Abbey of Regina Laudis: First Profession of Sister Jeanne Paul & Celebrations

Awake, O Sleeper! May the witness of Sister Jeanne Paul’s total gift of self to God be a beacon of light that inspires us all, whether within the monastery or without, at whatever age or whatever stage of process we might be in our own vocation, to keep growing ever closer to the light that is Christ.

From Mother Abbess Lucia's Prayer of the Faithful for the Profession Mass

On Laetare Sunday, March 19, 2023, Sister Jeanne Paul Erickson made her First Profession of Vows to God through the Community of the Abbey of Regina Laudis. Monsignor Robert Tucker celebrated the Mass and was the homilist.

*Suscipe*, Receive me Lord,
according to your word and I shall live...

Before entering Regina Laudis in 2013, Sister Jeanne Paul, a native of Ottawa, Ontario, worked in the field of electrical engineering in research and manufacturing. After moving to New York City she held the position of executive administrator of Trinity Grace Church soon after its inception. She participated in the Monastic Internship at the Abbey in 2012, during which time she converted to Catholicism.

In her monastic life Sister Jeanne Paul has worked at our dairy caring for the cows and pastures, and more recently, with our chickens. She is a gifted seamstress and quilt maker, and has made bread in our bakery for many years. She works for the Cellarer's Department and during our New Horizons renovation project, contributed her skills in engineering to offering designs for the new bakery and sewing departments, and helped others navigate the complexity of the proposed phone system for the monastery complex.

tractor

Sister Jeanne Paul is a gifted musician. In the monastic Choir she is a Cantor and sings on the Novitiate Maria Goretti Schola. She loves Gregorian Chant and appreciates the gift of singing the psalms of the Divine Office, which integrates her love of Scripture and the simple beauty of the Chant.

Before her Profession Sister Jeanne Paul spent the summer of 2022 at our Foundation, Our Lady of the Rock, on Shaw Island, Washington. She taught the interns bread-making, directed them in land care, and drove the tractor during the hay harvest. Her input during the Monastic Theology Class was greatly appreciated, as she shared her love for monastic life and insights into the Rule of St. Benedict. Her voice as a Cantor and on Schola was a great support for the small monastic choir.

The Scripture Readings for the Profession Mass were:
1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a
Ephesians 5:8-14
John 4:5-42

MOTHER ABBESS LUCIA'S PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL AT THE FIRST PROFESSION MASS

We remember today the unlikely call and anointing of David the King, the youngest of Jesse’s sons, brought in from taking care of the sheep to receive Samuel’s blessing. May we likewise pray in wonder and gratitude for the life and surprising call of Sister Jeanne Paul Erickson, who persevered on her long winding path from Ottawa, Canada, pushing her way through whatever rocky soil she encountered like the "snowdrop" she is, often not knowing where she was going as she moved out from her established Baptist Faith and a potential career in engineering, through many moves and steps of conversion to arrive at this Laetare Sunday, when we joyfully celebrate together her Profession of Vows to God as a contemplative nun of Regina Laudis. May the Spirit, indeed, continue to rush upon her and upon all here present.
Let us pray to the Lord.

Awake, O Sleeper! May the witness of Sister Jeanne Paul’s total gift of self to God be a beacon of light that inspires us all, whether within the monastery or without, at whatever age or whatever stage of process we might be in our own vocation, to keep growing ever closer to the light that is Christ, knowing how we must adapt gradually to the intensity and brilliance of that light; but keeping our eyes open and not shrinking back from the momentary shock of new consciousness and the life it will bring.
Let us pray to the Lord.

In acknowledgment of how we are all born blind in some way and to some degree, may we not blame or judge each other as did the man’s parents and neighbors in the Gospel, but rather follow the example that Christ gives us, lifting each other up, liberating each other from the darkness of fear that will hold us back, so that we might journey towards Jerusalem together, freely and consciously bringing as much as ourselves as we can to join with Christ in His Paschal sacrifice.
Let us pray to the Lord.

In gratitude to all who have assisted Sister Jeanne Paul on her journey especially Monsignor Tucker, her parents and family, her colleagues and members of her prior Faith Community, may she be able to give to them ever more fully in prayer and loving service as a nun of Regina Laudis.
Let us pray to the Lord.

May Sister Jeanne Paul’s gifts of music and the visual arts allow God to keep speaking to her heart which uplifts not only her, but all of us through her.
Let us pray to the Lord.

This Mass is offered for Sister Jeanne Paul Erickson on the day of her First Profession of Vows.
Let us pray to the Lord.

For our Benedictine Oblates, monastic interns, the Erickson and Locke families, especially Lynden and Karen, Julie and Tricia, for all Sister Jeanne Paul’s friends celebrating with us today and those celebrating from afar and for all our families, friends, guests and benefactors,
Let us pray to the Lord.

For the deceased of the Erickson, Chase, Locke and Kroeker families and for all the Faithful Departed.
Let us pray to the Lord.

Gallery of First Profession of Sister Jeanne Paul