October 2, 2010 Oblate Annual Retreat Day

Listening Turns the Soul to God

Oblate Annual Retreat Day at St. Gertrude Monastery

Benedictine Oblates and Guests

Back L/R – Fran Lucas, Pat & Frank Lafferty, Joan Dent, Dick Palazzolo, Carol Russell, Pam McElwee, Terry Wood,

Flo Petroski, Rosemary Kinnamon, Ann Haywood, Peggy Finneran, Trudy Dean, Rev. Norman Carroll, Retreat Master

Middle L/R – Mary and Kiby Kibler, Margie Palazzolo, Noreen Flohr, Susie Booze, Catherine Wood, Rita Miedl

Front L/R – Sister Roni Daniels, Oblate Director, Anne McCormick Adams, Cynthia Ingram

We began the day by singing, “Like a sunflower that follows every movement of the sun, so I turn toward you and follow you, my God.”  And after a day filled with singing, praise, listening to St. Benedict’s Prologue, and learning Active Listening Skills, praying, reconciliation, Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, communion with each other during two wonderful meals, and two spirit-filled conferences, we concluded our day of reflection.

Father Carroll is sharing a song with the oblates and guests.

As the oblates listened to the soft, peaceful musical notes of “Like a Sunflower”, played by Jo-El, the 2010 Oblate Day of Retreat began with Praise.  “Like a sunflower that follows every movement of the sun, so I turn toward you and follow you, my God.”  Our Retreat Master, Rev. Norman P. Carroll thanked God for bringing us here to listen.  He spoke about the Jewish “shema Yisrael” – Hear O Israel and that Jesus says, “Listen, Amen, Amen” – an invitation that then requires some response or responsibility.  St. Benedict asks us to “be hospitable to the word.”  In speaking of his cockatiel, Mica, and how she clings to him, to his voice, to his presence…he reminded us that nothing compares to God to make us complete.  God says “always come to me,” make that choice to do it.  He noted that listening requires obedience.

Our first handout was St. Benedict’s Prologue in the Rule.  First we all took turns reading parts aloud and noting the words that stood out to us.  Then we read it again to ourselves picking out other words that touched us.  The last time, Father asked us to close our eyes and listen as he read the Prologue to us.  It seemed as if the third time God was speaking directly to us and we felt the personal connection.  It was Lectio.  God is that person always on our list to visit.  It is good for us and for God.  God wants us in conversation with Him.

The first conference ended as we listened to “While I’m Waiting” by John Waller on Father Carroll’s Ipad.  “I’m waiting; I’m waiting on You, Lord.  And I am hopeful.  I’m waiting on You, Lord; though it is painful, but patiently, I will wait.”  And then he quoted, “The time to take counsel of your fears is before you make an important

…decision.” General George Patton

We came back for the second conference to “Like a sunflower…”  Our handout was Active Listening Skills which Father reviewed – helpful hints for attentively listening to others, listening during prayer, and lastly, God listening to us and us listening to God.  They are:  (1) Exercise skills-ask questions, ask for clarifications. (2) Be aware of your personal filters (obstacles/prejudices). (3) Observe others listening (How does it feel to listen?) (4) Listen without formulation a response. (5) Listen with empathy. Empty your mind. Listen with whole body. (6) Be aware of the non-verbal (75% of the story). (7) Create an environment for listening.

***   Listen (an invitation) ------ We must respond    ***

Housekeeping –

·         SEE you this Sunday, October 10 for our oblate gathering.

·         Gather any of your friends who have expressed an interest in oblates, or anyone you feel might be happy to learn about St. Benedict’s Rule, and bring them to our November 14, 2010 Open House gathering.

Sister Roni would like to include more of us in the presentation of topics throughout the year. Please consider speaking on one of our topics this year - the Rule, Lectio, or the Saints then give Sister Roni a call.

September 12, 2010 Gathering

After Praise, Mass, and Brunch, we began our meeting with centering music and prayer.  Coming soon is our Oblate Retreat Day.  On October 2, 2010,

Rev. Norman Carroll will lead us in a conference and discussion of the Rule of Benedict.  We will begin at 9:30 a.m.

Also, both of the following (copied from http://www.naabod.org/ ) were discussed.  A van(s) will be available for the Regional Retreat in Bristow on October 30, 2010.  Let Sister Roni know soon if you will attend.  Also, give Sister Roni your name for the raffle for two oblates to attend the July, 2011 Biennial Conference with Sister:

• The communities of Emmanuel Monastery in Baltimore, St. Gertrude Monastery in Ridgely, MD, St. Benedict Parish in Baltimore, St. Benedict Monastery in Bristow, VA and St. Anselm’s Monastery in Washington, D.C. are having a Regional Oblate Retreat day at St. Benedict Monastery in Bristow, VA.  The speaker is Sr. Cecilia Dwyer, Prioress of the Bristow monastery.  Sr. Cecilia will share the presentation that she gave at the NAABOD gathering in Latrobe, PA last year.  There will be a panel of Oblates sharing on their commitment in the afternoon.  The date is October 30, 2010.  This is their third regional retreat gathering which happens biannually.
• Speakers have been confirmed for the 2011 biennial conference that will meet at St. Meinrad, IN July 1-6, 2011.  The theme is “Embracing Creation with Reverence and Hospitality:  Listening to Scripture and Rule Speak”.  Sr. Kathryn Huber of Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, IN will speak on Saturday, July 2; Kyle Kramer, Director of Lay Degree Program at Saint Meinrad will speak on Monday, July 4; and Sr. Sheila Marie Fitzpatrick of Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove, IN will speak on Tuesday, July 5.  Pictures of the speakers and more bio information will be included soon in the link on our web site, “Biennial Meeting.”

We then proceeded to learn more about and practice Lectio Divina.  Find a time, a place or a space to quietly be filled with the Spirit.  Listen to centering music, read the scripture for the day, or a similar reading that speaks to you – try Isaiah, Wisdom, or Proverbs.  Read…what speaks to you?  Read again…what word speaks to you?  Read again…what does God want you to take away?  And, don’t worry if you don’t gather a word or a thought, sometimes you may not, just open yourself again tomorrow for ….the still small voice.

Pam McElwee gave a wonderful talk of her trip to the Holy Lands.  She shared photographs, the places she visited, and the feelings they invoked.  She said in Egypt there were stones, hills, mountains, rocks, and not much green, except St. Catherine’s Monastery at Mount Sinai where the monastery was said to be built around the site where Moses saw the burning bush.

Pam noted that the weather was extremely hot, 114 degrees F.  In the Holy Lands, the priest who was on the trip made sure that they saw everything there was to see; but consequently, they did not have the time to meditate or really experience each area.  Happily they did have time to be re-baptized in the Jordan and they did take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.  Pam was blessed to be the lector when they visited the site of the Incarnation.  She also showed us a picture of Deacon Hal and Margaret Jopp.  Hal had been installed as a Knight of the Holy Sepulcher and this was Margaret’s installation as a Lady of the Holy Sepulcher.  In attendance and in the picture was also the Patriarch of Cypress, Jordan and Israel, along with Pam, Linda Ruskin, and Father Klevance.  The married couples in the group renewed their wedding vows at Cana and there was Exposition at the Garden of Gethsemane.  All in all it sounded like a wonderful trip and when Pam finished we all felt as if we had been there with her.

Housekeeping –

·        An updated copy of the 2010-2011 Meeting Schedule is attached – please mark your personal calendar to hold those days open for oblates so that we may all be blessed with the community of our group this year.

·        Gather any of your friends who have expressed an interest in oblates, or anyone you feel might be happy to learn about St. Benedict’s Rule, and bring them to our November 14, 2010 Open House gathering.

·        Sister Roni would like to include more of us in the presentation of topics throughout the year. Please consider speaking on one of our topics this year - the Rule, Lectio, or the Saints then give Sister Roni a call.

¹A brother may be assigned a burdensome task or something he cannot do. If so, he should, with complete gentleness and obedience, accept the order given him. ²Should he see, however, that the weight of the burden is altogether too much for his strength, then he should choose the appropriate moment and explain patiently to his superior the reasons why he cannot perform the task. ³This he ought to do without pride, obstinacy or refusal. ⁴If after the explanation the superior is still determined to hold to his original order, then the junior must recognize that this is best for him. ⁵Trusting in God's help, he must in love obey.

May 3, 2009 Gathering

After praise, Mass and brunch, our meeting began with a centering song.  We acknowledged those asking for prayers.

Cynthia reviewed the descriptions of jobs needing volunteers for our upcoming Annual Retreat taking place June 19 – June 21, 2009 and asked that the sign up sheets be marked.  If you are planning to come to the retreat and have not notified Sister Roni, please call her at St. Gertrude Monastery so that we may register you for a room.

Oblate Story – Flo Petrosky spoke about her journey today.  Her first encounter with St. Gertrude Monastery was in 1967.  Her mother was the chairman of a dinner, so Flo came and worked in the kitchen with the German sisters.  The next time she came was when she helped a high school class from North Caroline do a good deed.  They collected canned goods and money for St. Martins Ministries.  Later she was a sponsor working with the high school honor society.  Hoping to inspire the kids, ground them, and increase their selflessness she involved them with the Benedictine School Special Olympics swim team at the YMCA.  After that experience the high school kids wanted to make something for the Benedictine kids so they made each one a sock monkey doll.  Still much later she met Lois and Lucky Buesgens who brought her to an oblate meeting.  While relating a story of a relative (and thinking she was better than them) to Sister Immaculata, she was reminded by Sister that God loves her relative just as he loves her.  She concluded with the story of how Sister Roni asking us to choose who we might be in the crowd around Jesus as he entered Jerusalem, caused her to learn from her own son that he understood fully as he talks to God and Jesus all the time.  She expressed her thankfulness at being an oblate.  [Please consider sharing your story next year.]

Sister Roni summarized our year noting that we have focused on obedience.  We learned that St. Benedict spoke about listening, being attentive to the Word of God and developing a prayer life.  Benedict notes that we will be transformed if we:

• Learn the will of Christ
• Hear the Word of God
• Refrain from vain, harmful speech
• Refrain from idle gossip and inane conversations
• Find silent places in mind & heart; places before breaks, in the halls, in our bedrooms, no radio, TV, or telephone
• Learn the meaning of our day
• Ground ourselves in prayer, lectio, and reading
• Listen silently to the present, the past, and to others.

We worked on contemplative lectio.  Look at the spiritual reflection of the past year below, discuss and share.  Sometimes what we share becomes meaningful to us.

• How have I grown through the study of obedience this year?
• Am I able to listen attentively?
• Has my prayer life been nourished?
• Do I notice a change in the way I interact with God?  With my family?  With friends and others I am with on a daily basis?
• What areas will help me to continue growing in the love of God and neighbor?

Hope to see you at our Annual Retreat on June 19 – June 21, 2009!

Palm Sunday, April 5, 2009 Oblate Gathering

After Praise, Mass and Brunch, the oblates gathered for their eighth meeting of the 2008/2009 session. 

What does being an oblate mean to me?  Think about it.  If you would like to share with the group, just let Marge or Cynthia know.  We would like to continue our sharing at each meeting.  Lois Buesgens has volunteered to share at our May meeting.

Today’s gathering began with quiet music, “You are my desire…you are my delight…you are my beloved and I love you.”

Prayers – Catherine Wood, Frank, Bill Stott’s sister Susan, Peggy’s brother, Hetty Corrigan, Lucy, Lee Gaertner, Joe, Carol Russell, Delores Faulkner, Justine’s daughter, Mary Trumbauer’s niece, Heather, John & Mary Anne Ringgwald, Mary’s brother-in-law, Sister Roni’s sister Claire.

Passion Lectio – The Jerusalem experience touches us deeply anywhere between praise and those who wanted to get rid of Jesus.  Be present with Jesus as he enters Jerusalem (the center of their universe at that time – look on a map, it was a focal point, a center).

• The suffering servant
• Our attitude like Christ who accepted death on the cross
• Blessed be He who comes as King
• Did Jesus know where he was going as he rode on the donkey to Jerusalem?
• Did Jesus know the palm laden crowd understood he was on the right road?
• Did Jesus know all his disciples believed that finally he was accepting his role as messiah?  What effect did it have on them?
• Think of the acceptance of Jesus’ enemies and their joy that they no longer had to devise traps to snare him.
• Where am I?  Dare we judge another?  The servant song, fear, heartache, happiness, insanity.
• Do I know the road we should be taking?  Jesus knew where he was going.  Remember he said as I have washed your feet, you must wash others feet.  Do for others is the path of blessing and happiness.
• Where would you draw the line in what you are willing to give up acknowledging him as a friend and savior?
• Do you believe Jesus loves you?  He is extending an invitation drawing us from what holds us from him.  It is hope.  If we have pain but hope, we can look to joy!

The oblates then divided into groups for discussion of the above and our own lectio on the Palm Sunday reading.

Holy Week is one of our most important weeks, so we were asked to set aside about five or ten minutes to think about one sentence or word and think about that moment or where we would be in that moment.

Rosemary Kinnamon spoke about her oblation.  She spoke of knowing the Benedictine Sisters from when she was very young and then in 1987 joining a charismatic prayer group of dear friends and sisters.  Then she met Sister Miriam Ruth who led a bible study group and learned of the oblates.  While in the oblate meeting she just knew she belonged here.  She studied with Sister Patricia and Barbara Ann Gondeck and she was the first oblate Sister Mary Paul McLaughlin welcomed as prioress on Rosemary’s oblation day July 2, 1992 during the 135^th Anniversary of St. Gertrude Monastery.

Mary Schregencost learned of the oblates through Lois and Lucky Buesgens who talked about the group and asked if she would like to come.  She came and she loved it!  Sister Immaculata asked if she would like to become an oblate and she celebrated her oblation January 6, 2002 along with Flo Petroski.  It was a very special day and the oblates are special friends, there is good conversation, prayer and learning and the oblates stay connected with prayers, cards and telephone calls.

Annual Oblate Retreat - June 19 – 21, 2009   Our retreat leader will be Sister Denise Mosier, O.S.B., Director of Formation of the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia in Bristow, VA.  We do not know if she has written any books.  Registration forms will be handed out at our April meeting.

Our next meeting is Sunday, May 3, 2009.

Sunday, March 8, 2009 Oblate Gathering

After Praise, Mass and a tasty Brunch provided by many of our oblates, the oblates gathered for their seventh meeting of the 2008/2009 session. 

What does being an oblate mean to me?  Think about it.  If you would like to share with the group, just let Marge or Cynthia know.  We would like to continue our sharing at each meeting.  Mary Schrecengost has volunteered to share.  We hope her broken arm is healing well and that she will be able to present at our April meeting.  Rosemary has also volunteered to speak.  Lois Buesgens will speak at our May meeting. 

Today’s gathering began with quiet music, “Speak Lord, may you find your home in me.”  Speak Lord I am Listening – Monica Brown

Prayers – John Ringewald is still healing.  Mary Schrecengost broke her arm in a fall.  Hetty Corrigan’s daughters both have breast cancer.  Elizabeth Owens’ husband is not well, she is with him all the time, we continue to pray for them both.  Maureen Toy is very ill.  The doctors are still diagnosing.  Sister Roni has family members laid off and her sister, Claire, is in a good space right now.  Father Mast’s mother is coming home in a few weeks.  Please keep all of our oblates listed above in your prayers.

LECTIO (see handout attached)

Sister Roni began with a prayer asking us to offer ourselves and asked the Holy Spirit to come.  Lectio is listening to the sacred word with the intent to do and with the intent to gain knowledge.  Listening is one of our senses.  We normally block the senses to the ticking of the clock, bells, birds, and crickets.  We don’t hear the crying children, or people screaming.  We often miss what we need to hear.  Take time, set time aside, just to listen to the sacred word.  Make sacred time everyday and make a sacred space.  We could use music to start making a space.  The space is important.  When you need the time away, you’ll soon feel the space and the peacefulness of the space.  Time, space, method then… begin Lectio.  You can use scripture, Psalms, or other spiritual reading.  It’s not about the time you spend, but what you get from what you hear.

How do we know it is the Spirit?  When what I hear doesn’t affect my value system.  When it does good.  When it opens my eyes.  When it makes me know of others needs.  Stop during the day and take time to see what the results of the morning prayer means.  It’s o.k. to sleep; o.k. if it doesn’t mean anything.  If you ignore it and it’s important, it will come back.

We will return to a discussion of Lectio again in September or October and talk about our techniques.  Remember change means work!

Annual Oblate Retreat  - June 19 – 21, 2009   Our retreat leader will be Sister Denise Mosier, O.S.B., Director of Formation of the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia in Bristow, VA.  We do not know if she has written any books.  Registration forms will be handed out at our April meeting.

Our next meeting is Sunday, April 5, 2009 - Palm Sunday.

Sunday, February 8, 2009 Oblate Gathering

After Praise, Mass and a tasty Brunch provided by many of our oblates, the oblates gathered for their sixth meeting of the 2008/2009 session.  We will not be providing at our March meeting but we hope that a variety of our oblates will plan and provide brunch items at some of our future meetings; more information to come.

Please know the Sisters are happy to welcome the oblates for their monthly praise, Mass, Brunch, and meeting with no obligation for the oblates to pay for this hospitality.  Of course, anyone who wishes to may make a donation to the Benedictine Sisters, the Oblate Program or to St. Martin’s Ministry.  The Sisters are grateful for oblate support whether by time, talent or treasure.

What does being an oblate mean to me?  Think about it.  If you would like to share with the group, just let Marge or Cynthia know.  We would like to continue our sharing at each meeting.  Carol Russell and Cynthia Ingram shared at this meeting and Mary Schrecengost has volunteered to share at our March meeting. 

Today’s gathering began with quiet music, “Heal me, renew me, with your touch, O God”…

Prayers – John Ringewald is recovering slowly.  Elizabeth Owens’ husband is not well, she is with him all the time, we continue to pray for them both.  Maureen Toy is very ill.  The doctors are still diagnosing.  Dolores Faulkner is experiencing kidney problems.  Sister Roni’s sister, Claire, has third stage liver disease, please keep her and her family in your prayers.

Oblate Stories – Carol Russell spoke of how she and Ed were encouraged to come to their first oblate meeting by Lucky and Lois Buesgens.  Carol said, “It took only once!”  Sister Immaculata asked them if they wanted to come.  No one asked them to become Catholic but we decided we wanted to be due to the many good examples of Catholics in their lives.  Carol remarked, “Being oblates started a whole new life for us, being oblates and being Catholic.  Our friends have been here for us.”

Cynthia Ingram related that in her previous job and travels across the Bay Bridge that she had no time for her or for her spiritual life.  All that changed when she came to work at the Benedictine Foundation.  She started to attend Praise and Mass at the monastery on Wednesdays and eventually Sister Immaculata asked her if she wanted to become an oblate.  Her answer to Sister was, “Oh, I’d love to Sister but I’m married!”  After Sister Immaculata explained to her that an oblate was not another word for a monastic novice, she accepted heartily.  She celebrated her 9^th year as an oblate on February 10, 2009.

Bill Stott informed us that next weekend and for, he believed, two months, actual sheets of the St. Johns Bible books of Wisdom and Prophets will be displayed at the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore.

Sister Roni took the time to review the process of praying the Office of the Day, Liturgy of the Hours.  She noted that we are currently in cycle B and Year 1.

Sister Roni reviewed past and present practices of Lent.  Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on February 25^th this year.  In the past Lent was penance, renunciation, retribution; now it is a time of rejuvenation and of rededication to that which is holy for you.  We fast (we reconnect with God).  Decide what is healthy; what don’t you need, use that time to be with Jesus so that after Lent it can become a part of you.  Use a good spiritual book, take time for reflection.  Fasting is a choice for us (not for the poor), time to take notice of all we have and choosing that which we need.  Choose life, what you have a need for, yourself and your God.  Fast for something!  Time to look at ourselves and say, “I am what I am, what do I need to make better?”  Sister spoke of the celebrations at the monastery and invited the oblates to be with the sisters for Holy Week if they wished.  She closed by saying that all of us are seeking the Way and each road is different.

All of the oblates were invited to attend Mass and a dinner in celebration of the Feast of St. Scholastica on Tuesday, February 10^th at 4:30 p.m.  We were also invited to celebrate Mass and a meal on March 21, 2009 for the feast of St. Benedict.

Lenten intention sheets will be available for those here on the Feast of St. Scholastica and will be mailed to all other oblates.  Please return them at the March 8^th meeting or mail to Sister Catherine Higley for the prioress’s approval.

Rule for the Day - MaryAnn Palmer read our Rule for the day – The 11^th step of humility…speak gently without laughter.  When we know our place we can make a place for others.  There is no need for us to be known, we are an ember in God’s mind – one with nature, one with God – never smother others embers.

Our next meeting is Sunday, March 8, 2009.

Sunday, January 11, 2009 Oblate Gathering

After Praise [which included our celebration of Pam McElwee’s oblation – we were happy to meet her sister, Arlene, and the rest of her family and friends], Mass and a wonderful Brunch, the Oblates affiliated with St. Gertrude Monastery in Ridgely, MD gathered in the community room for their fifth meeting of the 2008/2009 session.

What does being an oblate mean to me?  Think about it.  If you would like to share with the group, just let Marge or Cynthia know.  Mary Trumbauer shared at our December meeting and Carol Russell and Cynthia Ingram will share at our February meeting.  We would like to continue our sharing at each meeting.

In this first meeting of the New Year may your year be peace filled and hopefully you had a joyful holiday!

Liturgy of the Hours & Lectio – after today we will be in Week 1 of Ordinary Time, use Antiphon 1 now and we are in Cycle “B” for 2009.  Books are available for everyone, if you missed the meeting today; contact Sister Roni to set up a time to pick up your Liturgy of the Hours books.  Sister Roni will give instruction and conduct practice both for the Liturgy of the Hours and Lectio at our February meeting.  This will be informative for those who want to learn as well as for those who are looking for a refresher course. 

Rule for the Day - MaryAnn Palmer read our Rule for the day – Qualities of the Abbot or Prioress - Sister Joan Chittester’s commentary noted that the Prioress should lead by example.  What we do not live, we cannot require.  We cannot hold others to a law which we will not follow.  The function of spirit leadership is to show the beauty of those that follow.

Prayers – John Ringewald is responding to his medication; however he and Maryann still welcome your prayers for continued recovery and peace of mind.  Trudy Dean is still experiencing pain with her arm.  It was mentioned that Virginia Parkerson bequeathed a carving to be displayed for our meetings.  It should arrive soon.

Summer Retreat – The summer retreat has been scheduled for June 19 - 21, 2009, Sister Denise from St. Benedict Monastery in Bristow, VA will be our retreat leader.  Father Paul Mast will celebrate the Masses.  The retreat will begin Friday, June 19, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. and will end Sunday, June 21, 2009 at 2:00 p.m.  We will have housing available for everyone in either Rose Hall in the School, the Hildegard Wing in the Monastery and the Berg Center.

Mary Trumbauer conducted a mini-retreat on PEACE today and gave us two things to remember and two things to do:

            Remember – 1) God is Love, and 2) You are God’s gift to this world and this community

            To Do –        1) Be who you are, whoever that is, and 2) Do it with love and with joy

Then she showed a video FOR THE LOVE OF IT by DeWitt Jones – he discussed vocation (what you do) and avocation (what you can’t help but do).  Do what you love and love what you do.  How do we work just for the love of it?  As a stone mason would we just chip stone or would we build cathedrals?  Find a new way to look at the job you have.  Begin each day with a full cup (Passion).  Write down five things that fill your cup and after each one write the date of the last time you did it.  Find guides, those in love with life and what they do.  He showed many photographs he had taken and said to remember it’s the light in the photos, the people who love what they do.  If the light is not there in a picture, you can add it with a strobe light.  So find those people who add to the light.  Act “as if”.  And remember the factor that most determines your happiness is gratitude.

At this point, Mary stopped the video and Bill Stott showed us an illumination of the Book of Mark frontispiece from the St. John’s Bible.  He noted that in an illumination gold denotes the divinity of our Lord.  Actual gold was used as it does not tarnish.  Then he explained the frontispiece which shows John the Baptist as a dark shadow, that which proceeds or forecasts the Lord.  The focus is on Him, the eye is cast behind John to the gold – a small figure in the center in the back, surrounded by people in the Jordan and over it all scrolls of gold and a white V over the figure, a dove and coming in behind is joy, the Lord.

The video concluded with the words, “Sometimes we try too hard to make a difference, just make a contribution.  The bird sings, not because it has an answer, but because it has a song.”  “When you love what you do, pass it on.  Fall in love with what you do, today, and in everything you do, do it just for the love of it!”

Our next meeting is Sunday, February 8, 2009.

Sunday, November 9, 2008 Oblate Gathering

After Praise, Mass and a wonderful Brunch [we again left a seat at each table for a sister to join us], the Oblates affiliated with St. Gertrude Monastery in Ridgely, MD gathered in the community room for their third meeting of the 2008/2009 session.

We began with peaceful piano music – pray to be open to the Spirit for what we are to do today.  God of our universe we ask you to be in our presence.  Guide us, help us celebrate and join hands with others as we grow strong in your love and understanding, as we live and love in your presence.

What does being an oblate mean to me?  Think about it.  If you would like to share with the group, just let Marge or Cynthia know.  We would like to start our sharing at the January, 2009 meeting.

Three of our oblates will be attending the second oblate world congress in Rome, Italy.  We had very short notice that we would be allowed to send anyone so we were not able to open the opportunity to the group; however, we hope that Sister Patricia may have an opening on her busy calendar and consent to be our guide for an oblate trip to Rome in 2010.  We will keep everyone up to date as we have more information.

Bill Stott graciously accepted to show us today where obedience may be found in the Word.  The Bible begins with the Word and ends with the Word.  In Genesis 1, God made the world with words, “Let there be Light.”, “and it is good.” Then He rested and reflected.

Obedience is a word and in all that it implies.  We were made in God’s image, we are words.  Adam was asked to name the animals.  To word something is to know it.  The Jewish constant prayer in Hebrew, Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Numbers 15:37-41, “Hear, O Israel:  The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.”  The first command is an assertion of the Word, God.

Shama – to listen, to pay attention, to obey, say prayer, obey, examine, and understand.  The word is basic, fundamental, real, homely, specific, and concrete.  All literature is oral; prayer is oral – sometimes silent.  Children are taught to read orally.  We DO scripture, we don’t talk ABOUT scripture.

Obedience – Hear, listen O, Israel – Shama is an Old Testament order listed 1,150 times, 158 in Jeremiah, 86 in Deuteronomy and 86 is Isaiah just to list a few.

Obedience is a transitive verb, to carry out or fulfill.  oboedient in Middle English, oboediens in Anglo-French, oboedire is to listen in Latin and ob audire is to hear, the same as Shama.  Obedience is related to an action.  Regula (rule), read/listen everyday.  St. Benedict came from a hermetic background and knew that you had to have obedience to live with others.

The Invitatory Psalms 24, 67, 100, 95 – each one is a parade of actions:

• Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord
• Greet him with a song of praise
• The Lord is great
• The earth is the Lord’s
• Let the people praise thee O God
• Make a joyful noise unto the Lord

Come, Enter, O that today you would hear his voice – do not harden your hearts.  All invitatory Psalms call us to be obedient.  Scripture is too vast!  We are being asked to do it, not to show our credentials.  All the patriarchs have a call, the prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.  The covenant bearer, Jesus Christ, is the most obedient on the planet, he constantly prays as you can see in John 17.

In John 17, the high priest’s prayer, Jesus speaks, read it aloud!  [Note:  for our oblate’s info I have copied and pasted the whole chapter here, CAI]

John
Chapter 17

When Jesus had said this, he raised his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, 2 just as you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to all you gave him. 3 Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. 4 I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. 5 Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began. 6 "I revealed your name ⁵ to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, 8 because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, 10 and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them. 11 And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are. 12 When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely. 14 I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. 17 Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. 19 And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth. 20 "I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. 22 And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. 26 I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them."

All comes home through obedience, listen and hear.  That is what obedience is about, be open to listen, be open to learn.  In the beginning the Word was stated.  In the beginning the Word was heard.

Thank you Bill for giving us the word, obedience, and much food for thought!

Sister Roni mentioned Sister Irene Nowall’s scripture class and some highlights.  If I am going where God wants me, he’ll be with me; if not, he won’t be there.  God, what is it you want me to do?  I’m not comfortable with my own judgment.  It almost has to cause me pain – starting over, giving self up.  If I’m not growing is it right?  If I’m going where God wants me to go, God wants me to grow.

For our December 14^th meeting we will be discussing Sabbath.  So think about, what Sabbath means to me – what it meant growing up and what it means to me today.

MaryAnn Palmer read our Rule for the day – the tools and goods of the monastery - with Sister Joan Chittester’s commentary which listed keeping things in good order, using wise management, house cleaning, prayer & work and body & soul.

Sunday, October 12, 2008 Oblate Gathering

After Praise, Mass and a wonderful Brunch [we left a seat at each table for a sister to join us], the Oblates affiliated with St. Gertrude Monastery in Ridgely, MD gathered in the community room for their second meeting of the 2008/2009 session.

Sister Roni lit a candle as we listened to “listen, the voice of your God is calling…come to me all who are burdened and weary, come to me as you are and I shall tend to you…and I shall give you rest.” quietly played in the background to bring us all into God’s presence.  We experienced another wonderful beginning.  Sister Roni noted that the past weeks have been difficult with all the hard times in our families and in our economy.  She asked us to set these trials aside for today and take time to rejuvenate.

The gospel, the rule our lifestyle and our church calls us to obedience.  Let us concentrate on holy obedience to listen with the ear of the heart.  We also have an obedience to ourselves, to our body.  Sometimes we forget to look into ourselves and see what gifts we have and how our gifts might interfere with our community, our family, the primary call.  Sometimes we feel torn apart.  What is our first obedience, there is so much to do on a daily basis, what are we called to do?  Our obedience is that which we can do according to our lifestyle.

Prayers were offered for our fellow oblates, their families and our families.

MaryAnn Palmer read the Rule for today – Chapter 9 – which notes Psalms for night office.  Our commentary notes that sometimes we get lost in the details.  There are four elements of prayer 1) verse, 2)prayer (God), 3)doxology (trinity), and 4)response (oral prayer).  Prayer engages us, it is not passive, it demands our full attention, emersion in the scriptures makes them part of us.

For our next oblate meeting – Think of our conversion experiences and what it has done for us.

Obedience gives us

• freedom to obedient service [different heart, new spirit, conform to our values, keep the laws of God]
• freedom to serve God in a new way [the way of the spirit, the way of written code, a law to follow for structure, use our gifts]

We then broke into discussion groups.

• Group 1 – helping and supporting others; interruptions and our responses; values; listen after our prayers and allow God in; pass it forward; roll with it, be obedient to God’s will.
• Group 2 – following our conscience; obligation; balancing care-giving roles; God is with us all the time even when it is difficult; love God; finding Christ in others; follow God’s will through Liturg of the Hours and prayers to help us focus on God all day.
• Group 3 – start with prayer and reflect on what God wants; do wht we are told to do, want to do, loving what we’re told to do; increased prayer life; values: what God wants, spend wisely, think more of others, giving way to God’s calling.
• Group 4 – all the above and add listening

Regional Oblate Meeting - November 1, 2008 at St. Benedict Church in Baltimore, MD.

Eleven St. Gerturde oblates attended the North American – Northeast Region bi-annual retreat for a day of reflection on St. Benedict and St. Paul led by Rt. Rev. Paschal Morlino, O.S.B., praise, prayer and the sharing by a panel of oblates from each monastery as they related their call to become an oblate.

Sister Patricia Kirk, O.S.B., Katherine Frick, Obl. O.S.B., Sister Charlotte Lee, O.S.B. and our own Sister Roni guided the oblates affiliated with Emmanuel Monastery, St. Benedict Monastery, St. Vincent Archabbey and St. Gertrude Monastery through a rewarding and uplifting retreat.

Father Paschal quoted Collosians 3:11-17, II Corinthians 1:15-20, and Thessalonians 5:13;  and The Rule of Benedict Chapters 4, 7 and 72.  He noted that we wear Christ everyday by our demeanor, what do other see?

• Patience
• What does God look like on me?
• Love
• Good works – gentleness, compassion
• Old self off – joy, peace, patience

St. Benedict and St. Paul give us an explanation of what perfection looks like.  What is the peace of Christ?  - the Word of Christ.  It does not take complex theology to live a good life.  Peace begins in the heart, peace is not an absence, it is a presence.  Seek out the right order – word, each other, share wisdom, THEN our hearts can sing songs.  The work is very slow, peace takes a lifetime.  Our task is to let the word of Christ dwell in us.  We can’t impose peace, it must come from our hearts.  PAX – God is with us at all hours of the day (at St. Benedict Church the clock chimes every fifteen minutes to note that).  WE make God present ourselves.  Always ask, What does God want me to learn from this?  We do not have to be successful but faithful.

During the second half of the day, we heard from four oblates, Jeannette, our Mary Ann, Helen and Helen as they related how they became oblates.  We followed each talk with a two minute refelction and after all were finished we discussed the recurrent themes in each call:

·        Coming home

·        Structure

·        Journey

·        Balance

·        Hours

·        Connection to others

·        Becoming

·        Listen

·        Honesty

·        Ritual

·        Constant prayer

·        Community prayer

Sunday, September 14, 2008 Oblate Gathering

After Praise, Mass and a wonderful Brunch the Oblates affiliated with St. Gertrude Monastery in Ridgely, MD gathered in the community room for their first meeting of the 2008/2009 session.

Sister Veronica Daniels (Sister Roni) introduced the new prioress of St. Gertrude Monastery, Sister Catherine Higley.  Sister Catherine set us straight right from the beginning and showed her good humor when she noted, referring to her height, that “No, the weather is not better up here.” And “No, she never played basketball in high school.”  She went on to tell us that she was a teacher and then studied to be a nurse and that for many years she has been a hospice nurse in Wilmington, DE.  She will continue that rewarding task several days a week.

Sister Roni lite a candle as “On Holy Ground” quietly played in the background to bring us all into God’s presence.  What a wonderful way to begin.

Rosemary Kinnamon read the rule for the day.  MaryAnn Palmer volunteered to Read the Rule for 2008/2009.  Then Mary Trumbauer passed around small white ribbons for us to wear and reminded us that everyone is invited to Fountain Park in Chestertown on September 20^th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon to celebrate a Day of Peace.

Housekeeping Tasks – Revise your calendars to show April 5 (Palm Sunday) and May 3^rd as oblate meeting dates.  The Contact List was presented for any revisions.  Bill Stott reminded everyone of the next scripture presentation that he will offer.  If you call him, he can give you the dates and times.

Sign up sheets were available for oblates to sign up to bring food, greet, conduct tours or explain what we do as oblates on Sunday, November 2 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm at the St. Martin’s Barn Open House.

Cynthia Ingram discussed the next Regional Oblate Meeting which will take place on November 1, 2008 (Regional meetings take place every other year).  This year as in 2006 the meeting will take place at St. Benedict Church in Baltimore, MD.  A show of hands, 17, for those who hoped to attend.  If you were absent, please let Margie Callahan Palazollo know if you wish to go.  We are looking into obtaining a bus or vans so that we can leave our cars at St. Gertrude Monastery.   Possible themes are Work & Prayer, Rule of Benedict in the life of an oblate, living justice in our lives as Benedictines, or Benedictine spirituality and one’s ministry (the effect of one on the other).  The meeting times will be 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 or 5:00 p.m.

Oblates are welcome to visit St. Gertrude Monastery and celebrate with the sisters and other oblates at any of these times during the year:

Mondays – Fridays 5:00 p.m. Praise

Wednesdays 4:30 p.m. for afternoon Mass with Praise

Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays 6:30 a.m. Praise & Mass

Saturdays 10:00 a.m. Praise and

Saturdays 4:00 p.m. Children’s Mass followed by Praise at 5:00 pm.

Sister Roni introduced our study theme for this year – Obedience.  She read the Rule on “Listen”.  She said it is difficult to listen to the prioress and the church.  She said, “I could handle what the church said to do but I wonder where we are going, if what we know is right to do.  I know I don’t know what to do, follow me, follow God, I know God will lead me if I follow.”  The Steps of Humility speak of obedience.  There are 126 verses on obedience – 55 in the New Testament and 71 in the Old Testament.  In the Rule under 5, 7, 23-29, 48, 68 and 71 obedience is mentioned.  Obedience is in our life continuously.  If we are obedient in small things then when big things come, it will be easier.  Daily obedience is harder – prayer, lectio, obedience to one another, obedience of love, serving one another.

For Now and our Next Meeting –

            What is obedience in your daily life?

            When are you called to obedience?

            Think about the values you are called to be obedient to (conversion – change

according to the values)

What is God’s will for the day, really look at that

Look at today’s reading [

Read Mary’s Magnificat

Read “An Obedient Church is a Listening Church” by Sister Christine

Vladimiroff, O.S.B. (handout)

We will not review the “Steps of Obedience” until the end of the year

The Rule begins with Listen – Listen to my Rule, to other and to our community.  What is best for the entire, not just for me.  Obedience will make you whole, allowing you to live outside your life.  Sister Roni said that obedience to God let her be open to serve where needed…as teacher, nurse/medical not just in her community but to the poor.  She worked two years in the monastery infirmary, then six years pediatrics in Wilmington.  She worked with the poor in D.C. with the poor with Dr. Janell, the Mother Teresa of the U.S.  Then she worked on the streets with Unity.  Lastly in medical programs in the jail system in D.C. – every day was a struggle, political, no one cared about the person.  After years of working for wellness with the prisoners the staff started to help them know who was sick.  The systems was surveyed and accredited by two groups in the corrections systems and they were awarded 100% for best care.  God led Sister Roni to where she was supposed to be.  Listen to your gift, listen to your heart, ask does this feel like home?