Dear friends,
As the autumn rains begin to sweep down our valley, the wild dogwoods on the mountainside are glowing red, while the maples and alders have deepened to a gentle amber. As we store away the harvest from our garden, it’s a time for our community to give thanks for God’s generosity, while also looking forward to the slower indoor months ahead. The sacristans will continue to cut bouquets from our garden until the first hard frost, but the garlic is planted for next year, and the other plots are well protected by a winter blanket of leaves.
While we watch the natural world change and diminish during this autumn season, we know we can look forward to its rising again with the first green leaves and seedlings next spring. In a similar way, our thoughts turn to the celebration of All Saints and All Souls at the beginning of November. As we remember our loved ones who have gone before us into the mystery of death, we also look to our older brothers and sisters in faith, the saints. Through their witness and intercession, we too place our hope in God’s love, which extends beyond the grave, and in the promise of sharing in Christ’s resurrection. Just as we are now “sown” in “weakness” and “perishability” (1 Cor 15), we can look forward to an eternal spring that will never end.
During this month when we pray in a particular way for all the faithful departed, please be assured of our prayers for your intentions, particularly for your deceased loved ones. May God’s infinite love and mercy welcome them peacefully home to our Father’s house, and may we be reunited with them one day in the joy of heaven.
God bless,
your sisters at Queen of Peace Monastery
Autumn Newsletter
Our latest newsletter is now online in English and French (the Vietnamese edition is still in translation). It features our community’s news from the summer, as well as a reflection on the role of saints in our lives, a feature on Dominican nuns who have been declared “blessed,” and a profile on Servant of God fr. Marie-Joseph Lagrange O.P., founder of the the French School of Biblical and Archaeological Studies in Jerusalem (aka the École Biblique) We hope that you enjoy it. If you are a print subscriber, it should be in the mail soon; if you’re not, it’s not too late to sign up for this edition.
Vestition of Sr. Maria Jordan
On the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7), postulant Kristy received the Dominican habit and the religious name Sr. Maria Jordan of Christ the Light. Below are a few moments from the beautiful ceremony in our Chapter hall. Please pray for sister as she begins her novitiate.
New Pottery
After a successful bisque firing, the pottery sisters are in currently glazing a new batch of wares in preparation for a kiln firing later this month. We hope to have new mugs, bowls and other handmade vessels in our gift shop sometime in early November.
Upcoming Holiday Soap
Our soap sisters have been stirring, mixing and wrapping two collections of festive soap, which will be available for purchase online beginning in late November. The Classic Collection gets a wintery look with beautiful Christmas-themed wrapping, while the Holiday Collection of special scents and decorations returns for another year.
