THE GREAT STOLLEN BAKE -- DAY TWO

According to legend, stollen's shape represents the baby Jesus dressed in swaddling clothes.

First the loaves are formed. Then, covered and kept warm they rise for about 2 hours.

Sr. Mary Catharine checks out a batch in the oven. Other trays of bread are rising on top of the stove. No, we haven't turned into Poor Clares! We exchange our white habits for brown or blue tunics for big work jobs. Neither have we gone back to the novitiate. The Professed wear white veils for work.

Sr. Judith Miryam pops another tray into the oven. The floured nose is essential to the baking process!

Yum! Fresh out of the oven they are given yet another coating of butter.

Sr. Judith Miryam coats the stollen with sugar before bagging. The bakery is so small that we have to move out to the garden tables (cleaned) in the breezeway.

Sr. Mary Catharine carts a load of fresh stollen from the bakery to the print shop where they will be sorted and placed in decorated bags or baskets.

Last stop! 56 fresh, delicious loaves of stollen.

Blessed be God and His gifts and may the Lord bless and reward all those who do good to us for the sake of His Holy Name!