Denver Catholic

13 DENVER CATHOLIC | MARCH 26-APRIL 8, 2016 PRA YE R I N T H E S Q U AR E C A T H O L I C C H A R I T I E S For more information and locations visit: PrayerIneSquare.com *All prayer communities will gather together at the Colorado State Capitol on April 2nd, August 6th and November 5th. First Saturday Devotion Join us in bringing Prayer into the Square with this public rosary held the first Saturday of the month APRIL 2ND 9 AM MASS AT CATHEDRAL 10 AM PRAYER AT THE CAPITOL MASS CELEBRATED AND ROSARY LED BY ARCHBISHOP AQUILA 10 AM Rosary April 2nd* May 7th June 4th July 2nd August 6th* September 3rd October 1st November 5th* December 3rd T he Benedictine Sisters of Benet Hill Monastery are celebrating 50 years since their founding by hon- oring the past, celebrating the present and embracing the future. This is a year of Jubilee for the Sis- ters, who are located in the Black Forest north of Colorado Springs. To celebrate, they have been making pilgrimages to the people and places where they've served over the years. In their 50 years of existence, the Sisters have provided 130 di‡ erent min- istries throughout Denver as teachers, administrators, nurses and pastoral min- isters. They have served in 21 parishes, four hospitals, four archdiocesan oª ces, as well as senior housing, prison ministry and housing for troubled youth. They cel- ebrated their Jubilee at Christ the King and St. Cajetan's Event Center on Auraria Campus earlier this year and will host a fi nal celebration at Our Lady of Fatima in Lakewood on April 17. The story of Benet Hill Monastery dates back to June 3, 1935, when Urban J. Vehr, Bishop of Denver, wrote to Mother Lucy, Prioress of the Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, Kansas. Bishop Vehr wrote, "I write to ask if you would be interested in having your sisters take charge of a new school for [Latino] children in the city of Denver, connected with St. Cajetan Church. May I ask that you inform me at your earliest conve- nience if we could expect your sisters for the opening of the new school?" Three days later, Mother Lucy responded. "It was kind of you to select our community to undertake this noble work," she wrote. "We will accept your gracious o‡ er and trust that we will do justice to the good cause. Eight sisters and a housekeeper will be kept in reserve, and they will be ready to start school whenever you notify us." The Benedictine Sisters from Atchison arrived to sta‡ St. Cajetan's Parish School in the heart of Denver in 1937, and 96 sis- ters continued to teach there over the years until a new priory was established in Colorado Springs in 1965, which would come to be known as Benet Hill Monas- tery. Some 36 sisters from the Benet Hill Community continued this ministry until the school was closed in 1970, and a religious education program followed immediately. In 1964, Mother Liguori Sullivan, Pri- oress of Benet Hill Monastery, worked closely with Reverend Robert Syrianey, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Lakewood, Colorado. The parish was building a school and Mother Liguori pro- vided three sisters who launched the fi rst teaching sta‡ . The school quickly grew to two classes of each grade from fi rst to sixth grade, plus junior high. Thirty sis- ters from Benet Hill taught at Our Lady of Fatima, where they created a wholesome educational experience for hundreds of children. Religious education was also integral to Fatima's parish life and the sisters provided classes for children and adults of all ages. They also created a program where parents were prepared to teach their children the beauty of the sacraments in their homes. The Sisters of Benet Hill Monastery invite all to join them on their pilgrimage of gratitude and reconnect with them as they share memories. Fifty years of Benedictine life and ministry in Denver The Benedictine Sisters of Benet Hill Monastery are celebrating 50 years of ministry in Denver this year. A celebration hosted by the sisters will take place at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Lakewood April 17. PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE SISTERS OF BENET HILL MONASTERY BENET HILL 50TH JUBILEE Sunday, April 17 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Our Lady of Fatima Parish 1985 Miller St. Lakewood, CO 80215 For more info, visit http:// benethillmonastery.org/50th-jubilee i

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