UPDATES FROM THE SISTERS - October 2021

“May we be strengthened
by the knowledge
that Jesus is with us –
especially in the tough times.” 
​
Rev. Marsh Luther Drege
Pastor and Executive Director
Seafarers International House

A fall leaf on one of the rush chairs at CSJB.
​

ST. MARGUERITE’S HAS REOPENED!

Our first group since March 2020!
​Trinity Church, Ambler at the Retreat House Oct. 1. St. Marguerite's is open for vaccinated guests.

 On October 1, St. Marguerite’s Retreat House finally reopened after being closed for 19 months due to the pandemic. We joyfully welcomed 27 guests from Trinity Church, Ambler for their women’s weekend retreat October 1-3, and retreatant Becky Curlett sent a lovely email of thanks afterward which said: “I wanted to extend our thanks for a wonderful weekend. Brad and his team were super helpful leading up to the retreat to keep me informed.  He was available during our stay for questions and suggestions. I heard many compliments on the food. It was the best food that we remember and we’ve been coming 15+ years. We were happy to be your first group back and wish you a lot of success in the reopening.” ​

Many thanks to all the groups who have booked retreats for the coming year, to Brad Kalos and his hardworking team, to Sister Linda Clare, to all our volunteers and donors, to our Buildings and Grounds department, and to the extremely generous anonymous donor without whom this reopening would not have been possible.

St. Marguerite’s is booking up quickly, but we do have some dates still available. If you’d like information about reservations, please contact Brad Kalos at [email protected]. 

We Sisters love seeing the glow of lights in St. Marguerite's windows again!

THE GOOD SHEPHERD hOME IN cAMEROON

Congratulations, Cistus! We are so happy for you!

By the time Aben Cistus Tita was twelve years old, he had lost both his parents. He and his brother hunted game animals in the bush to earn money to support the rest of his siblings. Cistus had two pairs of pants – one for regular days, and a clean pair to wear to school. He was a brilliant student with tremendous potential. When Sister Jane heard about Cistus and his siblings, she welcomed them to the Good Shepherd Home at Batibo without hesitation. Sister Jane persuaded the principal at the local school to admit Cistus mid-year, and he quickly rose to the top of his class.

​On October 22, at age 26, Cistus graduated at the top of his class from Covenant University in Nigeria with a degree in Petroleum Engineering. He is currently seeking an internship or entry-level job in the United States to begin his career. Please email us at [email protected] if you can help.

Cistus is just one of many Good Shepherd Home success stories. The Home never makes children available for adoption due to the danger of trafficking, but instead provides a lifelong family and finds sponsors for their education. Without the Home, Cistus and so many other children may never have had the chance to achieve their dreams.

The Good Shepherd Home is looking for 100 sponsors at $40 a month to provide food, shelter, and education for the children. 

Cistus at the Good Shepherd Home in 2013

If you’re interested in becoming a GSH sponsor, or in sponsoring a child’s education, please email [email protected] or go to www.goodshepherdhome.org
​

PONY IS IN THE NEWS

Pony's new coloring book

Pony, our beautiful boy, had a ministry of presence at CSJB for 27 years.
​

Sister Margo Elizabeth and her book Not Just an Ordinary Pony were recently featured in the Observer/Tribune, the Daily Record, and many other major news outlets. If you’d like to read the article from the Observer/Tribune, CLICK HERE. For the story in the Mendham/Chester Patch, CLICK HERE.

Readers are enjoying Sister Margo’s book so much that she decided to create a coloring book as a companion piece. The coloring book contains many of the beautiful illustrations from Not Just an Ordinary Pony in grayscale to be filled in with watercolors, colored pencils, or markers. 

​​You can purchase the book by clicking HERE, and the coloring book is available at our Nun Better Shop at the Convent and Retreat House. CLICK HERE for a flyer.

If you’d like to order a coloring book by mail, please contact [email protected]. If you’re already enjoying the book and/or the coloring book, please feel free to spread the word or gift them to family and friends. All the proceeds from both books benefit the many ministries of CSJB.

MENDHAM FAITH LEADERS – 2nd ANNUAL THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE

The Mendham Faith Leaders are again sponsoring the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive at Hilltop Church. This year’s collection dates are Nov. 7, Nov. 14, and Nov. 21 from 11:30 AM to 2 PM. CLICK HERE for a downloadable PDF list of items you may donate. CLICK HERE for a flyer to hang in your church or other public areas.

We will also be holding a Service of the Longest Night (aka Blue Christmas) - December 21st at 7pm via Zoom. This is a service that recognizes the holidays are not 'holly and jolly' for everyone. It connects our experiences today with biblical stories of 'long nights of the soul.' Together, we will acknowledge the complexities of the season while illuminating hope. Details are still being finalized, so keep checking our EVENTS page for details and registration.

The Mendham Faith Leaders group includes CSJB, Brookside Community Church, Grace Lutheran Church, Hilltop Presbyterian Church, Mendham United Methodist Church, and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. 
​

THE GARDEN OF HOPE​

Sisters and Garden of Hope volunteers at St. Marguerite's on October 12

​From Betsy Broome – Pastoral Intern at Brookside Community Church and Garden of Hope volunteer:
"A dinner was held on Tuesday night, October 12th in the Retreat House solarium to celebrate the many gifts of the Community Garden, including the gifts offered by those who planted and nurtured the garden and shared its bounty with local food pantries.   We enjoyed pizza and refreshments and conversation about lessons learned in the garden.  

​At the dinner were Nicolette Siragusa, pastor of Brookside Community Church (BCC), Betsy Broome, BCC's pastoral intern, and Sally Pierson, a BCC member.  Also present were Sisters Linda Clare and Victoria Michelle, Virginia Murphy from The Church of the Messiah in Chester, and members of The Sharing Project, Emily Borinshteyn, her mother Natalia Borinshteyn and friends Anushka and Thomas. The group expressed its gratitude to the Community of St. John Baptist for sharing its garden, for the many hands that made sharing the garden produce possible, and to Brad Kalos for providing the solarium for our dinner."

Julie Crawford's photo of a recent batch of produce from the Garden of Hope

If you'd like to volunteer in our Garden of Hope, or if you'd like to find out more about it, please email Sister Linda Clare at [email protected]
​

SISTER VICTORIA MICHELLE’S ANGLICAN PRAYER BEAD WORKSHOP

Sister Victoria Michelle presenting her Anglican Bead Workshop on Zoom

Many thanks to all who participated in Sister Victoria Michelle’s Anglican prayer bead workshop on Saturday, October 22. Participants enjoyed learning how to make their own Anglican prayer beads at home with bead kits that we mailed to them.
They also heard scriptural reflections, prayers, and meditations as they worked.

​Sister Victoria has new retreats and programs in the works, so be sure to check out our EVENTS page for her upcoming events.

RETREAT AND GUEST HOUSE LEADERS GROUP

Throughout the pandemic, Sister Monica Clare and Retreat House Manager Brad Kalos have been meeting on Zoom with leaders of other faith-based guest and retreat houses.
​In this uncertain era of shutdowns, reopenings, and ever-changing safety protocols, this group has been an invaluable source of support and fellowship. 

Members of the faith-based guest and retreat house leaders group meeting on  Zoom October 25, 2021

​Leaders of the House of the Redeemer (Episcopal), Penington House (Quaker), Hephzibah House (Christian), Menno House (Mennonite), and Seafarers International House (Lutheran) gather every six weeks to brainstorm and exchange practical tips on managing a Christian guest ministry during COVID-19. Most of all, the leaders of the various houses continually hold each other in prayer.  CSJB gives thanks for this wonderful group of faithful people and we keep you and your ministries of hospitality in our prayers.
​

HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE NUN BETTER SHOP LATELY?

​The Nun Better shop on Etsy has many beautiful, handcrafted items made with loving hands by CSJB Sisters. It’s a great place for easy at-home Christmas shopping, too!  We hope to add more items to the shop soon, but if you’d like to request an item you don’t see on Etsy, please let us know at [email protected].
​
We have Christmas items and handmade fabric purses, along with Pony coloring books, at the Convent for sale. We also provide free re-sizing and repair on all jewelry items.
​

SISTER MONICA CLARE IN ENGLAND?

Through the magic of Zoom, Sister Monica Clare presented a slide show to parishioners from All Saints Church, Twickenham, England on September 28. The presentation focused on the Community of St. John Baptist’s history through the context of our patron Saint, John the Baptist. Many thanks to the Rev. Alex Lane for the invitation, and we hope to collaborate on other projects with All Saints in the future.

An image from the Sept. 28 presentation

Sister Monica Clare will also be giving an Advent quiet day at the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin on Saturday, December 11.  Please contact the Rev. James Ross Smith at [email protected] for more information.
​

BIRD UPDATE FROM OUR AUDUBON FRIENDS

New Jersey Audubon Society Communications Director Chris Neff visited the CSJB campus with Martin Slayne, Mendham Township Environmental Commission Chair, on October 8 and they were delighted to see a black-throated blue warbler. Chris says that particular bird is not often seen out in the open. Martin said “You have a wonderful property to watch the wildlife. Quite an environmental haven!” 

All the photos in the slideshow above are by Chris Neff. You can see more of his great photographs of birds and all kinds of other creatures on his Instagram account at www.instagram.com/neffisms
​

from sister linda clare

Sister Linda Clare preached a great sermon on October 10, 2021 that contains the wise words:

​“Just because we want something, it is not always ours for the asking. Desires and dreams can involve hard work and in this case sacrifice. This is when discernment comes in.”

To read Sister Linda’s sermon in its entirety, CLICK HERE.

Sister Victoria Michelle (L) and Sister Pamela in St, Michael's Chapel

ASSOCIATES AND OBLATES

Click on the image above to view some of Father Beddingfield's sermons

The Rev. John Beddingfield, Rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity in New York City, will be leading an Advent Retreat for CSJB Associates on Saturday, December 4 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM on Zoom. The retreat is entitled “Catching our Breath” and will be held on Zoom. Father Beddingfield is the Community Pastor for CSJB, and he is a popular retreat leader.

Please email Sister Eleanor Francis at [email protected] to register for the retreat.
​

ST. JOHN BAPTIST SCHOOL

We ask your prayers for Louise Bowyer Hebert (SJBS 1976) and her family as they mourn her mother Sonia Dagney Hamre Bowyer who died on October 4. Sonia’s obituary can be found HERE.

If you are an alumna of the St. John Baptist School, be sure to connect with other schoolgirls by joining the private Facebook group “St. John Baptist School, Mendham NJ.” The page can be found by CLICKING HERE. One of the alums on the Facebook page recently said: “ I too have been feeling extra nostalgic about SJBS lately. Those memories have always sustained me, but even more so during these difficult times.” 

​

SJBS Alumna Monica Giordano sent us this beautiful wooden Advent calendar for the Convent

LOOKING AHEAD

​​​CENTERING PRAYER
Every Thursday from 7:15 to 8:15
On Zoom
Our Centering Prayer group has been meeting for many years and it is one of our most popular ministries. Guests can gather on Zoom. Please email Sister Monica at [email protected] if you are interested in joining.

A description of this silent contemplative practice can be found HERE.
​

FALL INTERFAITH SERIES
Facilitated by Rabbi Deb Smith, Sr. Eleanor Francis, and Dr. Shabiha Sheikh

Wednesday, October 13:  “Humility.”
Wednesday, October 27: “Forgiveness”
Wednesday, November 10: “Overcoming Evil.”

All programs run from 7:30- to 9:00 p.m.
Suggested minimum donation for each:  $18.

If you think you would be interested in this program, please contact Sr. Eleanor Francis at [email protected] or 973-543-4641 ex. 3. I will see that you get registered.
​

JOIN US FOR PRAYER ON ZOOM
Friday November 12
​10:15 AM - 11:00 AM Eastern time.
​ALL ARE WELCOME

Join us on the 2nd Friday of each month for informal intercessory prayers to give us strength and hope during these trying times.  We begin with a check-in time of 10:15am Eastern and praying starts at 10:30am. A special thanks to Interweave for the use of their online platform.

Please email Oblate Pat McKenzie for the Zoom info. at:
[email protected]
​

BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING: THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE
November 7, November 14, and November 21 from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Hilltop House, 14 Hilltop Rd. in Mendham, NJ. 

This year, your local faith communities are joining together to make sure everyone has a bountiful Thanksgiving. In lieu of our usual individual collections, we have set one centralized, socially distant drop-off location to support the Interfaith Food Pantry. CSJB Sisters will be there helping out on Nov. 14, so please stop by and say hello. This event is open to all.

Supported by the Mendham Community Faith Leaders: Community of St. John Baptist, Brookside Community Church, Grace Lutheran Church, Hilltop Presbyterian Church, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, and Mendham United Methodist Church. For a list of items needed, CLICK HERE. For more info., email Sister Monica Clare at [email protected].
​
CLICK HERE FOR A FLYER.
​

CATCHING OUR BREATH
An Advent Retreat for CSJB Associates
Saturday, December 4, 2021
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM (on Zoom)
Leader: The Rev. John Beddingfield, Associate, CSJB

What sustains us when we are running low? How do we reconnect with God when we need a second spiritual wind? Join us for an online retreat with the Rev. John F. Beddingfield as he leads us in an exploration of biblical and theological images around breath. We will be invited to practice several ways of noticing our breath in prayer and opening ourselves more deeply to God’s Spirit.
 
Suggested Donation: (Pay what you can): $50.
Check or Paypal: Make out to Community of St. John Baptist, Attn: Sr. Eleanor Francis
After we have received your donation, we will send you a link.
​

ADVENT RETREAT
December 11 from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
At the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin
145 West 46th St. New York, NY 10036

Sister Monica is leading a quiet day at the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin in New York City December 11 on the subject of "Hope: What is it, and how can we get more of it?" 

Please email the Rev. James Ross Smith at Saint Mary's for more information at [email protected]

SERVICE OF THE LONGEST NIGHT
DECEMBER 21 at 7:00 PM
On Zoom

On the longest night of the year, join the Mendham faith communities in a service that recognizes the holidays are not 'holly and jolly' for everyone. This warm and cozy service connects our experiences today with biblical stories of 'long nights of the soul.' Together, we will acknowledge the complexities of the season while illuminating hope.

Please email Sister Monica Clare at [email protected] to register for this free event.
​

CELTIC JOURNEYS
Due to the Corona Virus pandemic, many of our 2021 Celtic Journeys were cancelled, but please see our trips for 2022!
https://www.celticjourneys.org/copy-of-ireland
https://www.celticjourneys.org/cornwall
For more information, contact Sister Margo Elizabeth:
Phone:973 543 4641 ext 4                      
Email: [email protected]

PLEASE JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR
​

Sister Eleanor Francis and Sister Victoria taking a walk with our friend Melissa

​All who are suffering from COVID, for all who have died from COVID, and for all who have lost loved ones to COVID,
 
For the civilians and military personnel in Afghanistan and all regions affected by war.
For all those affected by mass shootings,
 For peace in the Middle East,
 For all healthcare workers and other essential workers,
 For our Searchers who are discerning a call to the Religious life,

Amber
​Andy
Annette
Anthony
Barbara
Bill and Carol
Brandon
Carolyn and Bruce
Chase
​Cheryl
Chris
The Clewer Initiative
Sam and her children
Claire
​Dana
Daniel,
Dean
Diane
Doug
​Ellen
Erin
Geri and family
Greg and Pat,
​Gretchen
Heather
Honor
Hugh
India
Ingrid
Jack Grier’s family
James

Janet
​Jarad and Monica
Jason
Jay
Jean
Jeanette
​Jeff and his children
Jennifer
Jess
Jessica and Brendan
Jim
Joanna
Joseph
John
John and Family
Jon
Joyce
Judith
Juli and Gil
Julian
Kamala
Kathleen
Kia
Lana
Larry and his daughter
Lee
Linda and Paul
Linda Lee
​Margaret
Margaret and family
Maureen

Maria
​Matthew
Maxton
Maureen and Donald
McGrath family
Michael
Michelle,
Myles
Myram,
Nicole
Norman
​Pat and Ellie
Patrick
Patty
Phoebe
Rebecca and her family
​River
Shane
Sheila
The Singh family
Sister Barbara Jean
​Stephanie
Sully
​Susan and family
Suzanne
The family of Mary Flood
Tiffany
Tommy
Virginia
Warren
William Benefield, Sr.

​We pray especially for the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed.
 
We would be honored to pray for you. Please email [email protected] with any prayer requests. If you have requested prayers and don't see the requested name on our list, we offer our apologies. Please email the Superior and we will add the name here.
​

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO

All who have contributed to the children of the Good Shepherd Home,

All who have contributed time, talent, and donations to help reopen our retreat house.
 
Our many helpers, volunteers, and those who encourage us
 
All our CSJB Oblates, Associates, Alumnae, and friends, and:

Detail from the Black Cope, embroidered by CSJB Sisters in the early 1900s

Magdalena Aders
Peter J. Arney and George W. Jordan III
Donna Aubel
Barbara Barbeau
Joe Boney
Christine Brodeur
Chris Chrystal and Myram Borders
Julie Crawford
Rosemary DaCuna
Hans Dekker and the Hyde and Watson Foundation
Rosina B. Dixon
Margaret Dohnalek
Mary Donovan
Gerrie Dressler
Lorraine Emanuel
Kay & Frank Failla
Joanne Foster
Susan Fuller and family
Mayor Christine Glassner
Bill and Gay Grier
The Rev. Deacon Cathy Brunson

Elizabeth S. Halpin
Jane Hayden
Father Joe Hennen
Margaret Johnson
Bradley Kalos
Judi Kerr
The Very Rev. H. Scott Kirby and family
Linda Lee Mundy
Janet Maulbeck and Interweave
Patrice and Doug McKenzie
Jane and Peter Mercer
Connie Moore
Mayor Sarah Neibart
Bart Oates
Jan Paxton
Judy Picciano
Susan and Joseph Pigott
Jack and Penny Rohrbach
Michael Reiter
Ed Roworth
Juli Towell
Alix Weisz
Joannah Wilmerding

The DCLM Fund
The S.A.D. Foundation
The Community of the Transfiguration
The Rt. Rev. Carlye J. Hughes
The Rt. Rev. Mary Glasspool
The Rev. Kevin Coffey
The Rev. Cynthia L. Black, DD, and the people of the Church of the Redeemer
The Rev. John A. Rollins
The Rev. Lorna Erixson and the people of St. Mark's Mendham
The Rev. Margaret Otterburn and the people of the Church of the Messiah
The Rev. Victoria McGrath and the people of All Saints Millington
The Rev. Anne C. Thatcher and the people of St. Peters Morristown​
​

​TO SUPPORT OUR GENERAL FUND

Jennie keeping watch at the Convent door.

Because the pandemic suspended our ministry of hospitality for 19 months we, like many nonprofits, are having a very difficult time covering our monthly operating costs.
 
If you'd like to help us continue our ministries, please consider making a gift to our general fund through our online Paypal portal:
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/CommunityofStJohnBap

WOULD YOU LIKE TO INCLUDE CSJB IN YOUR ESTATE PLANNING?

Click on the image above to see a fall drive on our driveway at CSJB

If you’d like information on how to arrange a legacy gift, please email Sister Monica Clare at [email protected] or call 973-543-4641 ext. 2.
 
The majority of our buildings, chapel furnishings, Convent and Retreat House furnishings, and ongoing ministry funds were made possible through legacies. It is mainly through the kindness of legacy donors who believed in our mission that we have carried forward the plans of the Holy Spirit for our Community from 1852 to the present time.
 
The restoration of the Convent in 1960 was made possible by a legacy gift. Before that gift, the Sisters lived at St. Marguerite's for ten years because the Convent repairs were too expensive to undertake.

Your planned giving would help to ensure that the dreams of our Mother Foundress, to continually address "the needs of the day," will live on into the future. We welcome gifts for specific purposes and ministries, for our Capital Campaign to restore and repair our sacred space, or for the general operating fund of the Convent and Retreat House where we welcome an average of 2,000 visitors per year.