Norbertine Sisters: 'A Night in the Vineyard' wrap up, Part 1

Part 1: Sometimes Disappointment Turns into Delight

It's hard to believe that the Friends of the Norbertine Canonesses could top last year's dinner/auction, but they did in spades. This was in large part due to the influence of prayer and the effect that the witness of deeply devout cloistered sisters and their confrere priests are beginning to have on certain individuals in of all places – Hollywood. The end result for the guests of the Second Annual "A Night in the Vineyard" on August 27, 2016, was the surprising addition to the evening's schedule when two movie stars shared stories of their new friendship with the Norbertine Canonesses, whose future chapel was the central focus of this inspiring fundraising event.

Like last year, Triassic Vineyards provided the venue, and the layout was much improved at this year's event. Guests were able to flow smoothly around the terrace, view the auction items available for bidding and make purchases at the Sisters' "portable" gift shop, all while enjoying the pastoral views offered in this matchless setting. The event began with delicious hors d'oeuvres, accompanied by tastings of three of Triassic Vineyards wine. Of course, other vintages were available at their bar, but these three wines were the ones specifically selected to accompany the appetizers.

Dinner was a catered affair, with Lune and Ibrahim Khoury (Perfetto Ristorante and Petra Mediterranean Restaurant) offering a selection of Boeuf Burguignon (beef), Coq au Vin (chicken) or a vegetarian meal. These dishes were followed by champagne cupcakes and colorful macaroon cookies from Steampunk Café and freshly ground hot or cold coffee from Blue Oak Coffee. All of these vendors are local to Tehachapi, and I think we will be seeing them at future Friends' events.

The program had a full docket of inspiring speakers. First off, news anchor Christina Lopez of KGET-TV 17 in Bakersfield provided a style and grace to the evening, as well as journalistic integrity as the program's emcee. It was obvious she had researched the evening's speakers well; and that she took the time to truly understand the purpose and vision of the evening, providing a supplementary newscast prior to the event (catch it on KGET's website http://www.kerngoldenempire.com).

Christina graciously agreed to substitute for fellow anchor Jim Scott, who had originally planned to be the evening's emcee, as he did last year. Family responsibilities made it impossible for Jim to attend, so he kindly invited Christina Lopez to take up the baton, and she did so spectacularly.

Bishop Armando Ochoa was able to attend this year and started off the talks by sharing anecdotes about the Sisters' "fearless" life in the rugged mountains. He further expressed gratitude for the gift of prayer that they offer to not only his Diocese of Fresno, but to the whole world. "We are really blessed," he said, "because it's not every diocese that could have the cloistered sisters and having the constant presence of their prayers working for you and me and certainly our families and our extended families." He thanked those attending for their support of the Canonesses' chapel project pointing out that it's beauty and size "is really what is going to make their charism – praying for ourselves – even more meaningful."

I was disappointed early on to learn that the keynote speaker, Hollywood producer Leo Severino, had to cancel at the eleventh hour. He was stuck in New York with urgent work obligations. My disappointment was short-lived, however, when the first of two other speakers stepped up to the podium to share. God's providence had arranged for two special guests – Hollywood actors – as speakers, a surprise that had been reserved by their requested absence of advance publicity. Both young men said so many wonderful things about the Sisters and their own personal journey of faith. I will admit that although I recognized them both, I did not know their names at the time of the event. I think many of the guests of my generation were in a similar boat as "Joe" and "Michael" were decades younger than most of the attendees. But they were very well-known to the younger generation, as evidenced by the fact that the volunteer servers lined up on the edge of the dining tent to attentively listen to their talks.

You may have already discerned that Joe and Michael are actually not the real names of the two speakers who came to Triassic Vineyards that night. They aren't. Out of respect to the privacy of many who support the Canonesses, they shall have their anonymity maintained by this author. This is especially important for those who work in Hollywood and find themselves victims of social media disinformation and twisting of facts. If you wish to learn who these amazing speakers were, I guess you will have to come to future events hosted by the Friends of the Norbertine Canonesses.

Joe was the first to speak. "Something you might be wondering," he started, "What is this ... actor doing out in Tehachapi with the nuns? I asked myself the same question the first time I met the nuns. It was a very pivotal point in my life." Joe went on to describe coming up to the monastery for the first time with two others. He didn't even know what a "nun" was since he was new to the Faith, having been agnostic until a recent conversion. He was excited to come up and help the Sisters; that is, until he saw his first task. After meeting him and asking if he was ready to work, Mother Superior walked him over to a tower of hay that he described as "the size of a building" and said, "I need you to move this, there."

Joe then 'freeze framed' and took the audience back to a few months earlier. He had been working in Hollywood for decades, had achieved success and fame, with millions of followers on social media, but he was feeling an emptiness in his life. Then he was offered a movie script, and it came right at this moment of confusion; it turned out to be exactly what his soul needed. When he finished reading the script, he was very emotional because the message of the movie was so revelatory to him. "So many things were hitting me," he declared.

He accepted the role and found himself surrounded by people of faith and in time experienced a "massive conversion." He entered the Church and being new to his faith, of course, sought support and fellowship with others who were not. And so he found himself up on the mountain, performing very physically taxing jobs for the Norbertine Canonesses, such as the hay relocation. Feeling intimidated by the task, he was reminded by one of his new mentors (another Hollywood star – this time one well-known to my generation) that "If you don't do it, the nuns are going to have to ... That was a much more profound statement than I realized."

In true Hollywood fashion, I choose to end on this cliffhanger. In "Part 2: The Making of a Man" in the next issue of The Loop, I will share the deeper meaning of his last statement, and more. I must admit, now when I go up to the monastery, I look at the stacks of hay with fresh eyes after Joe's inspiring words.

For more information about the Norbertine Canonesses and their chapel project, please visit http://www.norbertinesisters.org. The Sisters welcome your prayer requests at [email protected].