The Federation of St. Benedict held its nineteenth general chapter July 19-26 at Annunciation Priory in Bismarck, ND. Celebrating fifty years of the existence of the federation, the chapter examined the federation's monastic identity and mission, leadership, membership and cross- cultural understanding. Presentations on the topic of leadership were given by Sister Emmanuel Renner, OSB, of St. Benedict's Monastery, St. Joseph, MN. Sister Colleen Haggerty, also of St. Benedict's, was reelected to another six-year term as president of the federation. Sister Lucy Wynkoop of St. Placid's, Lacey, WA, and Sister Mary Benedict Pratt, St. Martin Monastery, Nassau, Bahamas, were elected to serve as new council members.
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The sisters of Dwelling Place Monastery reelected Judy Yunker, OSB, to continue her service as prioress. Sister Louise Garley, OSB, is the newly elected prioress of St. Walburga Monastery, Elizabeth, NJ, and Joseph Wood, OSB, has been chosen as abbot of Mount Angel Abbey in St. Benedict, OR.
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Fourteen Cistercian men and women who serve their communities as directors of juniors met for a conference at Santa Rita Abbey, Sonoita, AZ, in May. Mother Agnes Day, OCSO, Wrentham, MA, and Dr. Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis of the St. Ignatius Institute, University of San Francisco, used the calming of the tempest in Matthew 8 as a focal point for developing the conference topic of "Building a Civilization of Love in Community."
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The sisters of the Abbey of St. Walburga, previously in Boulder, CO, are now moved to their new home. The new address is:
1029 Benedictine Way
Virginia Dale, CO 80536-7633
Website: <www.walburga.org/>
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Twenty Benedictine junior monks from eleven abbeys spent two weeks together at Conception Abbey, MO, in June. Demetrius Dumm, OSB, of Latrobe, PA, and Placid Solari, OSB, of Belmont, NC, served as their mentors on the study of patristic writers. Lectures, small group discussions and extensive readings supplemented their daily activities with the monastic community and the opportunity to get to know one another. Nathaniel Grossman, OSB, from St. Bede's Abbey, Peru, IL, and Patrick Caveglia, OSB, of Conception were the coordinators.
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The eleventh annual Benedictine vocation directors' meeting was held at St. John's Abbey and St. Benedict's Monastery in Minnesota in August. Hosts were Sisters Marlene Meierhofer and Patricia Reuther and Father Bob Pierson. Forty-three monastic men and women explored the theme, "Who Are We? Where Are We Going?" and experienced the worship and hospitality of the two communities. At St. John's, Columba Stewart, OSB, began the exploration with a sweep through early Latin monasticism and its literary influence on Benedict's Rule. Abbot Timothy Kelly then challenged the group to witness a "spirituality of hope as Christian, Catholic, monastic communities" so that others might be attracted to the monastic way of life.
Ephrem Hollerman, OSB, prioress of St. Benedict's welcomed the group there and spoke on how Benedictine history in this country has shaped its vision/mission in the Church today. A panel of lay people closely associated with both communities shared their experiences of being shaped by Benedictine values. Cool temperatures and even a slight rainfall did not dampen the spirited gathering as all processed to Mother Benedicta Riepp's grave and prayed in gratitude for her vision and dream.
Nine newly appointed vocation directors gathered for a two-day orientation before the regular meeting. Veteran directors Guy Jelinek, OSB, of St. Procopius, Lisle, IL, and Marcia Ziska, OSB, of Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, KS, assisted them.
In the business meeting, the group decided to change to a biennial meeting rather than assembling every year as in the past. Sister Joan Marie Massura has agreed to host the group in July of 1999 at Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove, IN.
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In preparation for their general chapter in 1998, ninety Benedictine women from the twenty-two monasteries of the Federation of St. Scholastica, representing over two thousand monastics, met at Saint Scholastica Academy in Cañon City, CO, in June. The academy is served by the sisters of St. Scholastica's Monastery in Chicago, who were the gracious hosts of the event.
Mary Collins, OSB, of Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, KS, who teaches theology at Catholic University of America, gave presentations on the Eucharist and sisters engaged in extensive discussion to begin work on the questions on that topic to be addressed at next year's assembly in Erie, PA.
A ritual celebration welcomed the federation's newest member, Monasterio Pan de Vida, Torreon, Mexico. The group also celebrated the seventy-fifth anniversary of the canonical recognition of the federation. Two past presidents, Sisters Mary Susan Sevier of Cullman, AL, and Joan Chittister of Erie, PA, were special guests. Also attending the meeting as guests were two Benedictine sisters from South Africa seeking spiritual support and encouragement from the American federation.
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The sisters of the Abbey of St. Walburga, previously in Boulder, CO, are now moved to their new home. The new address is:
1029 Benedictine Way
Virginia Dale, CO 80536-7633