Kate: From the moment Sean

came home in the 2nd grade with

his career day project and said "I

want to talk to Fr. Mike because

I'm going to be a priest!" I

encouraged him. I sent him to

Catholic schools, including

seminary high school. As a

family we prayed that if it were a

true vocation he would hear the

voice of God in a loud and clear

manner. I admit the idea that he

would give me no "little Sean's"

was tough but a life serving God

is certainly worth some sacrifice.

My Daughter or Son Has a Vocation!

‘Now What’?

Sister Irma Twenter:

‘Handy Little Helper Called by God’

The Gatekeeper

Being a parent has to be one of

the most difficult, exhilarating

and life encompassing jobs

known to humanity.

Being a parent is never ending

but ever-changing and no matter

what, when or where as a parent,

your child will always be your

child.

There is no denying that parents

want to see their children happy,

and this continued well past the

teen years to young adulthood.

What if ones child chooses to live

a life that is not seen as the ac-

cepted norm of society, such as

the path less chosen? Here are

some thoughts from parents who

have children seriously consider-

ing the vowed life.

As a parent who has a son/

daughter who is discerning their

call how do you feel about this

possibility?

Kate: I am concerned about my

son's call. The priesthood is no

longer a totally respected

vocation. I am praying alone and

with my son that he chooses an

order that will fully support him

in both his personal and

professional life. I am praying

for the strength to know that God

will help him when things get

tough and that he is mentored in

a loving and safe environment

How have you supported your

son/daughter in their vocation

search?

Father told my mother that “God

is calling your daughter to be a

sister just as he called me to the

priesthood.” Then she understood

that you cannot go against the

will of God. Father told her that

God was calling me to serve the

Lord in a special way.

(Continued on page 3)

My first idea of being a sister

was when I was in the second

grade. But that came and went. I

was taught by the Benedictine

Sisters of Fort Smith, Arkansas.

They taught for many years in

my home town of Clear Creek,

MO. I received my education

from them as far as the eighth

grade. I never did want to get

married because I was a handy

helper at home. When I told my

mother I wanted to be a sister she

didn’t want me to leave home. I

had four sisters and five brothers

and there was a lot of work to be

done. I was a handy helper with

all the work. My mother took me

to see the pastor to get his advice

about my desire to be a sister.

Inside this issue:

Daughter or Son has a Vo-

cation : Now What?

1-3

Handy Little Helper

Sister Irma Twenter

1-3

Benedictine Bookends

The Shack

2

Vocation Ministry

Sister Alice O’Brien

2

Welcome to Formation

Sr. Dolores Vincent Bauer

2

Vocation Ministry Retreats

& Prayer Calendar Insert

Special points of interest:

• My Daughter has a vocation,

Now what?

Parents share insights about their

discerning kids.

•

Welcome & meet the Forma-

tion Director of St. Scholas-

tica!

•

Monastic Word

•

What a Monastic Reads:

The Shack!

St. Scholastica Monastery Fort Smith, Arkansas

June 2009

Volume 2, Issue 2

The Life of a Vocation Director: Sister Alice O’ Brien

Mack soon discovers God in a

world not much like the one he

has known. Finding God in the

pain of life is no easy journey,

and this book leads Mack where

he is unsure he wants to go.

Mack meets Papa, Jesus, and

Sarayu, as his friend Willie at-

tests to all that Mack feels and

faces, Why? Because ‘faith

never knows where it is being

led, but it knows and loves the

One who is leading’ (Oswald

Chambers). And because God is

especially fond of us all…

—

Sister Kimberly Rose Prohaska

We first encountered The Shack by making a

trip to Tucson, Arizona. A few of the sisters

were reading the text, and both Sister Pat

Bolling, OSB and I were rather excited to have

The Shack on audio. The subtitle states aptly,

“Where tragedy confronts Eternity”. I found

myself so engrossed in hearing the words

written by Mr. William P. Young that I did not

want it to end. Miles went by with every twist

and turn of each sentence the reader breathed.

As Sister Pat drove, we listened as the words

resounded into our Benedictine hearts. When

one CD finished we quickly put in the coun-

terpart and we shared a word or phrase that

struck us. I could not help but note we were

sharing in what seemed like lectio. It felt

deeper than a book club experience. It was

mobile, living, acting, as we came to under-

stand the message the author

was trying to convey in a new

sacred holy way. This book, I

believe helped us to truly bond

as sisters.

We journeyed with the lead

character

in

the book,

Mackenzie Allen Philips, as he

strives to learn and deal with

the tragic loss of his youngest

daughter Missy.

The Shack

becomes more than just a

structure in the frozen woods.

It is here that Mackenzie learns

about God and those he loves

while facing the truth of his

great sadness.

S ister

Alic e

O’Brien is a native

of

Texas

and

mother and grand-

mother.

Before

joining the monas-

tery here at St.

Scholastica

she

worked

in

the

nursing field and

later joined the

Benedictine Sis-

ters, Our Lady of Peace Monastery, and our

daughter house in Columbia, MO.

It was here that she served in a variety of min-

istries, still as a nurse and as vocation director

for the Sisters in Columbia.

Sister Alice has been with us here at St. Scho-

lastica Monastery for a little over a year and

hopes to make final profession with us in the

next two years. We are happy to have Sister

Alice with us in vocation ministry!

Benedictine Bookends: What a Monastic Reads

Sister Dolores Vincent Bauer Begins Formation Ministry

How do you feel about being Formation direc-

tor?

When we elected a new prioress, I knew I

would be getting a new assignment. However, I

was quite surprised when I was asked to be

formation director. I feel that it is going to be a

great challenge. With my openness to the guid-

ance of the Holy Spirit and the support of the

community, I feel I can grow, in this position

entrusted to me. Deep down its exciting and a

bit intimidating, but I am willing to help the

women who come to us as we learn together to

live as God has called us to.

What are some of the things you are doing now

for your ministry as Formation Director?

Computer skills are now a part of my agenda! I

am taking classes for computers and as a new

formation director I will be attending St. John’s

in Collegeville, MN, taking classes on monastic

formation, monastic spirituality and theology.

What do you think will be life giving for you as

you serve the community in this capacity? For

me, meeting and getting to know the new pros-

pects is something I look forward to. Having

the time with the women who come to join us

as members of the community will be quite

enriching for me. Getting to know them will

allow me to have a deeper relationship with

God and with the community. This ministry

will be a broadening experience for me. I know

this time will allow me to be the Benedictine I

am meant to be and I am grateful.

—Sister Dolores Vincent Bauer, OSB

Sister Dolores Vincent takes some

time to visit with Sister Kimberly

about her new role in Formation

Ministry.

How long have you been a mem-

ber of St. Scholastica? 28 years.

What might a potential candidate/

want to know about you?

I am a native of Nebraska; I went

to a country school, in a grade all

by myself for 8 years. I attended

Catholic school for five years.

I have a degree in elementary

education and I taught nine in

Nebraska public schools and later taught nine

years in Aransas Catholic schools. I am easy

going and embrace a sense of humor. I hope

they find that I am open and strive to listen. To

know more come and check it out!

What are some of the things you

enjoy doing?

I enjoy doing Sudoku, working jig-

saw puzzles with the sisters, walk-

ing outside, and I love nature.

I like yard-work, just being outside

is enjoyable to me. While in my

former ministry I really found it

life-giving to visit the elderly and

the house-bound. Bringing com-

munion to those who cannot attend

mass is a gift to me. I like to

watch British comedies, on

PBS such as, ‘Keeping Up Appearances’.

Visiting with the sisters and talking with the

community members is invaluable to me.

Have you been formation director before? No.

Page 2

The Gatekeeper

Sister Dolores Vincent Bauer, OSB

Sister Alice O’Brien, OSB

Sister Irma Twenter: ‘Handy Little Helper Called by God’

My Daughter or Son Has Vocation! Now What?

taken with faith and the intention to live it. I

would like to believe that the church would

support my child if he chose to spend his life

serving the church and himself as one. I

would want to feel part of my son's life in the

religious just like if he were married. I would

want to be welcome in his new home and

loved by those he loves. I would want to

know those people that were close to him in a

way that would make us all family.

Please address any thoughts or concerns about

the role of parents and children and the

vocational life.

Kate: It is tough to watch your children leave

regardless of their life choices but the religious

life is a little more threatening because you

feel as though you lose your child to a set of

rules rather than to a loving partner. I'm not

sure how you would get around this.

A

diocesan priest can go home at holidays and

has more freedom than, perhaps, an order

priest or a sister. It would be tough for me to

not have my child home for holidays,

etc. This is selfish but really true.

(Kate is from IL and proud mother of five.)

The next issue will present views from Lisa.

(Continued from page 1)

What fears/hopes do you have for your daugh-

ter/son as they seek to join a community or live

the vowed life ?

Kate: My fears, bluntly, are that he will be

judged to be a different kind of man than what

he is. Unfortunately, the priesthood is viewed

as being generally gay or to have something to

do with child endangerment. I know this is not

true but it will take strength to fight for what he

wants in this time of turbulence in the church.

My hopes would be that he serve God with

every ounce of love in his body! I would be

very proud of "my son the priest" and would do

everything I could do help him to have a happy

life. Some things I would want to know about

before my child considers answering the call of

religious life, or vowed life are

:

Kate: As with any other life choice, I would

want him to look carefully at being in an order

or a diocesan priest. I would want him to make

himself completely aware of all that he was

gaining and all that he was giving up. I would

want him to join men who are like minded....he

is heavily into social justice, particularly

working with children and I would want to

make sure that whoever he joined would

support him, educate him and give him the

opportunities to grow in his chosen mission.

How do I see myself as a parent, supporting my

child after they answer their vocation call?

Kate: First and forever in whatever they choose

I would pray for them (and do) daily. I would

let him know how proud I was of his

accomplishments and choices and support him

financially, emotionally and physically by being

there for him whenever possible. I do believe,

however, that when one leaves the family unit

for marriage or religious vocation I have a duty

to try and "let go and let God" as much as

possible.

How do I see myself as a parent

hindering my child after they answer their

vocation call?

Kate: Is there any reason that you would

attempt to persuade your daughter not to answer

her call?

I would never, ever do anything to

stop them....I would be proud and supportive of

their choice...to serve God is a wonderful

vocation!

What could we do to help you as a parent of one

who is thinking about the call?

Kate: I'm not sure I understand the term

"vowed religious"? I simply know that any

vow we take before God is serious and must be

would be terrific if you come and ask me ques-

tions of what it is like to be a nun. I do want to

tell those who are thinking about religious life

to try to live a balance of work and prayer.

Listen to what way of service God is calling,

pay attention to the little things. It is good to

meditate and read the lives of the Saints. Per-

sonally, I love to pray the Rosary. If you keep

your mind busy you can remember more

things and accomplish more for

the love of God. God will al-

ways be there to help you.

After many years of dedicated

service Sister Irma lives in the

monastery infirmary and says

she has lived a happy life at St.

Scholastica.

“Whenever God wants me,

sooner or later, I will go where

he

leads—whenever

He

chooses—and I prefer the

sooner!”

(continued from page 1)

When I told my family about

going to the convent my

brother told me that when

you make up your mind you

stick to it. When I was sev-

enteen years old I took a job

in Kansas City, MO. I stayed

with a family and took care

of their two children while

they went to work. I helped

around the house doing vari-

ous tasks.

One summer Sisters Bernice

Kraus and Theresa Marie

Twenter came home to see

family in Clear Creek. The

parish gave them a picnic. It was at this time I

was sure I wanted to be a sister, and I told my

mom I wanted to go to the convent with them.

It was hard for my mom to see me leave home.

I told her, if I get married, I leave home. If I

become a sister, I leave home.

You cannot stay in the nest all

the time, you have to go one

way or another. I asked the

sisters if I could go with them

to the convent, they put a veil

on my head and said they

thought I would make a good

sister.

So in August, 1934, I went

with the sisters to St. Scholas-

tica on the train. In those days

you were not supposed to enter

until September, so they asked

me if I would work around the

convent until the scheduled

time of entry. This allowed me

to pay for my profession ring,

I worked hard and did what I was asked to do.

If you feel like you have a call from God just

make up your mind that you want to be of

some service to God. Actually, I think it

Page 3

Volume 2, Issue 2

Sister Irma Twenter, OSB

1301 S. Albert Pike

Fort Smith, Arkansas 72903

Phone: 479-783-4147

Fax: 479-782-4352

Cell: 903-283-3132

E-mail: vocationdirector@stscho.org

St. Scholastica Monastery

For t Smith, Arkansas

Check out our website!

The Gatekeeper

Vol. 2

No. 2

Gatekeeper is published quarterly by the vocation office of St. Scholas-

tica Monastery PO Box 3489 Fort Smith, Arkansas 72913. Vocation

Department Email: vocationdirector@stscho.org Telephone:

479.783.4147.

Anyone is welcome to be on our mailing list at no charge.

Sr. Kimberly Rose Prohaska…Editor, Design, Photos, Circulation

Sr. Elise Forst………………..Advisor, Copy Editor

Sr. Alice O’Brien………..…...Contributor

Sr. Irma Twenter.…………….Contributor

Sr. Dolores Vincent Bauer…...Contributor

Come and See Monastic Experience

For Women and Men ages 18-45

St. Scholastica Monastery

1301 S. Albert Pike Ave.

Fort Smith, Arkansas 72903

To attend this annual summer retreat con-

tact:

Sister Kimberly R. Prohaska at 479-783-

4147

Do you know a woman we’d like to know?

Does she have listening heart-like ours?

A Heart filled with passion for being a God seeker?

Please share with women

information about the sisters of

St. Scholastica!

Write, or Call today!

We are Benedictine Sisters:

Committed to seeking God, rooted in a rich monastic tradition. Women who seek to be a voice for

the voiceless—by living a life balanced in hospitality, simplicity, and in the wisdom of the Gospel.

We join together in prayer, community life and service to help create a loving world! Come live out

our 20/20 vision by sharing in our dream of being a prophetic and contemplative community!

Do you know a woman who would like to know more about us?

We’d like to know her too...

Monastic Word of the Month

Stability

‘A vow taken by a Benedictine monk, binding to resi-

dence for life in the same monastery in which the vow

is made’

.