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THE ROAD FROM EMMAUS: Emmanuel Monastery Welcomes Three New Members
On Saturday, February 27, 2010 the sisters of Transfiguration Monastery in Emmaus, PA, Sisters Germaine Hartle, Josepha Meyer and Martina Revak, transferred their vow of stability to the Benedictine Sisters of Baltimore. Not to be daunted by the winter snow storms, friends and family gathered at Emmanuel Monastery to celebrate this new moment in our monastic journey. Aslo present was Sr. Jacinta Conklin, OSB, Prioress of St. Joseph Monastery, St. Marys, PA. Transfiguration Monastery was a dependent monastery established from St. Marys.
The Benedictine commitment contains three promises: Stability, Fidelity to the Monastic Life and Obedience. Stability binds the sister to a particular monastery and community. The monastic ritual marks the transfer of the "stability" of a sister from one monastery and community to another. Sisters Germaine, Josepha and Martina have been in the process of transfer for the past three years.
The Celebration of Eucharist for the Second Sunday of Lent provided powerful Word at this juncture in the lives of all the sisters. The promise of God to Abraham and Sarah and the Gospel of the Transfiguration recall the ongoing mystery of monastic life and the fidelity of the God of the Journey. The celebration continued over dinner Saturday evening, and Morning Prayer and Brunch on Sunday.
The members of Emmanuel Monastery mark this new moment in their history with deep gratitude and humility. We continue the monastic journey together with three more faith-filled women. We pray, along with St. Benedict, that "Christ may bring us all together to everlasting life." (Rule of Benedict 72:11)
TRANSFIGURATION HOUSE...Imagining Possibilities
The house next door to the monastery went up for sale, and the community began to imagine..."What if...." And imagination became reality after much prayer, conversation, gathering of advice and dreaming. The additional space will allow for accommodation of guests, retreatants, and our own sisters; more flexibility for programs that are growing here at the monastery; and more creative ways to share what we have with those whom we serve. 
The house has four bedrooms, a good size living room and dining room that opens out onto an enclosed porch, a kitchen and family room. It is conducive for small group meetings, or larger groups of 15 to 20 people. Information and inquiries on availability and use of Transfiguration House: Contact
Sr. Jeri Willson at 410-821-5792 or e-mail jeriwosb@emmanuelosb.org.
