Please pray for Amy, entering May 20!

On this Great Feast of the Ascension, we joyfully announce the upcoming entrance of Amy MacInnis into our monastic community on May 20! Amy is our first international member, and her entrance is a long-awaited fruit of patience and immigration work! Please keep her in your prayers as she begins her time in the monastery as a dokimos ("one who is proved by testing"), continuing to discern her call here in a deeper way. She will enter fully into our life, as well as participate in the classes, studies and other types of formation given to those in their initial years in the monastery.

Amy MacInnis

Whitby, Ontario, Canada

39 years old

Parish: Protection of the Mother of God Slovak Byzantine Catholic Parish, Oshawa, Ontario

Degrees: MTS (Master in Theological Studies) from Regis College, BA in Philosophy from Tyndale University College, Certificate of Christian Humanities from Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy

From her application: Q: In your own words, what is the purpose of monastic life? A: "The purpose of monastic life is to provide those called by the Triune God to the monastery with the environment best suited for them to deepen their relationship with Him. The monastery is a sacred space set apart from the world, yet embedded in its heart (cf. Jn 17:13-18). Monastics embrace the mystery of a “life...hid in Christ with God” (Col 3:3), since the monastery is like leaven hidden in the dough of the world that secretly grows the Kingdom of God (Mt 13:33). Those called to the monastery carry the sinful and suffering world with them; they are drawn out of the world not due to disdain for it, but because they love the LORD and desire to give everything—themselves and the whole world—back to Him. The environment of the monastery, which fosters the giving and receiving of love, is one of poverty, chastity and obedience, aloneness and community, silence and praise, suffering and joy; its soil is humility, the death to self. Those called to the monastery prize God who is Love (1 Jn 4:8) above all else, and prioritize their prayer—their relationship with Him—in this life, as a foretaste of heaven. Their receptivity to Him in the present moment flows into the world for the sake of the Kingdom."

A life lesson on the trampoline!

A reflection by Maddie

Several weeks ago, on a Sunday afternoon, a few of the nuns and I went to the home of a family we’re friends with for a couple of hours. Immediately upon arrival, the kids beckoned for Mother Natalia and me to play with them, but feeling obliged to our adult duties, and promising to play later, we went inside to chat with the other adults. The kids had been patient so when they came back to us asking that we jump on the trampoline with them, we agreed. I’m not sure how many of you reading this have been on a trampoline since you were a kid, but as an adult it’s both terrifying and exciting. Especially when the trampoline is on a slight slant, full of children, whom you’re trying not to crush, and two adults. 

After we had played “Crack the Egg,” a timeless classic in trampoline games, and the children had thoroughly mocked me for any fear I had, one of the kids suggested we play the game “Resurrection.” Mother Natalia and I agreed but admitted we were not familiar with the trampoline game-rendition of Resurrection. The kids quickly explained the game to us. One of the kids would be Jesus, while another one would be Satan. The kid playing Satan had to remain on their knees and would have to try and tag all the other people on the trampoline. If Satan tagged us, Jesus could come, touch us, and resurrect us. Satan couldn’t tag Jesus and the only way for Satan to win and end the game was if he or she tagged all of us before Jesus could resurrect us. The only other rule being that we had to stay on the trampoline. As the game commenced, children scattered everywhere and I found myself sliding on the slick surface of the trampoline trying not fall, step on any kids, or get tagged by Satan, while trying to establish a strategy. 

It quickly dawned on me that the best way to success in this game was not just to stay away from Satan, but simply to stay as close as possible to Jesus. As I thought this to myself, I chuckled because of how true this is of the spiritual life as well. It’s not enough to only run away from Satan. We need to be running towards something, Someone. Eventually we’re going to slip, trip, or get cornered and tagged by Satan. Jesus is there to resurrect us from our sin, but we must keep turning to Him, pursuing Him, allowing Him to be our shield. While I may have said this trampoline game was simple, I did not say it was easy and neither is the spiritual life. However, Jesus just wants us to keep trying and allowing Him to touch and heal us. To keep staying near to Him no matter how much we might slip and nearly fall off in doing so.