Sharing Christ with others

One way they have shared their prayer life with others is by visiting and ministering to women inmates on death row in nearby Gatesville. This is a true exception for the sisters, who typically spend their entire day in silence, work and prayer. Deacon Ronnie Lastovica invited the sisters to join him in his long-standing prison ministry when he saw similarities between the incarcerated women and life as a religious sister.

“His invitation was a surprise because we normally don’t go out of the convent very often,” Sister Lydia Maria said. “We were very hesitant at first but had the desire to go.”

Deacon Lastovica told them the incarcerated women had a deep life with Christ, and that most of them had converted to Catholicism. After receiving permission from their religious superior, the sisters left their convent to begin ministering to the incarcerated women. Sister Lydia Maria said what they witnessed upon entering somewhat surprised them.

“We arrived and saw five smiling women very happy to receive us,” she said. “We began to tell them our names and a little about our contemplative life and our ordinary days, and we all realized we have very comparable lives.”

Like the inmates, the sisters call their rooms at the convent cells, they all wear the same clothes, follow a strict schedule, do manual work and live by obedience. These commonalities seemed to ease any sense of trepidation between the two groups.

“They were so happy to know we live a bit like them, the only difference being is that we freely choose it for the love of Christ,” Sister Lydia Maria said. “The simplicity of our contemplative life broke down any barriers, and we quickly felt very close to them.”

As the first visit ended, the sisters encouraged the women to intensify their prayer lives and to live their daily lives for Jesus. The Sisters of Mary Morning Star have been visiting the women once a month for three years now. Each visit includes a Bible study, and thanks to these visits and the ministry of Deacon Lastovica, the inmates have received the mercy of Christ and lead lives of prayer.

“Something from heaven happened on that first visit, and it humanly cannot be explained other than the love and light of Christ was received in a very strong way in that corner of a prison in a small city in Central Texas,” Sister Lydia Maria said. “It is not only they who receive from us but also us who receive from them.”

Britanny Holberg, one of the women on death row whom the sisters visit, said she is grateful the sisters have shared their love of Christ with the inmates.

“Jesus said he came for the sick … Life and prisons are full of sick people who desperately need to see his love reflected in the eyes of another. We all need to know that nothing separates us from the love of Jesus Christ,” Holberg said.

An expanding convent

The convent in Waco currently has seven sisters in residence, and they truly live by their Marian name. The Morning Star is the brightest star and the first star to rise, and while they are called primarily to be friends of Jesus, they also want to be like Mary and are guided by the conviction that she is the star that leads them in all they do. Sisters of Mary Morning Star convents can be found on four continents and multiple cities throughout the world.

Their quiet days begin with prayer and The Liturgy of the Hours followed by solitary Bible study and contemplation, Mass, prayer, work such as laundry, cleaning and crafts, Vespers and Eucharistic Adoration. All meals are eaten alone in their rooms except for Sunday lunch, which they eat together in silence. Each sister takes a vow of poverty, so they own virtually nothing.

An important dimension of their life is manual work as well as the occasional craftwork. Currently they don’t have adequate space to produce artisan crafts and hope additional space will allow them to make rosaries, leather items, woodwork, ceramics, sweets and soaps. To better accommodate their needs, they have broken ground on a convent expansion, which will include a chapel, workshops, a guesthouse and a hermitage for retreats.

“Part of our contemplative life is also to receive people seeking silence and prayer and welcoming others to spend a few days of retreat in our guesthouse,” Sister Lydia Maria said. “In addition to a new one, we will have a hermitage where we will be able to receive priests and religious for a few days of retreat and rest with the Lord.”

According to the sisters’ website, their convent is a place of prayer and worship, and it is open to the public who would like to experience contemplative prayer. Visiting hours are Monday-Friday from 2 to 5 p.m. by appointment.

For more information on Sisters of Mary Morning Star, visit www.marymorningstartexas.org, send an email to marymorningstar.texas@gmail.com or call/text (210) 371-3121.