*** 04 AIM March newsletter - Alliance for International Monasticism

aim usa
Alliance for International Monasticism
www.aim-usa.org Volume 13 No. 3 2004 aim@aim-usa.org
CELEBRATING
CHRISTMAS
is not
contemplating
the past.
It is discovering
in TODAY’s history
the liberating
presence of GOD
who gives HOPE
hidden in the heart
of HUMANITY.
Cover art is by Sister Joana Paula Cabral, OSB
Mosteiro da Santa Cruz. Juiz de Fora, Brasil

Meeting of Benedictine Abbots
Abbot Vincent Bataille, OSB
Benedictine abbots from around the world gathered in Rome,
September 2004 for their quadrennial meeting. There were simultaneous
translations available for all sessions.
The meeting developed the theme of “globalization” and its
effects on Benedictine communities.
It began with two presenters:
Prof. Norbert Walter from the German
financial community and Prof.
Andrea Riccardi of the lay religious
movement called Saint Egidio.
Saint Egidio is a voluntary gathering
of lay people who continue to
work in various occupations but
come together to enhance their
spiritual lives and to seek ways to
make a change in the world.
Prof. Walter encouraged a
positive outlook towards globalization,
noting that it calls for a
free involvement. It is not coerced.
According to Prof. Walter, globalization
affects immigration, trade OSB, Newton, NJ. (Abbot Joel is president of the AIM USA national board.)
Abbot Ange-Marie Niouky, OSB, Keur-Moussa, Senegal and Abbot Joel Macul,
and even care for the elderly. In other words it touches all aspects
of our lives.
Prof. Riccardi stressed the purpose of Christianity in bringing
peace to the world. He said that the global web of communication
allows us to know about the violence and war that is happening
in the world. “Christianity is called to transcend the conflicts of
civilization, and spread a message of peace,” he said.
Fr. Martin Neyt, OSB, president of AIM International mentioned
that 4 new monastic communities are founded each year.
The state of small and new communities in the world became a
topic of the small group discussions. The concern of many is, What
makes communities viable? And, When is it counterproductive to
maintain a community in existence?
Several points were then identified as being crucial: sufficient
personnel for the ministry of the community, sufficient membership
to provide leadership in the
years to come, and sufficient financial
support for the life of the community
and its ministry. But perhaps
the most essential characteristic
needed for continued survival
of the community is the relationship
of the monks to each other. The
shape of the love of the community
is what holds the community
in existence, that is, the love of God
that each monk has and how he or
she lives it out within the daily routine
of the community.
The evolving organization
Communio Internationalis Beneditinarum
(CIB)—an international
union of Benedictine women
founded in 2001—was approved for continuing membership in the
Benedictine Confederation under the leadership of the Abbot Primate.
Perhaps the greatest advantage of this international gathering of
Benedictine superiors is the opportunity to spend these days with
monks from around the world. We pray together, eat together, and
have ample opportunity to speak with one another to learn how the
Benedictine vocation is realized in other parts of the world. We left
with a feeling of gratitude for being able to be a part of such a gathering
which represents so much history and so many gifts to the Church.
Abbot Vincent Bataille, OSB of Marmion Abbey, Aurora, IL, is a former AIM USA
board member.
November 2004 Grants
Seven grants totaling $36,100 were assigned to AIM USA at the
November 2004 meeting of the AIM International Council:
•Monasterio Cisterciense, Huambo, Angola: towards constructing
a pharmaceutical laboratory
•Cistercian Monastery of Koutaba, Cameroon: funding for two
professors for a formation program
•Monastère Bénédictin Saint-Marie, Bouaké, Ivory Coast: soapmaking
machine
•Mosteiro de N. Sra. Do Monte, Olinda, Brazil: making windows
and doors of the chapel secure
•Jnanodaya Ashram, Karnataka, India: constructing underground
water tanks for collecting rain water
•Immaculate Heart of Mary Abbey, Vigan, Philippines: helping
in constuction of novitiate building destroyed by fire
•Monasterio de la Encarnación, Pachacamac, Peru: digging a well
Lenten Appeal 2005
The 2005 Lenten Appeal will fund the following:
•Monastere Morne Saint Benoît, Port-au-Prince, Haiti: purchase
tools and repair monastery roof
•Monasterio Santa Maria de Rauten, Quillota, Chile: books for
young sisters in formation
•Monastère N.D. de Vinh-Phuoc, Vietnam: educational fees for
six Cistercian sisters studying in Saigon
•Abbatia B.M.V. de Chau Son, Vietnam: educational fee for
young Cistercian monk studying in France
•Africa: tuition for sisters’ high school education and ongoing
community monastic spirituality workshops
2
Benedict saw the entire world in a single ray of light (Dialogues).

Changes in AIM USA National Board
Much gratitude is due to Sr.
Patricia Henry, OSB, prioress
of Monasterio Pan de Vida in
Torreón, Mexico and to Sr. Gail
Fitzpatrick, OCSO, abbess of
Briefs
AIM International is asking for
assistance with the translation of articles
in its French, Spanish and English
editions. The Bulletin is published
three times a year, averaging 100–120
pages. Articles are of varying length.
The International Bulletin endeavors
to be a link between monastic
communities of the Benedictine and
Cistercian traditions. It provides a
forum for the exchange of information
and discussion on monastic life
today and in the future.
Contact AIM USA for further information:
t: 814-453-4724; f: 814-
459-8066 or e-mail aim@aim-usa.org
Sr. Kathy deVico, OCSO
Sr. Kathryn Huber, OSB
Our Lady of the Mississippi
Abbey in Dubuque, IA, as they
complete generous service as
members of the AIM USA National
Board.
Sr. Patricia Henry, OSB with Sr. Susan Doubet, OSB
AIM USA’s Commission for African Women
At their summer meeting in
August the AIM USA Board
gave approval for AIM USA to
extend its Commission for African
Women for another five
years. In the summer of 2005
four more sisters are scheduled
to participate in this program,
teaching English in Tanzania
and giving monastic spirituality
workshops to two communities
in South Africa.
Since its beginning in 2000,
20 Benedictine women from
the US have traveled to
Benedictine communities in
five African countries to give
Sr. Gail’s increasing responsibilities
with Cistercian Publications
and within her own abbey
necessitated an early end to
her second term. Sr. Kathy deVico,
OCSO, abbess of Redwoods
Monastery in Whitethorn, CA will
complete Sr. Gail’s term.
mini-courses in monastic spirituality
and leadership training,
and to teach English, as part of
the AIM USA Commission
Sr. Lucy Wynkoop, OSB,
St. Placid’s Priory, Lacey, WA
and Sr. Christian Morris, OSB,
St. Benedict’s Monastery, St.
Joseph, MN gave seminars on
“The Spirituality of the Psalms
and Benedictine Values” to
communities in East Africa.
Sr. Christian wrote, “Each of
the communities we visited is
at an astounding level of selfsufficiency
and has a zealous
commitment to the people of
Sr. Patricia served six years
on the AIM Board. Sr. Kathryn
Huber, OSB, president of the
Federation of St. Gertrude and
former prioress of Monastery
Immaculate Conception in
Ferdinand, IN, has accepted
the new Board position.
the nearby villages. Health
care, primary and secondary
education, catechetics,
sharing of land and teaching,
providing transportation,
caring for orphaned or
abandoned children were
among the works provided.
The leaders of these communities
ask the same question
that plagues leadership
in the Tanzanian church,
How can we become truly
self-sufficient when our
people are too poor to contribute
to our economic
stability?”
AIM USA gave talks in 23 dioceses
this year as part of the
Propagation of the Faith Missionary
Cooperative Plan. Forty-one
monas-tics and oblates gave generously
of their time to speak in 53
churches throughout the United States.
Money raised through these appeals
will be used for funding grants
for mission monasteries. There is also
an educational aspect, as many “people
in the pews” are unaware that there
are Benedictines and Cistercians outside
of Europe and North America.
Between Two Souls: Conversations
with Ryokan is a recently-published
book of poetry by Sister Mary Lou
Kownacki, OSB, former executive
director of AIM USA.
The publisher, Wm. B. Eerdmans,
describes the book as “presenting a lovely,
spiritually uplifting conversation in poetry
between a gifted modern-day Roman
Catholic nun and the nineteenthcentury
Japanese Zen monk Ryokan.”
See www.benetvision.org for
ordering information.
Benedict saw the entire world in a single ray of light (Dialogues). 3

Interview with Martin Neyt, OSB
Father Martin Neyt, OSB, president of AIM International, spoke
with Sister Susan Doubet about AIM while in Erie in August.
Father Martin Neyt, OSB, of the Abbey St. André de Clerlande, Belgium
What do you see as the important happenings in AIM International
over the past several years?
AIM International has developed greatly during the past 5-6
years.
Sister Gisela Happ, OSB, secretary-general of AIM International,
has played an important role in this development. She handles many
requests for speaking engagements, prepares a list of contacts in the
monasteries, and coordinates the dispersal of the AIM grants.
The international team is knowledgeable about living conditions in
monasteries around the world, enabling us to distribute funds with a true
appreciation of the needs of the monasteries and the people in their area.
They also supply a working relationship with directors of private organizations
who are benefactors of AIM.
Also to be mentioned is the work of the Formation Commission directed
by Dom Armand Veilleux, OCSO, abbot of Scourmont Abbey in
Belgium.
The work of Sister Christine Conrath, OSB, Jouarre, France is invaluable
with the coordination of the Bulletin in English, French, Spanish
and German, and certain sections of it in Italian.
As the number of monasteries continues to grow, the needs increase.
Financial resources are limited, but for many, assistance is their sole
means of survival.
Besides the issues of poverty, health and education, addressing
the lack of formation has become more and more of a priority. What
AIM USA is doing with the Benedictine women in Africa is a great
achievement, also.
4
I am extremely proud of our growing sensitivity to the environment
and the fact that some of our monasteries where there is little medical
help are beginning clinics using medicinal plants that cure and heal.
The needs of those living near the monasteries must be identified and
met before attempting a formation process and beginning development
projects. Monasteries should help their neighbors become independent
and self-supporting.
What similarities and differences do you see in monastic life in different
cultures around the world?
Today, the new foundations do not come from Europe or the US but
from the continents themselves. African sisters from the Congolese Republic
have established a foundation in Chad. The Benedictine monks
from Hanga Abbey in Tanzania have begun a foundation in Zambia. (see
page 5) Today other cultures are reaching out to us and when we go to
these continents, it is more to learn and receive than to give.
When I had the occasion to visit Vietnamese monasteries, I was profoundly
touched to discover that AIM, together with the founding monasteries,
was considered to be their ancestor. We were received as “sacred,”
a recognition unknown elsewhere.
Peace and love are a true challenge in our often self-centered and
violent societies. I think of the difficulties found in Africa, in Latin
America, and in Asia.
Monasteries today have much more collaboration with the laity, forming
oblate or associate groups. The cenobitic life is evolving, it is not a
ritual fixed in certain forms like an “idol,” but is rather an icon of Christ,
the image of the invisible God.
Africa holds a special place in your heart as the place of your birth,
childhood and professional career. What are your current impressions
of Africa?
I recently visited a photo exhibit called “hands” at the Gugenheim
Museum, New York. Among the many representations of hands, an
African stood there in the sand, almost buried, only his hands appeared
joined in prayer on top of his head, symbolizing the present
situation in Africa.
AIM has followed the difficult situation of the monasteries of the
Ivory Coast, Congo, Rwanda, Angola. The communities in Rwanda
have suffered genocide, as have the Bernardines, Trappistines, and
Trappists in East Africa. Father Zacharias in Burundi saw forty seminarians
killed in front of his eyes because they were Christians. Father
Zacharias began his first monastery in Burundi to keep alive the fact that
Christ by his cross reconciled all humankind to himself.
Through it all, African monasteries are oases of hope and life for a
people more and more destitute.
Despite the suffering, Africa always brings to us a sense of rhythm
and music, a gift of joy and humor when one is in distress, a priority of
human and family relationships seen in every aspect of institutions, organizations,
and even development.
A blending of cultures can be seen in this story: An African professor
at Yale when questioned on the languages he speaks, answered: “When
I think of family relationships, I speak in the language of my country;
when I desire clear ideas, I think in French; when I wish to put them into
practice, I think in English.”
Benedict saw the entire world in a single ray of light (Dialogues).

Hanga Abbey is the first indigenous Benedictine community of
men in Tanzania. It was founded in 1957 from the abbey in Peramiho,
Tanzania. (Peramiho was founded in 1898 by the Benedictine
Missionaries of St.
Ottilien, Germany.)
Hanga Abbey is
deeply involved in
social services to the
neighboring people
and to those in very
remote areas of the
country. We identify
with the needs
of the people, irrespective
of one’s religious
creed, political
inclination or social
status.
From Our Mission Monasteries
Education was
seen as a very great
need, so in 1979
Hanga Vocational Training School was established, offering courses
in carpentry, masonry, tailoring and auto repair for both boys and
girls. One of the main goals of the school is to empower women,
enabling them to move out of poverty.
What is produced in the vocational school is sold and that covers
its expenses.
In 1998 the community
established co-educational
St. Benedict’s Secondary
School. We pay special attention
to the hundreds of
girls who are not able to
enroll in public schools. A
seminary was begun in 1978
to provide secondary education
for the monks.
On the occasion of celebrating
African Child’s
Day in 2002, we opened St.
Laurentius’s Kindergarten.
St. Bernard’s Dispensary
Benedictine Abbey Hanga, Tanzania
Fr. Laurent, OSB, examining a child in the Hanga
Dispensary.
Brother Tharcisius, OSB, harvesting bananas.
initially offered only first
aid services but has now developed
into a health center, with both inpatient and outpatient
services for a population of about 10,000 inhabitants of several
surrounding villages. It provides laboratory tests, mother and child
health services and a dental clinic. Two members of the community
are on the staff.
We are also into the needed ministry of transportation—we run
a truck and a minibus open to the public. We charge enough to
maintain the vehicles and pay the staff’s salaries.
Recently the community opened a water-bottling plant, tapping
Br. Tomas Temba, OSB
A kindergarten was opened in 2002.
clean water from a spring at its farm in Njombe. This helps curb
water-borne diseases such as cholera and diarrhea. As soon as we
can raise enough money, we want to enlarge this facility as clean
water is so badly needed in our area.
Since 1973 our monks have managed the Tanzania Episcopal
Conference printing press. The liturgical and religious books that we
print are used throughout Tanzania and in neighboring countries.
On October 1, 1987 five African Benedictine pioneers from
Hanga established St. Therese’s Priory in Katibunga, Zambia.
Because monastic life was not well known in the area, it was with
some difficulty that the community began to grow. The first
Preparing to pack the bottled water.
Zambian candidate
made final profession in
2001. The monastery
now has 18 Zambian
monks and 6 Tanzanian
monks. It is now a
simple priory and
dreams of becoming an
abbey in the near future.
We engage in animal
farming by keeping
cattle, pigs and
poultry. The crops we
grow on our farm include
mangoes, beans, potatoes and maize. We also have banana,
paw-paws and citrus fruit trees. We used to sell the
surplus produce but the market for agricultural products is not
very good these days.
The community runs a hostel for visitors to the monastery and for
those doing business in the local villages.
But most important of all are the spiritual services we offer:
celebrating the Mass, leading retreats and offering counseling.
Benedict saw the entire world in a single ray of light (Dialogues). 5

Letters
Worth Noting....Worth Quoting
We received promptly the check which we had requested from
AIM to clean and fix the roof damaged by a bat invasion. Thank you
so much!
Bats live in this region and are always looking for good places to
live. We think they began
to “settle in” during the construction
stages.
Some months ago we
started to clean the roof of
the church. We removed
many, many bats and threw
out bags and bags of dirt
(“bat droppings”). At that
time we could not complete
the project because
we lacked funds. With your
help, we are getting ready
to clean the roofs again,
starting this time with the
chaplaincy. This is a large and laborious project.
Mo. Miren Garamendi, OCSO
Monasterio S.M. de la Esperanza, Esmeraldas, Ecuador
Thank you for sharing your wonderful video. It was interesting
to hear about monastic life in developing countries and the challenges
they are facing. I will keep them in my prayers.
There is a lot to learn from the experiences of African and Asian
monastics. It is a great work AIM is doing. God bless your mission.
Br. John Mary Lugemwa, OSB
St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN
Madre Yosúa, OCSO, displays one of the “roof bats”
of the monastery in Esmeraldas.
I had hoped to send you some photos of the construction of our
bore well but we recently experienced a fire in our monastery. No
one was hurt but we lost many books and documents and a valuable
lap top. The fire was confined to an old temporary dormitory for the
brothers.
Please keep us in your prayers.
I must tell you that the Mass stipends could not have come
at a more opportune time. It is clearly Providence. The Philippine
economy is not doing well so we are missing our usual
benefactors.
It’s nice to know, though, that AIM USA is there
to try to assist our monastery in this part of the world. It’s
great to belong to the Benedictine family.
Fr. Savio Maria Siccuan, OSB
Monastery of the Transfiguration, Bukidnon, Philippines
Heartfelt thanks to you for the valuable books we have
received. The postulants are enthusiastically involved in
reading them, especially the biblical commentaries and
books of monastic spirituality.
We also extend our thanks to all those who have been
so generous in donating these valuable gifts.
Sr. Lea Thuruthyil, OSB, Cam.
Monastero BMV Matris Ecclesiae, Mafinga, Tanzania
Fr. Innocent Ugyeh, OCSO
Holy Cross Monastery, Illah, Nigeria
Sr. Aquinata Böckmann, OSB presented a seminar on the Rule
of St. Benedict. She divided us into small groups and we acted out
parts of the Rule such as the the chapter on the four types of monks
and the chapter on the assignment of impossible tasks. We laughed
while we learned!
Everyone enjoyed it but especially happy were the sisters who do
not know English because there was a translator with that group.
Sr. Leoni Hasler, OSB
Missionary Benedictine Sisters, Windhoek, Namibia
6
The Asirvanam community at daily meditation.
Our community is doing well—we have 6 deacons to be
ordained soon, 2 novices and 6 making simple profession.
Two years ago we started a house in Tamil Nadu and we
plan to start another house in Andhra. Both are in the south
of India.
The precious and beautiful books you sent enrich our library.
Thank you.
Fr. Maurus Koikara, OSB
Asirvanam Benedictine Monastery, Bangalore, India
Benedict saw the entire world in a single ray of light (Dialogues).

Monastery to Monastery
AIM USA’s Monastery to Monastery Program has a membership
of 113 monasteries and 9 oblate groups for the
Fiscal Year 2003-2004. The requested contribution is $300,
with $100 designated for each of the three main areas with
which AIM USA is in alliance: Africa, Asia, Latin America.
Some monasteries give less, others give more. All membership
monies are used to fund grants given to AIM
mission monasteries.
Christ in the Desert Monastery Abiquiu, NM
St. Benedict Abbey Atchison, KS
Mt. St. Scholastica Monastery Atchison, KS
Marmion Abbey Aurora, IL
Assumption Abbey Ava, MO
Holy Cross Monastery Beaumont, TX
Our Lady of Grace Monastery Beech Grove, IN
Belmont Abbey Belmont, NC
St Benedict’s Abbey Benet Lake, WI
Holy Cross Abbey Berryville, VA
Regina Laudis Abbey Bethlehem, CT
New Camoldoi Hermitage
Big Sur, CA
Annunciation Monastery Bismarck, ND
St. Scholastica Monastery Fort Smith, AR
Oblates, St. Scholastica Fort Smith, AR
St. Lucy’s Priory Glendora, CA
Holy Spirit Monastery Grand Terrace, CA
Saint Emma Monastery Greensburg, PA
Glastonbury Abbey Hingham, MA
St. Benedict’s Monastery Hokkaido, Japan
Our Lady of the Holy Trinity Abbey Huntsville, UT
Monastery of the Ascension Jerome, ID
Holy Angels Convent Jonesboro, AR
Oblates, Holy Angels Jonesboro, AR
Mount Saviour Monastery Pine City, NY
St. Benedict Monastery Pittsburgh, PA
Oblates, St. Benedict Pittsburgh, PA
Woodside Priory School Portola Valley, CA
Valley of Our Lady Monastery Prairie du Sac,WI
L’Abbaye de St. Benôit du Lac Quebec, Canada
St. Martin Convent Rapid City, SD
Assumption Abbey Richardton, ND
Sacred Heart Monastery Richardton, ND
Saint Gertrude Monastery Ridgely, MD
St. Mary Monastery Rock Island, IL
Oblates, St. Mary Monastery Rock Island, IL
We are extremely grateful to AIM USA
for providing money for us to dig a bore well.
We now have potable water for the monastery and for our neighbors.
Fr. Innocent Ugyeh, OCSO, Holy Cross Monastery, Illah, Nigeria
St. Scholastica Monastery Boerne, TX
Monastery of the Glorious Cross Branford, CT
St. Benedict Monastery Bristow, VA
St. Benedict Monastery Canyon, TX
St. Scholastica Monastery Chicago, IL
St Andrew Abbey Cleveland, OH
Benedictine Sisters
of Perpetual Adoration Clyde, MO
St. John’s Abbey Collegeville, MN
Benet Hill Monastery Colorado Springs, CO
Our Lady of Peace Monastery Columbia, MO
Epiphany Monastery
Columbia Falls, MT
Conception Abbey Conception, MO
Monastery of the Holy Spirit Conyers, GA
Monastery of St. Gertrude Cottonwood, ID
Oblates, St. Gertrude Cottonwood, ID
St. Walburg Monastery Covington, KY
Mount St Benedict Crookston, MN
Our Lady of the Angels Crozet, VA
Sacred Heart Monastery Cullman, AL
Saint Bernard Abbey Cullman, AL
Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey Dubuque, IA
St. Scholastica Monastery Duluth, MN
St. Bede Monastery Eau Claire, WI
St. Walburga Monastery Elizabeth, NJ
Mount Michael Abbey Elkhorn, NE
Transfiguration Monastery Emmaus, PA
Mount St. Benedict Monastery Erie, PA
Monastery Immaculate Conception
Ferdinand, IN
Saint Martin’s Abbey Lacey, WA
Oblates, Saint Martin’s Lacey, WA
Our Lady of Guadalupe Abbey Lafayette, OR
Sacred Heart Monastery Lisle, IL
St. Procopius Abbey Lisle, IL
St. Benedict Monastery Littleton, CO
Emmanuel Monastery
Lutherville, MD
Monastery of St. Benedict Center Madison, WI
Saint Anselm Monastery Manchester, NH
Dwelling Place Monastery Martin, KY
Blue Cloud Abbey Marvin, SD
Mepkin Abbey Moncks Corner, SC
Saint Mary’s Abbey Morristown, NJ
Queen of Angels Monastery Mt. Angel, OR
St. Peter’s Abbey Muenster, Sask, Canada
Oblates, St. Peter’s Muenster, Sask, Canada
House of Bread Monastery Nanaimo, BC, Canada
Newark Abbey Newark, NJ
St. Paul’s Abbey Newton, NJ
Immaculata Convent Norfolk, NE
Our Lady of Sorrows Oak Forest, IL
Prince of Peace Abbey Oceanside, CA
Mount Benedict Monastery Ogden, UT
St. Benedict Monastery Oxford, MI
New Mellaray Abbey Peosta, IA
Saint Bede Abbey Peru, IL
Our Lady of Guadalupe Phoenix, AZ
Red Plains Monastery Piedmont, OK
Our Lady of Genesee Abbey Piffard, NY
Mount Angel Abbey St. Benedict, OR
Holy Trinity Monastery St. David, AZ
St. Benedict Monastery St. Joseph, MN
Holy Name Monastery St. Leo, FL
Oblates,
Holy Name Monastery St. Leo, FL
St. Louis Abbey St. Louis, MO
Saint Joseph Monastery St. Marys, PA
Saint Meinrad Archabbey St. Meinrad, IN
St. Paul Monastery St. Paul, MN
Benedictine Mission House Schuyler, NE
St. Gregory’s Abbey Shawnee, OK
Saint Rita Abbey Sonoita, AZ
St. Joseph’s Abbey Spencer, MA
Subiaco Abbey Subiaco, AR
Abbey of Gethsemani Trappist, KY
St. Joseph Monastery Tulsa, OK
Abbey of New Clairvaux Vina, CA
Abbey of St. Walburga Virginia Dale, CO
Queen of Heaven Monastery Warren, OH
St. Anselm’s Abbey Washington, DC
Oblates, St. Anselm’s Washington, DC
Mother of God Monastery Watertown, SD
Weston Priory Weston, VT
Redwoods Monastery Whitethorn, CA
St. Benedict Monastery Winnipeg, Man., Canada
Mt. St. Mary’s Abbey Wrentham, MA
Sacred Heart Monastery Yankton, SD
Benedict saw the entire world in a single ray of light (Dialogues). 7

Single Point of Light
Benedict saw the entire world in a single ray of light. (Dialogues).
I first was introduced to the artist Janet
McKenzie through the National Catholic
Reporter’s “Jesus 2000” competition, which
asked artists to depict a Jesus for the new
millennium. Her painting, Jesus of the People,
won. So when a poster of her newest work
arrived in our offices I was excited to see it.
The painting, Epiphany, literally took my
breath away.
Through this commissioned work,
McKenzie was asked to bring the traditional
Matthew story to a more inclusive interpretation.
She has brought to the Christian
world a challenging, yet sensitive visual
interpretation of the much-loved story of
the Epiphany by depicting the three wise
men, the Magi–magicians, seers, astrologers–as
three women–from different cultures,
different races, and different religious backgrounds.
The seekers are gathered, standing quietly, around a Madonna
and child–these two also of mixed culture and race. A single star
shines brightly behind all of them.
My thoughts turned to this picture this summer after our AIM
USA Board members gave approval to continue our special outreach
with Benedictine women in Africa for another five years. Since the
year 2000, AIM USA has sent twenty US Benedictine women to our
sister communities in five African countries to share with them our
knowledge of monastic spirituality and the English language and,
perhaps more importantly, to experience with
them the Benedictine world as lived out in
different cultures, different races, and amid
different prayer forms and traditions.
I know that these visits to Africa have
brought our sisters and brothers exposure to
the art world of those cultures. And, as Janet
McKenzie’s Epiphany does so well, brought
to our hearts new ways of looking at old
patterns, long inherited from other worlds and
other times, with limitations and ideologies
that don’t always fit our world today.
McKenzie’s strong and courageous
“wise women” come to seek the Christ, the
Word-Made-Flesh, God-With-Us, as sincerely
as “wise women” and “wise men” still come
as seekers today.
At Christmas now, I still sing “We Three
Kings” and watch for the magi who are placed in all our crèches the
first week of January. But I won’t ever look at them again without
seeing the “seekers” in McKenzie’s Epiphany and, who knows,
maybe one day when you go to buy a nativity set....
Susan Doubet, OSB
Executive Director, AIM USA
Epiphany copyright 2002 Janet McKenzie, reproductions available at www.janetmckenzie.com
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