Welcome to our Home@theDome. We'll keep you posted on the ordinary and extraordinary happenings in our monastery on the hill.

—Sister Paulette Seng

There was a lot of hootin', hollerin' and ribbing when each of the 70 men golfers good-naturedly donned a Scottish kilt and agreed to get their picture taken – all so they could play from the forward tee on hole #4.

It was part of the Scottish theme for this year's Dome Golf Classic — held on August 23 — at the Donald Ross Course in French Lick. The theme perfectly fit the course, which was designed by Ross. A world-renowned architect born in 1872 in Scotland, the birthplace of golf, he learned the game at its legendary St. Andrews course.

Many of the golfers, good sports all, even rolled up their shorts underneath the kilt so their picture would look more authentic. Nice drives hit while wearing the kilt often generated the suggestion to wear the kilt the rest of the round.

And even more off-beat games awaited the golfers, delightfully turning the day into much more than just another golf scramble. With a hammer throw on hole #5 and a stone put on hole #9, the event almost became a mini Scottish Olympics.

The golfers happily played along, and a few joked about making a permanent change in wardrobe, or a permanent change in sports.

One of the 70 men golfers who "happily" wore the traveling Scottish kilt tees off on hole #4. Adding to the Scottish theme of the day was the bagpipe player in the background. He got the event off to a swinging opening by walking up the #9 fairway, bagpipe blaring, just ahead of the 10 a.m. shotgun start.

Members of Women of the Rule, a Sisters of St. Benedict philanthropy circle, came to the monastery for a "volunteer and fun" weekend on August 13 and 14. They shared prayer and meals with the sisters, joined sisters in the monastery bakery to make dinner rolls and sweet rolls, and enjoyed leisure time with each other. For more information about Women of the Rule, visit www.womenoftherule.org.

These women are preparing dinner rolls that they will bake and deliver for a St. Vincent de Paul community meal at Jasper.

Asked how they were helped by Sister Traci Stutz  and the recent Christian Leadership Institute she co-directed in Louisville, the high school students fired out the compliments.

“She made a lot of good points on being a leader.”

“It changed each person for the better.”

“We grew stronger in our faith, and became more well-rounded in prayer.”

“I was scared coming here, but all were welcoming. It was a life-changing experience.”

“I feel a lot closer to God now.”

“I was apprehensive, but it’s one of the best things I’ve done in my life.”

Thirty-five young people, all from different parishes in the Archdiocese of Louisville, attended the five-day leadership development program at the Flaget Center.

Sister Traci, associate director for youth ministry for the Archdiocese of Louisville, said the most enjoyable part of her job is learning from the kids. “We forget that God works in them. Sometimes we think they don’t have anything to offer, and that’s a big mistake.

“So we empower them, and give them space to do things. Their generation is about serving people. The kids are very compassionate and observant about who needs help.”

Sister Traci loves watching kids realize their relationship with God doesn’t have to be hard, that it can be uncomplicated.  In fact, seeing that spark of realization in their eyes usually brings tears of happiness to hers.

“It’s so good to see people excited about their faith,” she said. “For these kids, being around others here that have that same excitement gives them the perspective that they’re OK, that they’re not  the only ones that feel that way.”

At the end of the program, the youngsters shared some of the lessons they learned.

“I was shy before, but I learned to speak up.”

“Sometimes I just have to let myself be helped.”

“We need to express our ideas; all ideas matter.”

“Don’t label people. A lot times we are wrong with those labels.”

“I learned not to stress out about every little thing.”

“I learned to listen, to appreciate differences, and how to build consensus.”

The students also got a kick out of the dancing energy displayed by Sister Sarah Yungwirth during the many songs played during the week. “She is just really enjoyable during those songs,” said one. “Music is a big part of this. It’s an easy way to bond.”

Then, as if on cue, the six students sitting at a table being interviewed for this story spontaneously started clapping and singing to a startled interviewer. Point proven. Sister Sarah would’ve been proud.

Sister Traci Stutz (facing camera at left) talks to high school students at a Christian Leadership Institute in Louisville about how they learned about their God-given gifts during the week, and how unique each of them really is.  “Be grateful for the gifts you have, and appreciate others’ gifts,” she said. “God gave us all different ones.”

Our summer "community days" have come to an end, and we're re-energized to continue another year of ministry.

It's been a tradition that our sisters come home to the monastery during the last week in July for community days - days for community building, for taking care of business, for praying and playing together. Our Familien Fest (family festival) and "missioning ceremony" are always a special part of these days together.

Sisters Maura Beckman, Mary Dominic Frederick, and Victoria Pohl do a commercial for "Bye Bye Wrinkles" as an introduction for the Familien Fest entertainment. These three sisters, the only 80-year-olds in the community, volunteered to plan and organize this year's Familien Fest. They selected the 1930's as the theme since they were born in 1930. The entertainment featured a "Monastery's Got Talent" show, which included some songs and music from the 30s.

A hospital patient can be as sick as ever, as downcast as can be, but when Sister Ann Marie Howard offers them a prayer blanket, the smile forms, and their face lights up.

"Is this for me?"

It's one of the favorite duties of Sister Ann Marie, pastoral associate for St. Lawrence Church in Louisville. The blankets are made by about ten women in the parish from donated material, and are distributed free to parishioners in hospitals, nursing homes, or who are homebound.

Even better, the blankets come with a rosary, a "Prayer for Comfort" pamphlet, and "A Guide To Praying The Rosary" booklet, all stored in a convenient pocket on the blanket.

"When one woman took her blanket to rehab, others were so amazed," said Sister Ann Marie. "They kept asking her, 'Where do you go to church?' and 'Where are people so nice to give you that?'"

Another woman thought the blanket was too pretty to use and stored it away, but then realized its importance and brought it right back out.

One hospitalized man at first declined the prayer blanket offered him, saying he didn't need it. "But then his condition worsened," said Sister Ann Marie. "Before I could ask him again, he said, 'I'll take that blanket.'"

She delivers the blankets, which are blessed by the parish priest, at least once a week. She'll pray with the recipients. "I tell them whenever they feel the need, just wrap up in the blanket for comfort. They just love it."

Sister Ann Marie has been at St. Lawrence for 13 years. She is coordinator of a four-parish religious education program for about 150 children, and also recruits and trains volunteers.

JoAnn Lindsey, who works in the administrative office at St. Lawrence, said, "We're very glad to have a sister here, especially the senior citizens. Sister Ann Marie helps in more than religion, too. There are a lot of stories on how she has helped people with other problems."

Sister Ann Marie Howard displays some of the blankets that will be given to parishioners of St. Lawrence Church in Louisville that are hospitalized, in nursing homes, or homebound. The one in front has a pocket in which to store the rosary and prayer pamphlets that are also given. She is holding a blanket that will go to a baby.