Tackling Transitions

After two months in a new place and with all our boxes neatly stowed or secretly stashed away, we (Sister Pam Biehl and I, Sister Regina Rose Pearson)  decided that now would be our best chance of introducing everyone to the new convent on the block. Visitation Convent , on a quiet corner just off Hwy 41 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is the site of a new adventure which, so far,  has been loaded with new people, new routines, and new reasons to laugh. And trust me, there is plenty of fun and laughter! It seems that our philosophy of life is going to be work hard, play hard!

Here’s are few snapshots of our life here at Visitation Convent and a few of the excursions we’ve been having!

The parish “Picnic in the Park-ing Lot,” Sr. Regina Rose’s introduction to St. Mary’s Omro, included a long standing competition between the Fr. Michael Warden, Fr. Doug LeCaptain, and Sr. Pam . Every year has a different theme for their costumes. This year it was “X-Men meet Nun better”.

We spent Labor Day at Sr. Pam’s friend’s house: Rachelle Rebman. It was a wonderful day of food, fun and, of course, a Lord of the Rings marathon! Sr. Regina Rose also discovered the “little free library” for the first time! A time a wonderment, indeed!

On September 5th, we shared our Community Days with our nearby Kaukauna Sisters ( Srs. Delores Wisnicky, Sue Ann Hall, and Juden Lang). We had wonderful conversations on transformation, kolaches made by Sr. Dolores, dinner at the Out-of-Town Supper Club, and because of the rain, a trip  to the Oshkosh Museum.

Sr.Regina Rose attended a “Mass on the grass” with Bishop Ricken at the Newman Center at UW Oshkosh. Mosquitoes were in high attendance.

Sr. Pam and I have taken up biking and geocaching. Our favorite location so far is the nearby South Park.

Believing that everything life throws at us contains a lesson to be learned , Sr. Pam and I have chosen to reflect on what we are learning as we live and minister together. We’d also like to share our discoveries with you!

Lesson #1: Transitions can be tough but they can also be an opportunity to develop new habits, make new priorities, and make a new “normal.”  Many times, change can mean loss but if we can open ourselves -even just a little bit- to the goodness and joy in every situation (even the challenges), we will find that wondrous things are waiting just around the corner!