MAY 2018 Translation of the Latin hymn from the 3^rd Century: We fly to your patronage, O Holy Mother of God, despise not our prayers in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorius and blessed Virgin.

Dear Friends,

May is the month dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God and our Blessed Virgin Mary.  Here at the monastery we sing this particular hymn, entitled “Sub tuum praesidium,” (your protection) every day after the Divine Office of None.  We also include a hymn to Mary right before the Blessing by Prioress Hilda after Compline.  Finally, as you know, the title of our monastery emphasizes our devotion to our Lady.  Mary serves not only as a humble model of silence and obedience for us, but also as a model of discipleship.

As a disciple of Jesus and Mary, please join us in thanksgiving, for another final profession this year, that of Sister Frances Nguyen, April 23, 2018.  The Solemn Monastic Profession and Consecration of Sister Frances was celebrated by +Most Reverend Bishop James Wall, Gallup Diocese and other concelebrants:  Msgr. Leo Gomez, Fr. Jeffrey Steele, and Fr. David Tate, and also Deacon Pat Valdez.  The festivities were held at the St. Joseph Center, here at the monastery.  The weather was almost perfect, with blue skies, and a little wind.  The Divine Providence group made a delicious meal and as always, we are grateful to Marie Colon, for the delicious rum cakes that she baked for this occasion.  Our friend, Carol, flew in from New York to be present and read the 1^st Reading at the Mass.  It was a joy to have some of our local friends and many of the monks from the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, helping with the Vietnamese singing.

The Vietnamese Entrance Hymn, entitled “Niềm Phó Thác,” means “Trust in God.”  This hymn expresses that “Today your grace comes abundantly…help me to trust and hope in You.”

As Sister Frances takes this life time commitment, she is now a part of the formation team, teaching Lectio Divina.  Also, her assignment of Liturgy keeps her busy in organizing the music and she is very enthusiastic in helping the members of our community to sing with zeal the praises of God.

Please pray for us as we will have our second Canonical Visitation in June.  As explained in the July 2015, Newsletter, the purpose of this Visitation is to help the community grow in self-understanding, to recognize and acknowledge the strengths and weaknesses, to identify what should be corrected or eliminated in our monastic life and to help with the vision and values.

God bless you and your families and may Our Mother Mary intercede for each of you.  We keep you in our prayers.                              From the Sisters of Our Lady of the Desert

On April 23, 2018, we celebrated the Final Profession of Sister Frances.  The weather was very nice and sunny with a little wind.  +Most Reverend Bishop James S. Wall was the main celebrant, followed by a delicious luncheon.

 

And now, Father, we pray you:  set the heart of Sister Frances on fire with your Holy Spirit.  May the face of Christ shine upon her and may all who see her discover Christ’s presence in the Church.  Father, look in love upon Sister Frances, sanctify her and bless her.

St. Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century said, “The life of a monk ought to be a continuous Lent. Since few, however, have the strength for this, we urge the entire community during these days of Lent to keep its manner of life most pure and to wash away in this holy season the negligences of other times” (Rule of Benedict 49.1-3).       

February 2018

Dear Friends,

On February 17, 2018, at the St. Rose of Lima Parish, Blanco, NM, we celebrated the final vows of Sister Agnes Le Doan.  This has been a journey for her since she arrived September 2011, being accepted as Novice, and then 1^st vows, December 2014.  Delighted with this occasion, Bishop James Wall, of the Gallup Diocese officiated as main celebrant for the Mass and we thank all the priests, deacons, acolytes, Knights of Columbus, and the parishioners, who participated in any way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We especially thank Abbot Philip Lawrence and the monks of Christ in the Desert, who helped us with the music.  – After Bishop Wall’s sermon, there was a formal “Call to Profession,” when Prioress Hilda interrogated Sister Agnes Le if she felt the Lord is calling her to seek Him in this monastic community.  S. Agnes, then read aloud the Chart of Profession, promising “Stability, Conversion of Life and Obedience according to the Rule of our Holy Father Benedict and the Constitutions of the Abbey of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple, Jamberoo, Australia, until death…”  The Chart is then signed by S. Agnes, then by Prioress Hilda and also by Bishop James.  During this special celebration we continue with the Signs of Consecration, when S. Agnes Le formally receives the Cowl, the Veil, the Ring, and the Psalter.  The Signs being ones of promising her Stability, Conversion of Life and Obedience made to God.  After S. Agnes received the Ring from the Bishop, Sister recited the espousal commitment.

Please pray for the continued perseverance of Sister Agnes Le and during this Lenten season we pray for you and your intentions.  We also ask you to pray through the intercession of St. Joseph, we can build a new Chapel.

We ask God to fill you, your family and loved ones with His peace, always.   From the Sisters of Our Lady of the Desert

On February 17, 2018, Sister Agnes Le made her final profession.  The vow formula includes that “In the presence of God and his saints, before  Prioress Hilda Tuyuc, representing Mother Mary Barnes, Abbess of the Monastery of Our Lady of the Desert,  Gobernador, New Mexico, and with my monastic community as witness, I, Doan Thi Le, known in monastic life as Sister Agnes Le Doan, in response to Christ’s call and preferring nothing to His love, promise Stability, Conversion of Life and Obedience according to the Rule of our Holy Father Benedict and the Constitutions of the Abbey of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple, Jamberoo, Australia, until death…”

We were pleased to have Bishop James Wall, Bishop of Gallup officiate as main celebrant and thank all those who participated in any way.  Here are a few pictures of the celebration.

 Eucharistic Liturgy and Rite of Solemn Monastic Profession and Consecration at the St. Rose of Lima Parish, Blanco, NM

During the Litany of Saints, Sister Agnes Le prostrates on the floor in the center of the Church at the front of the altar and is “buried” under the pall.

 Sister Agnes Le with Bishop James, Abbot Philip and family

Our wonderful chefs Mark and Anne Weigel, from “Come to the Feast,” 413 N. Orchard Ave., Farmington, NM

Knights of Columbus at the reception

Dear Friends,

PAX CHRISTI. On behalf of all the sisters of the Monastery of Our Lady of the Desert, we are grateful and appreciate all of you who support our community in so many ways. To mention a few:

Those who hold us in prayer
The many visitors and guests
Our neighbors
Those who ask for prayers by telephone or via Internet
For those who gift us with food and flowers
Those who maintain our garbage bins
For those who fill our propane tanks
The volunteers who always help us with a smile
The physicians volunteer their service
US Post Offices
The workers who help keep up the maintenance of our buildings

For the many gift donations
For those who forgive us for whatever wrong we do
To those who encourage us in our monastic way of life
We ask God to bless all our Chaplains. During the upcoming Holy Days of November and December, we hold you and your dear ones in our prayers.vMay the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13) Thank you and God bless you!
Sister Hilda Tuyuc, OSB, Prioress

This past week, October 1-7, 2017, our community has been on retreat with Fr. Caedman Holmes, from the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. He has given us talks on the Little Way of St. Therese of Lisieux. From her words, “I feel that my mission is only beginning; my mission to make the good God loved as I love Him, to give my little way to souls.” God bless you! SK

Father Stanley Rother, the Oklahoma-born martyr who served as a priest in Guatemala, was Beatified in Oklahoma City on September 23, 2017. Our Prioress Hilda and Sister Kateri were blessed to attend the Beatification accompanied by Fr. Josh Mayer, Pastor of St. Mary’s/St. Rose of Lima Parishes.

In early 1981, his name was on a death list, so he returned to Oklahoma and was warned not to go back to Guatemala. But he could not abandon his people so he went back, and made the ultimate sacrifice for his faith. You might want to read more about Blessed Father Stanley Rother

NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2017 “Let us then pursue what leads to peace and to building up one another.” In this quote from Romans 14, verse 19, we internalize ways of being in harmony with the other, trying to see the good in the other, seeing the ways that we can help the other.

We give thanks to God for all His graces and gifts, and ask Our Lord to continue giving you peace and good health. We appreciate all the prayer requests that come through our website.