ABBEY BANNER - St. John's Abbey

More documents

Recommendations

Info

VOCATIONS Paul-Vincent Niebauer, OSB, at the Los Angeles Religious Education Convention The Abbey Vocation Office sponsored a booth at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, February 26-March 1. With over 35,000 attendees and approximately 150 exhibitors, the L.A. Congress is one of the largest annual gatherings of Catholics in North America. David Paul Lange, OSB, and I personally handed out over 4000 wallet-sized magnets featuring an image of the young Saint Benedict created by Brother David Paul. The new vocation website address is included on the magnet. The young Benedict by David Paul page 22 Abbey Banner Spring 2009 Abbey Vocation Office sponsors two events by Paul-Vincent Niebauer, OSB A booth at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress and a house for the Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity A number of connections were made with men interested in exploring monastic life at Saint John’s as well as participating in the annual summer Monastic Experience Program (MEP). The second event, sponsored by the Abbey Vocation Office, was an alternative spring break retreat, March 2-6. Participants resided in the abbey in the same area where the monastic candidates, novices and juniors live. Their schedule focused on lectio divina (prayerful reading), both private and as a group, as well as public prayer, meals and recreation with the monastic community. During three days the retreatants performed volunteer work with the Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity at a project in St. Cloud. Immediately after Morning Prayer, they boarded a van with a good supply of soup, bread, fruit, fresh vegetables and beverages and headed for the building site. Most of the work took place outdoors with the construction of four decks on the back side of a four-plex unit. The families that will move into two of the units worked alongside the retreatants and made the experience particularly rewarding. When all stopped for lunch, a hymn was sung and Midday Prayer recited. No disposable paper or plastic products were used for the meal. Though the weather was very cold, the participants were most enthusiastic about being involved with the local community in this Habitat project. This was the first time for such a retreat. Given the positive response, it will be repeated next year. + Volunteers at the Habitat for Humanity project: l. to r., Jason Ziegler, Paul- Vincent Niebauer, OSB, Michael Wollmering, Joe Weichman, Nick Kleespie Paul-Vincent Niebauer, OSB, is the abbey’s vocation director.
BANNER BITS New publications by monks – from piano to poetry Robert Koopmann, OSB, has recorded a second collection of seventeen piano improvisations of hymns, spirituals and chants. Entitled Wondrous Love: More Sacred Improvisations, this 58-minute CD includes “Nobody Knows,” “Jesu Dulcis Memoria,” “Were You There?” and “Wondrous Love.” Father Robert is joined by clarinetist Bruce Thornton on three spirituals: “Deep River,” “Swing Low,” and “Precious Lord.” $15.95. Saint John’s Bookstore: 1-800-420-4509. “Great editors do not discover nor produce great authors; great authors create and produce great publishers.” (John Farrar) Michael Kwatera, OSB, writes in a down-to-earth, crisp style What Every Catholic Needs To Know About The Eucharist (San Jose, CA: Resource Publications, Inc.). With abundant references to the Bible, documents of Vatican II, comments of early and contemporary theologians and homespun anecdotes, Father Michael helps readers better understand and celebrate the Eucharist. The 56-page booklet is ideal for school and parish study. $9.95. Saint John’s Bookstore: 1-800-420-4509. Anthony Ruff, OSB, took seriously the U.S. bishops’ recommendation that for daily Mass the Responsorial Psalm be sung “in a simple chanted setting.” He produced Responsorial Psalms for Weekday Mass (Liturgical Press) for Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter. Father Anthony intends these psalms to be sung unaccompanied and led by a single cantor. Keyboard accompaniments and guitar chords are provided. 148 pages, spiral-bound. $34.95. Liturgical Press: 1-800-858-5450. + Kilian McDonnell, OSB, entitles his third book of poetry God Drops and Loses Things (Saint John’s University Press). He has picked up those dropped and lost things and made poignant poems of the pieces. Most of the 46 poems are headed by a biblical quotation that sets the stage for Father Kilian’s re-imaging the text in a surprising and delightful way. See the back cover of this issue for two of the poems. $11.95. Liturgical Press: 1-800-858-5450. Robert Koopmann, OSB, is the abbey’s director of music. Michael Kwatera, OSB, is director of abbey liturgy and Oblates. Kilian McDonnell, OSB, is professor emeritus of theology and founder of the Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research. Anthony Ruff, OSB, is assistant professor of theology and founder of the National Catholic Youth Choir. Abbey Banner Spring 2009 page 23
Page 1 and 2: Meet a Monk: Luke Dowal, OSB, 4 Pri
Page 3 and 4: The might of night and light by Dan
Page 5 and 6: Community Directory 2008 Luke Dowal
Page 7 and 8: Before the actual printing begins a
Page 9 and 10: Abbey approves seven-year Vision St
Page 11 and 12: professional services, Father Meinr
Page 13 and 14: Archabbot Douglas Nowicki, OSB, pre
Page 15 and 16: Abbot John distributes communion to
Page 17 and 18: Bruce Luverne Wollmering, OSB 1940-
Page 19 and 20: Can you construct a building out of
Page 21: Dave Hrbacek, The Catholic Spirit A
Page 25 and 26: Daniel Durken, OSB Daniel Durken, O
Page 27 and 28: Alan Reed, OSB After eight years of
Page 29 and 30: Aelred Senna, OSB Simon-Hòa Phan,
Page 31 and 32: Recently I read a book that changed

ABBEY BANNER - St. John's Abbey

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?