Discernment house a ‘community within a community’

Benedictines set aside space for discerners and postulants to live, pray together

Published: May 8, 2013

By Maryanne Meyerriecks
Fort Smith Correspondent

Maryanne Meyerriecks

Prioress Sister Maria DeAngeli, OSB, (right) instructs postulants Judith Timmerman and Debra Boucaud on the Rule of St. Benedict during formation classes at St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith in November 2012.

Maryanne Meyerriecks

FORT SMITH — Recognizing that discernment is a process requiring prayer, reflection, self-knowledge and support, St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith created a house of discernment in the spring of 2012.

St. Scholastica House of Discernment occupies the second floor of a building east of the monastery, formerly used for the religious formation program. Its permanent residents — Sisters Barbara Bock, OSB, vocation director; Kimberly Prohaska, OSB, sub-prioress and assistant vocation director; and Macrina Wiederkehr, OSB — have hosted a number of discerners for “come and see” weekends and week-long observerships.

Five women have lived there for longer periods of time, and two — postulants Judith Timmerman and Debra Boucaud — will enter the novitiate in June.

The sisters, who are currently offering hospitality to a long-term discerner, are preparing for the Monastic Plunge May 23-27. The annual discernment retreat for men and women between the ages of 18-45, co-sponsored by Subiaco Abbey, gives participants an opportunity to learn about monastic life through presentations at Subiaco and St. Scholastica, led by sisters, monks and men and women currently in religious formation.

The house of discernment, with eight bedrooms, living/dining area, library and chapel, can accommodate up to five discerners. If more than five young women register for the Monastic Plunge, accommodations will be moved to the retreat center.

Living in community with the vocation team, a “community within the larger monastic community,” allows the women to experience monastic life in a safe and supportive environment. As they learn about Benedictine life at St. Scholastica Monastery, participating in Mass, Liturgy of the Hours, community meals, work, silence and recreation, they can immerse themselves in monastic life during the day while preserving the space to reflect objectively on God’s call in the evening.

“My role is helping women discern God’s call to the community and apostolic ministry that suits them best,” Sister Kimberly said. “The house of discernment can help them clarify where God is leading them.”

“I think it gives them a good flavor of Benedictine religious life, and whether they are called to monastic life or not, I think it will enrich their prayer life and enhance their appreciation of certain values that the sisters believe in such as hospitality, balance, simplicity and the beauty of creation,” Sister Barbara said.

The sisters have also offered use of the house to Sister Joachim Celina, OP, of Mountain Home, who has expressed interest in holding a weekend retreat for women interested in exploring Dominican life.

Long-term discerners are invited to attend classes in the Holy Rule, taught by Sister Maria DeAngeli, OSB, and Benedictine history, taught by Sister RoseMaria Birkenfeld, OSB, alongside Timmerman and Boucaud. The core team, in addition to praying in the larger community, also strives to meet with discerners regularly for shared holy reading and faith sharing.

Timmerman and Boucaud found their stay in the house of discernment helpful in the discernment process.

“The sisters in the House of Discernment are really good examples of Benedictine hospitality,” Timmerman said. “They are all so very different and that solidified the idea that I could be who I am as a Benedictine.”

“Through my daily encounters with the sisters,” Boucaud said, “I had the opportunity to learn about, to experience and to appreciate Benedictine values in action. In other words, the community not only talked the talk, but tried very hard to walk the walk as well.”

For more information or to schedule a visit, contact Sister Barbara at or (479) 783-4147.