Some evenings feel a little like a family reunion.
That was certainly the case on June 29 as friends of St. Paul’s Monastery gathered at Mac’s Diner in North St. Paul for our annual Give Back Monday fundraiser (where 30% of all food and beverage ordered—provided you had the printed flyer—is donated back to the Monastery). The event came just one week after we celebrated the 78th anniversary of the founding of St. Paul’s Monastery on June 22, 1948, making it a fitting opportunity to continue the celebration and give thanks for the Sisters whose lives have blessed our community for nearly eight decades.
Anyone who has visited Mac’s knows that the experience begins before you even walk through the door. There stands the beloved smiling blue snowman, welcoming all who arrive. It is one of those local landmarks that instantly brings a smile and reminds you that you are someplace familiar, someplace rooted in community.
By 4:00pm, the Sisters were already there.
They had gathered around a table putting in orders for shakes and our favorite bacon-wrapped cheese curds! Nearby was a table filled with brochures and information about the Monastery, the Benedictine Center, upcoming programs, and opportunities to connect more deeply with Benedictine spirituality. But it did not take long before their attention turned away from their own meal and toward the steady stream of guests arriving through the front door.
And what a joy it was to watch.
Guest after guest walked in and immediately spotted a Sister across the room. There were hugs. There were handshakes. There were stories picked up right where they had been left months or even years before. More than once I watched someone enter the restaurant with a quick glance around the room and then break into a broad smile when they spotted a familiar Benedictine face.
For the next five hours, Mac’s was buzzing.
The restaurant remained packed for much of the evening. At times, guests waited as long as 45 minutes for a table. On a cooler evening that might have discouraged some people, but not this crowd. Even with temperatures climbing above 90 degrees and humidity hanging heavily in the air, many people happily settled onto the outdoor patio, enjoying dinner and conversation while supporting the Monastery.
Of course, Mac’s did what Mac’s has done for decades—served great food and welcomed people generously. There is a reason it remains such a beloved North St. Paul institution. The food brings people through the door, but it is the atmosphere of hospitality that keeps them coming back. In that way, Mac’s and the Monastery have something important in common.
Throughout the evening, I found myself reflecting on how much places like these matter. Community does not happen by accident. It happens because people make room for one another. It happens around tables. It happens through conversation. It happens when people gather with a shared sense of belonging.
That spirit has been at the heart of St. Paul’s Monastery since its founding in 1948.
For 78 years, the Sisters have quietly and faithfully pointed people toward something greater than themselves. Through prayer, hospitality, spiritual friendship, and their witness to the Benedictine way of life, they have helped countless people discover the gracious and abundant love of God. The Monastery continues to be a place where people come to pray, reflect, learn, heal, celebrate, and reconnect with what matters most.
That same spirit was on display all evening at Mac’s.
Some guests came because they love the Sisters. Others came because they have attended retreats, received spiritual direction, joined us for prayer, or participated in a Benedictine Center program. Some simply wanted a good meal and a chance to support a ministry they believe in. Whatever brought them there, they left having strengthened something larger than a fundraiser.
They strengthened a community.
As the evening wound down and the last guests headed home, I was struck by how much gratitude filled the room. Gratitude for the Sisters. Gratitude for Mac’s Diner and its generous partnership. Gratitude for old friends and new connections. Gratitude for a Monastery that continues to be a beacon of hope, prayer, and hospitality in our corner of the world.
Thank you to everyone who joined us. Thank you for showing up, sharing a meal, and supporting the mission of St. Paul’s Monastery. Most of all, thank you for helping ensure that the Benedictine spirit continues to flourish—not only within the walls of the Monastery, but throughout the communities we call home.
Our next dine out fundraiser is with Green Mill of Woodbury on Wednesday, August 5. Click here for more information … and hope to see you there!
