St. Benedictine monastery, Tucson

The Benedictine Sisters arrived in Tucson, Arizona from Missouri in August, 1935 (when the population here was only 39,000) and have been praying and worshiping for 75 years since then. Bishop Gerald Kicanas officiated over their celebratory Mass today at their chapel at 800 N. Country Club. Concelebrants were Rev. Pat Crino and Rev. Miguel Mariano. (see correction below in comments)

Bishop Kicanas spoke of St. Benedict‘s teachings saying that he believed that “God is present in every human being, that every person is a gift of God”. He also preached that “community is important, all can be a family/household in Christ.” The Bishop emphasized that Benedict taught that we need to “seek God above all”, as these Benedictine sisters have done for 75 years in Tucson.

St. Benedict, from wikpedia

What I found particularly moving in today’s Mass was hearing the sweet, lovely voices of the Sisters’ Choir, especially singing the communion song’s lyrics “worthy are the ones who believe to receive the goodness of God.”

“The Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration are a contemporary monastic community with a distinctive dedication to the Eucharist.” Their information card states that they “serve the Church through our contemplative prayer, and witness to God’s presence in our world through community life, hospitality and a ministry of the Word”…

The monastery was build in 1940 by local architect Roy Place, who is perhaps best known for his 1928 Pima County Courthouse downtown. This monastery has also been called “The Pink Rose of the Desert”.

The St. Benedictine chapel is open every day, all day. Learn more about them at www.tucsonmonastery.com, phone 520-325-6401, email: osbtucson@benedictinesisters.org. They have very nice items for sale in their gift shop, which is also open every day.

I wrote about them last November, 2009 when they hosted the Tucson Boys Choir concert there (click here).