Michelle Scully, Director of the Peacemakers Program at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery, introduces Mary Dwyer and Juan Llarena to seekers gathered in the monastery chapel for a session on Centering Prayer. Mary, a long-time student of the American Trappist monk Thomas Keating, gave a brief introduction to the prayer form. As she noted, her short presentation was a very abbreviated version of a much longer learning process. At the core, though, Centering Prayer is about "the intention to be loved into life." It is a simple practice that invites us into our “inner room” where we can close the door.

Sisters Anne McCarthy and Colleen Leathley, along with friends of the Erie Benedictine community Jessica Sun and Katie Gordon traveled to Detroit, MI, for the Pax Christi USA National Conference, themed: "Reclaiming the Power of Nonviolence in a Broken World." Speakers included Maria Stephan, a civil resistance scholar, Jonathan Kuttab, co-founder of Nonviolence International, and Martha Inés Romero, the Secretary General of Pax Christi International. Many were also excited to hear a letter written from Pope Leo to the national gathering, where he reminded all in attendance to "make their local communities into 'houses of peace' where one learns how to defuse hostility through dialogue, where justice is practiced and forgiveness is cherished.”

Sister Anne McCarthy speaks at the Take Back the Site Vigil for Marchello Woodard on July 30.

The Glinodo Goat Fest Storybook Trail has a special twist this year—the featured book, Platty’s Perfect Day, is by local Erie children’s book author and illustrator Heather Cash. Heather left a job in tech and returned to Erie about thirteen years ago to dedicate herself to her artwork. “I’m basically a kid,” she said on a recent visit to the monastery. “I like writing books that teach about things I wished I’d known as a kid. I’m writing for 12-year-old Heather.” Platty’s Perfect Day, which Heather is holding in the picture, is one of several books she has written for children. With Heather is Michelle Scully, Program and Events coordinator at the monastery.

Calista Robledo, an MDiv student working at Monasteries of the Heart and the Inner-City Neighborhood Art House this summer and living at the monastery, submitted her thoughts on the new to Superman movie to National Catholic Reporter. You can read "'Superman' is the superhero movie of our sociopolitical moment" at ncronline.org. "Superman" is the superhero movie not just of the summer, but of this sociopolitical moment of despair, fear, lament and rage. The inspiration here is tangible, sticky, with grit, teeth and muscles; it is real, just as the evil in the movie is real. May we absorb this art fully, and remember what we were made to do: co-create a world of justice, peace and flourishing for all life," she concludes.

About fifty attentive listeners—sisters, oblates, and friends—listened to Dr. Robert Nicastro, Executive Director of the Center for Christogenesis, present "Rewiring God: Teilhard, AI, and the Future of Faith" at the monastery last week. The many concepts Robert presented aren’t easily boiled down to an easy synthesis—but the energy that filled many listeners had to do with fresh ways of looking at the world around us and God’s presence in every aspect of that world—and beyond. Dualist thinking has kept us boxed in for too long, matter and spirit are not separate, every aspect of creation is infused with spirit. To learn more, visit the Center for Christogenesis. Following the presentation, a hardy group of seekers joined Robert (upper right) to continue fleshing out questions and ideas from his work. The presentation was part of the curriculum for the Benedictine Peacemakers Program. The curriculum will be open to the public as appropriate, be sure you are on our email list to receive notification.

Our leisure time often gets renewed attention in August as summer quickly passes. A few observations in Laudato Sí seem particularly apt for us to consider this month.

Sister Mary Ann Luke, OSB, 92, died on July 23, 2025, at Mount St. Benedict Monastery in Erie.

Read prayer and obituary>>>