A Day in the Life
A Glimpse into Life
at St. Therese Institute
Good Morning!
Read about a typical morning at St. Therese Institute, told from the perspective of Beth Reitzel.
6:15 am – Wake Up!
My alarm goes off. I glare at it for a moment before I decide to accept this day as a blessing and push myself out of bed. I know some people woke up earlier to exercise, pray, or just enjoy the quiet morning hours. There are always people having conversations in our cozy coffee room by the time I get down there, but it’s all I can do to get dressed and ready for the day on time! Lord, bless my day!
7:00 am – Morning Prayer
Tim, Braydon and Aidan praying the Liturgy of the Hours Morning prayer in our Chapel.
It’s time for Liturgy of the Hours in the chapel. I love starting our day with Morning Prayer, knowing that priests, religious, and lay people around the world are praying the same prayers. Reflecting on the psalms and scripture readings is a wonderful way to start the day. We remember God’s goodness and mercy—and it’s a missionary work too! We pray on behalf of all those who have no voice to do so. Though many of us have gravelly voices this early in the morning, the songs and chanting are absolutely beautiful.
7:20 am – Personal Prayer
Personal prayer is one of my favourite times. After praying as a community, some people stay in the chapel and others go for a walk, but I like to find a comfortable chair to curl up in and spend some quiet moments with God. I often journal or read the Mass readings. Above all, I do my best to listen to God and to reflect on how I can respond in love in all I do today.
8:00 am – Mass
I love Mass at our parish community of St. Bruno! Sometimes I volunteer to read, but I always like participating and being with the people. It is such a blessing to receive Jesus in the Eucharist and I know this is where I find the strength I need for the rest of the day. Of course, Fr. Pius’ homilies, filled with stories and truth, are always a highlight.
8:45 am – Breakfast
Even the most difficult mornings become great when I’ve eaten the Eucharist and had a good breakfast! I really appreciate how we have the options of porridge, toast, and fruit, along with yogurt or fried eggs depending on the day. The conversations that happen around the table are always worthwhile. I especially love to hear how God has spoken to others through prayer and the Mass. Each week a chore group washes the dishes after breakfast, but today I have a few minutes to sit and enjoy the company of others in the coffee room. With cozy couches and chairs, and good friends, the coffee room is one of my favourite places. You never know what the conversation there will be!
9:25 am – Praise & Worship
There is little I enjoy more than praying through song! Depending who’s leading praise and worship, we might have guitar, keyboard, and percussion, and maybe bass, ukulele, or fiddle joining in. Whatever the arrangement, it is a beautiful time of community prayer that never fails to lift my spirit.
10:00 am – Class time
This morning we have Critical Thinking, a class that I am learning to love. Though it sometimes gives me a headache from thinking hard about things I may never fully understand, I truly enjoy the challenge and how the class is often discussion based. I appreciate the professor’s patience in explaining new concepts until we have a solid understanding of them. It’s refreshing to be expected to think for myself and be encouraged to ask questions. I’m rediscovering the childlike curiosity inside me and recognizing what a gift it is.
Good Afternoon!
Christian Bekolay recounts what the usual afternoon routine looks like. Let’s take a look at the lunch-and-beyond experience.
12:00 noon – Lunch Time
Ahhh food… Glorious food. Most days lunch is soup and sandwiches. What a variety of soup though! I lift the pot’s lid just enough that the aroma fills my nose and I can try to guess what kind it is. With the snow falling this morning, this soup will be so wonderfully comforting. I do a quick scan of the dining hall, I spot a table with a few empty chairs and make my way over. Meal time for me is all about encounter. I enjoy asking the Mission Year participants about their class and what nuggets of truth and beauty they can share. Often that simple question can get us going for the entire meal. I get excited about profound reflections and often forget about the food. My heart is getting stuffed rather than my mouth! Ah, but I can’t forget about the food for long—this soup is just too good!
12:45 pm – Chore time
I’m on kitchen dishes this week—one of my favourite chores. As I go into the kitchen, praise of the cooks for a wonderful meal pours from our lips. I imagine the kitchen crew must love their job for all the well-deserved compliments they receive. They truly are amazing! After a quick prayer, we begin to wash the pots and pans. There’s something special about chore groups. To me, it never feels like “work.” Quite the opposite—it’s another opportunity to converse and laugh (sometimes to tears) with eachother. Through chores, we get to know each other so well and our friendships deepen thanks to this shared experience of doing little things well out of love.
1:25 pm – Adoration
It’s that time of day when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for our adoration of Christ. The veil between heaven and earth seems so thin at this time. Most days for me, the veil between being awake and asleep also seems thin! Ah, what a fruitful struggle. I find comfort in our dear little
2:00 pm – Study Period
Some days I enjoy studying in the classroom or one of the lounges, but today I go to my favourite spot: the library. The ambient lamp light, the wood desks, the old book smell… this room is deliciously steeped in an academic atmosphere. I’ve learned that by dedicating each study period throughout the week to a specific class, I usually have enough time to accomplish my assignments without having to take extra time out of my day. I trust that God will give me the grace I need to accomplish what He desires in the time given to me. “Lord you take over. Minimize the tasks and multiply the minutes!” After what seems like a good long slog of reading, I think “Wow! That was quite the marathon! My brain feels like it worked out,” but only 15 minutes have passed! “What? I just read seven pages! I never read that fast!” Thank you, God, for how you bless the time I spend intentionally.
4:00 pm – Recreation Time
Study period is over, and not only did I finish my morality readings, but I also found time to write a reflection paper! My brain is feeling pretty exhausted. As much as I’d like to take rec time today to study more, I know I need a break from mental work. Maybe a board game would be nice right now? I do love board games! I still have a few that I haven’t pulled out yet from my collection. What sport is scheduled for today… Floor hockey, hey? You know what? I’ll wait till Saturday and play a board game then. Right now, I’m heading to our gym. The exercise will be good. I’m not all that great at hockey, but I think running about and waving a stick around sounds pretty fun at the moment.
Good Evening!
The day is not over yet! Cheyoon “Yoona” Shin helps to bring this article to a close as she wraps up her day of St. Therese life.
5:30 pm – Supper
Ahh, what an amazing day! The waft of rich food has been calling to me since rec time and now it’s finally time to eat! Yay!!! You can feel the excitement in the air as people start heading down to the dining hall. At
6:15 pm – Pastoral Accompaniment
Normally I have chores after supper (I’m on “chop-chop” this week – that’s veggie prep in the kitchen!), but today I have my weekly Pastoral Accompaniment meeting. My dear PA! She is someone who mentors me, is with me in my victories and struggles, and who gives me feedback. She walks with me on my journey here at
7:00 pm – Rosary
What a beautiful way to come back to prayer in the evening: by recollecting and meditating on the mysteries of Jesus’ life! I always find a great sense of peace and rest when we gather for the rosary. Mary, our dear mother, always waits for me patiently to come into her arms to ask me how my day is going. She is so consoling, always interceding for me, on good days and bad. I don’t keep anything from her because I know she loves me and I know she wants to bring me closer to her Son. I can lay down my joys, worries, and desires without any trouble. She knows my deepest needs and tends to them with such care and love. The next thing I know, we’re singing Salve Regina at the end of the rosary. A chorus of voices resound in the chapel. It is so beautiful I can’t help but raise my own in song.
7:30 pm – Class
It is time for class! Foundations of Catholicism is one of the most fruitful classes I have here at
9:30 pm – Evening
Class is now over. What a full but amazing day! I see some people bringing out board games or cards and others chatting on their phones with their families in the lounge. Still others pick up their instruments to play. Oh, the amount of lively energy here, and at this hour! I shake my head in amazement at the life and the love in this place! While dorm time doesn’t start until 10:30, there are people who like to go to bed early, including me! I am ready for sleep and for another great day tomorrow! Goodnight!
Special Occasions, Events, and Activities
From from apple picking to fun evening “Kitchen Parties,” from movie marathons to hosting weekend retreats, life at St. Therese is full of variety.
"Kitchen Party" Entertainment Evenings
Every person has a talent of some sort. We love to celebrate the diverse pallet of God-given gifts that grow and flourish within the
Retreats and Conferences
Retreats happen throughout the year as part of the formation program. We have our Orientation Retreat in October, The “Road to Emmaus: Journeying with Christ” retreat in November, as well as retreats for Holy Week and at year-end. These semi-silent retreats include prayer, sessions, and reflection times. The concept of a silent retreat can be scary if you’ve never done one, but it is amazing how many times participants reflect, “I can’t wait until the silent part of the next retreat!”
Our Advent and Lenten Conferences are larger weekend events, open to public registration. They are fantastic opportunities for older teens and adults of all ages to come and experience a bit of what living and learning at
We also have the opportunity to travel into Saskatoon for weekend youth/young adult retreats hosted by other ministries within the Diocese. Sometimes other ministries hold retreats here at
Lord of the Rings Movie Marathon Weekend
Weekly movies (and the faith-filled cinematic discussions that follow) are another part of the community life at
Mini-Pilgrimages
It's Sno Fun in Saskatchewan
Who keeps saying that “Saskatchewan is flat?” Well, we know different! Bruno is surrounded by rolling hills and some of them are perfect for sledding.
Each February, we host an outdoor “Sno Fun” day. It’s a perfect opportunity to get outside and do some sledding, roast some hot dogs and marshmallows over a open fire, skate, and have an amazing time together enjoying the wintertime wonders of God’s creation.
Acts-of-Service Afternoons
Scattered throughout the year are opportunities for everyone to work together on a common project, learning from each other and building friendships. In Fall, we partake in a few afternoons of apple picking, pie making, potato digging, leaf raking, and tree trimming. Winter might see a few directed maintenance projects getting accomplished around the building and Christmas decorating. Spring will bring a spring cleaning afternoon, tidying up inside and out in preparation for having guests arrive for the Spring Courses weeks and Commissioning. Doing it together makes a big chore move quickly. The fun and laughter that erupts throughout the tasks are indicative of the playful, joyful atmosphere of the
