Sister Amy Westbrook

From my earliest recollections as a child, I have been aware of a deep sense of divine presence that has led me to believe that my life has always been in the hands of God. Through the raising of 5 children and becoming a widow in my 48th year, I have walked a pilgrim's journey of both sorrow and joy. As my children grew and became independent, my fast-paced life slowed, revealing the heart of a true contemplative.

I am grateful to this monastic order of Benedictines that their vision of holiness and wholeness welcomes a woman such as I... one that knocks on the door with a very different story than is usual for this vocation. Embracing the Rule of St. Benedict offers a stability and prayer-centered life that does not confuse "longing for God" with "goal-oriented mission". Here the longing for God is the mission itself.

Monastic life is structured to enable awareness to attend to the present moment. In this attention the sacred becomes the only real thing. Community is the vehicle that carries this consciousness to our common world. I have joined the sisters here to learn how to be committed to these ideals of honoring people, places and things as sacred instruments and events of God's love. Within the stillness and silence we begin to hear each other... and then we hear God.