HOLY ORDERS News Archives

NEWS ARCHIVES

Letter 1 Fall/Winter 2004

Letter 2 Spring/Summer 2005

Letter 3 Fall 2005

Letter 4 Winter 2005

Letter 5 New Year 2005

Fall/Winter 2004

Dear Shoppers,

Your prayers have been answered! Construction is complete. HOLY ORDERS is now a reality.

So please join me in singing Sister’s praises. Like the little engine that could, she is the nun on the little red tractor that did! Her joyful spirit and dogged perseverance inspired us and won our hearts. But Sister would never accept sole credit for all that has been accomplished. In fact, just the other day, Sister broke her vow of silence and began chatting about gift-giving (after all, HOLY ORDERS is all about gift-giving). She said, "Wrapping a gift and never giving it is like feeling grateful and not expressing it."

Believing that the best attitude is gratitude, Sister would like to thank her faithful friends who have contributed so generously of their precious time and amazing talents.

When reviewing her list of helpers Sister discovered that their number totaled twelve! Sister now refers to them affectionately as her "disciples" – they have followed her long and arduous journey, supported and encouraged her along the way; they have shared her belief that gift-giving can and should be more meaningful and as good disciples, they continue to spread the good news about HOLY ORDERS.

THE TWELVE DISCIPLES

I. MaryPat Plottner – Quite simply, Holy Orders wouldn’t exist without MaryPat. She was the first "believer." When I reached the edge and was hesitant to take the leap of faith, she pushed me gently and instead of falling I flew, and then she followed! As our journey continued, and the road got bumpy, it was always an adventure and never boring with her by my side. MaryPat made the impossible possible and the impassable passable. She turned my tears to laughter. In short, MaryPat has been a miracle worker. She knows the devil is in the details and doesn’t flinch. She faces them head on until they are crossed off her list.

II. Kevin Plottner – Brother Kevin is the architect for all HOLY ORDERS "real estate" and the creative genius behind every detail of design. He gave the gift of life to the "the little nun" and designed a simple, beautiful, functional and easy-to-get-around "monastery" for her to live in and for shoppers to visit. With his easy-going attitude, can-do spirit and elegant simplicity of design style, we can’t help but think that he was a monk in a previous life.

III. Signora Maimoona Galgano – As soon as I told Maimoona about the dream of Holy Orders, she began calling me Mother Superior. Well, if I am Mother Superior, then Maimoona is my godmother. It was she who led me to the monastery at Fonte Avellana and introduced me to the monks’ divine products. Like any loving godmother, she never refused whenever I called asking for help, even when I knew she was busy tending to all the stray cats and dogs and lost souls who find their way to her magical villa high on a hilltop in Umbria. Maimoona speaks many languages but the one in which she is most fluent is the universal language of love and friendship.

IV. Tina Mills – Sister Fotina has captured the elegant simplicity of all HOLY ORDERS products with her mystical digital eye. Using Mother Nature for her light source and trusting her photographer’s eye, Tina has captured the true essence of our products. You might say that her photographs allow one to see the love that has been added to all the products. Tina has truly been blessed with a unique talent - she can make a simple white burlap bag look like an elegant silk purse.

V. Stephen Sansweet – Had The Most Reverend Sansweet lived in Biblical times, I’m sure the gospel authors would have called upon him to edit the "Good Book." At the very least, it would have been an easier read. When Steve sent back my Holy Orders website copy covered in blue lines, he would ask for forgiveness and understanding because he is an editor in the "old style." To that I say, AMEN and Hallelujah! Now, just one more time so that I get it right - Steve, "Does the question mark go inside or outside the quotation marks?"

VI. Susan Black VII. Bruce Akers VIII Victoria Palmisano (The Trio at EO) – Susan is an inspiration to anyone trying to launch a small business on a hope and a prayer. Starting out several years ago in her basement with a vision, her simple, quality plant-based personal products are now in demand in the U.S., Japan, and Canada. We were convinced that the "F" in Federal regulatory compliance stood for fear. Susan and her team showed us how to take the fear out of FDA regulations governing the import of cosmetics made in Italy.

IX. Joanne Buckley – I count Sister Moneypenny among my countless blessings and she counts my unaccountable coins. She brings joy and optimism to the frightening world of finance – always seeing the shopping basket half full. Now if I can only get her to figure out the loaves and fishes miracle and apply it to dollars and cents!

X. Jeanne Burns – Starting a small business is hard enough, but try to figure out U.S. Customs regulations, international tariffs and duties, and the subtleties of freight forwarding. Jeanne was always there with the answer (usually at 7 in the morning!), but more importantly, she cheered us on even when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency took our grieving yogis to Anchorage, Alaska for inspection. No, there were no feathers or scales on the yogis; just several hundred of them packed in a wood crate - a lot to grieve about.

XI. Frank Roselli – I respectfully refer to Frank as His Eminence. He is our ambassador to the Italian Church in America and Italian Church in Italy. As a member of a fraternal order devoted to "Our Lady of Good Counsel," Frank possesses a special gift for administering advice and counsel when it comes to understanding the mysterious ways of the monks.

XII. Erwin Reißmann – The A-maze-ing-man in Germany who is proving that the miraculous power of the Internet can build bridges of friendship and labyrinths of love. Bless you!

THE FAITHFUL

Ron Attik, Tonik Barber, Darlene Bean, Ben Burtt, Sister Rita Cahill, Brother Bob Canning, Kingston Cole, Tom Cole, Barbara Corneille, Bonnie Dahan, Father Christopher, Father Demetri, Deacon Dirk Ditmer, Father Elijah, , Father Eugene Gartland, Sister Novice Megan Gaynor, Koma and Terence Green, Sister Melinda Ann Hannigan, Patti Hurst, Sister Novice Liz Lattanzio, Aracelli Lojas, Nonie and Storm, Patty Norman, Ellen Pasternack, Joyce Peloquin, Father Jarl Plottner, Sister Molly Plottner, Mother Patricia Plottner, Angel Gabriel Reyes, Sister Karen Rose, Sister Kathy, Sister Suzanne, Sister Victoria, Saint Francis, Luciano Tagliatesta, The Cowgirls – Sister Peg and Sister Sue, Sister Patricia Weichel, Sister Elisabeth Wohofsky.

Quaere et Invenies - Seek and You Shall Find

Please come back often to visit this page. Consider making it your home page. It’s a good way to begin the day: a little Gregorian chant and a little nun to meditate with. It costs nothing to travel the labyrinth and gives such pleasure. It is where Sister plans to spend most of her time. She will keep you posted about what’s going on behind her monastery gates and at other monasteries around the world. It’s also possible she will share with you some of her nunsense.

Spring/Summer 2005

Dear Shoppers,

While we continue to hope that Holy Orders will be the answer to your prayers, Sister and I would like you to know that you are definitely the answer to ours! We would like to thank all of you who have stopped and shopped since the gates opened in October and we are grateful to all who have helped spread the word about Holy Orders. We love having visitors and look forward to having more! Thank you for singing our praises and for all your honest feedback.

To prove that when our shoppers speak we listen, we would like you to know that a new addition to "the monastery” is already under construction. It will be a place for you to go to find out more about the monasteries where our products are made and the monks and nuns who make them. We also are adding a glossary for those who have asked, "What is a Cistercian and who are the Camaldolese?"

We have been asked if we will be adding more products. Absolutely! If you would like to know when we add new products please send an email to info@holyorders.biz and ask to be added to our mailing list.

We would really love to hear from you. We would like to get to know you — what you like and what you don't. If you have a comment, suggestion or question please email customerservice@holyorders.biz or call us at 707-658-1004 or toll-free 866-886-1356. Our success depends on your happiness.

Quaere et Invenies — Seek and You Shall Find

Please come back to visit this page for updates. Consider making it your home page or bookmark it. It's a great way to begin the day — a little Gregorian chant and a little nun with whom to meditate. It costs nothing to travel the labyrinth, and it gives such peace and pleasure. If you would like to get to know Sister better, it's where she spends most of her time.

Fall 2005

Dear Shoppers,

Quaere et Invenies — Seek and You Shall Find

Christmas 2005

Dear Shoppers,

As the season of thanks and giving approaches, we thought you might appreciate some help with holiday gift-giving ideas. And remember, many of our products are only available in limited quantities so we encourage you to place your orders early. We will put them in their white burlap bags, attach their "little blessings", set them aside and send them later if you like.

HOLIDAY GIFT-GIVING IDEAS

Have a list of holiday soirees to attend and are looking for something other than the usual bottle of wine and poinsettia that will only get lost in the clutter?
Your hostess will love a set of our "Pure Beeswax Candles" hand dipped by monks at a monastery high on a mountaintop in California. Or perhaps some "Creamy Caramels or Monastery Honey" made by nuns who always add a little love to their recipe. These will surely sweeten up any party.

Looking to cheer up your best friend who’s suffering from a case of the holiday blues?
Help Soothe her soul and lift her spirits with our "BLEST BATH" gift box—nothing like relaxing in a tub of Italian bubbles.

So you’ve been invited for a ski weekend and want to bring something unique to share with all the hard-core skiers and après-skiers.
How about a bag of "Monastery Coffee" planted, picked and packaged by monks high in the Andes Mountains of Venezuela. And don’t forget to put a jar of our rich and creamy "Italian Body Cream" in your suitcase to soften your winter skin and ease your tired muscles.

Grandpa loves his music and thinks he’s heard it all. Grandma is always complaining that no one sends hand written cards anymore. What to do?
Impress Papa with a Gregorian Chant CD, "The Chants of Christmas" sung by the Gloriæ Dei Schola. As for Nana, you’ll touch her soul with a gift of Sister Victoria’s pen and ink "Window Note Cards."

You’re tempted to take Aunt Gertrude, the master gardener, off your Christmas list because you’ve already given her every gardening gadget ever created.
Well, put her back on the list and surprise her with a miracle—a box of "Earth Healer Compost Tea" made by the monks at Mepkin Abbey in South Carolina.

Your teenage niece is constantly thinking outside the box when it comes to her accessories. And because she is a teenager (and your niece) you constantly worry about her whenever she’s out in the big bad world.
We have something that will surely stand out among all the colored rubber bracelets and it might also ease some of your anxieties—our strikingly simple and classically black wool "Prayer Rope Bracelet" hand made by a small community of nuns in California who pray for the protection of the woman who wears it.

And then there’s Mom; she says she has everything she needs and she doesn’t want you to spend a dime on her.
She’ll appreciate your thoughtfulness when you present her with "THE CLASSIC" gift box because it’s all about family and tradition. Classic—just like mom!

As for Dad, you know you shouldn’t indulge his addiction to chocolate, especially when he’s been working out so hard at the gym.
Send him a box or two of "Chocolate Fudge Royale" made by the Brigittine Monks in Amity, Oregon and he will surely forgive you.

Don’t know what to give your mother-in-law or boyfriend’s mom?
You’re sure to impress "mother dearest" with the "SIMPLY DIVINE" gift box.

And what about the butcher, the baker and the mail-carrier; the neighbor, the gardener and the housekeeper; the teacher, the babysitter and grandma’s care-giver; the therapist and the hairstylist and the manicurist; the client, the colleague and the bookkeeper; the doctor, the dentist and the nurse practitioner? Show them how much you appreciate all that they do throughout the year by giving them a gift that has some thought behind it; because it’s true, it’s the thought that really counts!
Choose from all the affordable and unique gifts we offer at HOLY ORDERS: creamy caramels, honey and fudge, monastery coffee and candles; note cards and music CD’s; Italian body products; prayer rope bracelets and sterling silver crosses. You’re sure to find something special and meaningful for everyone on your list at HOLY ORDERS.

Please call us toll-free at 866-886-1356 and we will be happy to assist you with your HOLY ORDERS.

Blessings,
Jeanne Cole
Proprietress

Quaere et Invenies — Seek and You Shall Find

If you would like to know when we add new products or offer specials please send an email to info@holyorders.biz and ask to be put on our mailing list. We promise never to sell or rent our list to anyone.

If you have a comment, suggestion or question please email us at customerservice@holyorders.biz or call us at 707-658-1004 or toll-free at 866-886-1356. We also welcome phone orders from 8 AM to 6 PM (Pacific Time) Monday through Friday.

NEW YEAR 2005

December 26, 2005

Dear Shoppers,

All of us at Holy Orders would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who visited us over the holidays and for helping us to spread the good news about Holy Orders across the land. We thoroughly enjoyed the flurry of activity and watching our flock of shoppers grow and multiply. It is with great joy we proclaim that “Sister” riding her little red tractor, delivered Holy Orders to 41 states!

And because “Sister” is a woman on a mission, she would like the good news about Holy Orders to spread quickly to all 50 states. At her suggestion, we are offering free shipping to the first shopper who sends a Holy Order to someone in any of the following states:

ALABAMA
DELAWARE
IDAHO
MAINE
NORTH DAKOTA
SOUTH CAROLINA
SOUTH DAKOTA
WYOMING

To ensure that you will not be automatically charged shipping for a Holy Order placed online, please call us toll-free at 866-886-1356 to place your Holy Order.

As always, we look forward to hearing from you and we pray you will receive a bounty of blessings in the New Year!

Blessings,
Jeanne Cole
Proprietress

Quaere et Invenies — Seek and You Shall Find