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Second Sunday of Advent, December 7, 2024: Bar 5:1-9; Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6.; Phil 1:4-6, 8-11; Lk 3:1-6
In today’s Responsorial Psalm, “The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy,” confirms the idea of how great God is to us even if we do not acknowledge it. We go about our lives busily taking care of our families, work, school, etc., but when is there time to let God know that we appreciate all those little-great things in life? Do all our circumstances bring joy? Not really. Sometimes there is suffering but, we ask for the grace of God to help us. When we lit the 2nd candle of the Advent wreath in the dark for Vespers, the sisters took a moment of silence to hear a short prayer by the Prioress: “O Lord, stir up our hearts that we may prepare for your only begotten Son that through His coming we may be made worthy to serve you with pure minds through Christ our Lord. Amen.” Let us be joyful as we ponder about the great things the Lord has done for us! God bless your week. SK

NEW NOVICE – After one year of Aspirancy and one year of Postulancy, Irene Olotch became a Novice today, November 19, 2024, and will be in the Novitiate for two years studying the monastic way of life and vows to include the Rule of St. Benedict. During the ceremony Irene responded to Prioress Hilda that she requested the mercy of God and a sharing in our monastic life. After Irene received the scapular and veil, Prioress Hilda prayed: “Lord Jesus, now as always, you call disciples to follow you. We pray for Sister Irene Olotch. May the bond of our love support her, may she live this life with us in single-hearted love, in simplicity and in peace, and day by day recognize your call as expressing your love, for you live and reign forever. Amen.”

Handmade Religious Wooden Icon
The icon “Theotokos Hodegetria” or “Our Lady Who Shows the Way,”
describes the gesture of Our Lady’s right hand pointing to
Christ, her Son, as the Way.
By the hand of Sister Elizabeth Tran, OSB

Details: Size is 14 inches x 20 inches, 24k Italian gold oil gilding background on wooden board carved in a special shape, handwritten using a traditional Byzantine technique of egg tempera.

FREE SHIPPING
$1,400.00

Online Retreats – The Benedictine Nuns of Jamberoo offering online retreats. For more information, please click  “Retreats” at Jamberoo Abbey.

Pope Francis’ prayer intentions for December 2024: For pilgrims of hope: We pray that this Jubilee Year strengthen our faith, helping us to recognize the Risen Christ in our daily lives, and that it may transform us into pilgrims of Christian hope.

Sacra Mysteria Venerari (Click for more information)

An apostolic exhortation on the Eucharist by Bishop James S. Wall, Bishop of the Gallup Diocese.

MISSION STATEMENT –The Monastery of Our Lady of the Desert is a monastic community of women in the Benedictine tradition.  We profess vows of stability, conversion of life and obedience. Our primary mission, is to seek God through a life of prayer, silence and solitude.  Our way of life frees us to give glory and praise to God, intercede through prayer for the needs of the world and hospitality.