August 2008
8/26/08
Winding Down the Summer
This past Saturday, August 23, St. Scholastica held its annual “Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social”. The late summer event got underway at 5:00 p.m. and was attended by well over a hundred neighbors and parishioners. Both young and old enjoyed the delicious ice cream donated by the Angott Creamery and many took the time to catch up with friends and to make new ones.
As usual, the “Karaoke” machine was a big hit and brought out the not-so-hidden talents of the pastor, Fr. Mike Green, parish business manager and seasoned vocalist Mrs. Elizabeth Bey and many other spirited performers. Kids enjoyed the music and also had a great time “sack racing”, having their faces painted and cooling off in the fire hose. The evening was truly entertaining for all and a great way to enjoy some last minute summer fun and fellowship.
8/19/08
Learning About the Popes
From time to time we like to share with our readers what we have been listening to at our monastic dinner table. The practice of “table reading” is an ancient one, strongly encouraged in the Rule of St. Benedict. Here at St. Benedict’s, our contemporary adaptation of this custom is that we listen to recorded lectures, books on tape and classic music while we eat. Just recently we finished a series of 24 lectures on the “Popes and the Papacy”. These very informative talks were produced by The Teaching Company which records hundreds of courses on a wide variety of college level subjects.
Professor Thomas F.X. Noble, Director of the Medieval Institute and Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame prepared and delivered this fast-paced survey of the nearly 2,000 years of papal history. The lectures were given from an academic rather than a catechetical perspective, but they nonetheless reflected a balanced and insightful approach. Professor Noble effectively explained the papacy as a theological idea, an institution, a succession of 265 Church leaders and a reflection of the history of Western civilization itself. We recommend this series for its honest and learned treatment of both secular and Church history.
8/12/08
Pastoral Conference Explores the Gift of Ministry
Last week Br. Jacob Orcutt attended annual F. Gerald Martin Pastoral Ministry Conference. The annual meeting took place August 3 - 6 at St. John’s Retreat and Conference Center in Plymouth, Michigan. Featured were prominent religious and lay leaders from around the country. Br. Jacob found most meaningful the presentations on integrating spirituality with ministry in a spirit of collaboration that recognizes and utilizes the God given gifts of each person.
This year’s conference theme, “Sharing Faith - Sharing Work” also embraced the communication of faith through artistic renderings. To this end, an evening was set aside for local artists to exhibit and comment upon the works they have done in everything from film to wood to painting. In this very interesting presentation, each of these gifted craftsmen illustrated how they convey the gospel message in their own, often highly original form.
Young Adult Ministry Celebrates Milestone
The monthly “Fusion” Young Adults’ Mass is one of the ministries in which we here at St. Benedict’s collaborate. Held at St. John Fisher Parish in Auburn Hills, Michigan, it has been a regular offering for five years with our priests presiding at this Liturgy from its inception.
The “Fusion” ministry is a very active part of the Pontiac Area Vicariate. It’s events include the monthly liturgy, two retreats annually (one of which takes place at our Subiaco Retreat House), “Theology on Tap” and other social, service and prayer oriented activities. The group originally formed around a core of students from Oakland University for which St. John Fisher served as the university chapel. The organization now extends to young Catholics from all walks of life. For young adults who are single, married, studying or working, “Fusion has been a place of both friendship and faith formation.