NORTH AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF BENEDICTINE OBLATE DIRECTORS
NAABOD Newsletter
Fall 2011
FROM
THE PRESIDENT
Dear Oblate Directors and Associate Directors,
When
I began the first term as President of NAABOD on January 1, 2006 I knew
I had big shoes to fill following the many years of leadership by Sr.
Jeanne Frances Dolan of Clyde. There were a few things that I hoped to
accomplish during my term. One was to initiate a newsletter four times
a year to coincide with the seasons. This I have done, for the most part.
I missed an issue here or there when I either didn’t have enough news
to share or my own work load didn’t allow me time to write one. Like all
of you, I wear other hats besides that of Oblate Director.
Another
hope I had was to set up a web site. I must give credit to Sr. Bonita
Gacnik of Sacred Heart Monastery, Yankton, who set up and maintains our
web site. I sent her what I had for the site and she faithfully posted
it. In addition, she served as a faithful friend and secretary of NAABOD
these past six years. I have every confidence in her as she takes up the
role as President of NAABOD on January 1, 2012.
A
third hope of mine was to support and encourage the development of regional
gatherings of Oblate Directors and Associate Directors. This has been
slow to grow. I added time during the biennial conference for regional
meetings. Oblate Directors and Associate Directors of some regions meet
during the years we do not gather nationally as a conference. Some have
regional meetings for oblates in which several monasteries share resources
to benefit the oblates. It still seems a good idea to me that we continue
to work at gatherings on a regional level as it affords opportunities
for the ongoing formation of both those in leadership roles and oblates
that might not be able to attend the national meeting due to lack of funds,
time, or because of the restriction on the number of oblates allowed to
attend the NAABOD conference. I am not sure that my desires and efforts
in this regard have made any difference but I continue to hold onto a
dream of what I see as a possibility.
In
addition to my efforts regarding these three hopes, I made an effort to
contact by email, postal mail, or telephone those new in the role or those
who had questions. I have answered email from directors with questions
as well as from people looking for more information about oblates and
those wanting to know about a monastery that might be near them.
It
has been a joy to serve you in this role. I have deeply appreciated working
with the other officers. Each has contributed to this organization by
sharing their time and unique talent. In addition to Sr. Bonita who served
as Secretary, Br. John Peto of St. Benedict’s
in Atchison served as Vice President during my first term of four years.
He continues to be the point person for sending out a copy of the handbook
to those who need one. Fr. Paschal Morlino of
St. Vincent’s in Latrobe has been point person for our representatives
to the World Congress of Oblates in addition to serving as Vice President
the past two years.
I
want to thank all of you for supporting me in this role. Whenever I asked
your help you gave of your time, energy and talent. It has been a joy
to work with the planning teams of the conferences held at St. Martin’s
in Lacey, 2007; at St. Vincent’s in Latrobe, 2009; and at St. Meinrad
in 2011. These committees have been made up of Directors from the host
community and other Directors and Oblates in the region. It takes many
hearts, heads and hands to put on a conference. I am grateful to all who
helped make these events not only possible but successful.
If
there is anyone I neglected to mention, please forgive me. The list is
long so I hesitate to mention particular names other than the officers.
You know who you are who served on the nomination or election committee;
the constitution committee; the world congress committee, the conference
planning committee or took care of some other needed task. THANK YOU,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU! This organization is what it is because of YOU!
There
is yet one more hope that has taken shape within me during these past
six years. I have become increasingly aware when we gather at our biennial
meetings that we are losing touch with each other as directors. That became
very obvious when we were at St. Meinrad because
so many directors did not know each other. I, too, had little chance to
put names and faces together. How I longed to know by site some of the
names that are attached to emails sent and received. While I enjoy being
able to take two oblates from my community with me and meeting many others
at the conference, the focus of our meetings has been affected. The number
of oblates in attendance is at least double the number of directors and
sometimes the ratio is even higher. We began to put emphasis on formation
and leadership which has been good. What we have lost is a familial bond
as directors. I do not know how to address that but I do hope that we
can and will.
One
attempt was to take time during our business meetings in July to allow
each director to introduce self to the group and tell a bit about their
situation. We could have used more time for this in my estimation. A resource
developed at that meeting was the gift of Andy Rawls, a friend of St.
Meinrad’s who made a DVD of directors that were willing
to be interviewed. How that resource will be used is yet to be determined
but it certainly could be one way that we get to know each other.
This
letter is unusually long but it might be my last as president. Thank you
for allowing me to share these thoughts with you. It is a different approach
than letters of the past where I focused on something from the Rule. During
the last few months I have been praying about what I need to write here
at this time. I kept hoping for the Spirit to enlighten me as to what
to use from the Rule but nothing specific ever came. All I have to share
is a heart that overflows with joy and delight every time I think of our
oblates—yours and mine, and all the Directors who work so tirelessly to
form and inform them according to the teachings of the Rule. Together
we seek God and journey toward everlasting life.
Blessings
in abundance,
Antoinette
Purcell, OSB
President NAABOD
+ + + + +
CONGRATULATIONS
There
are without a doubt many in our monastic communities who celebrate jubilees
each year. At this time we wish to acknowledge Fr. Meinrad
Brune, Oblate Director at St. Meinrad Archabbey for the 50 years
of priesthood, and Sr. Bonita Gacnik of Sacred Heart Monastery
in Yankton for 25 years of monastic profession. Each celebrated this summer.
Those are two I know about. Congratulations to them and those others whom
I do not know about.
+ + + + +
CONDOLENCES
Marie
F. Morlino, mother of Fr. Paschal, passed away
on August 16, 2011. She was 93 years of age. We extend our sympathy and
prayers to Fr. Paschal, VP of NAABOD, member of Saint Vincent Archabbey
and pastor of St. Benedict Parish in Baltimore.
+ + + + +
NEW
DIRECTORS
There
has been a turnover of oblate leadership at a number of monasteries recently.
We are aware of the following changes. Fr. Mark Stengel replaces Br.
Mel Stinson as Oblate Director for Subiaco
Abbey, Subiaco, AR. Raoul Viguerie
replaces Fr. Henri Capdeville as Oblate
Director for Holy Trinity Monastery in St. David, AZ. Sr. Karen Nykiel replaces Sr. Benita Jasurda
who has served Sacred Heart Monastery in Lisle, IL as Oblate Director.
Br. Nathaniel Grossmann replaces Fr. James Murray as Oblate Director
for St. Bede Monastery in Peru, IL.
Dick
Laraja replaces Mary Ann Jamison as Oblate Director for
Community of Jesus in Orleans, MA. Margie Palazzolo
replaces Sr. Veronica Daniels as Oblate Director for St. Gertrude
Monastery in Ridgely, MD. Sr. Laureen Virnig replaces Sr. Helene
Mercier as Oblate Director for St. Benedict Monastery in St. Joseph,
MN. Jim Bartol and Terryl
Ann Johnson serve as Associate Directors to Sr. Catherine Nehotte
for St. Paul Monastery in St. Paul, MN. Sr. Gertrude Rolfes
replaced Sr. Jeanne Giese as Oblate Director for Mother of God Monastery
in Watertown, SD. Effective January 1, 2012 Sr. Sarah Schwartzburg
will replace Sr. Jeanne Frances Dolan as Oblate Director for Benedictine
Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in Clyde, MO.
We
want to welcome all new Directors and to thank all of you who are leaving
a post to which you have given years of loving and dedicated service.
+ + + + +
NEW
ADDRESS
Sr.
Agnes Knapik, Oblate Director for Queen of
Heaven Monastery in Warren, OH sent a notice of a new address for
the monastery. It is: 169 Kenmore Ave., N.E., Apt. 301; Warren, OH 44483.
Phone is 330-856-1813; Fax is 330-856-9528.
REGIONAL
NEWS
Oblates
of St. Walburga Monastery in Elizabeth, St.
Mary’s Abbey in Morristown, and Newark Abbey, all in NJ, gathered at St.
Walburga Monastery on May 7 for the annual Joint Oblate
Meeting. Jeanne Mindingall, Oblate of St. Walburga’s spoke on “The Eucharist as Sacrifice: Toward
a Contemporary Appreciation.”
FOLLOW-UP
TO JULY CONFERENCE
By
now, all paid members of NAABOD should have received the following items
as follow-up from the July conference at St. Meinrad.
If you have not received the following, please let me know:
1. Copy of the revised constitution
Minutes of July 2 and 5 business meetings
Financial report for 2009 conference
Financial report for fiscal years 2009, 2010 and first six months of 2011
Small groups’ responses following conference speakers—ideas for local
action
After
the minutes were sent out we received word of a correction that needs
to be made. The Election Committee was served by Sr. Charlotte Lee of
Bristow, VA and Sr. Phyllis Hunhoff of Yankton,
SD. Sr. Patricia Kirk served on the Nomination Committee with Fr. Paschal
but was not present at the meeting in July.
Thank
you, once again, to the planning team for the conference and the many
volunteer oblates of St. Meinrad, Monastery
Immaculate Conception, and Our Lady of Grace Monastery who assisted on
site during the meeting. Evaluations showed there was much appreciation
for all your work!
+ + + + +
IN
REMEMBRANCE
Due
to the fact that my email was not working properly and I did not receive
many names of the deceased Directors and Oblates who died since July 2009
for the memorial service this July, I would like to post the list of all
the names in November. If you would be so kind as to send them to me again
at antoinette_46107@yahoo.com I will try to make up for
what we missed.
+ + + + +
2013
CONFERENCE
We
have yet to secure a site for the 2013 conference. The date will somewhat
depend on what we are able to work out with the site in terms of availability.
If your monastery has a facility on campus that can house and provide
conference space for about 100 people please contact me ASAP. As host
Director there is an expectation that you would be part of the planning
team along with other directors and oblates from your region.
+ + + + +
RESOURCES
Be
sure to check out the tab on the web site for Ongoing Formation as we
have added some new resources that have come to our attention.
+ + + + +
WORLD
CONGRESS
The
following is an excerpt from a report sent by Joyce Collins, Oblate of
St. Vincent Archabbey who served as a consultant
for the Third World Congress.
MONTSERRAT INTERNATIONAL CONSULTATION
Presentation by Joyce Collins to Latrobe Oblates
May 2011
In
this brief presentation I’d like to inform you about the suggestions that
were offered by the members of the international consultation (in Montserrat
in October 2010) for the next World Oblate Congress (in Rome in October
2013) and what Benedictine values I discerned through this experience
in Montserrat. After consideration of the topics given by participants
in the 2009 Congress and our own discussions, we achieved a working title
for the next World Congress: “Obsculta: Benedictine
Oblates Listening in the World”. Practical suggestions included individual
transportation from the airport, snacks for early arrivals, more free
time, and the liturgy in Latin with readings and homilies in other languages
with written translations available if possible. This committee plans
to meet again at Douai Abbey in Great Britain in early 2012 and probably
to tele-conference in mid-December 2011. The Benedictine value
of listening to everyone, even the youngest, (even those from other cultures?)
was brought home to me in hearing the suggestions for topics from the
14 countries represented on the committee. And as usual traveling meant
for me, a re-assessment of myself and an effort to be ever ready for continuing
conversion.
The
“genius” of committee members from 14 different countries was obvious
in the many suggestions for workshop topics and speakers. We were asked
not to divulge speaker suggestions, but some suggested topics for workshops
were: Oblates in marriage and the single life, Oblates in the future,
Elderly ‘shut-in’ Oblates, Gregorian Chant, Living the life of an Oblate
in the world, Oblates at work, Listening in the family, St. Benedict’s
life, Obedience, Music and Dance, Humility, Oblate identity, Meditation,
Witnessing formation, Levels of silence, Youth, Oblates and their monastery
or community.
The
Abbot of Montserrat spoke to us as we toured the monastery one evening,
saying, “Many who come here as tourists, leave as pilgrims.” There is
a power in this awe-inspiring place that points to the eternal. It is
easy to imagine dedicating one’s life in the vow of stability to this
breath-taking monastery nestled into the side of a mountain with a view
of the world of valleys before it. This monastery sits on the lap of a
doting parent who knows the importance of allowing the vision of freedom
to her child. Our conference was that. Under the auspices of our “parent”
Abbot Primate we were directed to this remarkable place and asked for
our opinions for a future congress. Although only there for three days
and coming as strangers, many of whom spoke different languages, we left
a family—one young participant hugged me on leaving, saying, “Now
I have a mother in Pittsburgh.”
Blessings &
Peace,
+++++
Contributions
for this newsletter and web site are welcome. Please send them to:
Bonita Gacnik, OSB
1005 West 8th Street
Yankton, SD 57078
FAX: 605-668-1487
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