August
2007
Learning to Dialogue
On August 6th through the 8th, the Archdiocese of Detroit hosted a conference in interreligious/inter-ethnic dialogue at St. John’s retreat center in Plymouth, Michigan. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness for the need for communication and cooperation among groups that have differing viewpoints or perspectives. Speakers representing various cultures and religions addressed the attendees on the tools to make dialogue more fruitful. Interest in the conference was attract over 200 participants. Br. Jacob Orcutt of our community in Oxford was honored to be among them and was very happy to share with the monks the insights he gained from the panelists as well as some of the attendees.
08/07/07
Making the Benedictine World Seem a Little Bit Smaller
At the end of July over a hundred Benedictine Oblates and Oblate Directors converged on
St. Martin’s Abbey in Lacy, Washington for the biennial conference of the North American Association of Benedictine Oblate Directors. The association, “NAABOD”, counts among its members about 70 Benedictine Priories and Abbeys in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Our Oblate Director, Fr. John Martin Shimkus, along with Oblate Ron Leinweber traveled to the distant abbey for a wonderful and spirit-filled experience.
The five day event featured as presenters Abbot Peter Eberle of Mount Angel Abbey, Oregon and Sr. Jacquelyn Ernster of Sacred Heart Monastery in Yankton, SD. They spoke to “The Charism of Benedictine Leadership”, reflecting on material from the Rule of St. Benedict, the gospels and contemporary leadership theory. There were many opportunities for discussion, making new friends and sharing resources and ideas. Fr. John Martin shared that he “felt very blessed to have had this opportunity” and that he “came away enriched and affirmed” in his ministry to the Benedictine Oblate group here at our monastery.