Dreams don't just drop out of the sky, but ordinarily emerge from a series of experiences that enable one to envision a new course of action. For the religious, this vision has to be endorsed both by an inner call and an outer go-ahead [from] the Community before it can be implemented.

When I reflect upon the personal experiences that contributed to a crystallization of this vision, they seem to be the to following:

    1) an extended period of prayer and solitude
    (1973-1975) at Casa Maria, a hermitage located on our     Motherhouse grounds,
    2) a three months' visit to India in 1975 with our Sisters     there, witnessing their dedication in a country characterized     by the religious aura of Hinduism. Their hospitality was     incomparable, and their commitment to a life of prayer and     service was highly visible, and
    3) the experience of encountering persons in this country at     nearby Gethsemani who were often influenced by the     writings of Thomas Merton and seeking something     genuinely spiritual in their lives. Oftentimes these persons     had become disillusioned with the institutional Churches. 

From this, the recognition of a place that was not
institutional in its design or operation, located close to
Gethsemani (which received only male guests) where a variety of persons could be welcomed and spiritual sharing could be facilitated seemed both relevant and needed. It would be a relatively small operation as well, with a built-in simplicity—a house by the side of the road where persons could stop and drink of the living waters. All denominations would be welcome, men and women, lay and religious. Let's call it "Bethany Spring."

So my private search for a place began. In time, a large
farmhouse located one mile from the Abbey was chanced upon. It was boarded up and in a state of deterioration from six or seven years of disuse. Upon investigating if it could be rented, the answer was "No" since the entire distillery property was going up for sale soon and the house would be included in the purchase.

Several months later, another check on this property
disclosed it had indeed traded hands and the new owner would soon put up the house (with two acres) for sale. I quickly called the owner to get an option on the house and then sought out my provincial to confer with her about the possibility of such a ministry as Bethany Spring. In brief, I asked if the Community could purchase the property and allow me to take the responsibility for raising money for renovation of the house and overseeing the same. Such permission could only come from our Executive Committee and Corporate Board so I was told to write a proposal that could be presented to them by my provincial at their next meeting in early December 1976.

Ideas are easy to spin and dreams to dream until one has to take action. Then, everything seems wrong or far-fetched and one's discernment doubtful. But even though I hesitated I knew ultimately a proposal had to be written if anything were to come about. Oh, the blessing of obedience which shoves us into right action in spite of our innate cowardice. But it was prayer, actually, that proved the catalyst for immediate action.

At the hermitage, Casa Maria, I used to get up at 3:00 a.m. to sing the early morning office. Since I was making a retreat there prior to turning in a proposal, I engaged in this happy activity. As I sang, the first psalm (a segment of Ps.37) included these words:
"Take delight in the Lord and he will grant you your heart's desires.
Commit your way to the Lord, trust in him and he will act...
The meek shall possess the land and delight in abounding peace."
The second psalm concluded with
"The just shall possess the land and dwell in it forever. "

At that point I said, "If there is anything about 'land' in
this third psalm I don't know what I'm going to do." I continued praying and these words were in the middle of the third psalm:
"Wait for the Lord, wait with courage and he will promote you to ownership of the land."

What more did I need to hear! And so I wrote a proposal,
sent it off so that it could be there by December 8th, Our Lady's feast. To her I had entrusted this project.

The Executive Committee responded. They didn't say "No" nor an outright "Yes." Rather I was told a decision would be reached at their next meeting in February after I had time to deal with the following questions:
    1) who else in ministry judged this a needed
    work besides myself?
    2) what was the estimated cost of renovation?
    3) How would I go about raising the needed money?

All excellent, practical questions especially in view of the
fact that I had no fund-raising nor renovating experience. So I set out to prepare for the next presentation.

January and February of 1977 were particularly bitter and
icy. I could not even leave the Nazareth grounds for weeks as I had hoped in order to obtain pledges of financial support. Letters of support for the ministry by ministering persons came readily and were a real source of encouragement. Finally I managed to get out to the property to meet with a contractor who judged the house "set square and plumb" but would have to have an open-ended price tag as far as renovation costs were concerned. The 1898 house could disclose unpredictable needs and expense.

Somewhat discouraged I returned to Nazareth and ran into a sister friend who is also a counseling psychologist. I asked her if we could have lunch together so I could test "an idea I had" against her good judgment and experience. This wise older woman listened to my desire regarding Bethany Spring and was genuinely excited about the ministry. "If it is a good work intended by God," she said, "don't let lack of money deter you. But can you be a woman of faith?"
"I think so," I replied.
"You answered too quickly," she said. And then repeated,
"Can you really be a woman of faith?"
"I hope so," I responded, more cautiously.

What a well-placed question; Velma's own ministry
experiences and concretized dreams had revealed to her the qualities needed for such venturing. Her challenge was just what I needed and subsequent months were to show me for the first time what it means to really believe.

That same night, Velma received a phone call from a friend in California (Mary) who had been in our Community many years ago. This friend was married now with grown children. In the course of the conversation which turned to problems and needs of young adults, Velma told Mary about the idea of Bethany Spring which I had shared with her earlier."Maybe I can send sister a donation," Mary said. Later velma told me of her conversation, who Mary was and the promise of a donation. "I would be grateful for anything that would denote support," I responded.

A week later, velma received a letter from Mary saying she and her husband wanted to buy the property for the Community in order to facilitate the starting of this new ministry! Velma sought me out to tell me the astounding news. Not being able to find me since I was in Louisville, she left a note in my mailbox saying:
"If you don't see me as soon as you get in, I'm going to
have a stroke." ~ Velma
I hurried to her room and she shared the letter. I cried
and so did she. It seemed such a confirmation that God did want this project realized.

And so in the face of this extraordinary gifting, our
Executive Committee and Board, meeting that very week, granted permission to move ahead with Bethany Spring.

On February 11, 1977 the property became ours. By August of that same year, we had enough money to at least begin the extensive renovation. The twelve months following were a faith journey indeed, a hand-to-mouth operation if ever there was one. But by August 1978 we could look forward to having our house blessed and to putting out the welcome mat.

So many other stories of people's goodness fill those months and my memory—of woodwork scraped, carpet snatches sorted and put down, of stripping the front hall bannister, of donations eagerly looked for in the mail in order to keep work going, of dear little old black women in Louisville public housing saving a dollar here and there for us, of a grant from a foundation to cover the new heating system, of neighbors cutting grass at no charge, of furniture given by SCN houses, and of sisters altering and hanging recycled drapes, of SCNA's helping to get the show on the road, of brother monks putting out young pines and tulip trees, of persons who let us know they believed in what we were about, of SCN local houses and individuals remembering us with prayer and donations.

All of this says Bethany Spring is God's work and the work
of countless other good people who made a dream come true. This is what we celebrate!
To God be all honor and glory!

Sister Mary Madeline Abdelnour, SCN

Since opening its doors in August, 1978, Bethany Spring has welcomed individuals and groups of diverse faiths and backgrounds from all over the United States and beyond. A common search for things of the spirit and a compassion for a suffering world have filled this renovated farmhouse with a newness bom of God's ongoing activity in the lives of others. We are convinced of the need of such a place as this and are committed to its continuance.

Sister Mary Madeline Abdelnour, SCN, opened the doors of Bethany Spring in 1978 and served as its director until January, 1988. Danielle Witt, SSND followed her and served as director until 2002 when Mary Luken became its director.