June
2010
06/29/10
The Monastery Gardens
Following the monastic tradition, St. Benedict Monastery is a place where the idea of collaborating with the earth is practiced through maintaining gardens. The monks work with the earth in growing flowers, plants and food. Br. James Locke has maintained a garden behind the monastery primarily for flowers. Roses, lady slippers, hydrangeas and cardinal flowers are just a few of the different types of buds that make up the floral garden. Next to the monastery barn, Br. Marty Singer’s efforts at producing food are paying off very well. Tomatoes, grapes, raspberries, peppers, brussel sprouts and cucumbers are now being enjoyed by the monks as a result of the combination of favorable weather and hard work.
Oblate Sarah Homant and her husband Michael are responsible for the delightful collection of water loving plants that seem to thrive in one particular nook adjacent to the monastery chapel. “The wetlands” as some call it, is an area of poor drainage where not even ground cover would grow, but it is now home to a lively collection of hostas, astillbes, daylilies and ferns. Recently Sarah also acquired a number of rhododendrons and rose bushes from a friend in the Rochester Garden and Flower Club of which she is a member. She and Michael resolutely planted these flowering bushes over the past two weeks, effectively doubling the size of our little “chapel garden”.
06/22/10
The Monks’ Retreat
On Sunday, June 13th, our community began a 5-day retreat. Facilitated by Sr. Connie Schoen the days were set aside for the monks to spend more time than usual praying, reading and reflecting so that our spiritual energies would be renewed. Sr. Connie of the Dominican Sisters of Peace was highly recommended because of her experience in various ministries including retreat directing. The theme for the retreat centered the necessity and meaning of “change” for us as individuals and as a community. Each day, Sister gave talks and lead discussions twice a day. All of the monks were very pleased with the experience and were very grateful that sister was able to spend the time with us and offer her insights and encouragement. As a sign of her appreciation with our hospitality and openness, Sister Connie gave a piece of artwork to the community that had a special value in her life. The picture portraying Jesus working with the tools of a carpenter was purchased by Sister before she entered her religious community in the mid 80’s. She told everyone that she knew it would be treasured in its new home at St. Benedict Monastery!
06/15/10
Chapter Elects Fr. Michael Green as Prior
On the morning of Friday, June 11th, the Conventual Chapter of the American Priory elected Fr. Michael Green as the new Prior of our community. The title of “Prior” in our congregation means
Father Michael is the religious superior of our monastic community in the United States. To aid him in this very important responsibility, two counselors; Br. Antony Maldonado and Fr. Damien Gjonaj were also elected. Father will choose two other members of the Priory to comprise a Counsel of four monks. Fr. Michael graciously accepted the responsibility as Prior and expressed his appreciation for the community’s confidence in electing him for this role. Abbot General Michael Kelly of our Sylvestrine Congregation came from Rome last week to fulfill his duty in presiding at the Conventual Chapter.
Fr. Michael started his monastic formation soon after his graduation from Benedictine High School and after his profession and priestly ordination, he spent most of his monastic life at St. Benedict Monastery where he worked in our print shop until he was sent to St. Scholastic Parish in Detroit six years ago where he aided the late Fr. Livius Paoli and later became pastor. Please keep Father Michael in your prayers as he fulfills this very important role of leadership for our community, that during his six year term, he will have the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the support of the monastic family.
Fr. Leslie Celebrates Fifty Years of Priesthood
During the last weekend of May, our Fr. Dan Homan traveled to Stouffville, Ontario to preach the homily at the 50th anniversary Mass of our friend Fr. Leslie Tamas. Fr. Leslie is the former pastor of St. Mark’s Parish in Stouffville and our community got to know him through long-time friends, Sig and Teresa Kusatz. His anniversary celebration at St. Mark’s brought together parishioners from the many places he served and the many lives he touched during his years of dedicated ministry.
Fr. Leslie’s story is quite inspiring. During the Communist oppression of his native Hungary, his seminary studies were stopped by the authorities. Not wanting to give up the strong calling he felt toward the priesthood, the young Leslie escaped to Canada in 1956. Just three years later, he was ordained a priest and has been serving God’s people ever since. Please join us in prayer and gratitude for Fr. Leslie as we celebrate the gift his priesthood has been to him and to us.
Priory Meets For Chapter
On Sunday, June 6th, the solemnly professed members of our community convened a Conventual Chapter. This meeting (usually spanning more than one day) is very important to the life of our community because it is a time to evaluate our ministry in the various houses in the Priory, elect (or re-elect) our Prior and make important decisions that will impact the life and ministry in this country. Please pray for our community as we continue to meet, discuss and cooperate with each other to affirm, shape and continue our journey as brothers serving the Lord through the Benedictine vocation.
06/01/10
A Special Return and Welcome
On Thurday, May 27th, St. Scholastic Grade School celebrated the last Mass for the 2009/2010 academic year. Like the usual school Mass during the month of May, there was a May Crowning and a ceremony in which the soon-to-graduate 8th grade passes on the responsibility of leadership to the 7th grade. Unlike the other Masses, thes Liturgy also included a special "Welcome Back" to Fr. Michael Green, the Pastor of the St.Scholastica Parish. For the past seven weeks, Fr. Michael had been suffering from an infection in the lungs, being hospitalized and unable to continue his responsibilities at the parish, members of our community assisted by presiding at the Masses, both for the church and the school as well as take on other responsibilities in his place. During the time of his absence, our students and teachers offered many prayers for his recovery and get-well cards to let him know how much he is appreciated. At the beginning of the Mass, Fr. Mike expressed his gratitude for all that was done for him and he let everyone know that he felt their love and kindness played (and still plays) a part in his physical recovery.