Happy (liturgical) new year! It’s hard to believe that Advent is here again already. For the past few years, we’ve been holding one of our regular vocation retreats around this time, since the Advent season is so dear to our hearts as contemplatives. It is a privilege to unite ourselves with Mary in her expectation for the birth of the Christ Child!

This year, three young women joined us to experience Passionist life for a weekend through prayer, presentations, and recreation times with the Nuns. It was a joy to welcome Katherine, Hannah, and Jacinta to our “little monastery in the big woods” last Friday-Sunday. Please keep each of them in your prayers as they continue their discernment journeys with the Lord!

Finally, we couldn’t resist sharing with you a little Advent “funny” composed by one of our Sisters. A bit of context …

Some years ago, we were learning the hymn tune GENEVA, most well-known as the melody for the Advent hymn “Comfort, Comfort, O My People.” In ecstasy over the beauty of the music, and mindful of the upcoming Advent fast and abstinence, one Sister exclaimed, “You could sing our tuna casserole recipe to this tune, and it would still be amazing!” Sister Cecilia Maria decided to take up the challenge, and this Sunday she debuted the long-awaited result: