| Monastery
of St. Gertrude celebrates campaign donors
More than 65 donors to the Monastery of St. Gertrude’s Growing a Future Rooted in Hope capital campaign gathered at the monastery June 5-7, for a donor appreciation celebration. They came from as near as Cottonwood, from as far as Houston, Texas, Novato, California, Portland, Oregon, Missoula, Montana, Idaho Falls, and places in between. 
Friday evening’s program included a reminder of how the project of building Spirit Center, renovating the monastery and establishing endowments for Spirit Center and the Historical Museum at St. Gertrude came to be and how it impacts the Benedictine Sisters’ future. Dennis Sullivan from Dog Bark Park in Cottonwood shared the story of how he created the campaign donor tree that stands in Spirit Center. Guitar music by Pete Northcutt of Grangeville enhanced the formal social at which the donors and community got acquainted and/or deepened friendships. On Saturday, the community and donors blessed the Historical Museum, Spirit Center and the monastery as a public commitment to the Sisters’ vision: Prayer awakens. Justice impels. Compassion acts. Thy Kingdom Come, and the monastery’s mission “to respond to the needs of the times with healing hospitality, grateful simplicity and creative peacemaking.” Sister Clarissa Goeckner, prioress, officially thanked and blessed the donors in the monastery chapel and the community honored them with a banquet. Donors enjoyed a short retreat on “Gratitude for Roots that Grow Hope” and took advantage of opportunities to walk St. Gertrude’s beautiful grounds, visit the museum and relax at an old-fashioned ice cream social in the evening. St. Gertrude’s is within $200,000 of completing the $5,000,000 capital campaign which officially ends on August 16. For further information or to make a gift to the campaign, contact the monastery development office at 208-962-5062 or director@stgertrudes.org or Monastery at St. Gertrude, 465 Keuterville Rd, Cottonwood, ID 83522. Learn more and donate online at www.StGertrudes.org.  |
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