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.