Our Lady of Solitude Monastery

A few weeks ago, Megan, Geneva and I received this very special invitation:

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I want to remind you about the exciting opportunity coming up for all our Little Flowers of St. Therese!  Saturday, July 20 is the day Father Lankeit has planned for us all to visit the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration at their convent in Tonopah, AZ.   Knowing how important Perpetual Adoration is to our team of Prayer Warriors, Father has presented us with this wonderful challenge: to see the power of Adoration at work in the lives of these Sister Prayer Warriors.  This is the Order that inspired Father in the first place to organize the Little Flowers Prayer Team at Saints Simon and Jude Cathedral.  I know he is hoping that every single one of you will be in attendance, so please RSVP as soon as possible so we can give him (and the Poor Clares) our final head count.  We will meet at the Cathedral at 8:00 am to carpool to our destination.  Here’s what to expect when we arrive:

 

10:00 a.m. Mass at the Convent with Father Lankeit

After Mass until 11:30 a.m.  Tour — Sr. John Mark Maria (SJMM)

11:30 a.m. Talk on Vocation — Sr. Mary Fidelis (SMF)

12:00 p.m. Group A Lunch (bring your own bagged lunch) (SJMM)

12:00 p.m. Group B Question/Answer (SMF)

12:45 p.m. Group B Lunch (bring your own bagged lunch) (SMF)

12:45 p.m. Group A Question/Answer (SJMM)

1:30 p.m. Service Projects (SJMM and Sr. Tara)

2:30 p.m. Talk on St. Therese (Fr. Lankeit or SMF)

3:00 p.m. Eucharistic Holy Hour

4:00 p.m. Depart

 

For the service project we are thinking perhaps of cleaning in the Chapel & pre-stuffing envelopes, and we are brainstorming about other ideas (possibly making rosaries or something like that).

This will be your chance to learn more about consecrated religious life, understand the lives of our Sisters better so we can pray for them and support them, and satisfy any curiosity one might have as to what goes on in the lives of busy, hard-working nuns.  It will also be a lot of fun!  We will enjoy spending time together, learning more about our faith, and enjoying Father Lankeit’s and the Sisters’ company.  It promises to be a day you won’t soon forget!

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Well, yesterday was the day!  We took four vehicles (including Fr. Lankeit and Deacon Keith, who came along for the day to assist with Mass and Adoration) and drove out west of Phoenix and several miles into the desert, until at last we saw the dome in the distance.  What a beautiful, remote setting for their contemplative life!

I would have needed to spend the day taking copious notes if I were going to relate all the information with which we were graced by the Sisters in their talks, tours, and time spent with us during the lunch hour and work times.  But I was too busy taking photos!  Suffice it to say, the entire day from beginning to end was thoroughly blessed by the Lord.  What a privilege and treat to be allowed to tour their entire chapel, including the cloister parts (they are not yet fully cloistered, as they are still awaiting the completion of the monastery portion of the property, so they were able to show us the parts that eventually will be closed off to the public).  What an honor to meet these beautiful, intelligent, vivacious and eloquent ladies who commit themselves entirely to God for a life of adoration, prayer and intercession for the world.  What a gift to hear the pure, clear tones of their voices floating effortlessly in ethereal beauty under the high chapel ceiling.  Each of these Sisters is a treasure, a precious jewel in the crown of our Lord.

Here is my collection of photos, starting with the first glimpses of the chapel across the desert as we arrived; then a couple in the Sister’s Parlor where we left our bags and lunches and made ready for mass (everyone needed to get their veils in place); moving on to the tour, including: the chapel, extern sacristy and monastery sacristy, adoration chapel behind the sanctuary, and the mass choir, where the sisters will attend mass behind a screen once they are fully cloistered; some photos during the Vocations Directress, Sister Mary Fidelis’ excellent talks in the morning and afternoon; and outside under the threatening monsoon skies as we prepared to leave at the end of the day.

We could not have asked for more gracious hospitality or a more beautiful setting for our day of retreat.  I pray that all those who attended were as blessed as I was by the experience.  I look forward to visiting again!

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