By Sr. Barbara Kane, OP
One of the aspects about religious life that I most enjoy and appreciate is praying in common… praying together with other sisters. In my current ministry, I have the blessing to pray with the sisters in our Great Bend Motherhouse. We pray Morning and Evening prayer throughout the week and on Sunday, we sing Morning Prayer.
The Great Bend sisters have a history of being musically gifted, and these gifts are used for the glory and honor of God. Sr. Ruth Klein, one of three blood sisters, all who became Dominican Sisters, was a prolific writer of sacred music. We sing her music every Sunday. Sr. Ruth wrote for women’s voices and harmonizing. Even as we age and our voices get a little wobbly, singing together is a little bit of heaven.
My favorite thing to sing in Great Bend is the Christmas Novena that takes place from December 16 to December 24. Again, there is music by Sr. Ruth and there is also music written by Sr. Amy McFrederick, who currently lives and ministers at St. Catherine Motherhouse in Kentucky. Being with other women who have given their lives to God, raising our voices up in gratitude for God’s blessings, is a blessing itself. Here are the words to one of Sr. Amy’s antiphons during the Christmas Novena:
How long You’ve waited Lord, to come to us.
How much You’ve wanted us to believe your love.
How much You love us, Lord, that you wait for us.
How long You’ve waited Lord, for us to know.
How much You’ve wanted us to receive your love.
How much You love us, Lord, that you wait for us.
How long You’ve waited Lord, for us to grow.
How much You’ve wanted us to release your love.
How much You love us, Lord, that you wait for us.
Our music and singing bring us together. They are prayer and bring us closer to God. In our antiphon, we wait for God and God waits for us… to come, to believe, to receive, and to release God’s love. Isn’t this what religious life is all about?
If you sense that God is calling you to explore religious life, we invite you to consider attending our Zoom and See Discernment retreat in February or one of our other discernment programs. Also, the Sisters on our Vocation Team are available for private conversations.
What a beautiful tribute you gave to many of us who became Dominican Sisters in Great Bend. I understand fully what you are talking about regarding those Sisters who brought music into our prayers. Some even tried to teach us how to play the piano with success and some not so successful. God bless you.
This is a wonderful reflection. I’ve always felt closer to God and to my peers when I’m singing and praising God in song.
Thank you, Barb, for sharing Amy’s beautiful words! I also have come to love deeply praying, chanting, singing with other sisters, in spite of my very wobbly voice
Thank you Sr. Barbara Kane for sharing. I have always felt closer to God when singing His praises. I love the antiphon, waiting, watching for Jesus who loves us; the lyrics brings so much joy knowing how much we are loved by God. As the the words are being prayed through singing, I am sure God knows how much we love Him.
This is such a wonderful tribute to our Great Bend Community. One thing that brought me to the Great Bend Sisters is our singing and celebrating together.