The Altar of the Former Abbey Church Decorated ... - St. John's Abbey

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ABBEY MISSIONS Except for uprooted trees and bushes, Saint Augustine’s Monastery and College escaped major damage from Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne which roared over the Bahamas in early and late September. Other parts of Nassau and especially the Family Islands were not as fortunate. Archbishop Patrick Pinder of Nassau reflects on the extensive damage of the ferocious storms in his letter to the Catholics of the Bahamas. He writes in part: “This hurricane was unique in that it affected almost every island in our archipelago. I had the opportunity to travel to some of the islands and see first hand some of the wreck and ruin left behind in the wake of Hurricane Frances. page 22 The Abbey Banner Winter 2004 “One does not easily forget the images of destruction. There were the roofs stripped away and entire homes which collapsed under the persistent hammering of the wind. One does not soon forget the sight of homes still standing but with the entire interior, including walls, furniture and all personal belongings, destroyed by storm surges. “These are the images of devastation I saw. These are images of lives severely disrupted. The scale of destruction was such as I have never known to take place in our Bahamian community before. What is required of us is nothing less than a full scale national response. The roof top from one of the classrooms at Mary Star of the Sea School, Freeport, Grand Bahama. Many of the classrooms suffered damage from floodings. The roof of the rectory of St. Agnes Church on Grand Bahama was blown off. Hurricanes Batter Bahamas “Some have speculated that this natural disaster was God’s judgment upon us. I suggest that we rather think in terms of the opportunity that Holy Saviour Church, Cockburn Town, San Salvador, received severe damages. Shingles were blown away. The middle section of the stained glass window above the altar was blown out in addition to two doors and other windows. this disaster provides for us to rediscover some basic community values. This is a time for us to seek out relatives and friends to share what little we have with those who have even less. Let us go forward with the firm conviction that our gracious God does not abandon us in times of trouble.” Readers who wish to contribute to the Nassau Archdiocesan Hurricane Relief Committee should write to: Bahamas Mission of Florida, Inc. / Attention: Msgr. Preston Moss / P.O. Box N8187 / Nassau, Bahamas. Photographs on this page come through the courtesy of Paula Strachan-Reckley, coordinating editor of Bahama Catholic.
In 1999 the monks of Saint Anselm’s Priory in Tokyo moved to Holy Trinity Monastery in Fujimi, a town of 15,000 located at the very center of Japan’s island of Honshu. Fujimi is 120 miles southwest of Tokyo in the foothills of the Japanese Alps, some 3,000 feet above sea level. East of the town stands tall and majestic Mount Fuji, the most revered of all mountains in Japan. Fujimi is especially known for its fresh mountain air and since 1926 has been a center for rehabilitation of tuberculosis patients. A 200-bed hospital and a nursing home for 150 serve the area. Recreation areas feature mountain climbing, skiing, hang gliding, mountain biking and golfing. The town is a cool summer retreat from the heat of urban centers. The summer place of former Japanese prime minister Inukai is two minutes from the monastery and features a beautiful all-season garden. Fujimi is also noted for its fresh mountain-grown vegetables, buck- Overlooking Fujimi Mount Fuji, the most revered of all mountains in Japan Facts about Fujimi by Kieran Nolan, OSB “Whenever, wherever, good tasting water, Fujimi.” wheat noodles and yogurt, ice cream, fresh milk and especially its good drinking water. The water supply protective covers, seen all over town, have the following words written in ENG- LISH: “Whenever, wherever, good tasting water, Fujimi.” This good tasting water is put to excellent use in the production of Japanese whiskey and rice wine or Japanese saki. The major industrial center in Fujimi is the Seiko Epson laboratories with over a thousand employees in computer research. Other industries include tomato juice canning and camera factories. In Fujimi one can find a Shinto shrine, a Buddhist temple, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, United Church of Christ chapel, a Lutheran church and retreat center and, of course, a Benedictine monastery. There is a strong educational system in Fujimi that includes an A Shinto Shrine agricultural school and an art school. Future plans for connecting Fujimi with the rest of Japan requires the development of a linear motor car capable of going 500 kilometers/390 miles an hour and that will be expected to make the 120-mile trip to Tokyo in one hour. An industrial park is also in the planning stages. A tension exists between maintainingagriculture and developing industry. A hopeful sign of the continuation of those “good ol’ ABBEY MISSIONS Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church days” is reflected in the unique Onbashira (Worthy Pillars) Festival celebrated every seven years. The fall 2004 issue of The Abbey Banner described this celebration of transporting logs from the mountain to the Shinto shrine at nearby Lake Suwa. In this context the seven Benedictine monks of Holy Trinity Monastery carry out their daily routine of worship and work. Kieran Nolan is a member and former prior of Holy Trinity Monastery, Fujimi, Japan. The Abbey Banner Winter 2004 page 23
Page 1 and 2: Abbey Christmas Past, page 4 The Co
Page 3 and 4: EMMANUEL by Daniel Durken, OSB Ther
Page 5 and 6: In the monastery a typical Christma
Page 7 and 8: Chinese graduates of Saint John’s
Page 9 and 10: Cyprian Weaver, OSB, teaches at Fu
Page 11 and 12: Report on the Congress of Abbots by
Page 13 and 14: Anna Maria Brunner, first child to
Page 15 and 16: Sutera, OSB, Saint Scholastica Mona
Page 17 and 18: So many notes! the University of Wi
Page 19 and 20: A hand-carved Nativity scene from t
Page 21: Ryan Radmer, at left, and Robert Ki
Page 25 and 26: L. to r.: Manuel Cely, OSB; James H
Page 27 and 28: Illumination: “Madonna and Child

The Altar of the Former Abbey Church Decorated ... - St. John's Abbey

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