Threshold - Fall 2003

From the Development Office

Sister Diana Seago & Sister Anne Shepard

From the Desk of Sister Anne

One day recently at the cash register of a gas station, the clerk said the bill was $14.92. “That was a significant year,” I replied. The clerk responded, “Yes, where would we be today without the events of the past?”

We at the Mount are approaching our 140th anniversary of our founders coming to Atchison. These seven brave Benedictine sisters came from Minnesota in 1863 to build a community of faith and to educate the children of German immigrants who lived in the area. Their first home was on the north side of town where the current Catholic elementary school is located.

One block away on the Benedictine College campus, a newly constructed Saint Scholastica Plaza was dedicated October 12th. This was built with the contributions of many friends who wish to honor all the sisters of the Mount because it was the sacrifices, commitment, work and prayer of each sister over these years that helped the students of the Mount and Benedictine College to be educated in the rich heritage of Benedictine education.

To further celebrate our 140th anniversary, the sisters had a special Mass at their community day on November 2. The monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey, our friends and partners in prayer for these many years, will join us on November 23 for a celebration.

On November 16, we host the Seventh Annual Night of Dreams. a gathering of friends and neighbors who will share a meal and participate in a silent and live auction, if they so choose. This year the sisters will have a short program to thank the participants for the overwhelming support given to us. We invite you to consider joining us for the evening.

As the liturgical season of Advent approaches in late November, we will enter it with hearts filled with gratitude for all that has been given to us and hope for at least 140 more years of being a monastic presence in Atchison.

Anne Shepard, OSB
Director of Development


From the Desk of Sister Diana

What a summer it has been here at The Mount! The ground was dry and parched. We sisters, on the other hand, have been bubbling up with all kinds of activity. You can check it all out on our web site where we have several new additions: new pictures, new scripture commentaries and a new section on planned giving and how you can help us in our ministry. We have over fifty new pages available which we hope will help you answer questions about your estate planning and the importance it has for the well- being of your family and favorite charities. Just go to our web site, http://www.mountosb.org and click on “How You Can Help.” You will find numerous articles about estate planning written in plain English for the non-lawyers among us. There will be new articles every month and we have even provided a gift calculator for those who might want to experiment with numbers. We hope this will make your estate planning easier and possibly give you some ideas you have not considered.

We have received notice of several estate gifts in recent months and are very grateful. These gifts help us continue our ministry to women, the young and those most in need. If you are interested in including the Mount in your estate plans and have any questions please don’t hesitate to call 913-360-6214 or email me at <diana@mountosb.org>. I will be happy to talk with you, or come visit you in your home if that is more convenient. Please keep us all in your prayers and know that we pray for you and your families daily. Don’t hesitate to call us or email us if you need someone remembered in our prayers in a special way. It happens to be one of the things we do the best!

Diana Seago, OSB
Director of Planned Giving