RECAP OF THE OBLATE DAY OF RECOLLECTION 

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2019

After several days of residual high winds and rain from the nor’easter meandering off the New England coast, the clouds finally parted on Sunday, October 13, and the sun reappeared to welcome in the first Oblate Day of Recollection of this academic year.  The Oblates, who came from throughout Rhode Island as well as Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and New York, are laypersons who have a special connection to Portsmouth Abbey and who attempt to live their lives according to the Rule of St. Benedict.  This is done outside the ‘walls’ of the monastery in the context of their lives as family members, business people, educators and students, as well as in their social circles. A special weekend guest from East Haven CT was Paul Zalonski, a member of the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation, a Catholic ecclesial movement, and an Oblate of St. Benedict at Saint Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana.  His excellent blog may be accessed at .
 
Following a general format which has been perfected over many years, the Day of Recollection was planned for a Sunday which fell during a school holiday or a long weekend, in this case, Columbus Day.  Although there were a number of Portsmouth Abbey School students who were unable to travel home in that short a time and who remained on campus, the atmosphere was more subdued and quiet than usual.  The day began at the 9:20 a.m. Conventual Mass in the Abbey Church with the monastic community.  Afterwards the group retired to the Stillman Dining Hall for brunch which was orchestrated by Sarah Rodrigues, head of the dining facility, who also invited the Oblates back later for lunch before their departure from campus.
 
Fr. Michael Brunner OSB, the Prior Administrator of Portsmouth Abbey, delivered the main conference titled “God’s Mercy” in the school’s comfortable Regan Lecture Hall.  Backed by an engaging PowerPoint presentation, he began by leading off with an explanation of the concept of mercy from the pre-Christian era and the Old Testament.  Not surprisingly, he elicited a number of questions and comments from the listeners about very current topics, most seemingly ripped from recent news headlines.  Perhaps most moving and emotional were deeply personal stories freely shared by some Oblates about family matters involving examples of mercy and forgiveness and reconciliation, in many cases, or sadly not, in other instances. Fr. Michael was introduced by Br. Sixtus Roslevich OSB, Portsmouth’s new Director of Oblates who until recently held the same position at the St. Louis Abbey in Missouri.  After welcoming the group, he next invited Christopher Fisher, Executive Director of the annual Portsmouth Institute, to say a few words about the 2020 edition of the program scheduled for June 19-21.  Chris is looking to expand the involvement and participation of the Oblates in future Institutes as a way to integrate programs on contemporary Christian thought and practice among the various constituencies of Portsmouth’s wider Abbey Family.
 
For those not aware of its existence, Br. Sixtus highly recommended to the group a small monthly publication called Magnificat.  It contains daily Mass readings, morning and evening prayers for the Divine Office, and includes well-written commentaries and essays on specially chosen artworks which tie in with the seasons and solemnities of the Church year.  The month of October has been designated as “Extraordinary Mission Month” and this “deluxe” issue is full of short articles highlighting well-known, and some not-so-well-known, missionary personages throughout time. Portsmouth Abbey last month celebrated the 100^th anniversary of its founding in 1919 and, in a similar vein, this issue of Magnificat marks the centennial of Pope Benedict XV’s apostolic letter on the Church’s missionary activities, Maximum Illud. The cover illustration for October depicts a 13^th century stained glass window from Canterbury Cathedral in England titled, The Miraculous Draught of Fishes.  The lower third of the picture shows the waves of the Sea of Galilee. It allows a visual connection between the literal ‘currents’ carrying Jesus and his Apostles in a small boat and the title which Oblate Blake Billings has given to our new weekly newsletter for which he is chiefly responsible.  Besides reporting on ‘current events’ in and around the monastery, The Current newsletter carries us from week to week with inspiration.  And, of course all, of this takes place as the currents of Narragansett Bay flow by the foot of our campus.
 
Pope Francis has said that, “Mission is at once a passion for Jesus and a passion for his people.”  An elucidating article in Magnificat explains, “This means that every missionary who experiences a profound encounter with Jesus through personal friendship will want to share with others the fruits of this encounter.”  In our daily lives, isn’t that what we’re called to do as Oblates, as Christians, as practicing Catholics in our encounter with others?
 
Before the afternoon drew to a close with the Midday Office chanted with the monks in choir, Eucharistic Adoration, and time set aside for confession, a young man made his Promise of Oblation to Fr. Michael, as the superior, and to the monastic community of Portsmouth Abbey.  Eric Buck of Somerville, Massachusetts, who made his initial promise as an Oblate Novice on March 4, 2018, read his promise and signed his documents in the abbey church.  The next Day of Recollection is being planned for the upcoming Season of Advent.