Laetare Sunday

Dear friends,

Blessed Laetare Sunday! Today, the entrance antiphon at Mass encourages us to “Rejoice in the Lord always.” These hopeful words midways through the Lenten season reminds us of the reason for our prayer, fasting and almsgiving: friendship with God. Our Lenten practices are far more than just a self improvement project, or spiritual challenge, or temporary inconvenience (although they can seem like all those things too). Rather, they offer a chance to renew our relationship with our Saviour, Jesus, and deepen our participation in the life of the Holy Trinity, God himself.

As a gift of encouragement for this special day, we wanted to share with you an arrangement of the Pange lingua that our monastery sings at Vespers during Lent. We hope it offers you a chance to pause, reflect and give thanks.

God bless,
your sisters at Queen of Peace Monastery

 
 
Sr. Marie Thomas Lawrie
Lent: Into the Wilderness
 

Dear friends,

As we follow Jesus into the wilderness for the next 40 days of prayer and fasting, this Lenten season also invites us to reflect on what “wilderness” means to us personally. For some, the idea brings to mind epic mountains, wild ocean, or the deep mossy quiet of old growth forest. For others, a wilderness might be any place outside the landmarks of daily life. In truth, a wilderness can be anyplace that calls us beyond ourselves to encounter wonder, risk and a deeper need for trust.

Sr. Dominica Maria praying “in the wilderness” before her first profession.

In the Gospel for the first Sunday of Lent, Matthew tells us that Jesus was “led by the Spirit into the ἔρημον (eremon),” a Greek word that can mean wilderness, desert or deserted place. It shares the same root as the word eremites, or desert dwellers, from which we get the modern English word “hermit.” For the first monks and nuns of the Egyptian desert, the wilderness was a privileged place to seek God—and, along the way, to encounter themselves. Lent invites us, too, into this interior desert, where the “Word of God is living and active” (4:12). In the midst of daily life, we can renew the adventure of encountering the Lord, and genuinely seek to listen to Him in silence. And, like Elijah, we might find that the “still, small voice” calls us to follow in ways we never could have imagined (1 Kg 19:11).

In our own little wilderness of the Upper Squamish Valley, we recently had the great joy of watching two of our sisters take the next steps forward into Dominican contemplative life. On Our Lady of Lourdes, February 11, Sr. Dominica Maria of the Lamb of God celebrated her first profession of vows for three years. The ceremony took place during a beautiful Mass offered by our chaplain, fr. Pierre Leblond. A small group of sister’s family and friends who live in Canada were able to join us for the occasion. Afterwards, we shared cake together, along with a traditional Vietnamese sweet called Bánh Phu Thê (Husband and Wife Cake) which is often served as part of formal engagements and weddings. 

 
 

Earlier this year, on Epiphany, we were delighted to celebrate the entrance of postulant Genevieve. Like the Magi, she came from “afar” (aka Ottawa), travelling over “field and fountain, moor and mountain, [through blizzards]” to arrive safe and sound just in time for the feast. With one journey complete, the next journey begins: following Jesus in the footsteps of St. Dominic. Amen!

Finally, as our community enters Lent, we are also preparing for some unexpected construction. The autumn rains this year damaged our emergency exit bridge over Pilchuk Creek, creating a sinkhole that now reaches down to the water below. Although the bridge is still structurally sound, it requires resurfacing and significant repairs to ensure safe vehicle access — especially for emergency services when our main driveway is flooded — as well as continued access to our hydroelectric building. Alongside other projects planned for later this spring, this is an unseen and not entirely welcome expense. Still, we trust in the providence of God to help us undertake the necessary work. Please join us in praying to St. Joseph, who has always been generous in helping us to meet the occasional challenges of actually dwelling in the wilderness!

As always, w are deeply grateful for your friendship, and pray that the Lord may make the next 40 days a time of grace, peace and holy adventure. While we journey through this Lenten wilderness, please be assured of our daily prayers for you and your loved ones.

God bless,
your sisters at Queen of Peace Monastery

 
Sr. Marie Thomas Lawrie
Advent Blessings

As many of you know, Advent is a very special time for our monastery. When our founding sisters gathered in Surrey 25 years ago, the first liturgy they prayed together was the first Vespers of Advent. Gathered in their temporary quarters at Rosemary Heights, the little wreath of candles was blessed, and our sisters lifted their voices in praise to God, trusting that he would bless the foundation and guide the community as it grew. As we begin this season of trust and hope, the new liturgical year also calls our minds back to reflect on the blessings of the past year.

The celebration of our monastery’s 25th Jubilee of Foundation has certainly been a rich source of joy and thanksgiving, particularly in recent months. In September, many of our friends and benefactors from around the Archdiocese gathered with us for a special Mass of Thanksgiving. With heavy wildfire smoke that week, not everyone could make it, but we treasured everyone in our hearts and prayers throughout the day. In October, local members of the Dominican Order gathered for another day of Jubilee Celebration. A special guest of honour was our Dominican brother Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe, who began the founding of our community when he was Master of the Order. Another particular blessing was the presence of sisters from other Dominican monasteries in North America who were involved in sponsoring and coordinating the early days of our community. To everyone who has helped us over the years, we would like to express our deep and heartfelt thanks. God alone can reward you sufficiently for your goodness and kindness to us, and we continue to hold you in our prayers daily, particularly at the liturgy. Here are a few photos from the two celebrations:

 
 

The celebrations continued on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, October 7, when we had the great joy of receiving Kristy as our newest postulant. She joins us from Calgary, where she became acquainted with the Dominicans through her parish. Postulancy, which ordinarily lasts one year, is a time of continuing discernment and “settling in” to the reality of life in the monastery and monastic community. From learning the ropes of the Divine Office, to learning where things go in the kitchen, to a deeper daily encounter with God and oneself, its joys and challenges lay the foundation for the years to come. Please keep Kristy in your prayers as she takes this next step on her journey with the Lord!

 
 

In the midst of all these events, our soap sisters have been hard at work developing some new projects. In addition to being available in our Classic Collection box set, our four favourite soap bars are now available for individual purchase through our online shop. Next week, we’ll be also be launching a special Christmas Collection box featuring two new fragrances. Stay tuned!

Finally, it is our joy to share our winter newsletter with you. It contains more news about recent events in our community, a reflection on the season of Advent, and Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe’s homily from our Jubilee. We hope you enjoy it, and that it aids your reflection as we prepare for Christmas.

May the coming days bless you and your loved ones with comfort and hope as we prepare for the Nativity of our Saviour.

Sr. Marie Thomas Lawrie