Volunteering in a Place of Light

By Mary Bianchi

A friend told me about this volunteer opportunity with a group of Benedictine Sisters at a monastery. Something inside me said, yes.

Sister Marlene and I talked several times, and I filled out an application form. When I came for an interview I was very honest. I just opened up. I thought, Well, they won’t want me now.

Amazingly, they invited me to come anyway. I’ve been learning so much.

The Sisters are very tolerant and empathetic. They’ve got a sort of soothing it’s okay attitude. They seem really interested in your wellbeing. They aren’t into imposing a philosophy, a doctrine or a shtick.

It’s so different from what many people think.

It’s not doom and gloom and hairshirt. They have wine on feast days. And humor. And flowers.

Most of my religious friends haven’t had much to say. My nonreligious friends – the ones I expected to challenge it – are just quiet. They probably think I’m nuts.

There’s a general kind of joyousness. It’s an atmosphere.