Ora et Labora

My article about Our Lady of the Rock Monastery, a community of Benedictine nuns was the cover story in the July/August 2015 print edition.

Here’s a link to the online version of the story- Ora et Labora: On Shaw Island, Benedictine nuns share lives of work, prayer and hospitality

When I first contacted Northwest Catholic about writing for them, I pitched this story idea. After writing a bunch of online articles for them, they decided to let me write the story.

I had came across the monastery a couple of years ago when searching for Benedictine communities in Washington state. They sounded really interesting, but I never really had a reason to go to Shaw Island. My wife, daughter and I went for an afternoon visit last summer as part of a vacation to the San Juan Islands and I returned earlier this year to get more background for my article. It is a beautiful, holy place. I was glad to hear that the Mothers liked my article and I hope to visit them again soon.