September 2008
9/30/08
Retreat House Website
For over 30 years our Subiaco Retreat House has served the youth in the archdiocese of Detroit by offering them opportunities to explore and grow in their faith. Recently a new website had been launched to further serve those who come to us as well as make it easier for leaders of youth groups to schedule a retreat on the property of St. Benedict Monastery. Available on subiacoretreathouse.com are directions, history, a photo gallery as well as other information about our youth retreat ministry.
9/23/08
The Many Facets of Education
September is the month in which both students and teacher return to their classes. And once again our Brothers Gregory-David Jones and Marty Singer are back at their teaching duties. Br. Gregory-David has begun his fourth year at our St. Scholastica Grade School in Detroit and he offers religion classes to third, seventh and eighth graders. Recently named Director of Religious Education for the parish, Brother is organizing two student trips this year to our Subiaco Retreat House here in Oxford. He also leads the school’s “Conflict Resolution” team.
Br. Marty is now in his seventh year of teaching at Our Lady of the Lakes High School in Waterford. In addition to religion classes for tenth through twelfth grade students he also presents a computer course for sixth graders in the parish grade school. Since Br. Marty has been on staff he has established the tradition of attending the annual March for Life in Washington, organized weeklong student mission trips and started bringing seniors up for retreat at Subiaco Retreat House.
As a community we are proud of the accomplishments and dedication of our “teaching brothers”. Their efforts clearly reach beyond the classroom and into the spiritual wellbeing of their students. We ask your continued prayers as they seek to form the hearts and minds of young people according to the spirit and message of Christ.
9/09/08
Oblates Dive into “Silence”
This past Saturday, September 6, about 25 of our Oblates, Oblate novices and discerners gathered in Subiaco Retreat House for their second annual Day of Recollection. This is our way of welcoming everyone back after the summer in a spirit of prayer and reflection. Featured was the film “Into Great Silence”, a kind of documentary on the life of Carthusian monks in the Grand Chartreuse in France. The simplicity of that monastery and of the movie itself (it was filmed by the director alone and produced without narration or background music) created a space of contemplative beauty and peace. All the retreatants were quite grateful for this opportunity to hear God speaking to them in the unadorned sights and sounds of monastic life, luring them away from some of the busyness and distractions of their daily routine.
Picnic Time
Another important annual event also took place this weekend: our St. Benedict Golf Outing and Picnic. The gathering drew over fifty golfers to Mulberry Golf Course and another fifty guests to our monastery grounds on Sunday afternoon. Picnickers shared salads and deserts they had brought and enjoyed hamburgers and hot dogs grilled by our monks. A raffle, prizes awarded for golfing skill and a craft project for kids all added to the fun and fellowship of this very pleasant afternoon. Once again, we say “thank you” to all who attended or helped in any way. And we appreciate the many ways you have supported us throughout the year!
Helen Krokos Remembered
A funeral Mass was celebrated on Saturday, August 31st, for Helen Krokos who was called to eternal life on Tuesday, earlier that week. Most noted for her kind demeanor and dedication, Helen was an employee at St. Scholastica Church (our parish in Detroit) for over 35 years. She was a close friend of the previous Pastor, the late Fr. Livius Paoli and was a member of the parish ever since she moved from Minnesota to Michigan in 1934. Those who knew Helen were touched by her spirit of gentleness and generosity through her dedication to her family as a wife and mother, loyalty to friends, concern for our monastic community and hospitality through her work at the parish office. Most of all, Helen is most remembered for her devotion to our Lord! Her presence at the daily Mass and the recitation of the rosary afterward as well as her assuring words of trust in God’s providence are a treasure that our community will always be grateful for.