We are grateful to a special group of volunteers who "made a difference" around our monastery today.

Eighteen high school sophomores, accompanied by their adult leaders, did volunteer work as part of a service project for their Confirmation class at St. Philip Parish in Posey County, Indiana. The group worked with nine sisters on jobs such as tilling and planting flowers, cleaning up areas of the monastery grounds, moving chairs, and other tasks. After the morning's work, the chaperones prepared lunch at the shelter house by Madonna Lake, an area cleaned by some of the volunteers in the morning. Following lunch, the students had a Confirmation instruction session presented by their teacher and then had a tour of the historic area of the monastery and the church. The group joined the sisters for Evening Prayer before departing for home.

Sister Dolores Folz, director of the sisters' volunteer program, chats with students and Sister Kathleen Marie Cash (in brown tee-shirt) during lunch. Groups or individuals wanting to do volunteer service at the monastery are to contact Sister Dolores at doloresf@thedome.org or call 812-367-1411, ext. 2834.

We celebrated Administrative Assistants Day today with a special appreciation event at Kordes Center. Twenty-five office assistants/staff and administrators were treated to a luncheon, an inspirational talk by Sister Jennifer Miller, and a special gift. Sister Jennifer referred to the assistants as "the backbone of successful institutions and organizations."

Sister Jennifer Miller greets Sister Mary Jane Kiesel, one of the staff from St. Joseph Parish in Jasper who attended the luncheon.

Sister Jeana Visel renews her commitment as she reads her profession of monastic vows.

This evening we began our 16th annual vocation workshop, "Awakening: A Rebirth of Enthusiasm in Vocations," for religious communities seeking new ways to increase membership. Fifty-five men and women, representing 25 religious communities from 17 states and Canada, Ireland, and India, are participating in the workshop, sharing their ideas and experiences and exploring creative, practical solutions for attracting new members. Since 1993, more than 1,600 women and men from 39 countries and hundreds of religious communities have come to Ferdinand for this workshop. They have left with new hope, enthusiasm, skills, knowledge, and practical ideas for their vocation ministry. The annual workshop has made the Ferdinand Benedictines well known among religious communities internationally. Some communities have sent participants over several years so more of their members are exposed to the workshop ideas. Religious communities in Australia, England, and Ireland have even invited sisters from Ferdinand to present condensed versions of the workshop in those countries.

Sister Kathryn Huber, coordinator of the vocation workshop, welcomes participants and invites Sister Kristine Anne Harpenau, prioress, and Ken Sicard, president of Ferdinand’s Town Council, to offer the prayer and opening remarks.

We began our celebration of Christ's "Resurrection" with the "service of light" in the pre-dawn darkness of Easter morning. "May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds." Those words were prayed as the Easter candle was lit from the newly blessed fire.

Happy Easter!

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad." (Responsorial psalm for Easter Mass)

We wish you abundant "Resurrection" blessings in this season of joy, renewed hope, and new life. (Read or listen to the Scripture readings for Easter Sunday at www.usccb.org.)

Palm Sunday — On this day, Christian churches commemorate Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Palm Sunday ushers in Holy Week — the solemn observance of the great events in our Christian tradition — the Last Supper, and the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ. We invite you to join us for special liturgical services commemorating these events in our monastery church this week.

"Hosanna in the highest!" With blessed palms and hymns of praise, we process through the monastery courtyard into our church for the Palm Sunday liturgy.