World Congress of Benedictine Oblates

What was it like?

2009-11-12T06:21:00.001+01:00

It was like a reunion. Though we did not know each other until we met, though we spoke different languages and dressed differently from each other, though our worship was dissimilar because of language and culture, we were all the same as oblates of St. Benedict. Two oblates from Brazil, a doctor and lawyer, said that it was difficult to arrange two weeks away from their practices but they did it: Being oblates defined their lives as did their professions.

The conferences and panel discussions were about the Benedictine answer to the stranger in our midst who speaks, eats and worships differently than us. How do we respond to this “other,” immigrants who are not Christian? Msgr. Andrew V. Tanya-anan, Undersecretary of the Pontifical Council of Interrelgious Dialogue, said we are called to dialogue with the stranger. Shahrzad Houshmand, a Muslim theologian, said every person is a Word of God. Mother Máire Hickey OSB defined community as getting along with people you don’t get along with because being Christian is about communal relations: there is no Christianity without community: If you live as a hermit, whose feet will you wash?

What was my experience? I was the “other:” not in my country with my family, language, currency, and customs. I was often among people who could not understand me when I talked. Feeling “other” impressed on me the immigrant’s “otherness:” they arrive with no welcome, money, work, or place to be, and they are in flight from terror. The generous heartfelt hospitality from the leaders of the congress made a place far from home be a home: it is a Benedictine answer.

Even the Italians at the congress experienced being “other.” The congress’s main language was in English. In the auditorium, I sat next to an Italian delegate. The first day I spoke English to her but she knew none so we sat next to each other silently. By the next day, I had learned the Italian greeting for “Good morning” so I said “Buon giorno” and she smiled. I noticed she had an unusual, beautiful ring on so I pointed to it. I could understand her when she explained in Italian that it was a very old ring. Each day then she wore a different ring to share with me.

It was good to go and good to come home.

2009-10-31T05:07:00.001+01:00

Second World Congress of Oblates, Rome 2009

Thank you to Father Michael Kwatera, Father Allen Tarlton, Father Luigi Bertocchi, and the monks and the oblates of Saint John’s Abbey for the support of well wishes, encouragement, prayers, advice, and helpful monetary funds; a special thanks to Milo Larson and Brother Richard Oliver who helped me setup the blog and Lucie Johnson for her blog recommendations and sending the link to our list serve at intervals during the congress. It was good to share the joy of the congress daily with Katherine Wallace, my companion from Saint John’s Abbey, roommate and fellow blogger. And thank you to my husband, Bill, another cheerful giver, who did without his laptop for two weeks so we could blog.

More to come…

A Small Man With a Big Heart for Oblates

2009-10-10T00:35:00.002+02:00

The World Congress of Oblates ended tonight with Abbott Primate Notker Wolf O.S.B. telling us to remember him as the "Small man with a big heart for oblates" at St. Anselm Abbey in Rome.

Entrance to Montecassino

2009-10-09T00:16:00.002+02:00

Entrance Oratory: It Was in This Oratory That St. Benedict Died

2009-10-09T00:10:00.000+02:00

Benefactor's Cloister

2009-10-09T00:09:00.000+02:00

Sculpture of St. Benedict's Father

2009-10-09T00:08:00.000+02:00

Sculpture of St. Benedict's Mother

2009-10-09T00:05:00.000+02:00

Fresco in St. Benedict's Cell

2009-10-09T00:04:00.000+02:00

Altar in St. Benedict's Cell

2009-10-09T00:02:00.000+02:00

St. Benedict

2009-10-09T00:01:00.000+02:00

The Miracle Stone Where St. Benedict Fell and Left His Arm Imprint

2009-10-08T23:48:00.003+02:00

In the Crypt Church with Christina, Our Guide

2009-10-08T23:41:00.004+02:00

Montecassino

2009-10-08T23:39:00.002+02:00

Montecassino

2009-10-08T23:11:00.002+02:00

Here's the link to the Abbey of Montecassino. Being in this part of Italy was being close to where my father's father lived: in a city called Amaseno, 20 miles east of the abbey.
http://www.officine.it/montecassino/main_e.htm

Receive All Guests As Christ

2009-10-08T22:33:00.000+02:00

Receive All Guests As Christ

2009-10-08T22:32:00.002+02:00

Receive All Guests As Christ

2009-10-08T22:31:00.002+02:00

Receive All Guests As Christ

2009-10-08T22:29:00.000+02:00

Receive All Guests As Christ

2009-10-08T21:52:00.005+02:00

Today our alarm clock went off at the very monastic hour of 5:30 a.m. Mary Fran went off to meditation and I took a shower--both I understand are close to godliness. Then it was breakfast at 6:30 and on the bus shortly after 7:30. We prayed lauds on the bus. Three hours later we arrived at Montecassino for the day. After a bit of time to walk around, the Abbot celebrated Eucharist with us, saying it in English for the first time. During the Eucharist all the Oblates renewed our own vows. The Baroque church is magnificent, still waiting some of the final restoration after the bombing of the monastery in 1944. The church structure has been rebuilt exactly as it had been originally. There is a magnificent high altar and behind the altar are the relics of St. Benedict and St. Scholastica. After Eucharist we feasted in the monks' dining hall. The monastic community served our tables, and what a meal it was with course after course appearing while we savoured every mouthful. We even captured a photo of a monk serving us coffee, a reminder that we are all called to serve. As you can also see, Mary Fran and I appreciated the celebration. Following the meal we were then taken on a very instructive tour of the monastery, finally ending the day with sung Vespers in the church with the community. The gift of their monastic hospitality is something we shall never forget.

Saint John and Trinity Delegates

2009-10-08T00:02:00.000+02:00

Hello from Trinity Benedictine Oblates, Fujimi, Japan

2009-10-08T00:01:00.002+02:00

Reiko Suzuki and her sister, Tomoko Suzuki, say hello to Father Edward Vebelun O.S.B. in Fujimi, Japan.They were interested in how Saint John's guesthouse looked so we invited them to see on our computer.There are 12 oblates at Trinity. They said five young men are preparing to be monks at their abbey.

Bill Skudlarek O.S.B. and Oblate from Poland

2009-10-07T23:21:00.002+02:00

Words Of Wisdom

2009-10-07T22:18:00.002+02:00

Wednesday

Both this morning and this afternoon we listened to a panel representing the Hindu, Buddist, Muslim, Jewish and Christian (Fr. William Skudlarek from St. John's) faiths. They were each asked to respond to several questions. Here are a few of their thoughts on Interreligious Dialogue:

On the role of contemplation in today's world:

in contemplation we develop generosity, kindness, peace, understanding, forgiveness, wisdom We can only work on these for our own lives

The reception of the Ten Commandments is an act of active contemplation. These are the basis of a spiritual and moral life..it is an active listening to the world, to creation, to solving the problems of our world.

Interreligious dialogue is a contemplative practice because it demands we listen...RB Prologue: "Listen" attentively, intentionally, non-judgementally. Dialogue is always grounded in listening.

The love of an other draws us more intimately to love of The Other.

On running the risk of losing our own identity in interreligious dialogue:

Mature faith needs to be tested. It is in dialogue that our own faith is deepened...It is good to have the faith to be able to doubt.

Dialogue offers the possibility of deepening our identity...Relationship is the very heart of being human

On the most important challenges in today's world:

wisdom and understanding...understanding is not just an idea but when it enters the heart and changes us

need to be present, from the heart in a non-judgmental way..an inner listening

in today's world we can have a lot of knowledge, but not much wisdom

we are not patient, but conditioned by instant gratification...

From an oblate:
The risk of true religious dialogue is the risk of love...for me to love you does not mean that I become you, nor you me...perhaps the even greater risk is that you come to love me.

More tomorrow.

Msgr. Andrew V. Tanya-anan, Undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialgue

2009-10-06T22:16:00.001+02:00

Word of Wisdom for Heart and Mind

2009-10-06T15:03:00.003+02:00

Yesterday morning, (Monday) we listened to a brilliant presentation by Msgr. Andrew Tanya-anan on "Mission and Interreligious Dialogue". Msgr. Tanya-anan was born in Indonesia and his service and gifts for the church have taken him to Morocco, the Sudan, India, Japan, Dublin Ireland and back to Indonesia fostering dialogue with Muslims, Buddists, Hindus and those of the New Age faith. Dialogue does not happen at arms- length but rather requires face-to-face contact between people. Dialogue is not ordinary conversation, nor negotation, not political persuasion, nor conversion. Rather, dialogue is seeking a way to grow up together with respect and understanding. He mentioned foru elements of dialogue: 1) dialogue of life, where we meet others in their own way of life, understanding who they are, how they live and the expressions of their faith. 2) Dialogue of Action where those of various faiths may come together over particular projects for the sake of healing and justice, eg. interfaith projects working for the Sunami recovery, or building projects for the homeless. 3) dialogue for theological understanding. It is critical to understand our own faith clearly and that of others. This requires study, listening and learning from those who teach their faiths. This is a must in order to help us understand why we do what we do. 4) Dialogue of Experience--living in another's way of life, eg. a period of time in a Buddist monastery. Rather than threatening our own faith we come to an even deeper understanding of who we are and a deeper respect for who the other is. While religions and faiths are not the same, human dignity is. Msgr. Tanya-anan pointed out that in our Ecumenical relations if we are not able to talk together as Christians we are in no position to talk to others. Respect and humility are the foundation stones of dialogue. Msgr. Tanya-anan's wisdom was food for mind and heart, filled with love.

It is a great gift to be here as a team from St. John's. Thank you for your prayers of blessing upon us last July for this journey of faith together.

God's peace be with you.

View from Room and Room

2009-10-05T23:23:00.001+02:00

Washington, Oregon, Idaho Oblates Say Hi!

2009-10-05T23:21:00.000+02:00

Prayer Request

2009-10-05T23:18:00.003+02:00

These oblates from Vietnam asked for our prayers. Catholics are persecuted in Vietnam, especially in the countryside where ordination of priests has been banned.

A Small World

2009-10-05T23:05:00.003+02:00

We had hoped to see Francisco Shulte, O.S.B, today at Subiaco but he had to fill in as a retreat director elsewhere. Our guides were two recent graduates of St. John's.

Here's link to Subiaco's website:

http://www.benedettini-subiaco.org/index.php

The Hills of Subiaco

2009-10-05T22:36:00.004+02:00

What a day! We began with the conference on “Mission and Interreligious Dialogue” by Msgr. Andrew V. Tanya-anan, Undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and then went to Subiaco, through country and small towns for 1 1/2 hours by bus. The croissants for breakfast, the pasta for lunch, and the pasta for dinner have slowed us down to a Mediterranean pace so "domani (tomorrow)."

Vespers

2009-10-05T00:30:00.000+02:00

Vespers

2009-10-05T00:07:00.003+02:00

Roman Squirrels

2009-10-04T00:11:00.002+02:00

When I sat on the hill overlooking the farm field in the photo, I heard a noise in the tall pines and thought it was squirrels because it came from the top of the trees. Interested in what Roman squirrels would look like, I got up to see. Roman squirrels look like peacocks: there were three big birds in two trees moving from branch to branch.

Morning Prayer

2009-10-04T00:06:00.001+02:00

Morning Prayer

2009-10-03T23:47:00.001+02:00

Morning Prayer

2009-10-03T23:42:00.003+02:00

Like A Tree Planted Beside The Flowing Waters

2009-10-03T22:25:00.003+02:00

Testimonies of Faith

Four Benedictine Oblates took to the podium this afternoon telling their personal stories of what brought them to their monasteries and to the Benedictine journey. They came from the United States, Brazil, Vietnam and Nigeria. They were breathtaking and humbling stories, journeys through challenge and pain into community and joy and faith. One person summed up her journey with these words: "God saved my life, gave me life, renewed my life". We heard of the challenges politics and violence created for fledgling monasteries in Vietnam, and the strength and joy of those living in and affiliated with four thriving monasteries now. In his reflections on these witnesses to Benedictine faith, Dom Henry O'Shea commented on the "chink in the armour" of their and our lives through which grace and love can flow to identify and heal our personal and community wounds and needs. The Rule of Benedict is a vehicle through which comes grace, service, healing, openness to other people and ideas, all carried on a wave of prayer and community experience. It gives birth to humility, prayer, purification of our motives in the ground of our prayer, which is Christ.

Day 2--A word about our daily rhythm.
Our days begin with breakfast from 7:30, followed by lauds and Eucharist, talks a break with time to chat with others, perhaps another meeting and finally lunch at 1:00 (feasts as per Mary Fran's Photo --plus wine on every table!) More talks in the afternoon with time for a breif siesta, group meetings, Vespers at 7:15 and dinner at 8:00 (anotheer hardship feast). We then carry on with various other activities during the evening and for the very hardy ones, Compline at 10:45. At the moment Mary Fran is doing her stretching and I of course am working! The weather is beautiful and we are surrounded by rising green lawns and groves of trees, blue skies by day and clear stars of heaven by night. The time, the place and the people we will cherish for a long time to come. Deo Gratias!

2009-10-02T23:24:00.004+02:00

Forty of us gathered at the airport before we were bussed to the Salesianum. I knew I wasn't in Minnesota when I saw palm trees, fan-shaped pines, and 12-foot-tall grasses along the highway.

Dom Henry O'Shea, OSB, Glenstal Abbey, Ireland in his opening address to the congress emphasized that our ties are to the abbeys we have affiliated ourselves with, not the congress. The congress is not a jamboree for oblates. It provides an opportunity to experience unity in diversity. He hoped that we spend our time getting to know oblates from countries other than our own.

He changed the schedule, cancelling compline so we travellers could rest: "Too much religion is not good."

Pilgrims Gather

2009-10-02T22:56:00.003+02:00

After a couple of days of quiet with time to stroll through the beautiful grounds of the Salesianum, the pace picked up today with the arrival of over 200 delegates from across the world. There has been joy, discovery and celebration as old friendships are newed and new ones are made. We began with Vespers and the procession of the Word through the complex to the amphitheatre where we have our meetings. Then the fun began. Fr. Henry O'Shea thankfully has a wonderful sense of humour as he announced a number of changes to our program. The translators would not be able to make it until later because of a transportation strike in Rome, the original presider of Vespers got his dates mixed up so someone else stepped in and unfortunately Abbot Primate Wolf was feeling unwell so Fr. Henry had to step--and we still hadn't gotten to dinner time. The good news is that he may be able to join us tomorrow. Even with all these adjustments there is anticipation of "listening carefully", praying, learning and celebrating together. On a much sadder notes a delegate from Montserrat who first name is Marie, died as she was travelling to the Congress. Please pray for her and those who love her.
We hold our community in our prayers.

The Pilgrimage Begins

2009-09-29T15:50:00.002+02:00

Dear Oblates, Monks and Friends
In just over two hours I will lock the door of my house and begin a journey which will no doubt change me and be a gift to all of us pilgrims to Rome. Upon arrival at the Salesianum I will have a much-needed two days to rest and pray and prepare my heart and mind for the Second Benedictine Oblate World Congress. The coming together of about 200 people from all over the world to consider the importance and gift of this precious monastic life in today's world and to hear from others how this can be lived out will be challenging and life-giving. Time to pray and sing and listen. I carry with me the Oblates and monks of St. John's Abbey, my community which I love . Please hold all of us in your prayers.
Keep watching for more to come. Mary Fran and I hope to blog daily.
Katherine