Category: Abbey News

The Feast of St. James

July 26, 2025

A reflection by our Abbess, Mother Maria-Michael Newe, OSB

Photo taken along the Camino de Santiago by one of our Sisters,
who did the pilgrimage before entering our community

Commemorating the Camino de Santiago

In 2 Corinthians (for the first reading at Mass on the feast of St. James, celebrated on July 25) we hear, “Brothers and sisters: We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us” (2 Cor. 4:7).  St. James had very little time to even be an Apostle—Just as he was beginning, his head was taken off (cf. Acts 12:2).  And yet, who is the incredibly popular Saint today, whose “Camino” everybody talks about?  Everyone seems to know about that pilgrimage to St. James (the Camino de Santiago), which has so much to do with people seeking the answers to the questions, “What is my vocation?” and “What am I supposed to do at this point in my life?”  People spend up to a month on this walk, asking God to show them the way.  It’s a long trek, and their feet hurt at the end, but it often does reveal to people what they need.  It often does give them the time and the prayer along the way to know God’s will.

In heaven as on earth

So we see how after St. James’ death, he is so powerful an Apostle.  God alone can do that.  I truly believe that how we live our lives will make a difference in how we are able to help people after we die.  When you spend your life giving everything (even if it is short, like St. James), then perhaps you will get to spend your heaven getting to help others on earth give their everything. 

Leaving our nets and following our servant leader

How different are the ways of heaven from the ways of earth!  Even after Christ’s resurrection, He is found cooking breakfast for everybody.  But in some professions today, the mentality is that if you’re in charge, you don’t help anybody under you.  And yet Christ is so different—He is God, but He calls Himself a servant, and He instructs His Apostles to be servants as well (Matt. 20:26-28).  It is such a different attitude than the attitude of man.  God became an earthen vessel, and changed it into gold.  And He will do the same with us, but we have to let Him.  We have to be willing, like St. James, to give up our nets (cf. Matt. 4:18-22).  Sometimes we hang on to our nets and everything in them, and they are really hard to get rid of.  But we should strive to let them go, and especially those petty little grievances which we all tend to carry around. 

So in the spirit of the Camino, I encourage you take a walk with St. James today.  May he help to guide you along the way to Jesus.

Rogation Procession Photos

June 10, 2025

Each year, on the three days leading up to the Solemnity of the Lord’s Ascension, our community takes part in the long-standing tradition of the Church to hold Minor Litanies, or “Rogation Processions,” to invoke the mercy of God, the prayers of the saints, deliverance from evil, and protection of our land. Rogation Procession litanies consist of four main parts. First, we invoke the three Divine Persons, with the response, “Miserere nobis” (Have mercy on us). Second, we invoke the intercession of Mary, the Apostles, and groups of saints, with the response, “Ora pro nobis” (Pray for us). Third, we pray for protection from evils of body and soul, through the merits of Christ, with the response, “Libera nos, Domine” (Deliver us, O Lord). Fourth, we pray for particular blessings for the Church and the world, with the response, “Te rogamus, audi nos” (We beseech Thee, hear us).

Upcoming Vocation Retreat

June 10, 2025

Be Transformed…

Retreat weekend at the Abbey of St. Walburga
for women discerning their religious vocation

Ages 18-35

July 18-20, 2025

contact: walburgavocations@gmail.com

970-472-0612

“Do not be conformed to this world, but by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Romans  12:1-2

He is Risen! Alleluia!

April 19, 2025

This year our paschal candle department, consisting of six sisters, offered various parishes and monasteries two design options, both centered on Eucharistic symbolism. Created by two of our solemnly professed Sisters, one design was centered on the theme of Christ the Vine (cf. John 15), and the other, inspired by the Azulejos tiles of Portugal, included symbols for Christ, Mary, and the Jubilee Year of Hope. These designs were painted on candles large and small by the artists in our community.

Paschal candles are used during the Easter Vigil Mass to carry the flame from the Easter fire into the church, and from which every other candle in the church is lit, as a symbol of Christ the true Light enlightening the world and dispelling the darkness of evil.  

 I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.

By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.

John 15: 1, 8-12

In the News/Media

March 11, 2025

Featured in the Augustine Institute’s “How to Lent” Video Series

The video crew from the Augustine Institute visited the Abbey of St. Walburga for the day and had an interview with Mother Maria-Michael about the importance of prayer for Episode 2 of their “How to Lent” series:

From Denver Catholic Online

In Other News

The Abbey of St. Walburga was one of the monasteries chosen to be included in Bishop Robert Barron’s film series “Catholicism: The Pivotal Players” in the episode on St. Benedict:

Winter at Walburga

March 4, 2025

Below is a slideshow of an assortment of photos from this winter, including the blessing of snow, the investiture of our new Novice, Sister Rosemary, our liturgy, some of our farm animals, and the creation of a cake to help raise money for St. Joseph Catholic School in Fort Collins.

2025 Calendars for Sale

February 22, 2025

Photos from the 2025 calendar

This year’s wall calendar features photos of our Abbey over the course of the past 90 years.  It notes the days of the Church’s liturgical seasons, together with days commemorated by the Order of St. Benedict, as they are observed by our community.  The cost is $13.00 (plus shipping) per calendar. 

To place an order, please send an email to aswgiftshop@gmail.com or call (970) 472-0612.

Called Forth by God + Video

August 14, 2024

A reflection by Mother Maria-Michael Newe, OSB, during the week leading up to the Solemn Monastic Profession of Sister Maria-Placida, OSB on July 11, 2024, the Solemnity of St. Benedict

What a glory it is to be called forth by God, and not merely by man.  Our vocations are God-given, truly given by God, and that’s what makes them so great.  It’s not something we can do without His call.  During Sister Maria-Placida’s Solemn Profession, she will be called forth (literally, from the back of the chapel to the front, carrying her lighted profession candle!) by the bishop—and how beautiful that she responds to this call with a song.  She will come forth singing with joy for being called by God to this vocation.  So we look forward to this moment with rejoicing in our hearts, because it is such a great glory to be called by God.

Jesus has waited from all eternity for his particular relationship with you, and that place cannot be filled by any other.  No one else’s relationship with Christ is the same as yours.  Sit with that.  Nothing can give you joy like belonging to Jesus fully.

Mother Maria-Michael Newe, OSB

All photos courtesy of André Escaleira, Jr. / Denver Catholic

2024 Easter Candles

March 31, 2024

Thanks to the hard work of our Sisters in the paschal candle department, all the pastors who ordered candles from us are now burning our hand-painted candles in their parishes. Three different designs were created by three of our solemnly professed Sisters this year, and these designs were painted on candles large and small by the eight candle artists in our community, including two of our postulants. Paschal candles are used during the Easter Vigil Mass to carry the flame from the Easter fire into the church, and from which every other candle in the church is lit, as a symbol of Christ the true Light enlightening the world and dispelling the darkness of evil.

A very blessed Easter season to all—He is Risen!

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
Upon those who lived in a land of gloom
a light has shone.

Isaiah 9:1