Sisters Enjoy Card-Making Workshop

On Saturday, December 9, 2017, Dr. Jane Bridges of Vincennes, Indiana, and a group of friends led a Christmas card-making workshop for the sisters at Monastery Immaculate Conception.

St. Gertrude Hall, the location of the workshop, was set up into eight stations, with each station having all of the necessary materials to make a particular card. After Dr. Bridges gave an introduction to the process of card making, from folding the card, to using stamps, to attaching elements, the sisters eagerly began making the cards.

The workshop arose from a conversation between Dr. Bridges and Sister Mary Philip, director of volunteers. Dr. Bridges mentioned to Sister Mary Philip that she enjoyed stamping and making cards. Sister Mary Philip then invited her to give a workshop to “about 20” sisters. With that number of sisters expected, Dr. Bridges knew that she needed to have some other card-making enthusiasts help her, so she “put out feelers” and invited her friends and Stampin’ Up!(R) instructors to help. Kelly Bradbury (Robinson, Illinois), Twila Davis (Lawrenceville, Illinois), Randi Sims (Vincennes, Indiana), and Teresa Bailey (Princeton, Indiana) offered to help Dr. Bridges with the workshop and walked the sisters through the process of making the cards at each station.

Approximately 17 sisters and friends attended the workshop and each person stated that she had enjoyed the workshop, even those without an ongoing interest in crafts. Sister Mary Dominic Frederick made four cards, one for each of her nieces. Sister Mary Beth Maier was happy to learn a new way to tie a bow to make a decoration and stated that she plans to use the technique as she makes gift boxes that are sold in Monastery Gift Shop. Sister Barbara Lynn Schmitz, prioress, stated many times during the two-hour workshop that she was having so much fun and thanked Dr. Bridges and her friends at the end of the workshop by saying, “This has been the highlight of my holiday season.”

If you are interested in volunteering for the Sisters of St. Benedict, please contact Sister Mary Philip Berger at 812-367-1411, extension 3021 or at mpberger@thedome.org.