Sisters’ Retreat finds connections in the truths spoken at Mass

Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph are gathering in the Rainbow Room of Saint Joseph Villa from March 5-10, 2023, for a week of retreat led by Father Godfrey Mullen, a Benedictine monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana. He has served as a parish priest, monastery choirmaster, director of the “One Bread, One Cup” youth liturgical leadership conference, seminary professor, and administrator, including four years as vice rector.

Father Mullen served in the Diocese of Evansville, Ind., from 2012-22, including nine years at St. Benedict Cathedral, where he led the parish through a renovation. Since August 2022, he is serving in his home diocese, the Diocese of Belleville, Ill., as rector of the Cathedral of Saint Peter and director of the Diocesan Office of Worship.

He described the retreat theme this way: “In the liturgy, people speak the word of God and hear God speaking to them. Often, because repetition is involved, we can become immune to the profound truths spoken to us and spoken by us at Mass. This retreat will explore the connection of those moments and the wisdom of the Saints, developing our liturgical spirituality with greater awareness and fuller participation as the goal.”

Here are some pictures from the afternoon session on March 6.

Father Godfrey Mullen laughs at something Sister Pat Rhoten said, left, as Sister Rose Karen Johnson joins in the fun.
Father Godfrey Mullen jokes that “this table looks like trouble” as he converses prior his afternoon session with Sister Eva Boone (in blue), Sister Lois Lindle (in red) and Sister Ruth Gehres.
The afternoon session begins in the Rainbow Room with Father Mullen talking about the Glory to God. “Do we realize we are singing with the angels?” he said.
Following Father Mullen’s talk are, from left, Sisters Susan Mary Mudd, Barbara Jean Head and Marie Joseph Coomes. Father Mullen gives retreats, parish missions and serves as a spiritual director in addition to his other duties.
“Sometimes we think we have to walk into the chapel with it all together,” Father Mullen told the Sisters. “We have to be perfectly holy. We’re in for a lot of disappointment.” Listening to that message are, from left, Sisters Mary Matthias Ward, Vivian Bowles, Helena Fischer, Amelia Stenger and Emma Anne Munsterman.
We have the Franciscans to thank for making the stable where Jesus was born seem nicer than it was, Father Mullen said. “God always deals with the muck,” he said. Listening to his talk are, from left, Sisters Mary Henning, Pam Mueller and Ann Patrice Cecil.
Sister Kathleen Dueber, left, takes notes as Sister Mary Gerald Payne listens. “God chooses the lowly for everything he has planned,” Father Mullen said.
Sister Sheila Anne Smith, left, Sister Grace Swift, center, and Sister Claudia Hayden listen to Father Mullen say, “We don’t have to write the hymn. The angels have written the hymn to sing.”
Sister George Mary Hagan, left, and Sister Elaine Burke listen to Father Mullen quote from the Rule of Saint Benedict that we should do whatever we do, “so that in all things, God may be glorified.”