Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Blessed Solemnity of Saint Joseph, the Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and foster father of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Today also celebrate the fifth (5th) Anniversary of the Installation of the first and only Abbess of the Diocese of Phoenix, Mother Marie André Campbell, PCPA. She is the Abbess (Mother Superior) of the autonomous Monastery of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, Our Lady of Solitude Monastery in Tonopah, AZ (approximately 1 hour W on the I-10). If you ever desire quiet and solitude to pray and be with Our Lord, their Adoration Chapel is an ideal spot to be in Adoration and sacred silence with the Lord. This community is also hosting a special event The 2021 Virtual Nun Run tomorrow on March 20, their 12th Annual Nun Run! Let us support these Sisters with our prayers for them to have the graces and all they need for the completion of their Monastery.

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Reflection by Mother Marie André Campbell, PCPA

“…the whole of my life, down to every detail, has been mapped out in God’s divine providence and makes complete and perfect sense in God’s all-seeing eyes.”
– St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, OCD

From the genesis of our foundation in the Diocese of Phoenix until the day we move into our completed cloistered monastery will be exactly 16 years.  We began the journey in the Year of the Eucharist and we will see its completion in the month of Our Lady and in the Year of St. Joseph.  Indeed, down to the very smallest detail, we are in the embrace of God’s Providence.

16 years ago, after much prayer to the Infant of Prague, we were granted permission to establish this foundation.  Shortly thereafter, in God’s tender Providence, we were gifted a statue of the Infant from the Shrine in Prague.  Mother Marie Andre wanted the “Little King” to be the first resident of our new Monastery.  And so it was on the Feast of St. Agnes of Prague, March 2nd, that the community processed – with incense, gratitude, and much joy – from our current house to the new Monastery to place the Infant on His new throne in the cloistered Adoration Choir.  We look forward to joining Him soon as we prepare to move into the monastery in the coming months. 

Sr. Marie St. Paul, our Mother Vicar, continues to diligently work with the construction crews, attending to all the final details before our move.  Kindly keep our community in prayer during this time of transition.  We look forward to enjoying the fullness of our contemplative life and monastic enclosure and to welcoming new vocations into this beautiful way of life. 

Our next big project is to transform the house where we currently live into a guest house for clergy and seminarian retreats.  It is our hope as well to provide an opportunity to welcome women Religious to the guest house when it is not otherwise in use by the clergy.  We will provide additional details as the project evolves.

Thank you, Mother Marie André and our Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration! Happy Feast Day! Happy Anniversary!

May the inspiration of St. Joseph continue to guide us to be humble, grateful, and just: integral in our homes and our work places.

God bless you always.

With prayers,

Sister Anthony Mary Diago, RSM, Director of the Office of Consecrated Life, Diocese of Phoenix