Benedictine Oblates - Issue 3, September 9, 2012

Annual Oblate Retreat - September 7-9, 2012

Discipleship and the Rule of Benedict

Father Matthew Luft, O.S.B., Retreat Master

Sister Mary DiMeglio, O.S.B., Oblate Co-Director welcomed Father Matthew and inspired us with these words, “Keep your notebooks handy and your hearts open.”

Father Matthew began by noting we are called by Christ for conversion and we are called to witness, to proclaim to everyone we meet.  This is our discipleship – we have received a personal invitation to conversion, metanoia and we respond with a witness.

And how do we do this?  Father Matthew went through the following list, gave us examples from Scripture, the Rule, sometimes a few questions, and then gave us time to think about each:

• Love of Christ and Love of Neighbor – Luke 10:25-37, RB80 Chapter 4 v1-2, Chapter 5 v10-12, and Chapter 7 V67-69 [What initial motivation brought me here? What brought me to the oblate life? How does this influence how I interact with others?]
• Prayer – A life marked by liturgy, lectio divina, and mindfulness – Luke 11:1-4, Acts 2:42-47, RB Chapters 20, 43, 48 [What is my prayer life like? Where is my silent time? What is my experience of prayer with the sisters?  What would I like to learn from my prayer?]
• Discipline – A way toward learning and freedom.  Set time aside for God and for prayer.  Matthew 16:24-28, RB Chapter 7 v31-33, Chapter 39 [What is my routine? Is prayer among them? Where is my attention being focused?]
• Humility – Knowledge of ourselves and our relationship with God.

1 Corinthians 1:17-25, RB Chapter 7 [Who do I see myself to be? Who am I?] Every person we encounter is a piece of God, a reflection of God.  Wisdom is approaching God, not being God.

• Stewards/Stewardship – Reverence toward the creation God has made.  Regard all as sacred vessels.  1 Corinthians 4, RB Chapter 31 [What gifts has God given to me?  Have I taken care of them as if they were sacred vessels?]
• Hospitality – Openness to others, receive all as Christ.  Matthew 25:31-46, RB Chapter 2, Chapter 36, Chapter 53, Chapter 63, Chapter 72 [How have you welcomed people into your life? How have you been received?]
• Community – We are always in community and surrounded by others.  We all contribute to the living body.  Matthew 10:5-15, RB Chapter 1, Chapter 72
• Stability – these last three are all part of the other seven.
• Conversatio – In these vows we find our calling to follow Christ together
• Obedience – How do we actually live this life? What is this life about? We can go to Scripture and the Rule of Benedict (RB) for answers.

Special Thank You

It took so many to make this retreat possible, from preparations by our Co-Directors and their council to the Baker Bees, Richard Jordan and his crew for room set up, Sister Ann, Heidi and the housekeeping staff, Dona and Lisa, our cooks, Sister JoEl for the prayer space and display case, all the Sisters for their behind the scenes set up, ministries, and support.  Because of all of you we learned first hand, hospitality, community, discipleship, and the Rule of Benedict.

Front Row L/R – Catherine Wood, Lois Buesgens, Hetty Corrigan, Anne McCormick Adams, Cyndy Ingram, Pat Lafferty, Sister Mary DiMeglio, O.S.B., Co-Director, and Carmen Nieves

Back Row L/R – Rosemary Kinnamon, Elizabeth Owens, Helen Hadley, Trudy Dean, Roy Dean, Margie Palazzolo, Fran Lucas, Pam McElwee, and Jean Lewis.

Retreat attendees absent from the photograph -  Mary Kibler, Ann Haywood, Carol Russell, Justine Armstead, and Flo Petroski, Dick Palazzolo.

Note:  The camera gremlins erased our wonderful picture of the oblates giving a blessing to Father Matthew before his departure.  Thanks be to God, the blessing was not erased as well.