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Norbertine Canonesses of the Bethlehem Priory of St. Joseph
Founded in 1997 by the Norbertine Canons of St. Michael's Abbey (Orange, California), the Bethlehem Priory of St. Joseph is the first community of Norbertine Canonesses in the United States. Their monastery is situated in the silence and solitude of the Lower Sierra Mountains outside the city of Tehachapi, in the Diocese of Fresno, California. On January 29, 2011, nine sisters of the Bethlehem Priory made their Solemn Profession at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Fresno. The event marked the community's full canonical integration into the Norbertine Order, the Diocese of Fresno, and the Roman Catholic Church as an independent canonry of cloistered contemplative Norbertine Canonesses.
Through their canonical monastic life of prayer and communio, the Norbertine Canonesses of Tehachapi strive to realize the founding charism and spirit of their holy founder, St. Norbert, following the Rule of St. Augustine and the Constitutions of the Canonesses Regular of Prémontré, making vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, as well as a promise of daily conversion. The heart of their vocation is the solemn and reverential celebration of the Sacred Liturgy in common and in choir, giving pride of place to the official music and language of the Church, Gregorian Chant and Latin. Their liturgical prayer is fostered by daily periods of private prayer, especially Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Lectio Divina . As daughters of St. Norbert, they joyfully live out those practices embraced and encouraged by their holy father, including daily chapter of faults, a deep devotion to Our Lady, prayer for the Holy Souls, a penitential spirit, and a vibrant living of monastic observances and customs, including daily midnight Matins.
Given the community's growth over the years, and the need to have proper monastic and ecclesial space for their cloistered canonical vocation, the sisters began planning early on for their future monastery. Thanks to the generosity of many friends and benefactors, Phase I of their monastery expansion project was completed in 2013, providing much-needed living and working space for up to 48 nuns, replacing the leaking and damaged modular trailers that had previously served as their dormitories and novitiate. As the community continues to grow, having doubled since its canonical erection in 2011 and with more young women discerning, the Canonesses are currently seeking funds for the construction of Phase II of their Monastery Expansion Project, their future chapel and wing-accessory areas, which will also include additional dormitory space.
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Like all Norbertines, the Canonesses strive to be self-sustaining and self-sufficient, with about four hours of work, study, and classes each day, amidst their full life of prayer. They have a small working dairy farm, with cows, goats, sheep, and chickens, along with a large year-round greenhouse for organic produce, and outdoor vegetable, berry and vine gardens. The Canonesses also have a variety of income-producing works and activities consistent with their cloistered contemplative life of prayer, including making hand-sewn priest vestments, operating their Bethany Guest House, running the monastery gift shop and bookstore (online as well: norbertinesisters.org), breeding and training puppies, and annually selling their fresh balsam Christmas wreaths and Christmas gift boxes. Their dairy kitchen is in the process of obtaining government approval, and once they receive the final licenses/permits, they can begin selling their home-made cheeses made from the milk of their cows.
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www.norbertinesisters.com