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Sister Patricia Gamgort: “Mindfully sanctifying regular time”

Being Benedictine is very integral to my life and ministry.  Both are very much entwined.

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, I served as a pastoral minister in Dooley Center for four years. During Covid – from March, 2020 through July, 2021 – I ordered and stocked food while administering two food pantries for our monastery and Dooley employees.

Most recently, my main ministries have centered around St Lucy Chapel and the Choir Chapel. It’s a joy to celebrate the four seasons painted by our God and then invite the many colors into our chapels.

Sister Patricia arranging flowers.

Cutting and arranging a variety of colorful flowers from our lovingly tended gardens to adorn our chapels brings daffodils, dahlias, sunflowers, zinnias, and gladiolas indoors to accent our liturgies. 

As part of that ministry, I water flowers and plants in the chapel and also tend numerous plants at the Dooley entrance and the spaces surrounding St. Lucy Chapel. I, along with others, substitute for the sacristan a few times during the year: preparing for Eucharist, readying the altar and the readings, the bread and wine, and being attentive to other numerous details. I also enjoy being lector, acolyte, communion minister, and prayer leader in both chapels.

Sister Patricia mixing Chex Mix in a big silver bowl
Sister Patricia making Chex Mix

I have recently been appointed to the On-Going Formation Team. In addition to keeping community members abreast of pertinent articles for self-growth, coordinating retreats and study days, and engaging in the synodal process, the Team is also joining with the Election Committee to correlate readings relative to our upcoming election of our prioress.

Being Benedictine is very integral to my life and ministry. Both are very much entwined. Benedictine prayer enables me to be more mindful in my ministry: while preparing the chapel environment, I am simultaneously engaged in celebrating the Liturgy of the Hours and Eucharist, which further immerses me in the feasts. Being Benedictine affords me the opportunity of mindfully sanctifying regular time through prayer and ministry.

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