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?