Holy women from Sin City

Discernment in Daily Life,” the retreat we attended at Saint Andrew’s Abbey in Valyermo, California, was just what everyone in our prayer group, Lectio Divina, badly needed. As the Abbey brochure mentioned: “This retreat will explore discernment as an ongoing process of spiritual growth toward maturity in the Spirit.”

We were all excited to leave the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas to experience the quiet solitude of the monastery grounds. It has been two years since our last visit, and we were really excited and happy to go. Not even the five-hour drive in a rented “cozy” (cramped) van dampened our spirits.

I entertained a lot of misconceptions the first time we went to the monastery. Now, I know what to expect: heavenly and meditative-inducing surroundings; delicious and healthy food lovingly prepared by the monks; praying, chanting and worship by the monks; engaging lectures; and evenings in silence and reflection.

Indeed, a spiritual oasis in the middle of the high desert. I was not disappointed.

When Father Francis, the retreat master, asked us to introduce ourselves, our group from Las Vegas stood out since we were the largest, 13 participants in all. Our group also asked insightful questions, offered perceptive comments and observations. Soon, Father Francis started calling us the “holy women from Sin City”!

That moniker stuck with us throughout our stay, and soon all the other participants started calling us that label. We did not mind at all.

The chanting of the monks gathered for prayer and worship five times a day imparted such spiritual joy and peace; I remember thinking this must be like heaven where all the angels are singing. I could honestly just sit in the chapel for hours and simply listen.

It is so appropriate that the Stations of the Cross, carved on the hills surrounding the monastery grounds, are done in a primitive, simple style.  Praying the stations at 5 a.m. and finishing just as the sun begins to rise over the hills was just unbelievable.

The most notable section of the monastery grounds, besides the chapel, is the reflective pond surrounded by shaded trees. The pond accommodates colorful kois, turtles, noisy geese and ducks. With Bible in hand, I would sit in one of the benches and attempt to read passages. Of course, with a soft breeze blowing, I always promptly dozed off.

The delicious food is one of the reasons I was so excited to attend the retreat.

Sharing meals with the monks in silence while one monk read Bible passages was quite an experience.

Our three-day silent retreat soon came to an end, and we were all heartbroken to leave such a heavenly place. We all resolved to return sooner than later. In the meantime, the bright neon lights of Sin City beckoned!

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Olive Quimba O’Donnell, 65, retired from the US federal government and lives with her family in Las Vegas, Nevada. She is a political science graduate of the University of Santo Tomas.