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Vol 37 No 1Spring 2024
will read about how the prioresses feel about staying in Beech Grove and the importance of our new monastery. Finally, the third point of gratitude comes from some of our friends. ey speak about the importance of the sisters’ ministry of prayer and presence in Beech Grove. Our hearts are lled with gratitude for each of you and the gi you are to us. We are blessed by your friendship and want you to know that your love and support means the world to our community. Know that each time we walk in the chapel for prayer and Mass you are remembered for your generosity to us.In Christ,Sr. Julie Sewell, OSBPrioressDear Friends,As I write this letter the trees are greening, the owers are blooming, and the temperatures are rising. Winter has turned to spring, and spring is bringing the new life of summer. We here at Our Lady of Grace are continuing to prepare for a new monastery at 1402 Southern Ave., Beech Grove.St. Benedict reminds us that “as we progress in this way of life and in faith, we shall run on the path of God’s commandment, our hearts overowing with the inexpressible delight of love” Rule of Benedict-Prologue 49. We know this to be true. Our hearts are lled with gratitude as God continues to bless us in so many dierent ways.One point of gratitude that you will nd in this issue is about our chaplain, Fr. Jim Farrell. Fr. Jim celebrates Mass with us on Wednesdays and Sundays. We are grateful for his presence among us, bringing great insights with his homilies and conversations.A second point of gratitude is for the prioresses who have served this community. Since our beginnings, ten sisters have lled the role of prioress. ese sisters have led the community through many decisions and changes that have brought us to where we are today. In the article you BRANCHINGOUTVol. 37, No. 1 Spring 2024 2 Priory-Ties 3 Building a Foundation of Prayer 6 Chaplain Cherishes Beech Grove Benedictines 9 Prioresses Rooted in the Past, Reaching for the Future13 Women of GraceINTERNETWebsite www.benedictine.comContact usolgmonastery@benedictine.comCREDITSEditorSr. Susan Nicole ReuberDesign & LayoutCopyfirePhotography and ContributorsLeigh DeNoonSr. Ann Patrice PapeshOn the CoverThe statue of Our Lady of Grace greets the Sisters and guests as they arrive at the monastery.BRANCHING OUT, a publication of the Sisters of St. Benedict of Our Lady of Grace Monastery, informs its readers of newsworthy involvements of the sisters and acknowledges the generosity of donors.Mission StatementSeeking God in everyone and everything, we, Sisters of St. Benedict of Our Lady of Grace Monastery, live in community founded upon prayer, work and hospitality.2
importance of the sisters presence in the community, “e sisters are witnesses of prayer and presence and are signs of hope for the Church. e sisters remind us that we should be closer to God.” Elizabeth Lamping, a Beech Grove City Council member and neighbor of the sisters, says, “A person will always nd a place of of Grace is their prayer. Prayer is the foundation of monastic life. St. Benedict shows the value of ordering our day around communal prayer, praying the Liturgy of the Hours, as well as individual prayer. Prayer is the core of the sisters’ ministries.Fr. Steve Giannini, pastor of St. Francis and Clare Catholic Church, emphasized the Whether you specifically know the sisters or you know someone who knows the sisters, people realize that there is something special happening at 1402 Southern Ave, Beech Grove. e most important aspect of the Sisters of Our Lady The sisters gathered for the Good Friday service. The large black cross arrives in the chapel a few days before the Triduum and remains until the end of the Easter Season.Building a Foundation of Prayer3
peace and understanding when encountering the sisters.”e sisters’ prayer life leads them into their ministries and serving the world. Frank Mascari, owner of Spalding Jewelry in Beech Grove, makes the profession rings for the sisters. He stated, “I always respected the sisters and appreciate all that the sisters do for the community. I learned from them to do the best you c an .”On Palm Sunday, the sisters have a procession around the front circle proclaiming Jesus’s entrance into Jerusalem.For many celebrations, such as a sister’s jubilee, the sisters have a processional into chapel.4
Michael Eagan, architect at Browning Day, is the lead in designing the new monastery. He is no stranger to the sisters, having grown up at 12th and Southern Ave. He grew up watching the sisters and eventually worked for them throughout high school. He stated, “e sisters taught the value of hard work and to be honest and always fair.”Building a new monastery will enable the sisters to remain a prayerful presence in Beech Grove. Having been members of the Beech Grove community for over 60 years, ministering and serving with a variety of people, the sisters are a part of the fabric of Beech Grove. Lamping emphasized the importance of the sisters remaining in Beech Grove, “We are honored the sisters choose to remain here. ey are a strong representation of women leadership and bring nancial good to the community.” Eagan also commented on the sisters moving into a new decade in Beech Grove, “It is an honor and a privilege to be working for the sisters. It is a chance to work with them now in a new era aer watching many changes as I grew up across the street.”No matter what the new monastery will look like, the sisters will remain a prayerful presence at 1402 Southern Ave.Time in the chapel in prayer fortifies the sisters for their time in ministries.5
Chaplain Cherishes Beech Grove Benedictinesyears. Sr. Mary Margaret, Fr. Jim’s spiritual director, alerted him of the sisters’ need. As a retired priest, Fr. Jim was looking for a stable community to worship with and to form relationships with the people. Fr. Jim and the sisters’ closest connection began in 2021 when he became chaplain for the community. e sisters needed a chaplain aer the retirement of Fr. Matthias Newman, OSB, who had been chaplain for 20 In 1966, Jim Farrell sat in Sr. Jeanne Voges’ Senior English class at the Latin School in Indianapolis. Now 58 years later, Fr. Jim serves as the chaplain for the Sisters of Our Lady of Grace Monastery. His journey has come full circle.Fr. Jim was ordained June 29, 1975, and retired from active priestly duties in 2021. He served the Archdiocese of Indianapolis for 46 years and continues to serve in many ways. He ministered in 11 dierent parishes, serving a few of the parishes numerous times. roughout these years, Fr. Jim has fond memories of interacting with the Sisters of Our Lady of Grace. He tells lots of stories of the sisters on mission at St. Pius X where he was rst assigned as an associate pastor. e memories continue from there of the sisters’ inuence on him and his witness to their impact on the world.Fr. Jim prepares the Paschal Candle at the Easter Vigil Liturgy. Helping him are Srs. Julie Sewell, Sheila Marie Fitzpatrick, and Anne Louise Frederick.6
e requirements the sisters were asking for seemed reasonable to him, especially not having a daily commitment. He also knew of the Benedictines’ legacy of good liturgies and that appealed to him. Fr. Jim feels an important piece of his role as chaplain is preaching. He brings an outside voice and perspective to the community through his homilies. Not only is he feeding the sisters with the Eucharist, but he also leaves liturgy well fed from praying well with the sisters.Fr. Jim also sees and understands the impact the sisters make in Beech Grove, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, and the world. He says, “eir ministry is a witness to the importance of prayer and raises awareness of God in the world. e sisters are countercultural by their way of life.” He also sees the signicance of the many ways the sisters are involved in the community. “e Sisters are witnesses of kindness, compassion, and generosity of spirit as they serve in the community,” Fr. Jim explains. He also believes the sisters leave an imprint on the lives of those they encounter, causing people to reect on their own life and their response to God.As the community’s chaplain, Fr. Jim understands why the sisters The Holy water is blessed by Fr. Jim during the Easter Vigil Liturgy.7
need to build a new monastery, “Hopefully with a right-sized building that is economically and environmentally sensitive less time will be spent worrying about the building, allowing more time to be engaged in the local community and with the elder sisters.” He also believes that the sisters transitioning to a new building provides an opportunity for the sisters to reect on who they are and how to live the Benedictine life as they are determining the design of the new structure. In the end, both Fr. Jim and the sisters believe that the new monastery will help continue the Benedictine charism of prayer, work, and hospitality in evangelizing in Beech Grove and beyond.The sisters are blessed to have Fr. Jim’s homilies during weekly Masses.Fr. Jim celebrates Mass with the community on Wednesdays and Sundays. He receives oertory gifts from Srs. Rocio Moreno, Cindy Marie Freese, and Sharon Kuhn.8
As stated in Ch. 2 of the Rule of St. Benedict, “She [the prioress] is believed to hold the place of Christ in the monastery.” Again in Ch. 64 of the Rule, “Goodness of life and wisdom in teaching must be the criteria for choosing the one to be made prioress. . .” Ten sisters have served as prioress for the community since moving As Benedictines, the sisters of Our Lady of Grace take a vow of stability that roots them in a specific monastery under the Rule of St. Benedict and a prioress. e prioress plays a very important role in the community. Past prioress Sr. Carol Falkner lights a candle during a prayer service. Sr. Carol was prioress from 2001-2009.PrioressesRooted in the Past,Reaching for the Future9
to Beech Grove. Each prioress had many crucial events happen during their term that led the community into the future. Each event has brought the sisters to this point of time in Benedictine history. Our vow of stability calls us to remain here in Beech Grove. Sr. Jennifer Mechtild Horner, prioress 2015-2021, said, “We sink our roots deep and commit ourselves to the place where we live. Our years in Beech Grove have formed our hearts and a big part of our stability is to the community around us.” As we continue to serve in Beech Grove and the surrounding areas, many valuable relationships have been formed. Sr. Carol Falkner, prioress 2001-2009, states, “We have received countless services, us from them [Beech Grove], and they from us. I believe to remain in Beech Grove is a way to witness to God’s presence in our world.” Sr. Julie Sewell, the current prioress, agrees, “Wherever we live we would desire to be a positive presence modeling peaceful living and supporting life in Beech Grove.” e vow of stability will keep the sisters here for the long term, not leaving when it gets tough.As religious life has changed over the years, the sisters have reacted to those changes to be Sr. Mary Margaret Funk, prioress from 1985-1993, takes a moment to smile for the camera.Leading the community during Statio is Sr. Jennifer Mechtild Horner. She was prioress from 2015-2021 and began the process looking at our future.10
prepared for the future. Staying in Beech Grove is important to the sisters, but also being good stewards of the gis God has given is extremely important. Just as families come to the point of downsizing and changing according to the size and needs of the family, the sisters need to do this also. A smaller monastery will help the sisters in many ways while remaining a visible presence to others. Sr. Carol, who led the strategic planning for the deconstruction of the design will support our current community and have ample space for hospitality.”is new monastery is important for the sisters to prepare for the next four decades. Sr. Jennifer Mechtild, who as prioress started the process of deeply looking at our future, stated, “Our new monastery will be a place where we can continue to faithfully live the Benedictine way of life. As we design our new monastery, we are paying special attention to creating a space that will enrich pool and gym building, stated, “I believe our community life will be enriched by living in a smaller space. A smaller monastery will also help us live within our means as our community grows smaller. However, we will always want guests to visit as they do now.” Downsizing will allow the sisters to be more scally and environmentally responsible. Sr. Mary Margaret Funk, prioress 1985-1993, stated, “We intend to construct a purpose-built monastery that by its very The current prioress, Sr. Julie Sewell, accepts Sr. Rocio Moreno as a transfer into the community. The prioress presides at many prayer services throughout the year.11
If you would like to donate to the construction of the new monastery, please use the enclosed envelope.All the prioresses gathered for a picture at Sr. Julie’s installation Mass in June of 2021. Pictured Left to right: Sr. Carol Falkner, Sr. Julie Sewell, Sr. Jennifer Mechtild Horner, and Sr. Mary Margaret Funk.our monastic life.” Sr. Julie Sewell, who is leading the current design process agrees and added, “We are blessed to call Beech Grove home and are creating a space that will support our life for the next decades, which the conditions of the current building will not.” Sr. Mary Margaret, who as prioress lead the community in renewal of the monastic roots, believes, “A new construction will give hope and practical feasibility to the monastery.” e sisters of Our Lady of Grace are looking and moving into the future knowing that they want to serve the people of Beech Grove and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. e sisters have been ministering in this area since 1955, and a new monastery will be built to enable them to continue their mission into the future.12
Roncalli High School honored the Sisters of Our Lady of Grace for their service in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis at the January 27 basketball game. Representing the community were Srs. Sheila Marie Fitzpatrick, Rocio Moreno, Maureen erese Cooney, Nicolette Etienne, Anne Louise Frederick, and Cathy Anne Lepore.Roncalli High SchoolSr. Mary Margaret FunkPictured with the Sisters at the Roncalli basketball game are Fr. Tim Wyciskalla of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church and Fr. Bob Robeson of Holy Name Catholic Church.Sr. Mary Margaret Funk had the honor of giving the reection for the Lilly Endowment sta anksgiving Luncheon on November 21. She used omas Merton’s book Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander as a reference. Sr. Mary Margaret said, “30 years ago I was one of your grantees, and I’ve watched from outside these 30 years. You have a View, a Voice and a Vocation as a philanthropic organization. So, I’m not sure of your view, but I’ve Sr. Mary Margaret gives the sta of the Lilly Endowment many thoughts to ponder at their Thanksgiving luncheon.witnessed your voice. You are prophetic. You see into the future and know the next step it would take to gather there, and you have the resources to make that happen.”13
Sr. Julie Sewell and Sr. Jennifer Mechtild HornerAll the prioresses gathered for a group picture in front of the monastery.The Sisters of Our Lady of Grace bless the prioresses before their journeys back to their monasteries.The prioresses enjoyed a celebration dinner with the Sisters of Our Lady of Grace Monastery during their stay.e Benedictine Inn Retreat & Conference Center hosted the annual gathering of the Conference of Benedictine Prioresses. e leaders gathered from Benedictine communities across the United States. Our Prioress Sr. Julie Sewell attended along with Sr. Jennifer Mechtild Horner asadministratorof the Benedictinecommunities inRapid City, SouthDakota and Crookston, Minnesota. e prioresses spent time with the community at Liturgy of the Hours and a celebration dinner.14
Sr. Maureen erese Cooney was elected for a 3-year term on the Resource Center for Religious Institutes (RCRI) Board of Directors. Her term began January 1, 2024 and will continue until December 31, 2026. RCRI was establishedin 2009 to serve theneeds of Catholicreligious institutes and societies of apostolic life of women and men. RCRI helps navigate the many complexities related to taxes and tax-exemption, corporate structure, internal organizational structure, nance, administration, and requirements and processes of Canon law and civil law. It is an honor for Sr. Maureen erese to sit on this board.Sr. Sheila Marie Fitzpatrick is working with Catholics from across Indiana on issues related to care for creation both on the state and federal level with the Indiana Catholic Conference and the Catholic Climate Convent. She has been meeting with Senator Braun’s sta to encourage him to sponsor the FOREST (Fostering Oversees Rule of Law and Environmentally Sound Trade) Act. is act would prohibit access to U.S. markets for commodities that originate from illegally deforested lands, reducing the long-term incentive to sacrice productive forests for Sr. Maureen Therese CooneySr. Sheila Marie meets with Senator Braun’s sta during a Zoom meeting.Presenting the Lenten Program at the Benedict Inn Retreat & Conference Center, “Embracing the Lenten Journey: From Ashes to Resurrection Joy” on February 3 was Sr. Susan Marie Lindstrom. She took the participants on a journey discussing the various aspectsof Lent fromprayer, fasting,almsgivingto Easter joy.Sr. Susan Marie Lindstrom Sr. Maureen erese CooneySr. Sheila Marie Fitzpatrickagriculture uses. e US Conference of Catholic Bishops supports the passage of this bill and have been in conversation with bishops across the world to jointly support and encourage good practices in their respective countries.Sr. Sheila Marie has been very busy in that she has also had a reection published in the Fall Issue of Benedictines called “St. Benedict’s Call to Kinship”. In this reection, she discusses steward-ship and our common home.Sr. Susan Marie helped the women attending the talk to get a great start on their Lenten journey.15
BranchingOutSisters of St. BenedictOur Lady of Grace Monastery1402 Southern AvenueBeech Grove, IN 46107Phone: (317) 787-3287Fax: (317) 780-2368If you have received more than one copy of Branching Out, find an error in your address, want to unsubscribe, would like to receive Branching Out in PDF format via e-mail, add someone or change your address, please fill out the form below and send it to us at: Our Lady of Grace Monastery • 1402 Southern Avenue • Beech Grove, IN 46107 or you can e-mail us at: OLGmonastery@benedictine.com Thank you.q Please send Branching Out to my e-mail address at: _________________________q Please remove my nameq I am receiving more than one copy (please send all labels and indicate which is to be removed)q Please change my address (attach old label)q Please add the name indicated belowNew Information: _______________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________Join us online!Our web address is: www.benedictine.com Find us on facebook at: www.facebook.com/beechgrovebenedictines/