Germany, and other German-speaking countries, have a beautiful custom called "Erntedankfest" (translated: Harvest Thanksgiving Festival). In Germany, they celebrate this on the first Sunday in October. They offer thanksgiving for the good harvest, and they implore God for His blessing for the fruits of the field. Being a German-speaking community, with half of our number [...]
One of my fellow sisters gave me a small stone in the shape of a footstep. She said: "Remember to follow Jesus - always!" I was so fascinated by it. It looks like a footprint. But it's only one - where is the other pair? My sister said: "Remember to follow Jesus - always!" I [...]
I was not very devoted to Mary as I was growing up. Yes, I believed in her. I accepted her as our and Jesus' Mother. But only that. Why? Maybe because I was not particularly pious. I go to Holy Mass on Sundays only now and then. I did not pray the rosary unless it [...]
In the convent, we only have simple joys. Because our life is simple and does not have many distractions from the outside world, even the smallest and seemingly insignificant happenings bring us joy and cause laughter among us - little joys that give finishing touches to our day to day encounter with our living God. For [...]
We had today a taste of Polish Christmas tradition. After our "Agape" after the midnight Mass, while four of us were still lingering by the crib in the corridor, our Polish Sisters passed by with a wagon full of goodies. They invited us to join them. Curious to know what they were, we followed them [...]
Our Sisters are very busy today putting last finishing touches on our Nativity set. There are several places in the house where we put up our nativity set. Well, surely, one set could be enough, but we can't have enough of Christmas either! We celebrate our Lord's birthday only once a year and we want to [...]
Fr. Egide Muziazia, an SVD from Congo, stationed here in St.Michael's Missionhouse in Steyl, taught us today a Christmas song in French, his main language, and a "Kyrie" in the native Swahili. He wants us to sing them on the second day of Christmas when he will celebrate Holy Mass with us - and surely he will accompany us [...]
We had fun during recreation yesterday. Since it was a freeday, we opted to play some table games. Others played, "Man, do not get angry" - a board game of dice and pawns. One must not get angry being sent back to homebase after having traveled quite far. The others tried to complete and finish [...]
This week I am the prayer leader. This evening, during Compline (Night prayer) after a short silence of examination of conscience, as I was supposed to intone the penitential rite, I accidentally hit the books on the shelf of my pew. All my prayer books fell with such a loud noise after I said: “I [...]
