While tending to the telephone last Saturday, I chose the America magazine (July-August 2025) for use during the quiet times. One of the articles by Bronwen McShea was entitled “A Woman Problem or a History Problem?” Naturally it caught my attention.
As I was reading through the article, I realized I was reviewing my own life and the life of the community of St. Walburg. The article is well matched to the subject on the wall in our front entrance. It depicts the actions of eight historic women beautifully arrayed in a paschal color.
Seven of them are labelled Saint. Sts. Gertrude and Mechtild share a picture. The eighth picture is kindly and lovingly labeled Women of St. Walburg Monastery.
Sister Emmanuel, while reflecting during a retreat, created this water color consisting of eight panels. It hangs on the wall in the monastery entrance.
Important for today is the names. In our own time we have had sisters with each of these names. It was a great day to review our history and rejoice in our gifts. There are many important ways we are similar in action. I recognized important names in the history of the world that also belong to our history.
Each of these saint names have also been sisters’ names in our community. They are listed below. I have known at least one sister with each of these names except Lioba. She died the year before I entered.
Scholastica Walburga Hilda Lioba Hildegard Mechtild Gertrude Benedicta (Riepp).
