Three photos in the First Fruits newsletter

https://norbertinesisters.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/%EF%80%A1FINAL%EF%80%A1NLv62.2_August2024_08-28-24-8-mb.pdf

 

Five years anniversary of entrance

 Prayers for her today.

Feast of Saint Norbert

 My heart today is with the sisters in California and also celebrating the second anniversary of the hospital baptism of little James.

Norbertines in Rome

 These were posted from different sources. Representatives of the order from around the world were in Rome to commemorate the 900th jubilee with the pope. Found sister Mary Norbert in a couple photos! 

Card from Norbertine Sisters

 

Time to write…

 The monthly activity that fills the heart!

Their latest newsletter is on the site: 

http://norbertinesisters.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/%EF%80%A1WEB%EF%80%A1NL_54_Christmas-REAL_12-6-21.pdf

Cards from Sr Maria Perpetua

 A friend donated the most beautiful cards so the sisters chose from a beautiful collection of brand new cards. Here are some our family received from her!

Norbertine Sisters' newsletter

This is the Norbertine Sisters' first newsletter since our Number Six entered in September. It was great seeing her in a photo inside and the note about her entrance. And just today, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, her name day. We will receive a paper copy this week. Read it on their site.

Shopping for a wedding gift

We will be attending a wedding in Texas this weekend and will see Number Seven and  three more of the kids! I shopped for the Gift at the online gift shop of the Norbertine sisters.

At the Bethlehem Priory of St. Joseph, home of the Norbertine Canonesses

We arrived Saturday afternoon... the road is windy and uphill--their property is at 5000 ft elevation.

View from guest house

heavenly smelling lavender

their property

we arrived in the afternoon

very modest chapel and gift shop filled with wonderful things

st Joseph garden

detail

grotto

lavender

st anthony garden

Season of farewells

Farewells aren’t easy, but they are beautiful and love-filled. Number Six I has had to experience a number of these. Cecilia posted beautiful words after her departure: 

From Cecelia:
Friendship is one of the truest joys of my life. I didn’t know that when I met a girl in ballet class when I was 7 years old that she would be a part of my life forever. That girl has grown up to be my most beautiful and incredible friend Maria. As this week you enter your new home pursuing your vocation as Norbertine I am struggling to imagine how I can do life without your presence in my daily life, but the truth is that I use the gifts that you have given me on a daily basis and they will last a lifetime. Thank-you first for showing me what true friendship is. Your love is constant and your support unfailing. Thank-you for showing me how to love and be friends with sisters. Without your example I would not have the relationship with either of mine that I do. Thank you for the love, laughter, and light you have brought to my life for the last 14 years. Change is hard and this is a pretty major one, but I rejoice for and with you that you have found your home, and I pray that you will grow nearer to Christ through this new adventure. There is a poem I love written by a special women that precisely describes my feelings this week.

"I don't think I've ever known
A love this pure, this plainly shown.
If all my hopes and dreams would end,
This I would know: you are my friend.

When I get tired of day-to-day
And dreads and fears obstruct my way,
Through all that life's worst storms may send,
At least I know you are my friend.

Your every laugh and hug and joke and tears
Remain with me across the years.
And if our lives cruel fate may rend,
Still I will know you are my friend.

If you grow weak and need relief,
Some shelter from your pain and grief,
I'd go for you to any end.
I hope you know I am your friend."
 Maria Braga-Henebry 2016

Trip to California: day trip to the Norbertine Monastery!

Yesterday we drove over two hours to the Norbertine Monastery near Tehachapi, CA. Number SIx was "aspirant" for one day as she spent the day inside the cloister. Oskar and Nicole Chomicki came with their cute kids to see us and visit the monastery as well. We were able to join them for mass and Midday prayer, were hosted in the guest house where they served us delicious food. They also showed us around some of the property including their dog breeding program. We could not tour the cloistered buildings or gardens but Number Six told us about them later.

We left campus at dawn

CA mountain roads

Climbing always... 

Arriving!

The chapel for lay people ad visitors is small, there is a window through which we can see some fo the mass and sisters, and receive communion.

   

The sisters took this photo--it was at the guest house parlor after mass. The sisters answered many of our questions and Number Six tried on the simple veil for the first time.

Sister Juana Baptista is the Novice Mistress

Picture with the Chomicki family 

So joyful!!

Matt was ready to take a couple home!

This sister remembers Number One from TAC summer program

Sister Mary Norbert is from MN and turned out she was a top lawyer at the same firm Matt is working for!