SPRING 2010
NEWSLETTER FOR BENEDICTINE OBLATES OF SAINT MEINRAD
VOLUME 16:2
Advice for living the promise of obedience
Oblates of Saint Meinrad Archabbey
make three promises: stability, fidelity
and obedience. Obedience has
uncomfortable echoes, especially for a
Protestant like me. The abuse of spiritual authority has endangered organized religion since time began. It is
easy to recount leaders like Jim Jones,
who said, “Don’t ask; just drink the
Kool-Aid.” Therefore, we frequently
harbor deep suspicions about unquestioning obedience.
The word “obedience” is derived from
the Latin verb oboedire, which means to
listen or to give in to one in authority.
St. Benedict’s Rule starts with the word
“Listen.” Benedict expected us to both
listen and respond to his teachings.
FROM THE RULE:
“Obedience is a
blessing to be shown
by all, not only to the
abbot but also to one
another as brothers,
since we know that it
is by this way of
obedience that we go
to God.”
Why would I want to give up my freedom of choice to another person?
Don’t we all want to win the prize,
finish the race or test our limits? These
goals are often ego-driven and products of the desire to earn prestige or
wealth, but for the Christian there is
the better reason—love.
member was awarded a music scholarship to Oberlin College, and then
concerned when two months later he
auditioned to transfer to another school.
We asked why he was so discouraged
and were told that his teacher, a worldfamous voice instructor, was changing
him from a tenor to a baritone.
The desire to fulfill Jesus’ commandments to comfort the grieving, visit
the prisoner and heal the sick gives us
the ultimate reason to be obedient.
We sometimes pursue admirable goals
for less-than-admirable reasons, but
God will use this process to form us,
unwittingly molding us into His will.
He had success as a tenor, winning
several major competitions, and he
could not picture himself as other
than a tenor. Fortunately, he stayed
the course and found that his teacher
had seen in him a great teacher instead
of a great voice. Years later, his doctoral thesis was a biography of his
beloved teacher, a memorial to one
who truly served his students.
We ask for another’s guidance, advice
or coaching more often than you
might suspect. We do this when we
are under the guidance of a coach or
the currently popular personal trainer.
Our attitude toward a coach, such as
Tony Dungy, is generally positive,
because we have confidence that he
has our best interests at heart.
The difficult part of seeking assistance
is that your coach will point out your
weaknesses—why else did you engage
him? Your ego needs to be sufficiently
mature to accept a loving and critical
evaluation of your talents.
The question we must answer is “to
whom do we give our obedience?”
How do we separate the Jim Joneses of
the world from God’s coaches? A good
coach, like the good physician, will
first do no harm. He or she should not
attempt to make you into the ideal of
a perfect pole vaulter or Christian.
For example, several years ago, our congregation was excited when a choir
see Advice, p. 10
Chapter 71, Verses 1-2
Obedience involves listening and
responding to direction given by those
who know us better than we know
ourselves, even if their instructions
mean that we play tight-end rather
than quarterback.
Archiving under way in Oblate Office
Archiving is an essential part of the
life of an abbey. Collecting and saving
papers and artifacts by institutions has
occurred since antiquity and, in particular, throughout the history of the
Church. The Vatican, for example, has
one of the largest archival collections
in the world.
The Archabbey archives its papers
from its various units. However, there
had been no systematic collecting and
processing of papers from the Oblate
Office. In 2005, Fr. Meinrad Brune,
OSB, oblate director, asked if I would
be willing to do some archiving for his
office. I thought this might be interesting work, so I agreed and promptly
audited the archiving course at
Indiana University, where I am a
retired professor.
The first materials I processed were the
late Professor Edward Shaughnessy’s
papers. Next came the materials
recently obtained from the North
American Association of Benedictine
Oblate Directors (NAABOD), and
finally I started on the papers of the
Oblate Office. The latter two are
works in progress and will take several
more years to finish.
Ruth C. Engs, oblate
Bloomington, IN
Parts 2 and 3 on archiving can be
found on page 11.
Follow the schedule used
by the monks of Saint Meinrad
by starting Week I on these dates:
2010
May 30
June 27
July 25
August 22
September 19
October 17
November 7
November 28
December 26
Online store.
Fr. Meinrad Brune, OSB, invests Richard
Messick as an oblate novice in January.
A POINT TO PONDER FROM THE RULE
“Obedience is a blessing to be shown by all, and not only
to the abbot but also to one another as brothers, since we know
that it is by this way of obedience that we go to God.”
Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 71, Verses 1-2
The blessing of obedience is not something all monks should render only
to the abbot, but to each other as well. Therefore, except for the orders of
the abbot or the officials he has appointed, they should allow no other
command to take precedent.
All juniors must obey their seniors with every vestige of loving attention.
As oblates, we make no distinction between senior and junior oblates
because they do not exist in this classification format. As oblates, we obey
the abbot and each other.
As hard as obedience may be at times, St. Benedict still calls it a blessing
(bonum). In the Prologue to the Rule of St. Benedict, it is called a “labor.”
Looking at obedience as both a blessing and a labor can help the oblate to
completely accept obedience as a necessary ingredient to reaching God.
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Liturgy of the Hours
for Benedictine Oblates
Saint Meinrad Archabbey
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Benedictine Oblate is published four times
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Editor:
Mary Jeanne
Designer:
Oblate Directors:
Schumacher
Jo R. Bishop
Fr. Meinrad
Brune, OSB
Fr. Joseph Cox, OSB
Send changes of address and comments to
The Editor, Development Office, Saint
Meinrad Archabbey, 200 Hill Dr., St.
Meinrad, IN 47577, (812) 357-6817,
fax (812) 357-6325 or e-mail
oblates@saintmeinrad.edu
www.saintmeinrad.edu
© 2010, Saint Meinrad Archabbey
New oblate community begins in
Crossville, TN
Fairfield Glade is sporting a small
oblate group that begins its meetings
(usually lasting about 1½ hours) with
noon prayer in church, reading the
Rule for that particular day, a short
business meeting, followed by the
oblate DVD and refreshments.
Attendance varies because of outside
member responsibilities, but about five
faithfully attend with others coming
now and then. Notices have been
placed in the bulletins of two nearby
churches, with invitations to join.
NY oblates attend Advent conferences
A group of 50 oblates from the New
York/New Jersey region gathered
November 29 at St. Ignatius Jesuit
Retreat House in Manhasset, NY, to
start off the new liturgical year with Fr.
Meinrad Brune, OSB, director of
oblates, and Fr. Godfrey Mullen, OSB,
conference speaker.
Oblates were able to participate in the
Eucharist, Liturgy of the Hours and the
end-of-day Benediction and devotions,
as well as go to confession and have
items blessed by Fr. Meinrad. During
Mass, Tracy Columba Miryam Andres
made her final oblation.
Fr. Godfrey, vice rector of Saint
Meinrad Seminary and School of
Theology and interim manager of the
“One Bread, One Cup” program, has
not offered conferences to the Long
Island/Bronx-Manhattan chapters since
1997. Through his presentation of
“Eucharist, the Gateway to Heaven”
and “Keeping Death before Our Eyes,”
he led the group on an exploration of
how the Eucharist helps us to taste,
remember and embrace Paradise in this
world and in the world to come.
“Tasting” Paradise in the Eucharist
helps us to remember how Jesus actually lived out a life of heaven on this side
of the earth, thus helping us to discern
and conform our everyday lives to
OBLATE NEWS
Christian perfection as followers of the
Rule of St. Benedict.
Tracy R. Andres, oblate
Bronx, NY
Family welcomes new baby
Congratulations to Oblate James and
Mrs. Kelly Anzelmo of Gahanna, OH,
on the December 4, 2009, birth of
their daughter Lucy Elizabeth
Anzelmo, who joins her big sister
Gabrielle.
Oblates attend Advent Retreat given
by Fr. Eugene
The Oblate Advent Retreat, December
11-13, 2009, with more than 80
oblates in attendance, began with Mass
celebrated by Fr. Meinrad Brune, OSB,
who reminded us to let go of the burden of our frustrations and to fully participate in the spirit of the retreat.
Fr. Eugene Hensell, OSB, challenged
us through the use of Scripture and
the Rule to journey more deeply with
Christ and to obey God’s will more
completely. The retreat, “Listening
with the Ear of our Hearts: Thoughts
on Obedience,” focused on the Rule’s
three pillars: obedience, humility
and silence—with the first pillar
being obedience.
Its basis is found in the Prologue with
Benedict saying “listen carefully,”
“attend with the ear of your heart” and
“labor of obedience will bring you back
to the Father.” Radical listening leads
to radical obedience, and that unhesitating obedience is the foundational
step in our deeper faith journey.
Listening is not an easy or welcome
task, but it is essential. Luke 10:16 says,
“Whoever listens to you listens to me”;
thus we must unclutter ourselves and
be open to God speaking to us. It takes
a lot of practice to be authentically obedient. St. Benedict gives us tools for
our faith journey: confronting self-will
and the attitude that we already know
it all, but we might not want to use
these tools.
It is a whole-life process of stripping
off the layers and getting rid of phoniness to foster willingness to grow in
listening. We must reach out in a
non-self-serving way, preferring nothing whatever to Christ. In listening
with the ear of the heart, we might
hear a mandate that is difficult to carry
out. It can be difficult because our tendency is to tell people what they want
to hear. We must listen and obey, no
matter how unpleasant the task may be.
see Oblate News, p. 4
Committee members met on March 2 to plan the NAABOD (North American Association of
Benedictine Oblate Directors) Conference to be held at Saint Meinrad from July 1-6, 2011.
3
Oblate News from p. 3
We are not alone. Our journey is possible if we listen not only to God, but
also to each other. We must configure
ourselves to God. If one is humbled,
one can become exulted. We can
choose to not obey, to not be saved, or
we can choose, through obedience and
listening with the ear of the heart, to
empty ourselves and discover that
death and degradation are not the
end, but only the beginning of glory
and exultation.
Cathey Byers, oblate
Nineveh, IN
Oblate professes first vows
Br. Dominick A. Cervino of Woodside,
NY, an oblate, announced his first profession of vows as Servant of the
Eleventh Hour of the Divine Word on
December 13, 2009.
Long-time oblate congratulated
Special congratulations to John
Campbell, a Cincinnati oblate, who
made his oblation in 1943. He celebrated his 66th anniversary in 2009.
Kings chosen at Epiphany party
Forty Indianapolis oblates celebrated
Epiphany on January 9. A jellybean
was tucked into each of three muffins.
Out of 40 or more muffins that were
served, whoever found a jellybean in a
muffin was one of the three kings. This
year, three men got the jellybeans’ “call
to kingship.” They were Sam Ajamie,
with oblation in 1946, 64 years an
oblate; Bernie Seger, with oblation in
1964, 46 years an oblate; and Joe
Geiman, with oblation in 2002, eight
years an oblate.
Coordinator changes
Oblates Maurice and Norine Keller of
Evansville, IN, will be ending their
coordinator positions of the Evansville
chapter on May 2. They have served as
coordinators since September 1, 1999,
and their dedication has been appreciated by the oblates, oblate novices and
friends of Saint Meinrad. Deacon
Michael Burns will continue as coordinator, and will be joined by Michael
and Michele Reffett as co-coordinators.
Artist’s work on display
Oblate John Beadles of Cape Girardeau,
MO, was honored at a reception on
February 13 at the Decatur Market and
Gallery in the Atlanta area, for his still
life paintings. The Web site is
www.decaturgallery.com. A bio on the
Web site explains his career in painting.
Evansville oblates hold meeting
During the Evansville chapter meeting
on Feb. 7, numerous positive comments
were conveyed about the meaning of
being a Saint Meinrad oblate. Members
expressed how the oblate community
provides a framework for daily prayer,
allows for problem-solving through
reading the Liturgy of the Hours, and
offers tremendous support from fellow
oblates and the monks of Saint
Meinrad. Discussion concluded with the
members agreeing that the “grace and
peace” felt during visits to “the Hill” are
a vital part of the oblate experience.
Celebrating 25th anniversaries
Several oblates will celebrate the 25th
anniversary of their oblation during
2010. The following became oblates
during 1985: Mary Veronica Schafer,
Hanover, IN, invested March 20; Zita
R. Cook, Lancaster, OH, July 14; Elma
Bernard, Bronx, NY, July 15; Shirley
Carius, Canal Winchester, OH,
November 1; Joan Sullivan, Sun City
Center, FL, November 1; Mildred
Rutherford, Cannelton, IN,
December 9.◆
INVESTITURES &
OBLATIONS
November 29, 2009, Oblation—Ms.
Tracy Robin Columba Miryam
Andrés of Bronx, NY.
December 5, 2009, Oblation—Dr.
Thomas Gabriel Sutula of Bristol, IN.
December 6, 2009, Investitures—Mr.
David Annable of Middletown, OH,
and Deacon Salvatore Mazzella of
Bronx, NY.
December 9, 2009, Investiture—Mr.
James Sauer of Ewing, KY.
The Indianapolis chapter held an Epiphany party on January 9. Kings are, from left,
Joe Geiman, Sam Ajamie and Bernie Seger.
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December 12, 2009, Oblations—Mr.
Rex Martin Craig of Tipton, IN; Mrs.
Sandra Teresa Benedicta of the
Cross Cunning of St. Louis, MO;
Mrs. Esperanza Monica Fracker and
Dr. Martin Anselm Fracker Sr. of
see Oblate News, p. 5
Oblate News from p. 4
What does “pondering” mean?
San Antonio, TX; Dr. Walter Joseph
Henry Linz of Temple, TX; Dr.
David Francis Miller of Mt. Carmel,
IL; Mr. Paul Alexander Joseph
Paradzinski and Mrs. Shirley Anne
Paradzinski of Catawba, VA; Mr.
Steven Bernard Wilson of Grand
Rapids, MI.
In the summer of 1995, the first issue
of Benedictine Oblate with a new look
came into being, as did the use of “A
Point to Ponder from the Rule.” What
does it mean to ponder?
December 12, 2009, Investitures—
Mr. H. Lee Cooper of Evansville, IN;
Mrs. Elizabeth Jones and Mr. Walton
Jones of Louisville, KY.
January 4, 2010, Investitures—Mrs.
Hubertina Searcy and Mr. Robert
Searcy of Fisherville, KY.
January 7, 2010, Investitures—Mr.
Richard Messick of Lewis Center,
OH, and Dr. Brian Robinette of
Webster Groves, MO.
January 9, 2010, Investiture—Mrs.
Candace Vogel of Indianapolis, IN.
February 4, 2010, Investiture—Mrs.
Judith Smith-Ille of Bloomington, IN.
Fr. Eugene Hensell, OSB, provided a
beautiful explanation in a letter to
Sr. Sylvia Gehlhausen, OSB, of the
Monastery Immaculate Conception in
Ferdinand, IN.
The Greek word is symbaffo—the literal meaning is “to throw together.” The
word is used to convey such things as
discuss, consider or think about.
Pondering things in her heart is
almost a characteristic of Mary—no
rush to conclusions or oversimplification. She seems to be able to live with
loose ends, more questions than
answers, and being inserted into a
situation that she does not fully
understand. She does not have to
know more than she does, and she is content pondering these things in her heart.
It takes both courage and humility to
ponder because it indicates that we do
not have all the answers. Pondering
presupposes that we will have more
questions than answers, that the fullness of God’s word can never be fully
grasped by humans and that we might
have to change.
Mary provides a role model for us in
her willingness to listen and to learn
without demanding immediate
answers. Learning from her, we need
to spend some quality time pondering
in our hearts the important things of
the wonderful life God has provided.
Joan C. Rillo, oblate
Bloomington, IN
February 7, 2010, Oblation—Mr. J.
Scott Augustine Allen of Evansville,
IN.◆
DEATHS
Mrs. Margaret J. Piellusch of
Southfield, MI, died April 26, 2001.
Miss Bernice Cloutier of West
Lafayette, IN, died November 25, 2009.
Miss Selma Steltenpohl of Louisville,
KY, died on November 28, 2009.
Mr. Thomas Flood of Columbus,
OH, died on December 19, 2009.
Mr. John Mellody of Copley, OH,
died on December 22, 2009.
Mrs. Anna Loyolis Hodde of Tell
City, IN, died on December 28, 2009.
Mr. John Gramelspacher of Jasper,
IN, died on January 7, 2010.
Mrs. Margaret Frassinelli of
Memphis, TN, died on January 12,
2010.◆
The Columbus, OH, area chapter held an Epiphany party on January 7. Kings are,
from left, Dr. James Albright, Daniel Boyden and Richard Messick.
5
Listening for the sake of the Kingdom of God
“Listen my son…with the ear of your
heart.” These words that open the
Rule of St. Benedict have been a clear
clarion call throughout the centuries,
inviting men and women into the
monastic way of life. They have never
lost their power for those who understand what is at stake.
As the second World Congress of
Benedictine Oblates convened in the
early days of October in Rome, delegates from around the globe found
themselves newly challenged to understand how this simple sentence,
penned some 1,500 years ago, was still
at the heart of the solution to many of
the problems we face today, as a culture and as a Church. The participants
were immersed in the simple, yet profound, idea that listening is at the
heart of the global enterprise of peace
and justice for all.
Mother Máire Hickey, OSB, of
Kylemoor Abbey in Ireland, spoke of
the “potential of monastic life as part
of a network of people looking for
answers about global concerns.” This
potential can be overlooked by the
uneducated heart that does not understand the invitation to “listen…with
the ear of your heart” as a “lifelong
training program for peace, justice and
love.” She referred to the goal of those
at the Congress as “becoming active
participants for peace and justice.”
With an even sharper focus on the
practical application of all that was
being said, Fr. Laurence Freeman,
OSB, of Christ the King Priory in
Cockfosters, England, raised a challenge early in the Congress that, in
many ways, set the tone for all that
would follow. He said, “Ask yourself
every day, ‘What is an oblate? Why
did I become an oblate?’”
The Rule of St. Benedict, the Liturgy of
the Hours and lectio divina are
remarkable tools for spiritual formation. As oblates, we are drawn to use
them to sort out our lives and find
6
ourselves in a closer relationship or
communion with God. But the substance of what we become as a result
of this vocation answers the questions
that Fr. Freeman was asking.
Oblation is not simply another achievement. It is not another hook on which
to hang the cap of our identity. It is,
instead, a way of living out the ultimate
responsibility that each of us is called to
as human beings. And that responsibility is to help bring about the Kingdom
of God for all of humanity.
We are not part of an exclusive group
of individuals. We are part of a worldwide community where our ultimate
goal must be to live in peace and harmony, active participants in God’s
ongoing creative act.
Oblation is a way
of living out the ultimate
responsibility each of us
is called to
as human beings.
The Congress focused heavily on the
importance of interreligious dialogue as
the primary means of appreciating the
dignity of all human beings. This kind
of dialogue must be marked by mutual
respect, compassion, appreciation and
patience. This dialogue is only possible
when the participants have come to
know who they are in themselves.
Such self-knowledge is the fruit of a
deeply developed interior life, and
Benedict’s Rule provides a landscape
where self-knowledge can be practiced
and perfected in the context of relationships lived out daily in community—whether in the monastery, the
parish, the workplace or the family.
The skills for interreligious dialogue
begin when we practice how to listen
to those who share our tables and our
houses of worship.
No matter where we live and work, we
are always in the midst of diversity,
and diversity will either provoke dissent or invite dialogue. As oblates, will
we be prepared to enter into dialogue
strengthened by our attention to the
Word of God, listeners in the great
conversation that takes place each and
every day of our lives as we seek to
harmoniously live a life of love with
those around us?
At the most basic level, the practice of
contemplative prayer makes it possible
for an individual to live well with others, to let go of self-centeredness and
draw closer to others as a means of
drawing closer to the Other.
Benedictines have the tools to teach
the world a way of living in right relationship—a way that respects diversity
while seeking a common ground. We
are taught to abide in stability with
those whom God has given to us, to
learn how to change our hearts
through our daily interactions with
them through obedience to the Word
of God and the Rule.
Human beings will probably always
find themselves in crisis in one manner
or another. The work of our Church
will always be to help people find their
way to God. We will never do that
alone. We will always be Church
“together”—helping one another along
the way in spite of our differences.
If we were all alike, there would be no
need to listen. We would simply agree
on everything. Benedict knew that
was not the state of the human condition. Even when we come together
for a common cause, we bring to
the table a multiplicity of ways of
doing something.
We must learn to take all of the gifts
that God has distributed so generously
among His creation and find the
places where they fit together to bring
about the common good and the
Kingdom of God.
Janis Dopp, oblate
Bloomington, IN
Religious challenges is theme of Benedictine World Congress
I had the good fortune of being a delegate from Saint Meinrad Archabbey
to the second World Congress of
Benedictine Oblates at the Salesianum
outside Rome October 2-9, 2009. It
was the first event I had attended that
included oblates from other monasteries, and thus gave me new insight into
what the oblate promises mean to
others from around the world.
The theme of the Congress was
“Religious Challenges Today, the
Benedictine Response.” Not surprisingly, liturgy formed the heart of the
Congress. The working portion consisted of a series of lectures related to
this theme, “interventions” or responses from the delegates, and integration
work conducted in separate language
groups. The keynote presentations
were designed to approach the religious challenges of the day from the
points of view of contemplation, communion and mission.
Of the keynote speakers, I was most
captivated by the remarks of Rev.
Mother Máire Hickey, OSB, abbess
emerita of Dinklage Abbey, Germany,
and currently administrator of
Kylemoor Abbey, Ireland. Mother
took as her theme, “Personal Relations
and Communion.”
She recounted that, in 1997, at Graz,
Austria, the second European
Ecumenical Assembly was convened.
Mother Máire and other Benedictine
nuns and monks who were delegates
decided they could best contribute to
the assembly by doing there what they
did at home—pray. They obtained the
use of a nearby church for this purpose and gathered an interested group
of Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and
Orthodox who organized ongoing
prayer for the duration of the meeting.
Of most interest to me was that
Mother Máire said that reactions to the
project were mixed. Many of the delegates were happy to find such a place
of prayer, but others seemed offended,
as if those who gathered for prayer felt
that the prayer opportunities offered
by the Assembly were inadequate or
that the Benedictines were attempting
to escape from the challenges addressed
by the Congress. Mother said most of
those gathered at Graz were simply
oblivious to the project.
I thought these reactions were probably typical of the reactions to the
Benedictine project in the wider
world. Most people simply are
unaware that there are monks, nuns
and oblates throughout the globe
praying for the world and its needs.
Some who are aware of this find it a
bit silly or useless. With all the pressing needs of the world, they suggest,
what is needed is action, not prayer.
Others, and hopefully among these
will be our oblates, see prayer as the
one essential thing. This was what
Mother Máire suggested that she
learned in Graz: that all of humanity’s
aspirations to heal the world and make
it a better place require the work of
contemplation—“the undivided attention of the creature to the Creator, listening, answering in praise, adoration,
thanks, intercession, all overflowing
into creative and fruitful action and
life as participation in the ongoing
work of the Creator.”
Her remarks gave me a renewed sense of
the importance of our small contribution of prayer to the work of the worldwide Benedictine family.
Jennie Latta, oblate
Memphis, TN
Personal rule of life for Saint Meinrad Oblates
When the Desert Fathers began the monastic tradition, they had little to
guide them. In the sixth century, our Holy Father Benedict proposed his Rule
as a guide for monks. Today, the Rule of St. Benedict continues to guide
monks and oblates.
This personal rule of life might be helpful to Benedictine oblates of Saint
Meinrad Archabbey in keeping the three promises and five duties ever in
their sight.
• Pray morning and evening prayer daily.
• Practice lectio divina as a part of your daily routine.
• Create space for silence in your life.
• Treat your family life and your daily work as your main Christian ministries.
• Be a contributing member of your parish or church community.
• Treat physical objects and the environment with care and reverence.
• Serve others with consistent patience and care.
• Read from the Rule daily.
• Pray for vocations to Saint Meinrad Archabbey.
• Strive to visit Saint Meinrad Archabbey as often as you can.
• Engage in an annual personal evaluation of your keeping of the promises
and duties.
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An interview with Br. Francis on his journey to monastic life
Q. Where did you grow up? What
factors influenced you from childhood to young adulthood?
I was born
and raised in
Findlay, Ohio,
and was baptized a
Catholic. I
attended St.
Michael the
Archangel
Catholic grade
school and
went to a public high school because
Findlay had no Catholic high school.
Of special note is that at St. Michael’s
and during my freshman year of high
school I was an altar server.
Growing up, I do recall having religious stirrings. I was always interested
in following the readings at Mass, and
I was intrigued by the visual imagery
of the Stations of the Cross. At home,
I sometimes played being a priest. I do
not remember anyone specifically urging me to consider religious life, but it
was always there before us and talked
about because we were attending a
parochial school.
During high school and especially at
college and thereafter, I went to
church infrequently. I majored in
journalism and earned a Bachelor of
Science degree in journalism.
Graduating in 1988, I embarked on a
career in newspaper reporting by taking a job as a reporter at the small
daily Galion Inquirer newspaper. In
1996, I left to take a copy editor position at the News-Sun in Springfield,
Ohio, and from there I went to the
Toledo Blade in 1999. I always wanted
to work for a large city newspaper like
the Blade. It was closer to my home,
family and friends, and the pay was
better than most other newspapers. I
was there for seven years, primarily as
the wire editor.
8
While working for newspapers, I went
to church infrequently. I certainly was
not interested in anything of a religious nature. I was not practicing my
faith in any real sense of the word. I
graduated from college in 1988 and
came to the monastery in 2006. From
1984 to 2003, when I had my conversion experience, 19 years had elapsed.
Q. You left a career in journalism to
enter a monastic community. What
motivated you to take that step?
That is something I am still trying to
figure out! Six or seven years ago, I
never would have envisioned that happening. It is a mystery to me, and it is
God’s grace in many different ways.
For many years, to put it bluntly, I
was a one-man island. I was very
interested in my career, my work and
myself. Outwardly, I was doing very
well—earned good money, had a nice
house that I purchased, had a truck
and a dog—and everything was fine.
However, there was something missing.
I was getting into my mid-30s, and I
had no wife, no children. I was not
connected with anything or anyone
beyond and above just me. I wasn’t living for anyone but myself. It took me a
while before I thought about it in those
terms, but I was increasingly unhappy
and disenfranchised with who I was
and what I was doing. It didn’t feel
right; there had to be more.
Conversion is a quick moment for
some people, but for me it was more
of a long-range process. In 2001, my
family nearly lost my father, who was
battling alcoholism. Also I had a close
older friend at the Blade who died of
stomach cancer—having a big effect
on me.
I had lost my grandparents before
that, but I never lost someone who
was a part of my daily life. That really
got me thinking. Then 9/11 happened. All those things happened
within a three-week period and
together began a stirring within me.
A couple of years later, in 2003, there
was another quick succession of traumatic events, culminating with the
death of my father, who was only 65
when we lost him to alcoholism.
The other significant thing was my
struggle with alcoholism. Was I heading down the same path as my father?
I had to stop. I had been to AA several
times before.
The amazing thing is that my craving
for alcohol stopped. It was gone, and
it hasn’t been back since 2003. I think
of the possibility that my own father
prayed and interceded for me. My
own mother prayed for me like St.
Monica prayed for St. Augustine.
I began to pick up new habits. I began
to go to Sunday Mass and eventually
to daily Mass. I continued like this for
several years, and I had many questions. Since I had not been practicing
my faith for nearly 20 years, the only
person I could think to ask was the
associate pastor at my home parish
who had administered last rites to my
father. He spiritually directed me for a
while, eventually referring me to a
priest in Toledo.
I did a lot of searching with reference
to vocations. I could hear God saying,
“Give yourself over to me.” I kept
saying, “No, whatever it is, it will be
too much.”
Finally in the summer of 2005, I
reached the point where I knew I had to
really engage this discernment, so I
asked my spiritual director what I
should do. He suggested making a
retreat at Saint Meinrad Archabbey. I
had never heard of Saint Meinrad before
and didn’t know what a monastery was.
I came for a three-day retreat and just
fell in love with the place.
Q. How did the concept of Notes
from a Monastery come about?
I had been praying the Liturgy of the
Hours on my own, but when I heard
the monks chant Vespers in the
Archabbey Church, I said, “That’s it!
This is what I want to do! That’s who
I want to be!” There was an instant
attraction and a reaffirmation of
things I had already been doing, like
lectio divina.
Basically, it was my brainchild. I think
there is a deep yearning in the world
today for a simple, sacred and intentional way of life that connects the
everyday life to the eternal. The Rule
of St. Benedict offers precisely that.
There are nine titles published as of
this date. Notes from a Monastery
stresses that God’s presence is everywhere and in everyone, that we are
called to seek the extraordinary in the
ordinary and that this journey to everlasting life is a process.
I returned for the Monastic
Observance program in April 2006,
and the call was stronger than ever.
After selling my house and quitting my
job, I entered the monastery as a candidate in September 2006, and I was
invested as a novice in January 2007.
Q. Upon entering the monastery as a
novice, did the community live up to
your expectations?
Adjustment is never easy, but this way
of life and this community have been
great blessings for me. It is helping
me put away the old self and become
who God has called me to be. I’m
doing things here that I could never
have imagined were possible a few
years ago.
Q. How did the concept of the
CareNotes: Catholic Perspectives
evolve?
The concept did not evolve with me.
During my time as a candidate, I was
asked by Linus Mundy, director of
publications, to write a CareNotes
booklet. To date, I have written two,
How Spiritual Doubt Can Make Our
Faith Stronger and The Healing Cross:
Reflections for the Sick and the
Suffering. The CareNotes concept came
from Linus Mundy. They are specifically designed for parish distribution
or to be used by prayer groups. They
are made available by local churches
for free.
Q. How do you select the writers and
topics for Notes from a Monastery?
The writers are selected primarily on
the basis of their interest and experience. For example, Kathleen Norris
was a known quantity in that she has
published extensively. Monks have
often taken a particular road to spirituality, and this is often reflected in
their creative endeavors. Often, a
potential writer will suggest a topic.
Of course, the ability and talent for
writing is also a factor.
Q. Do you work closely with
Abbey Press in the production of
these publications?
groups using the publication. Anyone
desiring to enhance their spirituality can
use the contents of each 12-page booklet. They are priced at $1.95 and could
be distributed free to Bible study,
prayer, or other spiritual life groups.
The topics could be the basis for discussions. At the end of each booklet is a
section called “Listening with the Ear of
the Heart” that poses questions for
reflection, inviting readers to interact
with what they have read.
Q. Any other creative publication
ideas that you care to share?
One that I have been thinking about
is putting the booklets into one volume that could be utilized more efficiently, purchased with greater ease
and stored more effectively. I can visualize an unending portfolio of subject
matter for future Notes from a
Monastery.
Thomas J. Rillo, oblate
Bloomington, IN
VOLUNTEERS APPRECIATED
Michael Chrisman, Ruth Engs, Marie
Kobos, Barbara Krick, Novice Michael
Luckett, OSB, Mike Reffett, Tom and
Joan Rillo, Mary Ruth Sims, Dennis
Skelton, Dorothy Soudakoff, Br. Luke
Waugh, OSB.◆
Yes. I am assigned to Abbey Press in
the Publications Division and I am in
close proximity and contact with the
director of the division. As a result, I
can oversee the publication and see to
it that each publication meets the
standards pre-established. I can be
assured that the books are reflective of
the Rule of St. Benedict and all its
inherent aspects.
Q. What are the target populations
or sources of distribution for Notes
from a Monastery?
They are largely the same as the
CareNotes. I can see prayer and retreat
Evansville Chapter coordinators left to right:
Michael Reffett, Michele Reffett, Deacon
Michael Burns, Norine Keller and Maurice
Keller.
9
Advice from p. 1
She should have a relationship with
you that will allow her to thoroughly
understand your strengths and weaknesses. She will assist, with the help of
the Holy Spirit, in forming the
Christian into what God created.
St. Benedict defines such a teacher in
Chapter 2 of the Rule when he discusses the qualities of an abbot. He
says, “He is believed to hold the place
of Christ in the monastery.” What
does that mean in practice? In Luke
22:24-27, Jesus describes Himself as
“one who serves.” Benedict looks for
the one who serves, not to the one
who seeks authority.
In Chapter 5 of the Rule, obedience is
described as unhesitating, natural,
prompt, cheerful and unquestioning.
The promises we take are phrased
“Will you…?” And the response is
always “I will….” Not, “Let me think
about it, or how about a list of
amendments?” Obedience is more
than halfhearted compliance with the
commands of one’s superiors; it is a
wholehearted response given with
hope and confidence.
Obedience is a necessary part of any
well-lived existence. The life circumscribed by one’s ego-driven desires will
be limited, leaving little place for the
Holy Spirit and the gifts that accompany Him. Growth and improvement
cannot take place without obedience
that allows pastors, directors and
coaches to help us discover His purposes in our life.
Questions for Consideration
1. What changes should be made in
my life?
2. Is it possible to obtain those goals
by myself?
3. Whom should I engage as a
“personal coach” and why that
particular person?
4. Who, or what, will be the dominant factors in my life as the result of
these changes?
Richard Hollowell, oblate
Greensburg, IN
UPCOMING EVENTS
June 14-17, 2010—Oblate study days
will be conducted by Fr. Vincent
Tobin, OSB, and the topic will be “To
Pray as Jesus Prayed: The Psalms in the
Liturgy of the Hours.”
July 12, 2010—A Day of Recollection
at Saint Meinrad Archabbey with Fr.
Brendan Moss, OSB, as the presenter
on the Liturgy of the Hours.
September 3-6, 2010—New York
Labor Day Weekend will be conducted
by Fr. Timothy Sweeney, OSB, and the
theme will be Liturgy of the Hours.
September 11, 2010—Lancaster, PA,
Day of Recollection will be conducted
by Br. Zachary Wilberding, OSB, on
the theme of Liturgy of the Hours.
November 8-18, 2010—Br. Maurus
Zoeller, OSB, is hosting a Benedictine
pilgrimage to Italy. Contact him at
Saint Meinrad Archabbey by phone,
(812) 357-6674, or e-mail:
mzoeller@saintmeinrad.edu. ◆
OBLATES: IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Patricia Anne O’Malley, oblate
Beavercreek, OH
“Saint Meinrad is like an
anchor, a rock for oblates.
We are connected to this
house. We pray for the
monks here and we know
that they pray for us. We
support their good works.
We learn how to live the
Rule from what they teach
us and the example they
lead with their lives. Saint
Meinrad is the place to get
recharged, rebooted, get
back into the journey that
God has for us.”
10
A Spanish porcelain Madonna and
Child, known as “The Virgin Homeless,”
was given by oblate Carole Mattingly
of Corydon, IN, to Oblate Director
Fr. Meinrad Brune, OSB, and the
oblate community in memory of her
husband John.
Oblate materials
being archived
The oblate program at Saint Meinrad
was started by the first abbot, Martin
Marty, in 1879. When Fr. Meinrad
Brune was appointed oblate director
in 1995, the number of oblates, along
with correspondence, chapter meeting
minutes and other material, expanded
under his leadership. Much of the
material in the oblate archive collection is from the mid-1990s through
the first decade of the 21st century.
The collection is divided into six
series: (I) capital campaign of 20022007, (II) oblate chapters, (III) meetings and retreats, (IV) correspondence,
(V) printed material and essays, (VI)
miscellaneous photos and other items.
Approximately a third of the material
has been processed. Series I has been
completed and several other series
have been partially processed. Material
processed includes:
• The Oblate Office’s efforts during
the capital campaign of 2002-2007.
This series includes correspondence,
meeting agendas, minutes, printed
material, training materials, lists of
donors.
• Correspondence with leaders of the
New York City Oblate Chapter, membership rolls, retreat agendas and
handouts, oblate newsletters and
printed material.
papers and artifacts is important for
history. What we are preserving at
Saint Meinrad will give an idea of the
function of the oblate community for
present and future generations of
oblates and oblate directors.
NAABOD collection
On August 30, 1948, seven directors
of Benedictine oblates met at
Conception Abbey to discuss
oblate life. From this first meeting,
NAABOD (North American
Association of Benedictine Oblate
Directors) was formed and has met
biannually since then. In 2003, Saint
Meinrad Archabbey agreed to be a
repository for the association’s papers.
Items from the 1940s had been collected and stored by successive association presidents. Beginning in 2004,
material was given to Fr. Meinrad
Brune to be processed.
The series (divisions) in this collection
are organized according to the donor.
As new material is forthcoming, other
series will likely be added. Three series
have been designated for this collection: (I) material from oblate director
S. Jean Francis; (II) material from
other oblate directors; and (III) material donated after 2008.
Series I is complete. It contains 20
boxes and makes up about two-thirds
of the collection. This series contains
material donated prior to 2005 and
includes:
• correspondence to and from
directors
• minutes and conference proceedings
• lists of oblate directors
• oblate instructions, formularies
and newsletters
• drafts and printed copies of the oblate
director’s manuals and handbooks.
Ruth C. Engs, oblate
Bloomington, IN
How you can help:
• Pray for vocations
• Remember Saint
Meinrad in your will
• Request information
about life income gifts
For more information, contact:
Barbara Balka
Director of Planned Giving
Saint Meinrad Archabbey and
Seminary & School of Theology
St. Meinrad, IN 47577
(800) 682-0988
www.saintmeinrad.edu
Processing items for a collection is not
work for the faint of heart and needs a
bit a prayer to help one along at times.
The process is often tedious. You sort
through papers, try to keep things
together in their original folders, and
attempt to make order from chaos. It
takes a long time to plan and sort
through files, and I feel very happy if I
can process material for one five-inchdeep box in three days.
Archiving material is most rewarding
when you read bits and pieces from
history and see how ideas are shaped
and come to fulfillment. Archiving
Fr. Meinrad Brune, OSB, and Haubstadt (IN) Chapter members left to right: Wilma
Riedford, Mary Ellen Ziliak, Fr. Meinrad, Pam Betz and Suzanne Martin.
11
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Reading Room
If there was ever a book written about the practical
application of the monastic life for the oblate in the secular world, it is Finding Sanctuary: Monastic Steps for
Everyday Life by Abbot Christopher Jamison
(Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2006).
Abbot Christopher makes religion accessible to those in
search of life’s meaning. By following these steps and listening in new ways, people can change their lives. There
is also the vision that the world’s religions can work
together as a source of hope for the future.
Abbot Christopher is best known as the host of the BBC
television series, “The Monastery,” in which five nonmonks lived the monastic life for 40 days while cameras
tracked their progress. This book explains how St.
Benedict’s wisdom may be applied to busy lives. It also
demonstrates how sanctuary, peace and insight can be
achieved by both those who live in monasteries and
those who do not.
The oblate reader will be guided toward sanctuary by the
monastic steps presented. How to use meditation as a
basic step in finding sanctuary is artfully presented. The
plaintive cry, “I live in the busy secular world and I am
not a monk,” will be dispelled by the steps presented in
this book.
Abbot Christopher presents his book in two parts. In
“Everyday Life,” he examines the question, “How did I
get this busy?” The second part consists of the monastic
steps of silence, contemplation, obedience, humility,
community, spirituality, hope and lectio divina. He offers
these steps to transition to a more spiritual life.
What is appealing about this book is that it is written
for a significant and growing audience, namely, the
uninitiated spiritual seeker. Over 7 million viewers were
moved by the TV series “The Monastery.” There are
people in the world who are hungry for spiritual awareness and enhancement through monastic sanctuary experiences. Few will be able to simply read this book, but
instead will find themselves totally absorbing it.
Thomas J. Rillo, oblate
Bloomington, IN