Posted September 22, 2015

The monastery of the Poor Clares, an order of contemplative (cloistered) nuns in Langhorne, is abuzz with preparations for the papal visit. In particular, the sisters are making 100,000 hosts to be distributed at holy Communion during the Mass Pope Francis will celebrate Sunday, Sept. 27 on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. See the process through our unprecedented access for a photo gallery by Sarah Webb.

Sr Anne Bartol pours the flower for the large amounts of hosts the sisters make in the monasarty in Langehorne.

Sister Anne Bartol pours flour to begin the process of making hosts.

Sr Eden Loyla mixes the batter.

Sister Eden Loyla mixes the batter.

Postulate Maria Sison pours the batter.

Postulant Maria Sison pours the batter into a press.

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Sr Tereza Staphano inspects the sheet as it comes out of the press.

Sisrer Tereza Staphano inspects the sheet of bread as it comes out of the press.

Sr Holy Spirit Iwelengera pops the hosts out while in the other room Sr Tereza Staphano bakes the hosts.

Sister Holy Spirit Iwelengera pops the hosts out of a stamp while behind her in  another room Sister Tereza Staphano bakes the hosts.

Sr Holy Spirit Iwelengera and Sr Anne Bartol punch out the hosts.

Sister Holy Spirit Iwelengera and Sister Anne Bartol use equipment to punch out the hosts.

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Sr Holy Spirit Iwelengera punches out the hosts.

Sister Holy Spirit Iwelengera places the punched hosts into baskets.

After the hosts have been pressed out.

The forms show what’s left after the hosts have been removed.

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Sr Anne Bartol merges trays of freshly made hosts.

Sister Anne Bartol merges trays of freshly made hosts.

Sr Anne Bartol gets the hosts packed to be shipped.

Sister Anne packs the hosts for shipment.