Next question on the list comes from AL "What other responsibilities do you have besides classes and prayers?"
Answer: Our actual assigned tasks are called our "assistance." These include being in the locker section of the high school in mornings to sell breakfast type snacks and be an adult presence, going to the cafeteria during lunch time to help organize the hot lunches, sell snacks, and wipe down tables, and go the the Provincial House for lunch time to eat with the elderly Sisters and then help with the heavier chores since many of them are no longer able to do things like mop or lift the larger dishes.
We also have chores around the house that are assigned on a weekly basis. On Saturdays, the six aspirants take turns cleaning our study and classroom, cleaning the front entryway to the convent and helping one of the Sisters clean the chapel. Each night after supper the whole community pitches in with kitchen clean up and each week we have different chores that range from sweeping and mopping the floor to putting away the leftovers.
The Sister who is in charge of the chapel is also taking one of us a month and teaching us the duties of sacristan. This means we learn how to set up for Mass, clean the church linens, change out candles, and other general upkeep in the chapel. The person who is the sacristan in training for the month has to be in chapel in plenty of time to make sure the lights and microphone are turned on and the candles are lit.
Each of us has a class or is a teacher's aide for CCD in parish programs near our house. So each Sunday morning is spent teaching and attending mass with our students. As an aide I don't have to do any planning and just show up each Sunday, but my companions who are the head teacher for a class spend a decent amount of time preparing their lessons for each week.
Beyond our assigned chores, at any given time we can be pulled from our study room to help with tasks around the house. Our house is the largest in the Province so this means we often are hosting meetings, workshops and other gatherings of the Sisters. After these are over, we help clean the rooms and get them ready for the next group. The Sister in charge of the development of the Province has her office out of our house so when needed we help her get ready for different events and fundraisers.
Being involved in all the different types of ministries that are carried out by the Sisters we live with gives us exposure to the work we can be involved with after we take vows. It also keeps us very and active, giving us a sense of what life will be like as a Sister. The Salesians are contemplatives in action meaning we have our required prayer time but much of our life is spent out working with the young people. This is not to say we aren't prayerful because as part of our formation process we are learning our work is a way to bring us to closer union with God by offering up all of our chores and duties to Him.
Friday, October 30, 2015
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Niece of the Bride
Over the last 19 years, I've had the privilege of being niece of the groom three times, today for the first time I get to be the niece of the bride. This morning due to side effects from early morning convent wake ups and sheer excitement for the day I woke up kind of early and was thinking about this post. As the post was formulating in my mind, I had scene much like the flashback scene George Banks has, old pictures of Munchkin through the years rolling through my head as I contemplated whether not to get up.
You see I'm very lucky, because eight days after her 10th birthday Munchkin gave up her spot as the youngest member of the family when I entered the world.
From the start, she was the coolest person I ever knew. She was one of my first playmates and babysitters and as I got older I quickly wanted to be just like Munchkin.
You see I'm very lucky, because eight days after her 10th birthday Munchkin gave up her spot as the youngest member of the family when I entered the world.
From the start, she was the coolest person I ever knew. She was one of my first playmates and babysitters and as I got older I quickly wanted to be just like Munchkin.
Even before I knew I started copying her fashion statements. (She was a Pepsi box one year before I was.)
Eventually the copying of her fashion statements was on purpose and I had to have a red polo and brown sandals because that's what Munchkin wore. I had to have my hair pulled up in a bun because that's how Munchkin wore her hair. I wanted braces because Munchkin had braces and therefore that was cool. When I got to fourth grade and had to pick an instrument out for beginner band, I wanted to play trumpet because that's what Munchkin played in her band. When I started playing sports, I wanted number 25 because that was Munchkin's number. And through it all, she willingly let me follow her around, played countless and endless games, dutifully playing dress up and house and a million other things I'm sure as a teenager she would have rather not, she patiently let me dress just like her, and kindly handled the greeting she got for many years of "I'm almost taller than you." and then having to be inaccurately measured by my younger self. Munchkin was easily the coolest babysitter ever always making frozen pizza (sometimes dropping it in the oven, remember that Munchkin?) and chocolate milk and hands down the she was the funniest person I'd ever met.
Then one day she graduated high school and she was moving very far away to college. I cried when she moved away because Munchkin was going to be so far away and then I started counting down until she would be home again. Months before her college graduation she once again was awesome and made a flying trip home to be my Confirmation sponsor. It was literally a flying trip complete with the state trooper's certification as such.
Needless to say it was the best day ever when Munchkin decided to move five minutes away from our house.
End walk down memory road.
Thank you Munchkin for being so cool, funny, patient, and wise. For going from being my babysitter to one of my very good friends. Today is such a very exciting day and I couldn't be happier for you.
Welcome to the family, Jeti. We're a little crazy, sort of loud, and a whole lot of there for each other at the drop of a hat. I'm sure you know that though, because you're getting the life of our party and a very special person.
I wish you both all the happiness in the world on your special day. Please appreciate this well wishes right now, because after being the errand runner and dog sitter/taxi/walker later I may have other thoughts on this day.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Convent Q & A
Question: What are your responsibilities besides classes and prayers?
Answer: In writing, our other responsibilities include supervising the girls and selling the breakfast/snacks in the morning before school, handing out the high school lunches, selling snacks at lunch time, wiping down tables at lunch time, and helping clean up at the Provincial House after lunch. We also have weekly assigned chores for after mealtimes and Saturday. These include things like washing dishes, setting up for breakfast, mopping, cleaning the classroom, cleaning the chapel, etc. The six of us also teach CCD on Sundays at a couple local parishes.
To be honest our other responsibilities are whatever the Sisters feel like having us do today. Since our schedule is considered to be the most flexible in the whole house because we aren't specifically tied to classrooms or other jobs. We do anything from driving around some of the elderly Sisters to becoming moving crews for the Sister in charge of grounds keeping. Everybody takes turns signing up to cook on Saturday and Sunday, so occasionally that is also something I do.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Convent Life
Thank you all for your responses. I'll start with Mrs. MC's question first, a typical day.
That is kind of an ironic question because since we've been here no day has really been typical. One of the things the Sisters have told us is important about being Salesian is the ability to adapt because we have to a lot. However we do have a schedule with what a day is supposed to be like.
5:40 a. m.: We start our day in the big chapel with meditation. My meditation usually includes trying not to fall back asleep, especially since they sit the aspirants in the front two pews.
6:10 a.m.: Mass, followed by morning prayers.
6:45 ish a.m.: Depending on the week I head back to the house for breakfast and then unloading the dishwashers and putting away the breakfast stuff, or I go down to the high school and help supervise the girls and sell them breakfast until school starts.
From the time morning chores are done until 9 is time to study or get other things done that we are working on.
9 - 10 a.m.: Class. This changes daily. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, one of the Sisters teaches us a class at this time. On Tuesdays we use the time to study and do Italian online.
10:30 a.m.: Most weeks this is the time we head to the high school to help get lunch ready for the girls. Then we help through lunch, giving them their lunches, selling snacks, and wiping down tables.
If it's my week to help at the high school we usually get back from that around 12 and then we raid the walk in fridge for leftovers and have our own lunch. If it isn't my week to help with high school lunch then I go down to the Provincial House where all the older Sisters live. Two of us go down each day and eat lunch with them and then help with chores. Chore time at the Provincial House gets interesting because there are a bunch of elderly women who are all set in their ways trying to tell you 50 different ways to dry and put away dishes and mop the kitchen floor.
The afternoons are either study time again or we have class depending on the day, until 4.
4 p.m. starts our free time. I generally use this time to take a decently long rosary walk with some of my companions and/or any Sisters who are around, or I go for a half hour run around the soccer field. On days when the girls have home volleyball, soccer, or tennis, we try to go to the games during free time to be moral support.
5:30 p.m. Spiritual reading and evening prayer in the big chapel again with the whole community.
6 p.m. Supper and chore time. This is one of my favorite parts of the day because the whole community comes together and sometimes it's the only time some of the Sisters are around because their ministries keep them busy all the rest of the time.
7 - 8 p.m. Recreation time. Recreation consists of anything from board games to a three on three basketball game, not cards though. No one here really knows how to play cards and it makes me sad.
8 - 9:30 p.m. More free time, but it is generally quiet time. I use this time to chat with friends on Facebook and send e-mails.
9:30 p.m. We have to be in our rooms by this time. I usually try to get there before then.
10:00 p.m. Lights out.
Repeat. The weekends are only slightly different because instead of class time we have chore time and more free time on Sunday afternoons. So that pretty much sums up what a typical day is like. It sounds pretty monotaneous, but since we rarely actually completely go by the schedule, life stays pretty interesting.
That is kind of an ironic question because since we've been here no day has really been typical. One of the things the Sisters have told us is important about being Salesian is the ability to adapt because we have to a lot. However we do have a schedule with what a day is supposed to be like.
5:40 a. m.: We start our day in the big chapel with meditation. My meditation usually includes trying not to fall back asleep, especially since they sit the aspirants in the front two pews.
6:10 a.m.: Mass, followed by morning prayers.
6:45 ish a.m.: Depending on the week I head back to the house for breakfast and then unloading the dishwashers and putting away the breakfast stuff, or I go down to the high school and help supervise the girls and sell them breakfast until school starts.
From the time morning chores are done until 9 is time to study or get other things done that we are working on.
9 - 10 a.m.: Class. This changes daily. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, one of the Sisters teaches us a class at this time. On Tuesdays we use the time to study and do Italian online.
10:30 a.m.: Most weeks this is the time we head to the high school to help get lunch ready for the girls. Then we help through lunch, giving them their lunches, selling snacks, and wiping down tables.
If it's my week to help at the high school we usually get back from that around 12 and then we raid the walk in fridge for leftovers and have our own lunch. If it isn't my week to help with high school lunch then I go down to the Provincial House where all the older Sisters live. Two of us go down each day and eat lunch with them and then help with chores. Chore time at the Provincial House gets interesting because there are a bunch of elderly women who are all set in their ways trying to tell you 50 different ways to dry and put away dishes and mop the kitchen floor.
The afternoons are either study time again or we have class depending on the day, until 4.
4 p.m. starts our free time. I generally use this time to take a decently long rosary walk with some of my companions and/or any Sisters who are around, or I go for a half hour run around the soccer field. On days when the girls have home volleyball, soccer, or tennis, we try to go to the games during free time to be moral support.
5:30 p.m. Spiritual reading and evening prayer in the big chapel again with the whole community.
6 p.m. Supper and chore time. This is one of my favorite parts of the day because the whole community comes together and sometimes it's the only time some of the Sisters are around because their ministries keep them busy all the rest of the time.
7 - 8 p.m. Recreation time. Recreation consists of anything from board games to a three on three basketball game, not cards though. No one here really knows how to play cards and it makes me sad.
8 - 9:30 p.m. More free time, but it is generally quiet time. I use this time to chat with friends on Facebook and send e-mails.
9:30 p.m. We have to be in our rooms by this time. I usually try to get there before then.
10:00 p.m. Lights out.
Repeat. The weekends are only slightly different because instead of class time we have chore time and more free time on Sunday afternoons. So that pretty much sums up what a typical day is like. It sounds pretty monotaneous, but since we rarely actually completely go by the schedule, life stays pretty interesting.
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Reader Poll
Alright for all five of you out there who are reading this, I need ideas. What do you want to hear about? To me the daily in and outs of life at the convent are pretty much a rhythm at this point so it doesn't really seem like a lot of bloggable moments. Granted when I say rhythm there really isn't one. Our formator gave us a schedule when we got here six weeks ago and I can honestly say I don't think we've followed it the whole week through once. There is a lot of last minute changes and spur of the moment things that come up, not necessarily interesting ones. It's more like we're supposed to having class with Sr. So and So at this time but she can't make it so Sr. So and So is taking her place, or we're praying at here at 5:30 tonight.... ten minutes later scratch that we're praying in the other chapel.
So leave your idea in the comment section. Feel free to make it questions about convent life too. If I get enough of those I could start doing a weekly post answering one or two of your questions.
So leave your idea in the comment section. Feel free to make it questions about convent life too. If I get enough of those I could start doing a weekly post answering one or two of your questions.
Saturday, October 3, 2015
A Unique Experience
Sorry for the lateness in posting about Philly, but we came home and had to get right back to class and help get ready for a very large fundraiser for the high school.
Turns out we had tickets for the Papal mass all along, but when the vocation directors switched at the end of the summer that wasn't communicated. So Monday we had the van loaded up and off we headed to Philly for a week at the World Meeting of Families. The WMOF was a very cool experience. There were people from literally all over the world. My only speaking English status was a bit of a hindrance in communicating with some of the foreigners, luckily some of my companions and the sisters with us were able to talk to those people. In order to make up for missing a week of classes we were encouraged to go take in some of the talks taking place throughout the week. I sat in on the talks from Bishop Robert Barron and Dr. Scott Hahn. Both men had some really great points to make that although directed at the family could also be applied to people in religious life.
Friday is when the real fun began. After tearing down our booth and sending all the stuff back to the convent, we headed out to explore historic Philly. Being the Revolutionary War history nut I am, I thoroughly enjoyed touring Betsy Ross's house, attending church at the oldest Catholic parish in the U.S., and seeing other places our Founding Fathers frequented while in Philly.
Saturday we got up super early in order to be present for all the activities the Pope would be participating in upon his arrival to Philly. We somehow managed to be standing right next to the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul when he arrived to say mass. Unfortunately, due to the large number of people we couldn't see him. After listening to the mass on the jumbotron we headed to find good places for the parade and in doing so I met up with a group of students form U of I. Pretty much made my day getting to see the folks from home. Then along with one of the sisters, the priest who spent the week with us and a friend from U of I we went and stood along the railing for something along the lines of 4 hours waiting for the parade. The parade finally came and although it was very exciting to see Pope Francis in person, it was a bit of a let down because they drove him by really fast and we literally only saw him for 6 seconds.
Sunday was the big day. We got to the Parkway super early so we could have good seats. One of the Sisters grabbed a nice section of a hill and we parked it until the Mass. It was amazing the number of people who were crowding into the area to attend the mass and in hopes of seeing Pope Francis. Shortly before the parade started, the same sister who found our sitting area suggested to Companion B and I that we go try to get a closer look for the parade. I'm so glad we took her advice. We found a spot next to a family that wasn't super crowded. The great part, the family had a two month old baby. When Pope Francis drove by, the dad held out the baby and the pope stopped for the Secret Service to bring the baby to him so he could bless her. It was amazing! For a solid two minutes the Pope Mobile was parked all of about 20 feet away from me. Seeing him that close was a very moving experience. I had to chuckle because when he stopped he looked down at his watch to check how much time there was before mass started, showing his punctuality and humanity. Mass was also pretty cool. The only downside was he did the homily in Spanish so I have to find it online and listen to the translation.
All I can say from the whole experience is that God works in wonderful and mysterious ways in providing us with such a unique and monumental experience in our formation.
Turns out we had tickets for the Papal mass all along, but when the vocation directors switched at the end of the summer that wasn't communicated. So Monday we had the van loaded up and off we headed to Philly for a week at the World Meeting of Families. The WMOF was a very cool experience. There were people from literally all over the world. My only speaking English status was a bit of a hindrance in communicating with some of the foreigners, luckily some of my companions and the sisters with us were able to talk to those people. In order to make up for missing a week of classes we were encouraged to go take in some of the talks taking place throughout the week. I sat in on the talks from Bishop Robert Barron and Dr. Scott Hahn. Both men had some really great points to make that although directed at the family could also be applied to people in religious life.
Friday is when the real fun began. After tearing down our booth and sending all the stuff back to the convent, we headed out to explore historic Philly. Being the Revolutionary War history nut I am, I thoroughly enjoyed touring Betsy Ross's house, attending church at the oldest Catholic parish in the U.S., and seeing other places our Founding Fathers frequented while in Philly.
Saturday we got up super early in order to be present for all the activities the Pope would be participating in upon his arrival to Philly. We somehow managed to be standing right next to the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul when he arrived to say mass. Unfortunately, due to the large number of people we couldn't see him. After listening to the mass on the jumbotron we headed to find good places for the parade and in doing so I met up with a group of students form U of I. Pretty much made my day getting to see the folks from home. Then along with one of the sisters, the priest who spent the week with us and a friend from U of I we went and stood along the railing for something along the lines of 4 hours waiting for the parade. The parade finally came and although it was very exciting to see Pope Francis in person, it was a bit of a let down because they drove him by really fast and we literally only saw him for 6 seconds.
Sunday was the big day. We got to the Parkway super early so we could have good seats. One of the Sisters grabbed a nice section of a hill and we parked it until the Mass. It was amazing the number of people who were crowding into the area to attend the mass and in hopes of seeing Pope Francis. Shortly before the parade started, the same sister who found our sitting area suggested to Companion B and I that we go try to get a closer look for the parade. I'm so glad we took her advice. We found a spot next to a family that wasn't super crowded. The great part, the family had a two month old baby. When Pope Francis drove by, the dad held out the baby and the pope stopped for the Secret Service to bring the baby to him so he could bless her. It was amazing! For a solid two minutes the Pope Mobile was parked all of about 20 feet away from me. Seeing him that close was a very moving experience. I had to chuckle because when he stopped he looked down at his watch to check how much time there was before mass started, showing his punctuality and humanity. Mass was also pretty cool. The only downside was he did the homily in Spanish so I have to find it online and listen to the translation.
All I can say from the whole experience is that God works in wonderful and mysterious ways in providing us with such a unique and monumental experience in our formation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)