On November 8th, we held a community celebration in honor of our Silver Jubilarian, Mother John Mary. In accordance with venerable tradition, a group of Sisters had spent the past few weeks (and months!) laboring over a very special performance for the “nun of the day.” Past Jubilee skits have featured kitchen disasters, talking rabbits, and even clowns!

10:30 AM arrived, and the audience had all assembled, waiting with bated breath. What would the theme be? Well, their questions were soon answered — one by one, the members of our very own MONASTIC HILBILLY BAND trooped onto the “stage”!

Over the past 76 years, St. Joseph’s Monastery has acquired an impressive collection of odd instruments, from dulcimers to flutophones to banjolins. Mother John Mary has long expressed a desire that we could come up with a “fun band” to keep these fabulous instruments from gathering dust on the shelf. Well, this was the day her dream was realized!

The band regaled everyone with tunes and songs both new and old. But the highlight of the performance was a specially-written song for our dear Jubilarian — a humorous look at her life and vocation story. Enjoy the lyrics below!

In the Blink of An Eye

(Sung to the tune of “American Pie”)

A long, long time ago
way across the river
A girl was born in Elberfeld.
She thought she’d like to be a nun
Or maybe she could have more fun
While singing in a groovy 80s band
But middle school brought cabin fever
Her good girl days were soon to leave ‘er
She’s just there to party
Up late, and show up tardy
She gets to love the party scene
lives the dream of every teen
Even voted the Prom Queen
But then she met the Lord…

CHORUS: Praise, praise, praise the Lord on high
He loved me so much that he came here to die
So I gave him my life
and became His wife
25 years in the blink of an eye
25 years in the blink of an eye!

Did you know this Hoosier girl
Got in a NET van to see the world
preaching Jesus on the way?
Ah did you see her in that team T-shirt
That break-neck schedule must’ve hurt
but she learned to praise the Lord and pra---y!
Well she got home and went back to school
But to think of nuns just made her drool
She knew God’s call was true…
But now what should she do?
She needs to tru--st the Lord with all her heart
Understanding limps so faith can play its part
Just follow Him in all his ways
That’s how…she met…the Lord

And she was singin’ —
Praise, praise, praise the Lord on high … (etc.)

She finally got to the other side
When she found the river at low-tide
A Passionist was what she’d be
Yeah she prayed a lot and took the leap
Although her friends said “You’re a creep”
She’d found the promised place where she’d be free
Oh, the Sisters were just thrilled, of course —
A postulant makes a good work-horse!
“There’s lots of work to do!
So here’s an apron for you!
Take our red truck to a new frontier
All your life now will be here
you’ll pray for people far and near
and love the Crucified.”

They were singin’ —
Praise, praise, praise, the Lord on high … (etc.)

The new nun had many trades
She called the cows for lemonade
The five-legged turkey came to play
Her kitchen terms were lots of fun
Vocation work was never done
But the Lord knew she’d be Mother someday
Now the Holy Spirit set to build
a new wing—so that we can shield
His flame of love, our treasure
A gift that we can’t measure
And the three Persons Whom we love the most
The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost
They’re the Guest and we’re the host
Because we’ve met the Lord

And now she’s singin’ —

Praise, praise, praise the Lord on high … (etc.)

And we’re all singin’ —
Praise, praise, prasie the Lord on high
He loved me so much that he came here to die
So I gave him my life and became His wife
25 years in the blink of an eye!