community life and Gospel living.

Benedictines are monastics.  This means our primary purpose as explained in the Rule of Benedict is to be a school of the Lord’s service.  We live in community, pray together, share meals, and live our Benedictine values.  The seven pillars of Benedictinism are Community, Hospitality, Reverence, Humility, Stewardship/Partnership, Integrity and Discernment.  We make vows of Conversatio, a daily conversion of life, Obedience, and Stability as well as the evangelical vows of celibacy and poverty.

Throughout the over 1500 years of Benedictine history our ministries have depended on the needs of the times.  The “work of our hands” has taken many forms; from providing safe shelter to travelers, preserving the arts and civilization, providing education for youth, serving the immigrant, the migrant, the poor, providing theological, sacramental, scriptural and spiritual training of adults.  Today we offer a sacred space of hospitality.  Our programs, classes and events are open to all faith traditions.  All are welcome.  We invite you to join us in the way(s) that fill your spiritual hunger today.

The Sisters of Benet Hill Monastery have another reason for celebrating this Year of Consecrated Life.  We are remembering 100 years of our Benedictine presence and ministry in Colorado. We are approaching our 50^th Jubilee of becoming an independent Benedictine Monastery in Colorado.  Our Jubilee celebration opens June 14, 2015 and will close on June 12, 2016. Please stay tuned for announcements of celebration events!

Jan Ginzkey, OSB