| Monastery
has visitors from Switzerland
Abbess Pia Habermacher and Sister Rut Maria Buschor of the San Andreas Kloster in Sarnen, Switzerland, were welcomed to the Monastery of St. Gertrude with a red carpet and the joyous ringing of the chapel bells on August 5. During the welcome ceremony, Sister Clarissa Goeckner, prioress, presented them with the keys to the monastery. Red roses were given to the visitors by Sister Wilma Schlangen, who has been at St. Gertrude’s for 70 years, and by Sister Mary Bernard Lieser, 60 years. “You have been in our hearts and in our prayers,” said Sister Clarissa Goeckner, prioress, in her welcome address, “and now you are here with us.” In 1882, three sisters from Sarnen came to the Pacific Northwest to establish a new community in the United States. One hundred years ago, in 1909, the Sisters arrived in the Cottonwood area and built the motherhouse that is now St. Gertrude’s. The present-day arrival of Abbess Pia and Sister Rut Maria coincides with the final days of the Monastery of St. Gertrude’s year-long centennial, “Celebrating 100 Years ‘at Home’ in Idaho,” which will culminate on August 16, at 1:30 p.m., with the Grand Finale Mass and reception on the monastery’s front lawn. All are welcome to attend this special event. For information, call 208-983-3224, e-mail monastery@stgertrudes.org or visit www.StGertrudes.org.
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