News - September 2023 RSS Feed

The past month has been an active one for the monastery, with an array of guests, retreats, and activities, including the eruption of the new academic year. We capture some of the highlights.

Our monthly exploration of Liturgy turns this week to a new theme, the theme of Eucharistic Renewal. Br. Benedict Maria, in his seminary experience, has encountered this nationwide effort in a powerful way, and comments on how it is progressing.

Benedictine Oblates, including our own Dionne Larson, gathered in Rome recently for their Fifth World Congress. We include excerpts from the address given to them by Pope Francis, who sums up three critical aspects of Benedictine life: search for God, enthusiasm, and hospitality.

Our Abbot Michael Brunner recently co-directed a retreat, together with other members of the monastic community, for the Columban Fathers in Bristol, Rhode Island. The abbot’s session focused on the central theme of holiness, linking it to St. Benedict’s Rule.

On the first day of classes, Abbot Michael Brunner’s homily for the Opening Mass turned to the gospel parable of the talents. The coinciding twenty-second anniversary of the attacks of 9-11 provided an important context by which he framed his message.

Brother Sixtus Roslevich recently hosted Jon Yarnell of the Nakashima Studios in New Hope, after himself making a couple of trips to the Pennsylvania studios. He reports on the visit, which has renewed our appreciation of the community’s beautiful Nakashima inheritance.

In returning to this monthly series on the “Love of Learning,” we will explore this year some of the experiences members of our monastic community have had with education, whether as educators or as students. We begin by taking stock of what may be “Benedictine” in the experience of “Learning.”

This month, to begin our monthly series on “Artists of the Abbey,” Brother Sixtus Roslevich invites us to explore some of the life and work of William Congdon, who was the subject of an exhibit this spring at the McEvoy Gallery here on the campus.

The Portsmouth Oblates arrived on Sunday, August 20 for a "Summer's Day of Recollection on the Bay." Br. Sixtus Roslevich partnered with pilgrim Dottie Ward to present reflections inspired by their recent Lourdes pilgrimage.

Our new publication year coincides with the monastery's patronal feast of Saint Gregory the Great. We welcome back our readers with an update on some of the recent and upcoming events at his monastery.