Sr. Eileen

Sr. Eileen at Auxier Greenhouse

In the late '70s, Sr. Eileen and Sr. Judy came from Indiana to KY to answer the Bishop's letter of appeal for prayer centers. Each has since been on the forefront, from beginning a small retreat center in a rented house to the planning and construction of the beautiful Mt. Tabor property. When they lived in an area called Muddy Creek, predictably, when the crick rose in the spring, the route became nearly impassible. After one neighbor towed Sr. Eileen's car out of the mire, he told her, If "you ladies" are going to live back there, you need to learn to drive through mud. He told her to report at 7 a.m. She showed up at the muddy crossing in her Toyota Tercel, and there he was, in his huge coal truck. He would cross first, he said, and he instructed her to follow him--just "floor it and don't let up, and stay in the ruts," the ruts made by his large truck wheels. Nerves on end, Sr. Eileen followed his directions, managing to avoid the bank on one side and the drop off on the other.
Her education and passion are working with the developmentally disabled. Sr. Eileen serves as the Site Supervisor of the adult training program of Mountain Comprehensive Care, which is based at Auxier Green House. Through the tasks of running the nursery, the individuals learn basic life skills.
Though Sr. Eileen states that she is not a morning person, she still wakes up early--earlier than the 6:30 communal prayer service, for personal prayer and reflection time. She appreciates and thrives on the contemplative aspect of the monastic life. She currently reads the devotional text, A Cherokee Feast of Days, by Joyce Sequichie Hifler. She provides a quiet inspiration for other seekers.
Sr. Eileen is also a wicked card player. Well, wicked in skill, kind in practice. She helped me out considerably in a recent game of Shanghai.
Though originally a dependent monastery of Immaculate Conception, Ferdinand, IN, the KY monastery is now independent and itself founded a dependent ecumenical monastery in 2004. Sr. Eileen has served in many roles, including prioress. She currently serves in postulate formation, in addition to serving the greater community on the Finance Council of St. Martha's church and on the board of the St. Vincent Mission of David. One wonders if she could have even dreamed of this special calling in the mountains of eastern KY when she began her vocation at age nineteen.

On of the many greenhouses managed by the developmentally challenged individuals.