Work and prayer since 1874
Meet Our Donors
The Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration extend their thanks and ask blessings on all of our current donors for their generosity and support. Here are some of their stories.
Anne Billings
My acquaintance with the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration began in 1956 when they had a monastery in Kansas City, Missouri. I would frequently visit and once in a while do a little grocery shopping for them. I never dreamt that 48 years later, in the Fall of 2004, I would become a Benedictine Oblate, affiliated with their Clyde, MO monastery.
When asked why I am an Oblate, I have to say it is a wonderful, unexpected grace – as corny as that might sound it is indeed the truth. There was a time in my life when I too thought that a response like that was a little too pious for me.
I made my Oblation, committing myself and my entire life to the service of God and all God's people in accord with the Gospel mandates of Jesus Christ and the monastic Rule of our Father St Benedict...and as time went on, I began to realize that no way could I do this on my own.
And this is where these Sisters enter my life again – as friends, as spiritual guides, supporting, encouraging, showing me the way, by their words but more importantly by their committed lives, to do what I committed myself to do when I made my Oblation "to lovingly and joyfully offer myself and my life to God in union with Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit ever at work in me."
Bette Purtle
My name is Bette Purtle and I converted to Catholicism in 1975. My birthright is Jewish. I retired in 1997 after completing 31 years as a collection manager with a pharmaceutical firm.
I have been a visitor at the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration for about the last 10 years as I was involved with the R.C.I.A. at my home church in Harrisonville, MO. We always took our retreat groups to visit Clyde Monastery. It was always a special place to visit and the sisters' hospitality along with the relics, vestments and Chapel with exquisite mosaics was without exception the highlight of the weekend for all of us.
I became interested in having a closer relationship with the Sisters and the monastery and began my year of Oblate Candidacy in 2005. It has been a wonderful journey of prayer and study of the Rule of Benedict.
I also know that God was preparing the way for the prayer and support that would be needed to complete my life's journey. Life as an Oblate is an integral and joyous part of my life today and each time we gather at Clyde for prayer and a respite from 'the world' I leave refreshed and encouraged.
May God continue to bless this wonderful community of Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration who have become my 'family of choice'.
Betsy Keenan and Brian Terrell
Betsy Keenan has spent her entire adult life helping to make the world - or at least her corner of it – a better place. After her college graduation, Betsy became aware of the Catholic Worker Movement. She was drawn to their service to the poor and the homeless, their commitment to social justice and Christian pacifism and to their life in community.
She later met her husband, Brian Terrell, and they served at the Davenport (Iowa) Catholic Worker, providing hospitality to homeless people. The family later moved to southwest Iowa and founded a rural Catholic Worker community called Strangers and Guests CW.
Their life is a simpler one, with a large garden, an orchard and a few dairy goats for their own sustenance. They work hard to emphasize the idea of simplifying one's life and the importance of community. They have a cottage industry making woven rag rugs and other items.
Betsy decided to learn more about the Benedictine oblate program in order to sustain their prayer life and to provide retreat opportunities.
"Studying the Rule of St. Benedict has provided guidance and perspective in living the Gospel – in interior ways and in community with others," Betsy said. "I have appreciated learning about lectio divina and especially the support in prayer and friendship I have experienced from the Sisters in Clyde."
Jim and Geneva Shearburn
Geneva grew up as the daughter of two profoundly deaf parents, and to communicate, learned sign language at an early age. “When I started dating, I knew Jim was the right guy for me”, says Geneva. “He impressed me with how eagerly he learned sign language from my parents, with the little sign language he learned in the boy scouts.”
Geneva first became acquainted with the Benedictine Sisters in the early 1980’s when their two children were young. “We would pack up the kids and go to the Benedictine Sister’s Convent in St. Louis on Morganford Road. I always felt a great sense of peace there, and it gave the kids an appreciation for their faith”. At first, Jim would
wait in the car. Later on, he made his own faith journey.
“I had a lot of struggles I was going through when the Benedictine Sisters came into our lives” says Jim. I had an especially difficult time at the death of my father, who died on the feast of St. Benedict, an event that moved us deeply. The Benedictine Sisters helped pray us through that difficult time, and they have been praying with us ever since.
We have become quite close to the Sisters over the years. They have visited us at our home, and we have been to their beautiful Convent in Clyde. It has been our privilege to become monthly donors, as we have been for many years now, even when I was out of work. With God’s help, we’ll continue to share our blessings with the Sisters.
Mary Ann Theresa Perito Horan
Tucson, AZ
My Aunt and I were invited to the celebration of Vespers at the Benedictine Monastery on Country Club Rd in Tucson AZ. We went and were we happy for it! The sisters' chanting was so beautiful and the sisters were gracious hostesses for the reception that followed. They served fresh squeezed orange juice and cookies they baked. It was our joy and honor to meet many of the sisters. Among them were Sister Dawn Annette Mills, the author of The Gospel according to Dawn, A Woman's Work of Spiritual Imagination (see www.monasterycreations.com) and Sister Wilmarie who became a personal friend.
I am a Shaklee distributor and have shared products with the sisters for many years now. The relationship with the sisters has helped my business to grow. The relationship has also helped me deepen my spiritual life through reading, meditation and prayer.
These sisters amaze me with their varied interests and talents. I especially appreciate their deep spirituality, reverence and perseverance in prayer for us all.
God bless them and their holy work and this new web site with great success!
Ray Arment
“I have been in harm’s way many times. I served in the army for 28 years. Sometimes I feel like my association with the Sisters may very well have kept me safe for all those years.” Ray Arment is a retired Army Colonel. His duty assignments and responsibilities included Germany, Panama, Central and South America, the Balkans and the United States.
His life-long association with the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration began in the simplest of ways. While at the Newman Center at Penn State in 1968, Ray picked up a brochure on the Association of Perpetual Adoration. He has been a member ever since.
Ray explains that for years, especially when in the Army, his direct communication with the Sisters was minimal, but his spiritual connection was deep. “I had little direct contact with the Sisters – just a letter back and forth was about it. But I always keep the Perpetual Adoration cards. The Sisters and adoration are in my heart and soul.”
Now that Ray is retired he has started to participate in more active ways with the Sisters. In addition to his continued devotion to adoration, Ray became a member of the Development Advisory Committee for the Benedictine Sisters. In recent years he has visited Clyde on several occasions from his home in Eatonville, Washington. And he has included the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration as a beneficiary in his estate plans.
Ray says of his volunteer and financial commitments, “I hope our tangible support of time and money will free the Sisters from their more temporal concerns so they can focus on their core ministry – adoration of the Eucharist.”
Ray is currently serving on the Board of Directors of Washington Engage whose mission is: To bring a permanent end of Human Trafficking in Washington State by equipping the vulnerable and engaging communities.
Judy Grabler,
Escondido, CA
I met the Benedictine Sisters and Sister Mary Gregory in 1990. Sister's guidance and encouragement enabled me to develop in centering prayer. On a recent visit to the Clyde monastery, I experienced genuine Benedictine hospitality from all the sisters I encountered. They were warmly welcoming and very helpful and I felt at home immediately. I was graciously invited to share in the daily monastic schedule of praying Lauds and Vespers in choir with the community and taking meals in the refectory. Never having been in a choir stall before, I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable it felt to pray and to listen to the soothing chant from such a secure niche. The striking beauty of the stained glass windows and mosaics in the Clyde Adoration Chapel provided a remarkably serene atmosphere for contemplative prayer. It was also inspiring to observe the loving care and dignity with which the elderly, infirm sisters are treated at Our Lady of Rickenbach health care facility. Sister Mary Gregory's compassionate understanding helped me cope with my grief over the recent death of my mother. I am most grateful to all the sisters for their generosity and kindness.
Janice Rys
I don't even remember how I came to know the Benedictine Sisters...someone, somewhere, somehow must have "sent" me prayers from the Sisters and I began to "send" prayers from them. My friends and family received personal, touching notes from the Sisters acknowledging their joy or pain or confusing situations and pledging to keep them in their daily prayers. I received so many beautiful notes about how special that kind of gift was—I thought I'd try it myself.
I began to write the Sisters—almost every month—with a financial contribution and my own prayer requests for that month. I asked for all kinds of things...successful knee surgery for my Mom, good business opportunities for my brother, safe travel, wisdom and discernment for friends, lots of patience, faith and wisdom in my personal life and so much more.
Through this process, I've come to rely on God and prayer. The Sisters made it real for me. Each month I as looked back at my requests preparing for the next month, I realized how blessed I was and that God may really be hearing me through the prayers of the Sisters.
I know monthly may seem a lot to people...but for me, I get so busy and forget how gracious God is, getting and giving back keeps me on track.
I'm so grateful for the Sisters and feel like they are such an important part of my life and I've never seen or talked to a one. I look forward to continuing to receive their loving and kind notes to me and will continue to share their gift with others.
Beth Druhe,
St. Louis, MO
As I was driving to Clyde for a visit/retreat one spring day, I heard on the radio that a monastery in another state had received a three million dollar bequest. I knew immediately I wanted to do that. Unfortunately, I don't have three million dollars!
I have known the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration for almost 15 years, first for spiritual direction, then as an oblate. But it was when I worked for the Sisters that my admiration and commitment to the community solidified. I worked at the St Louis monastery for 2 years prior to its closing. My duties were cooking, cleaning, maintenance, transportation, packing, yard work — anything that needed to be done in the daily life of the monastery or in the process of closing. It was a privilege and an honor to be so much a part of the life of the community. This was a very difficult time for sisters individually and for the community as a whole. Seeing them live Benedictine spirituality in the dailiness, difficulties, and joys of these days awed me. I want to support their life of love and prayer. The world needs their witness. And so do I.
My income is small, so I can't donate much money now. But I have some investments. I am exploring which planned giving instrument works best for me to include the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in my estate planning.
Isabelle Salvador,
St. Louis, MO
Years ago, my husband, Mario, introduced me to the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. He taught the sisters music appreciation, theory, harmony, transposition, Gregorian Chant, liturgy, choral techniques and all aspects of the music approved for worship by Holy Mother Church.
Mario dedicated the Sisters' rebuilt organs in the St Louis and Clyde chapels. I know I pleased him after his death by donating our home organ to the Sisters.
I have always admired the many religious men and women who serve our church. They have made a deep and lasting impression on me and have been models for me to imitate and follow. Knowing and admiring them has made me strive to become a better person and a good practicing Catholic.
God is so good to all of us, but every one of us experiences sadness and faces difficult situations from time to time. When I really need help in getting through the days, I phone and ask the sisters to pray for my special intentions. I know that when my prayers are united with the sisters' petitions, God is pleased and hears me more clearly and I enjoy peace of mind.