September 10 - This Mountain Life Documentary

Our monastery is very blessed to be part of a new documentary called "This Mountain Life", made by local filmmakers Grant and Jenny, and focusing on the lives of people who live in the mountains of British Columbia. We got a sneak peek at the film a few weeks ago, and were blown away by the quality of cinematography and respect for the stories of each of the characters. You can find out more about the film here; or, really, just get a glimpse for yourself:

 
 

If you’re in Western Canada, you can check out upcoming screenings at the Vancouver International Film Festival screening on October 2 and 4, and the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival screening on November 3.

Please join us in praying for all those who seek God’s face in the mountains, that we might “climb the mountain of the Lord” together and always be ready to support our brothers and sisters on the trek.

The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,
    the world, and those who live in it;
for he has founded it on the seas,
    and established it on the rivers.

Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?
    And who shall stand in his holy place?
Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,
    who do not lift up their souls to what is false,
    and do not swear deceitfully.

They will receive blessing from the Lord,
    and vindication from the God of their salvation.
Such is the company of those who seek him,
    who seek the face of the God of Jacob.

- Psalm 24

Sr. Marie Thomas Lawrie
August 22 - Vestition of Sr. Marie Étienne and Sr. Diana Marie on the Feast of the Queenship of Mary

Our patronal feast of Our Lady Queen of Peace was doubly blessed this year as our two postulants received the habit of the Order of Preachers and became Sr. Marie Étienne of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and Sr. Diana Marie of the Divine Mercy.

Postulancy, which comes from the Latin postulare (to ask), lasts a year in our monastery. During this time, a young woman makes a trial of our Dominican monastic life. If she and the community discern that God may be calling her here, she asks to be received more fully into the community as a novice.

The vestition ceremony itself also begins with a question. "What do you seek?" the prioress asks. "God's Mercy and yours," the candidate (or candidates!) responds. After a short Scripture reading, and talk by the prioress, each sister is clothed in the holy habit of St. Dominic. As an important symbol of the givenness of a vocation, the new novice doesn't clothe herself in the habit, but entrusts herself entirely to the novice mistress and prioress as they literally dress her in the habit and scapular, tie a belt around her waist, attach the rosary and crucifix, and place the white novice veil on her head. Finally, at the end of each clothing comes the moment all the sisters have been waiting for—the revealing of each new sister's religious name, which had been kept a secret from the community until then (which doesn't stop the community from trying to guess!). Finally, each new novice gives the sign of peace to the community and their families while the rest of the sisters sing the Magnificat.

We thank God for the gift of each of these sisters' lives and vocations. Please pray for their perseverance and joy in the Lord as they begin their novitiate!

 
 
Sr. Marie Thomas Lawrieclothing, vestition, novice
July 30 - Flora, fauna and firstfruits

It was 42 degrees Celsius in the shade by the monastery's kiln shed today, and while some nuns may be pondering Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in their fiery furnace, the garden appears to be loving it. We recently spotted two fauns in our north field, the hay in the south field was valiantly baled by a local farmer (prior to the heat wave, we had on and off rain for most of the month), and a small frog was found seeking refuge near the fragment of Notre-Dame-de-Prouilhe stone in our chapel. And, finally, the place where all our labour begins and ends (and the final destination of our dahlias too). God is good!

 
“As the rain and the snow come down from the sky and do not return before having watered the earth, fertilizing it and making it germinate to provide seed for the sower and food to eat, [says the Lord], so it is with the word that goes from my mouth: it will not return to me unfulfilled or before having carried out my good pleasure and having achieved what it was sent to do. ”
—  (Isaiah 55:11)
 
Sr. Marie Thomas Lawrie