May
2007
Rediscovering our Catholic Heritage
Detroit’s historical significance is well known to those who study architecture and church history. Founded in 1796, the city boasts dozens of historic places of worship. Last week, Br. Marty Singer, along with his 11th grade students at Our Lady of the Lakes High School in Waterford, toured two of Detroit’s great Catholic churches, St. Anne’s in Southwest Detroit (“Mexican Town”) and Old St. Mary’s in Greektown.
St. Anne’s place in Detroit history has to do with its being the oldest continuous parish in the United States and also its connection to Fr. Gabriel Richard, its founder and a prominent educator and statesman in Michigan’s formative years. His remains are interred in the old chapel there. The students were also completely absorbed by the experience of Eucharist at Old St. Mary’s, surrounded as they were by the beauty and history of the place. Br. Marty reflected that the outing was a unique and worthwhile experience that the students found to be both educationally and spiritually enriching.
05/23/07
A New Step on Life’s Journey
Mr. Thomas Parlove became a novice in our Benedictine community during our Vespers service on Wednesday, May 16. Tom’s name in religious life will be “Br. Luke”.
Br. Luke has lived with us for over six month as a postulant. During this time he has become acquainted with the monastic regimen of prayer and work. Br. Luke’s life experience – he is fifty-five years old – has also helped him to focus on what is important in life. During his twelve month “novitiate” he will prepare for the profession of monastic vows and will learn much about our way of “seeking God” who is found at the center of all our lives.
Please shower Br. Luke Parlove with your prayers of petition and gratitude. May we all pray for vocations to religious life and priesthood.
05/08/07
Our First Benedictine Oblates
Since we began getting our Benedictine Oblate Program started back in the fall of last year, the response has been very encouraging. Two men who became involved with the group early on were Oblates of other monastic communities, but their journeys had brought them here to St. Benedict’s and they sought to transfer their commitment to our monastery. Last Saturday, May 5th, they were able to do that during the community celebration of Vespers.
Duane Nimke is a Michigan native who served for several years as a hospital administrator in Nevada. It was during that time that Duane became interested in Benedictine spirituality and made his first Oblation at St. Andrew’s Abbey in Valyermo, California in May, 2001. Duane is now retired and living in Grayling, Michigan with his wife Josephine. He enjoys wood carving and wood burning, watching the grandchildren and staying active in his parish, St. Michael’s is Roscommon.
Also a native of Michigan, Ronald Leinweber taught high school English and history in Bloomfield Hills. A practitioner of Christian meditation in the school of Fr. John Main, O.S.B., Ron made his first Oblation in the World Community for Christian Meditation in May, 2005. Ron is also retired and lives in Royal Oak, Michigan. He is an active member of St. Hugo’s Parish, Bloomfield Hills, a trained spiritual director and leader of several mediation groups.
We enthusiastically welcome our monastery’s first two Oblates and look forward to walking with them on our common spiritual journey. Congratulations!
Retreat Ministry at
To learn more about spring and autumn activities at St. Mary's, please visit their website at www.stmarysretreathouse.org.