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Since arriving here in Colombia we have experienced a constant stream of young women visiting us to find out about our monastic vocation. Quite a number of these young women have ‘lived-in’ with us over the months, sharing in the life of the community as far as possible given the sometimes unpredictable circumstances arising from being in a new foundation and making do with many temporary arrangements.Thus it was with great joy that we celebrated the Admission to the Novitiate of our first Colombian Novice in December 2003. Sr Franquelina took the name Sr.M.Teresa. Her prayers for some companions in the Novitiate were speedily answered and we now have two new Postulants ­ Sr Maria de Jesus and Sr Facciola, as well as several young women ‘living-in’ who are discerning their vocations. This means for the moment the community are living in the guest quarters because we are so many. Thus we are launching out into the next stage of building because we also have many people wanting to come and stay and make retreats with us so more accommodation is an urgent necessity.

Events
The Consecration of our Monastic church on the Feast of St Benedict, 21 March 2004, was indeed a triumph of the Sacred Heart in a country so fatigued by long years of violence and civil unrest. The day dawned overcast and raining, so our statue of St Joseph was put outside and the rain stopped, although the sky remained cloudy ­ which turned out to be a blessing as Bishop Ricardo Tobon Restrepo was delayed and we were waiting for 45 minutes outside ready to begin the procession. Our Mother General had prepared a card for all our guests explaining the motives for the architecture of our church built as a homage to our holy Father Benedict, here in Colombia.

With the Bishop’s arrival the procession began, first through the atrium, the covered portico and space where our faithful builder Don Alejandro and his two sons presented the Bishop with the plans of the church and our inspired architect Don Gregorio Cuartas Velasquez explained the significance of our church’s design. Our parish priest and Padre Bonifacio solemnly opened the great Door and the procession continued, the singing immediately becoming easier in the good acoustics of the church. The ceremony continued and after the readings and litany, relics of Pope St PiusX and St Maria Goretti, martyr were placed in the altar and a workman came forward to cement them in.

A long prayer of Dedication followed, and then the Bishop thoroughly anointed the surface of the altar with oil. Rev.Padre Arturo and Rev. Padre Monson, with step ladders, anointed the twelve stones of the twelve pillars. Meanwhile the young monks had been lighting many charcoals and after the anointing, put the brazier of hot coals on the altar. When the Bishop added incense, a great cloud arose above the altar, like the cloud which came down on the tent of meeting in the Old Testament. The people and walls were incensed too ­ very beautiful but hard on the throats of those singing! The last part before the Eucharistic Sacrifice was the illumination of the church ­ a sign of joy, all lights being turned on happily by Don Jairo the electrician, and all candles lit by two monks on the ladders. The priests and monks of Guatape were wonderful helpers. The Choir sang some beautiful music in parts during communion and at the recessional. The Bishop’s homily was excellent and he called our monastery the ‘Puerta del Cielo’ ­ so it seems that there are two gates to heaven in our Congregation! It certainly seemed like a resurrection to us as we emerged from the dark underground of the crypt to the light, space and peace of our new church filled with the presence of the Lord. How can we thank you enough for all your prayers and support!

Bertha, a young Colombian woman who has been ‘living-in’ with us to experience our life writes: “I admire and appreciate the spirit of sacrifice and adaptation of this group of sisters who with joy live each moment of difficulty proper to all new Foundations. I want to share with you the good image which I have of the Congregation by the witness of these sisters. Recollected, silent, workers and prayerful. All is simple, austere, but with taste and delicacy. The respect for the sacred worship, the solemnity in the liturgy, gives me much joy, for here in Colombia with this epoch of post modernism many values spiritual and sacred have been lost. You are a sign of hope for the Colombian Church especially for the Consecrated Life.”