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Mark Lepper

@thelepper.bsky.social
657 followers 543 following 949 posts

MDiv. Hospitality Coordinator @ Benedictine Retreat Ctr. Friend of Dorothy Day. Spiritual Director. Centering Prayer practitioner. Benedictine Oblate. Dishwasher for the revolution. "If Henri Nouwen reincarnated as a Muppet." L'Arche for Life! He/Him/His 🏳️‍🌈

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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
I want to start a restaurant where we serve different kinds of homemade soups (and bread). I think the name would be "Souper Friends" because it has the words "soup" and "friends" in it, which are two things I love, and it sounds like "Super Friends," which was a cartoon I loved growing up.
An image from the 1980's cartoon Super Friends, which starred heroes from DC Comics. In this image, standing in a line striking poses, are Batman, Robin, Gleek the blue monkey-alien, Zan and Jayna, the Wonder Twins, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Superman. Above them is the title "Super Friends"
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
This is a charcuterie board I made for a group of Sisters. They had also been planning on ordering a small pizza to go along with it, for a small party their living group was having. When they saw the charcuterie board, they decided they didn't need anything else with it.
A charcuterie board with a rose made of salami in the center, surrounded by sliced pears, carrots, rolled deli meat, sliced cheese, dried mango, sliced peaches, celery, broccoli, cucumbers, grapes, olives, dates, peppers m, and some little bunnies I made out of those little Babybel cheeses.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
This is a picture of my cousin Sarah, me, and my Uncle Mark in a chairlift at Geauga Lake, which was an amusement park in Ohio. This was around 1988. It was also on this trip with these two that I had an epic meltdown in Burger King because they ran out of the ALF puppet that I wanted.
A 12ish year old white girl with short brown hair, a 10ish year old white boy with short brown hair (and you can't see it but I'm wearing my ALF for President shirt), and a 37ish year old white man with long brown hair, dark sunglasses, and a brown moustache riding in a red chairlift.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Last night, I gave a presentation entitled "All I Really Need to Know About Spirituality I Learned From Walking the Labyrinth." It was a lot of fun and really well received. Today, we are making our own finger labyrinths.
A finger labyrinth made out of a circle piece of wood. The frame is dark brown. The background is blended green to blue to dark blue to purple, intended to look like trees and a night sky. The path border is made of orange yarn, and I added a few sparkly bits to look like stars.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
This little guy was chilling on the back steps of my apartment this evening when I got home. It was so dark I'm surprised I even noticed them. We are pretty much best friends now.
A little frog perched on the metal rung of my back steps.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
This morning, our local Episcopal congregation hosted a viewing of The Philadelphia Eleven at the local movie theater. It's a documentary about the ordination of the first eleven women in the Episcopal church. It was a great story of vocation, call, persistence, and determination.
A screen shot of a white background with "The Philadelphia Eleven" in a style that looks like it was cut from a newspaper headline. A white news reporter in a gray suit in front of a screen showing a scene from a worship service, with a green stripe at the top and "Episcopalians" written in white in the green. Two white women in white albs and red stoles presiding at communion.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
I have spent the past week at a centering prayer retreat in Sewanee, TN. Most of this time has been spent in silence. I did go AWOL one afternoon with Sister Hannah, a nun from the convent next door, and she took me on a tour of Sewanee, which included these goats.
I am standing in the middle of a grassy field. There are several goats standing around me in varying shades of white and brown. I have a smile on my face because I love being with the goats. What you can't see, and what I'm also laughing/smiling about, is that one goat is standing on my foot. She came up to me almost immediately and stood on my foot for several minutes. I think we became best friends. Similar to the previous photo, I am standing in a field surrounded by goats. This time I have picked up a small brown and white goat. What you can't tell in this picture is that she was not a fan of this choice and is just starting to squirm like a maniac so I will put her down. It worked, and I put her down shortly afterwards. A sign on the gate of the pasture. It is white and in black letters it says, "Come in. Be calm. Pet goats."
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
I'm at a centering prayer retreat where we do several consecutive sits of prayer separated by short, mindful walks. One of the women has a pair of sandals that makes fart noises when she walks. It's hard to stay mindful and prayerful when I can't stop thinking of Fozzie Bear's fart shoes.
It's the Muppet Fozzie Bear's legs. He's wearing brown and white wing tipped shoes, with whoopie cushions tied to the bottom of each. I tried to find a gif or picture from The Muppets movie where they learn they just lost the theater to Tex Richman and they're sadly walking out and Fozzie's shoes are making fart noises and Rowlf says, "Not now, Fozzie."
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Here is a picture of me with my goddaughter 18 years ago on the day of her baptism, and another picture of me with the same goddaughter taken yesterday at her high school graduation party. It doesn't really feel like there has been enough time in between these two events for that to be possible.
A white man with brown hair in a green button up shirt and khaki pants holding an infant with brown hair, dressed in a white gown. A white man with no hair in a blue button up shirt with various fruits, flowers, and vegetables on it taking a selfie with a young woman with brown hair in a yellow dress with purple polka dots.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
I had a dream that I actually got to meet Henri Nouwen. It was at some conference or something, and I knew he'd be there (obvi he wasn't dead in my dream). I unexpectedly ran into him, and tearfully told him what he meant to me. He teased me about something I had misspelled on a document.
A black and white photo of Henri Nouwen, in a sweater and collared shirt, smiling at the camera.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
Here are some things I noticed today: 1. The sky on my drive to work 2. A potter wasp's nest on the front stairs outside of my work. The beauty of creation in its expansiveness and intricacy.
A photo taken down the center of a street in a small town. The sky is covered in an expanse of fluffy white clouds that are illuminated by the rising sun. A tiny little mud pot that is stuck to the side of the cement step.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
If you see this, I implore you to post a picture from whatever device you’re using with no explanation.
A screen shot of a Fox 2 news story. Kathy McVay, a white woman with short brown hair, is in the screen with a black eye the caption says "Kathy McVay - hit by flying hot dog" someone has taken this screenshot and made it a meme that says "Who tf is out here throwing hot dogs this hard..."
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
No cheating: your last saved pic of a celebrity is your therapist
Mr Rogers is seated low on a step looking at the camera and smiling. He is next to 10 year old Jeff Erlanger who is in a wheelchair. He is also looking at the camera and smiling.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
On this day, in 1968, the world got to visit Mister Rogers' Neighborhood for the first time. And for 33 years, until 2001, he provided a safe place where young people were invited and encouraged to be kind, ask questions, be creative, use their imaginations, and be good neighbors.
Mr Rogers, a Caucasian man with dark straight hair with a side part in a light blue button up shirt and a gray blue cardigan sweater. He's looking at the camera with a slight smile on his lips. On his hand is his Daniel Tiger puppet, with light brown fur and yellow eyes. Mr Rogers is cooling his feet in a kiddie pool with Officer Clemens, played by a black man (who also happened to be gay, which Mr Rogers knew but wasn't public knowledge). This was in May of 1969 during a time of great racial turmoil in the United States. Legal segregation had just recently ended. White racists were still angry about having to share pools and water fountains and other things with black people. They would do things like put acid in public swimming pools to avoid having to share them with black people. So, the fact that Mr Rogers was willing and wanted to do this showed that he was an amazing ally, friend, and neighbor to the black community. Mr Rogers is engaging in a conversation with Jeff Erlanger, a boy with a disability who used a wheelchair. He spoke with Jeff and let him answer questions and share his thoughts and feelings. He showed everyone watching that people with disabilities are people, too, and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect and compassion. This was in 1981 and the Americans with Disabilities Act didn't pass until 1990, which prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
I got this bumper sticker a while back. I didn't immediately put it on my car because I had an idea I would be getting a new one soon. Well, I got a new car. But I'm still hesitant to put it on because I'm not sure how comfortable I am saying this about everyone these days.
A white background with blue words that say "The World is Better with You in it, Buddy." Underneath that, in the center is a red heart, on either side are two blue birds with their wings spread, facing the heart. Behind each one is a small rainbow, and then behind each rainbow is a red flower with a blue center and a green stem with two leaves. Surrounding all of these are small blue, red, and green stars and asterisks. The illustrations are symmetrical and span the width of the bumper sticker.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 04/01/2026
My last day on retreat at St Gregory's Abbey. Time seems to move a little slower here, more contemplative and prayerful. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, as I'd never been here before, but it was a restful time away and a wonderful way to start this new year.
The chapel at St Gregory's taken from the guest seating area. The walls and roof are wood,with wooden arches and beams supporting the structure. The monks' choir stalls are on the left and the right, the prior and the Abbot's stalls are at the front, facing the altar. There's a lectern in the middle with an icon of Mary and Jesus on the front. Skylights on both sides of the roof let in some gentle sunlight.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
I tried it twice... Once at 1:30pm and again at 7:30pm thinking I'd get a word that I liked better. But I got the same one. This does not bode well for me in 2026.
Your 2026 Word: Perilous. Your 2026 Word: Perilous
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 01/01/2026
Happy New Year from St Gregory's Abbey in Three Rivers, Michigan! May 2026 be a year that we all grow in compassion, gentleness, love, and holiness!
A white man in a green stocking cap, blue glasses, and a gray and black fleece standing outside in the snow. Behind him you can see the bell tower and the entrance to the chapel at  St Gregory's Abbey.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
A cold but beautiful day at St Gregory's Abbey today.
The sign for St Gregory's. It's a wooden sign in between two square brick posts. The bottom part where it says Abbey is a little covered in snow but still readable. The abbey bell tower and entrance to the chapel. The ground outside is covered in snow. The guesthouse where I'm staying. The roof and ground are covered in snow. The sidewalk is recently shoveled.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord... That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.
A frame from the movie A Charlie Brown Christmas. Linus is wearing an orange coat, a green stocking camp, and holding his blue blanket. He's got his arms stretched out. He is standing on a pink stage with a pink curtain behind him and is lit by a spotlight. Lucy and another girl are standing off to the left watching him.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
CBS News had a story about the Monastery of Christ in the Desert today. It's a beautiful place that I got to visit last year. It's definitely worth a visit. The road out to the monastery is an adventure in itself! Here's a link to the story: www.cbsnews.com/news/new-mex...
A selfie of me, a bald white man with blue framed glasses wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt with prints of hummingbirds in turquoise in the front. In the background is a butte and in front of the butte is the adobe chapel of the monastery. The sky behind the butte is a brilliant blue. A close up of the adobe chapel in front of the butte with a brilliant blue sky. My friend Sarah is sitting on a stone wall at the bottom of the stairs in front of the chapel enjoying the warm sun. A picture of the altar inside the chapel. Above the chapel there's a big window that gives you a beautiful view of the butte. There is a crucifix  on the wall to the right of the window.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
Slow day at work today so I drew myself a handheld labyrinth. It's a little wonky and wavy but I love it.
A blank ink drawing of a circular prayer labyrinth drawn on a white, circular piece of paper.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
Earlier this year, I had the privilege to attend the Midwest Regional Gathering of L'Arche with my friends from L'Arche Heartland. The exec director of L'Arche USA sent out an email with this photo from our dance we had one evening. I am prominently displayed in the middle having a kickass time.
A group of people of various colors, sizes, abilities, and genders all enjoying a sing-along. Several people have their right arm extended in the air, holding up one finger. I am in the center of the photo, with my arm in the air and I am leaning back and seem to be belting something at the top of my lungs. You have not been to a dance party until you've been to a L'Arche dance party. You should go sometime. I'm sure they'd love to have you.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
A big donor to the monastery hosts an annual Christmas party at his law firm and invites us every year. He also donates to L'Arche and invites them, so I got to hang out with my pals at the party last night. Some of them asked me to be in a picture at the photo booth with them. Here is the result.
Ok, so honestly, this is a bit chaotic and I'm going to do my best to describe it to you all. So there are seven people trying to squeeze into the small space. In front, you have Emily. She has brown hair pulled back in a ponytail and is wearing sunglasses with hot pink frame that look like hands with blue fingernails. She is giving a thumbs up. Behind her is Alex. He is is wearing a grey zip up hoodie and has short cropped blond hair. He is wearing glasses that are glittery gold treble clefs. He's got his arms outstretched but slightly bent. Behind him are Matt, Mark (me), and Joey. Matt is wearing a light blue button up shirt, a Santa hat, and gold glittery glasses that say Merry Christmas along the top. I'm wearing a red cardigan and a multicolored shirt underneath. I'm wearing an elf hat headband. Joey is next to me and all you can see is his head. He has shaggy brown hair and glasses and chose not to wear any of the photo booth accessories. I grouped the three of us together because we are all making the same face which is kind of a frowny scowl. I didn't realize that they were imitating me until they told me after the picture was taken. Next to Joey is Brad who is wearing a dark green button up shirt and a navy blue windbreaker. He's got dark hair and is wearing a pair of sunglasses that I think are a white male symbol and a black female symbol. Next to him is Ryan's head barely peeking in the frame. He's got long brown hair and a beard. He's wearing tinted glasses and a red cowboy hat with white trim.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
An image of a yellow flower with red in the center. Above it is the quote "Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength - Saint Francis de Sales."
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
You will be visited by three spirits...
Kermit the Frog, Gonzo, and Fozzie in a car. Fozzie is driving, Kermit is in the front passenger seat, and Gonzo is in the back. Yes, I know that Camilla the chicken is also in the car next to Gonzo, but she is a package deal with Gonzo so together they count as one.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
Quote with your model of masculinity.
Catholic priest and spiritual author Henri Nouwen standing next to everyone's favorite neighbor Fred Rogers.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
This is where I post from, if you even care.
An illustration from The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe of Lucy and Mr Tumnus sitting by the fireplace in Mr Tumnus' cozy house.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Having a frustrating morning printing envelopes & letters for a mailing, so I'm choosing to think about this fun memory from last year when I gave our Prioress, Sister Mary Liz, & Sister Micaela fake tattoos at the 25th anniversary celebration of our spiritual director formation program.
A bald man with glasses in a short sleeve floral print shirt and khaki pants putting fake tattoos on two women, one in a teal shirt and one in a darker shirt, both have shirt white hair and glasses and are looking at the camera and giggling because they think it's kind of ridiculous and silly that they are getting fake tattoos. But they are also really enjoying themselves.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
What I'm wearing to the BlueSky Christmas party
It's an image from a Victorian Christmas card. It seems to be a turnip or a beet or some kind of root vegetable walking on two roots like they're legs, holding a walking can in a root and a heart that says 'A Merry Christmas To You" on it in another root. It has a head that looks like a white Victorian man with a top hat and a monacle and a black scarf/ascot/tie thing that is blowing in the wind. And he has a little bit of brown hair peaking out from under the top hat.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
I've already been having a hard time remembering what day of the week it is, but this week's schedule for Liturgy of the Hours isn't helping. Today is apparently Second Tuesday. 😂
It's a schedule for the daily prayers of the Sisters at Mount St Scholastica. There's a lot of words and stuff on there that you don't need to worry about. What's important is that the days of the week are listed as Sunday, Monday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday...
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
Today was a foggy day which kind of reflects my inner being. Feeling contemplative and quiet today. Thinking about the things that life seems to be putting in front of me and how I might respond.
It's just a foggy scene. You can see some trees and some shapes of trees in the fog. But its mostly a gray and black/dark green picture.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
Blue background with yellow letters that say "Coocoo for cocoa Puffs" in the style of Mamdani's campaign signs
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
For 12 years I lived and worked with adults with developmental disabilities at L'Arche Heartland. This past weekend was their 37th anniversary party and I got to attend as a member of the board. I also got to visit with my friend Ray who I lived with for 5 years. More details in alt text!
Two white guys smiling for the camera. Ray, on the left, has short cropped blonde hair and is wearing a black sweatshirt. I am on the right in a gray cardigan and a blue and green gingham shirt and blue eyeglasses. I am bald. I am happy to be sitting with my friend Ray. Ray might be enjoying it but he would never let me know so it seems more like he's tolerating the experience. I was helping him drink orange juice at the time which is probably why he tolerated it as well as he did. Ray doesn't like large groups of people and prefers to sit and listen to his keyboards. So the fact that he let me sit by him (and walk with him) as long as he did (both that day at the party and all the days we lived together, too) has been a huge blessing in my life.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
Ending a long and busy day today (started at 7:30am and ended at 7:30pm) with a beer on my back deck. It would be a perfect way to end the day if my view was any better than the drive thru at McDonalds. But I'll take what I can get.
A wooden deck in the foreground. The background has a well lit McDonalds with a line of cars in the drive thru.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
One of the duties of my current role, which I wasn't expecting but just kind of came my way, is making charcuterie boards for retreat groups. I'm not an expert by any means, but I enjoy making them and guests seem to appreciate them. So, it's a win-win I guess.
A charcuterie board with a display of cheeses, olives, cherry tomatoes, summer sausage, strawberries, tangerines, grapes, dates, cucumbers, mushrooms, and snap peas.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Age yourself with a film you saw in cinema as a kid.
The movie poster from the original Tron movie
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
Henri Nouwen January 24, 1932 - September 21, 1996 Priest, pastor, scholar, professor, author, theologian, friend to people with developmental disabilities. I never met him but he has had a huge impact on my life and spirituality & continues to be a spiritual friend & mentor to me thru his writings.
Henri is a tall man with wire-framed glasses, grayish hair with a receding hairline, in a dark sweater. He is standing behind his friend Adam, who is shorter with a full head of straight brown hair. He's wearing a blue, gray, and black plaid shirt. Henri's arms are wrapped around Adam's torso and he his helping Adam to stand for the picture.A black and white photo of Henri, probably in his 50's, in a striped polo shirt and long pants with his right foot on a skateboard. His left foot looks like hie's getting ready to push off and his arms are slight extended out from his body ready to propel himself forward.Henri is in a gray jacket, white shirt, and gray slacks. He's got a dark scarf around his neck and he's wearing a hat.Henri is in a classroom, standing in front of a chalkboard. He's got a white button up shirt, striped pants, slacks, and a dark belt. His arms are extended straight out on either side of him and he has a tremendous grin on his face.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
I'm at a meeting at a women's monastery in Illinois and these are two things that I've seen here and, taken together, make me giggle inappropriately.
A green rectangular sign that says "Sisters Private Area"A book with the title "He Touched Me."
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 31/08/2025
Here is the group of Benedictine retreat center & guesthouse staff I spent the past week with. Out of this group only about 6 of us weren't a monk or a nun. I was the only man that wasn't a monk. It was a wonderful group to spend time and network with.
A group of men and women standing in front of a lake posing for a group picture.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
I took the first picture last night. We drove home from St Benedict Center today. I already miss my daily walks around their little lake and eating meals with my new friends. But I'm glad to be back home with beautiful skies like the second picture (taken tonight).
A picture of a road going off into the distance with the sun setting on the horizon. It's glowing orange and yellow behind white wispy clouds that are covering the sky. Dark trees line either side of the road. The sky is dark blue at the top and fades to light blue as it gets closer to the horizon. A line of light that is almost rose gold is on the horizon. The clouds are a dark grey because of the light. Buildings of downtown are on the bottom of the picture.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
A group of us walked across the street from St Benedict Center to see Christ the King Priory. We weren't expecting to go inside, but the Prior, Father Anastasius, opened the door and welcomed us in and let us see their chapel, which is beautiful. I'm glad we ventured over there this evening!
A dimly lit chapel. The monk's seats are in a semi circle facing the altar. Above the altar hangs a crucifix. A close up of the crucifix after Father Anastasius turned on the lights. The ceiling is wood beams.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
Today is our last full day at St Benedict Center. I certainly will miss the morning views like this one.
A view of a small lake. On the left is part of the retreat center. There are trees on the other side. The clouds are white and whispy and reflected in the still water. There's a rosy tinge to the sky on the horizon.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
I'm still at St Benedict Center in Schuyler, Nebraska for a conference of Benedictine retreat center staff. Lots of lovely people here who do great work. We had supper with the Brothers of Christ the King Priory this evening & they were all very nice. One more full day tomorrow and then we go home.
A wooden sign that has the word "labyrinth" etched into it with an arrow pointing to the left. There is green grass on the ground, some green trees in the background, and you can see the edge of a paved path on the righthand side of the screen.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
I'm in Schuyler, Nebraska at St Benedict's Center for a conference this week. I got to spend some time today enjoying the grounds (and feeding the koi fish).
A gray statue of St Benedict with his arms raised above his head. He's standing on a stone square with St Benedict etched into it. There are trees/bushes visible on either side of the stone square and the sky is a vibrant blue behind him. Several many koi fish swimming in the water. They are mostly orange but some have white and others are all black. This wasn't when I was feeding them, so there isn't quite as many as showed up to snarf some Cheerios I shared with them later on.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
These are the clouds that were over Sophia Spirituality Center, where I work, when I looked at it from across the property when I came out of the monastery today. I love fun and interesting cloud shapes. What do they make you think of?
A square building with tall, narrow rectangular windows as seen from across a large, grassy area. There's a grotto for Mary in front of it, as well as a circular mulched area with some bushes and benches and a cement cross halfway between the building and the viewer. There are several trees interspersed. Everything is a rich green color because we've gotten a lot of rain lately. In the sky, above the building, there are four small clouds of equal size and similar shape in a straight line basically parallel to the roof of the building. They are in a thin strip of sky that is whiter than the rest of the sky. The sky below is a deep, sky blue. The sky above is a grayer hue.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 09/08/2025
Happy National Cat Day from this cat that I saw lounging on top of my car this evening.
A gray tabby cat lounging on the back of my gray Chevy HHR. He's being real nonchalant and casual.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
Here is a photo collage my phone made for me of selfies from the time I had a black eye. I feel like that's kind of a weird thing for a phone to do.
A grid of nine photos in 3 rows of three. All of them are selfies of a bald white man with a black eye in varying stages of progression. The top row is from when it was fresh and not very big or dark. The middle row is when it spread out and got a nice dark purple. The bottom row is when it started to turn sort of greenish and yellow. In the picture in the bottom right corner you can't really see it but the blood had started to move from the black eye and was settling along my chin/jaw. That was a weird thing I didn't expect to happen. In the bottom left photo I'm with my cat Meatloaf. He doesn't seem bothered by the black eye unlike my housemate at the time, Alex, who told me I needed to put makeup on it so he didn't have to look at it anymore. Alex has Down Syndrome and has always been honest with me in our friendship. The black eye was given to me by our other housemate George. I don't hold it against him. He is still one of my favorite people. I think Alex, on the other hand, might still be holding a bit of a grudge against George because of it.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
I went outside to sit on my deck and enjoy the cooler evening temperature & was greeted by this little furball watching me from the top of my stairs. I went to get them some food but they were gone when I came back out. I left a little bowl of food at the top of the stairs for them if they return.
A white and gray stray cat watching me. She is one stop down from the deck so you can see the top of her back and her face from the nose up. She is staring at me warily. There's a MacDonald's drive though behind her but that isn't really important to this story.
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Mark Lepper @thelepper.bsky.social · 27/07/2025
Here's a few more pics from my spiritual director formation program graduation. I know you were all dying to see them. I'm so much holier and wiser now.
A line of people walking two by two by two down the center aisle of a Catholic church. Here I am sharing my own personal definition of spiritual direction with the assembled peoples. I'm a bald white guy with glasses wearing a gray and white gingham checkered shirt. There's a large fern in front of the lectern where I am speaking. There's a candle to my left and you can kind of see my friend Heather sitting behind the candle. Here I am sharing some good things about Nick, one of the instructors in the program. My class took turns at the reception thanking the staff and sharing what we appreciated about them. Nick is looking up at me from the table and you can see the back of his head. My classmate Glenda's brother in law is at the table in the foreground and I think he's watching something on his iPad.
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