Sabbatical in Sri Lanka and India 2023

Sabbatical in Sri Lanka and India 2023

Mountain panorama in Kerala, with Fr. John & driver Shijo

O God, lead me from death to life,                             from falsehood to truth.
Lead me from despair to hope, from fear to trust.
Lead me from hate to love, from war to peace.
Let peace fill our hearts,                                                         our world and our universe!
                                                                                        Upanishads      

Ayurvedic remedies and spices

2023 was a very special year for me. After 25 years of running the St. Benedict Center, I received  as a gift a three-month sabbatical! In November 2021, I had had Covid and from that time on I was constantly tired. Through our connections to India and Sri Lanka, the idea of an Ayurvedic cure came up. In a hotel near Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, I was treated with traditional Indian medicine. A competent doctor, massages, detoxification and yoga exercises, stillness and daily swimming: All that together brought me real help and I feel much better now.

Sri Lanka

 

with Fr. Dorothick in the hut of Fr. Bede Griffith

with Mission Exposure group in Tanjavur

Five unforgettable weeks in India followed. A highlight was my private retreat at Shantivanam, the ashram founded by the English monk, Father Bede Griffith. Benedictine life is completely embedded there in traditional Indian culture. Every day two hours, one in the morning and one in the evening, are dedicated to silent meditation in the monastery church. In the Liturgy of the Hours, the monks sing the Psalms and listen to readings from the Bible. Texts from other religions, especially Hinduism, are also read regularly. The words from the Upanishads quoted above are recited every day at midday prayer. It was a special honor for me to meet with the prior, Father Dorothick, for spiritual direction every day in the very simple hut in which Fr. Griffith once lived and worked. My inner quiet, which had filled me during the cure already, now helped me during the retreat to face some of the things which still needed healing within me and to bring them to prayer.

 

Shantivanam

 

Kumily, with students of children’s home

For two weeks, I was able to join a group of young confreres from Germany, Tanzania and Zambia who were traveling in India for the purpose of "mission exposure" (getting to know our world-wide missionary work). Together we visited a number of Indian Benedictine monasteries and became familiar with the country, the people and the culture of India.


Indian Monasteries

 

Indian Temples

 

Indian People & Culture

 

Finally, I spent two weeks in Kumily in the state of Kerala, in the priory of our congregation, participating in the prayer and work of our Indian confreres and also enjoying some tourist experiences, including views of wonderful mountain panoramas – and an elephant ride! I often visited Don Bosco Bhavan, a home in which the monks of the priory welcome orphaned or destitute boys.

Elephant Ride in Kumily, Kerala

After India I spent four weeks in Germany where my sabbatical found its conclusion in enjoyable encounters with relatives, friends, and a class reunion after 45 years of high school! I am very grateful for this beautiful time of rest and renewal for body, soul and spirit.

Mother of God Icon, Malom, Kerala

In the second monastery of our confreres at Malom in the north of Kerala, I found in the chapel this icon of Mary, the Mother of God. Mary holds Jesus and shows him to us at the same time. Jesus has a scroll in one hand, the other hand is stretched out in a gesture of blessing. In our war-torn and fragmented world, may HIS word and blessing guide and strengthen us on all the journeys of our life!

                      Fr. Thomas

 

Kumily, kerala

News Release: Upcoming Retreat with Father Larry Gillick

The Rev. Larry Gillick, SJ, will present an Ignatian Silent Retreat titled, “I Must Stay at Your House Today.” (Luke 19:1-11) at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, on June 6 - 9, 2024. These days will be spent in reflecting on what it means to be at “home” with the mystery of God, the person of Jesus and the discernment of spirits within my personal “home.” Fr. Gillick will give six conferences oriented toward abundant time for prayer, reading and writing.  Each day we will celebrate the Eucharist and end with a silent group reflection on the day. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available. Meals as well as the rest of the days will be in prayerful silence.

Jesuit Father Larry Gillick was ordained a priest in 1972. His former assignments include Spiritual Director for the younger Jesuits, Rector of the Jesuit Community at Creighton Prep in Omaha, and Superior of Mulumba House.  He currently serves as Director of the Deglman Center for Ignatian Spirituality at Creighton University. He is a sought-after retreat master around the country and spiritual director of students, faculty, alumni at Creighton University, and people from far and wide.

The retreat begins on Thursday, at 6:00 p.m. and ends on Sunday after Lunch.  The program fee is $80; room and board charges are additional.

Fr. Thomas' Spring Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Saint Francis de Sales

“A spoonful of honey attracts more flies than a barrel full of vinegar.” These are the words of Saint Francis de Sales (1567–1622). Francis ministered as a priest in Switzerland, became later the bishop of Geneva, and was known for his kind and gentle personality. Francis employed the most modern methods of evangelization at his time: printing his sermons on pamphlets that he fixed on trees, gates and doors of homes. Plus, he wrote the first book in Church history that was addressed specifically to lay people, the Introduction to the Devout Life.

In this work, he points out that the journey to a deeper relationship with God and to holiness looks differently “for the gentleman, the worker, the soldier, the servant, the prince, the married woman, the widow or widower and the young. But even this distinction is not sufficient.” For the spiritual practice “must also be adapted to the strength, temperament, activities and duties of each person.”

Prayer, the sacraments, and growing in the virtues are important for everyone, he says. But these practices must be carried out in accordance with a person’s station in life and their calling. “The bee collects honey from flowers without harming them; it leaves them as whole and as fresh as it found them. True devotion is like the bee and even better: Not only does it not undermine any vocation or activity, but it makes it more perfect. Your care for your family becomes more peaceful; the mutual love of husband and wife, deeper…and every occupation, more pleasant and agreeable.”

Therefore, discernment is needed in terms of which spiritual practices are right for each one of us at this point in our lives. Going on retreat and stepping back from one’s everyday routines and duties can be helpful. A retreat, private and individual or in a group, can be a time of learning and practicing new spiritual disciplines. Meeting with a spiritual director can bring deeper understanding and more inner clarity. Please let us know when you are ready to go on retreat!

From St. Benedict Center I can report that we have made a number of improvements during the past months: new easy chairs in the concourse and the lobby, renovated bathrooms, and very good Wi-Fi now also in the Solarium. A second 85’’ Smart TV was added and a Kandao (Meeting Owl), a 360⁰ webcam with 8 microphones, which is a great improvement for Zoom meetings. 

Especially worth noting among the upcoming events of our program schedule is the weekend retreat on Astronomy and Faith on April 6 – 7 with Father Christoph Gerhard, OSB, an astronomer from Germany who will make you marvel about our wonderful cosmos! Also, our former prior, Father Mauritius Wilde, OSB, will come back to us who now is the Prior of the Benedictine Study House of Sant’ Anselmo in Rome, Italy. He will present a retreat on Contemplating the Holy Eucharist on May 3 – 5. – I am looking forward to seeing you again soon! 

Fr. Thomas Leitner, OSB, Administrator

News Release: Astronomy and Faith Retreat at the Saint Benedict Center

Rev. Christoph Gerhard, OSB.

The Rev. Christoph Gerhard, OSB, will present a retreat titled, Astronomy and Faith at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, on April 6 - 7, 2024.

Astronomy explores planets, stars and distant galaxies in search of life. Looking through a telescope into the “infinity” of the cosmos fills us with awe of the Creator. Science and faith do not contradict each other; rather they are related and offer us different, complementary approaches to the one reality.  They can lead one other to greater depth and truth: astronomy can move faith out of its human narrowness and faith takes astronomy toward its Origin and Creator.  Together we will have a look into the universe and its physics.  In Scripture and in Christian tradition we find God, the Creator of the universe. Relating both to each other will bring about a stimulating conversation about God and God’s fascinating world.  If we take seriously the findings of astronomy, they also affect our view of our environment, and we will deal differently with nature and the limited resources of our planet earth. In the evening, if the sky allows it, we will observe the beauty of the starry sky with and without a telescope. 

Benedictine Father Christoph Gerhard is an astronomer and comes to us from Germany for this retreat. He lives at the Abbey of Muensterschwarzach in Bavaria. He has authored several books on faith and astronomy, presents retreats, and is also the abbey’s business administrator. Visit www.klostersternwarte.de.                                                                      

The retreat begins on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and ends on Sunday after Lunch.  The program fee is $60; room and board charges are additional.  Register by calling (402) 352-8819 or select the button below.

News Release: Sharon Doran to Speak at St. Benedict Center

Sharon Doran

On April 5 - 6, 2024, Sharon Doran, the foundress and teaching director of Seeking Truth Catholic Bible Study, Omaha, will speak at St. Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, on The Feminine Genius of Queen Esther. 

Delve into the mesmerizing life of the orphan girl Hadassah, the beautiful, young, Jewish woman who risked her own life to become Queen Esther of Persia. This Biblical Retreat will be about this fascinating Old Testament book and its Christ-like heroine Esther, who was willing to lay down her own life for the salvation of God’s people. The book of Esther is still read on the Jewish feast of Purim around the world. Esther is a timely book for today: “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14. Esther promises to stir your soul, for you too were created and gifted with unique talents to be used in God’s Kingdom for a time such as this! Please join us. Retreat concludes with the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the hour of Divine Mercy on Saturday and Mass.

An experienced Bible Study teacher for over two decades, Sharon Doran has a passion for Scripture that will motivate and challenge you to immerse yourself in God's Word and apply His message to your everyday life. She has a Master’s of Arts degree in Education and has taught at both the high school and university levels. She holds a second Master's Degree in Pastoral Theology with an emphasis in Sacred Scripture from the Augustine Institute in Denver, Colorado. She is also a certified spiritual director in the Ignatian tradition now also holds a master’s degree in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University.

Sharon is frequently invited to speak at church events, city-wide venues, regional seminars and conferences.  She is married to Dr. Stephen Doran and is the mother of five sons. She has endured several cancer surgeries for more than a decade, but the blessing has been a deeper walk with Him and urgency to share the gospel. The Doran family attends St. Margaret Mary's parish. Sharon was invited by the Archdiocese of Omaha's Adult Faith Formation Office to start a new Catholic Bible Study for men and women in the Omaha area.                     

The program begins on Friday, 7:30 p.m. and closes on Saturday at 4:45 p.m. Sign up by clicking the button below or call St. Benedict Center at 402-352-8819 for more information.

Christmas Message from Fr. Thomas Leitner

A Christmas Message from Fr. Thomas Leitner, OSB - at the St. Benedict Center

News Release: Christmas Craft Show 2023

Under the motto, Christmas on the Hill, handmade crafts by over fifty vendors will be for sale at St. Benedict Center, 4 miles north of Schuyler on Highway 15, from November 26 to December 10, 2023.  Shop in a peaceful atmosphere for unique gifts like wall hangings, quilts, Christmas decorations, woodworking, blown glass, homemade honey products, jewelry, and homemade bakery!

Opening times are Monday through Friday, 2:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Final Sunday, Dec. 11, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The gift shop will be open. For lunch reservations on certain days, click here.

In addition, there will be an opportunity to view a colorful display of beautiful nativity scenes from all over the world!

There is no admission fee for the craft show and the exhibit.

Fall Newsletter from Fr. Thomas, OSB

Dear Friends, 

Autumn is a season of particular beauty. If the low temperatures and the storms don’t come too suddenly, one can enjoy trees and bushes with leaves in all shades of red and yellow around the lake at St. Benedict Center, plus the many trees with their red crabapples. In addition, sunrises often paint the sky in the many colors of the rainbow. This is God’s paintbrush at work!

The beauty of autumn also reminds us of the impermanence and transiency of all created things. It gets us in touch with our longing for that which will never end – eternity and our heavenly home. Saint Paul points out that we who are baptized are part of this beautiful creation but are already a new creation. We who belong to Christ have already received the pledge of eternity, the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

Fulfillment of Creation, Thomas Ingmire, Copyright 2011, The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota USA. Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

Thomas Ingmire’s illumination in The Saint John’s Bible titled, Fulfillment of Creation, which goes with Paul’s Letter to the Romans, Chapter 8, shows in the starry sky an image from the Hubble telescope of a galaxy in the shape of a cross. God created this magnificent universe; and God showed us in His Son Jesus how much He loves us. The creator’s work, alluded to in the illumination at the bottom, continues in the cosmos and even with us. The x’s, squares and triangles representing it flow from there into the present and into the light of the future. Our universe, which we have learned to explore and to marvel about through astronomy, quantum physics and computers is, at the same time, wrapped into a Divine love which became visible in the crucified love of Jesus Christ. Nobody and nothing can separate us from it, no rulers, nor demons, nor things present, nor things to come, neither death nor life, nor anything in all creation. “All things work for good for those who love God” (Romans 8:28). – A time of retreat can help us see this truth play out in our lives more clearly.   

Especially worth noting among the upcoming events of our program schedule is the weekend retreat on September 8 – 10 with Ignatian Associate Lisa Kelly and Steve Titus, which we now added to this year’s program schedule. It combines the acclaimed life coaching method Best Year Yet with discernment of the spirits according to Saint Ignatius of Loyola. – On October 28, Sister Colette Baldwin will guide you in reflecting and marveling about the gifts of autumn! – I am looking forward to seeing you again soon!

Fr. Thomas Leitner, OSB, Administrator    

Summer Newsletter from Fr. Thomas

Dear Friends, 

Milkweed and Butterfly, Chris Tomlin, Copyright 2002, The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

I marvel about the work of Chris Tomlin, a natural history illustrator, for The Saint John’s Bible. The plants and animals he depicts are of photographic accuracy and their beauty is stunning. Tomlins illumination, Milkweed and Butterflies appears at the end of Mark’s Gospel and points to the Resurrection of Jesus. He who gave his life for us now lives – and shows us the way to life with God and to life in fullness.

This truth is also expressed in the following parable that can give us pause: One caterpillar says, “Guess what, I’ve heard that we will perhaps be able to fly one day.” – “Nonsense!” the other replies. “You can slip and fly off the leaf, so you fall on your head, and it hurts. Our life is crawling and eating.” – “But don’t you think there is perhaps more than eating and crawling?” the one asks. “Fantasy pure, and empty talk,” the other retorts. “Have you ever seen a flying caterpillar? We eat, crawl, and someday we will die. Then it’s over.”

If the two only knew what will become of them: They will be beautiful, colorful, joyful butterflies! Of course, as long as they move only in their caterpillar world, they have no idea of what it is like to fly. As long as we move in our human caterpillar world, talk about resurrection appears enigmatic. Our life is crawling and eating. Pope Francis points out in his encyclical Laudato Si’ that it is necessary for us to step out of the “technocratic paradigm” of producing and consuming in which we so often live, in order to be able to see the beauty of creation and to discover the deeper meaning of life. – A retreat at St. Benedict Center can widen our horizon and open our hearts to the power and love of God.

Our permanent display of The Saint John’s Bible, this wonderful handwritten and illuminated seven-volume bible, is increasingly popular among groups and individuals. Please schedule your visit for a tour or a lectio and visio divina experience or take a self-guided tour! – Especially worth noting among the upcoming events of our program schedule is the weekend retreat on July 28 – 30 with Benedictine Oblate and author Judith Valente titled, Thomas Merton and Dorothy Day: Contemplative Wisdom for Crisis Times. Judy will show us how these two remarkable 20th century persons of prayer and action can help us deal with the personal and social challenges that we face today. – I am looking forward to seeing you again soon!

Fr. Thomas Leitner, OSB, Administrator  

Judith Valente to Speak at Saint Benedict Center 

On July 28 - 30, 2023, award-winning author, poet, and journalist Judith Valente will come to St. Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, and present a weekend retreat on the topic of Thomas Merton & Dorothy Day: Contemplative Wisdom for Crisis Times.

In their many writings, Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton speak directly to the personal and social challenges we face in today's world. We will delve into what they have to say about healing division and conflict, meeting social needs, seeking peace, the importance of prayer and taking time to pause. We will look at how we too can become "contemplatives in action" and work to heal a broken world.

Judith Valente is a sought-after speaker and retreat leader on living a more contemplative life, discovering inner wisdom through poetry, and finding meaning in your work. She is an Oblate of the Benedictine monastery Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, KS, which is the subject of her award-winning 2013 memoir, Atchison Blue: A Search for Silence, a Spiritual Home and a Living Faith, chosen by Religion Newswriters Association as one of the three best spirituality books of that year. Her new book, How to Be: A Monk & a Journalist Reflect on Living & Dying, Purpose & Prayer, Forgiveness & Friendship is a dialogue between two spiritual seekers exploring life's complex questions. Her co-author is Brother Paul Quenon, a Trappist monk of the famous Abbey of Gethsemani who knew the great spirituality author, Thomas Merton.

Her 2018 book, How to Live: What the Rule of St. Benedict Teaches Us About Happiness, Meaning, and Community has been used by book group members throughout the world seeking to live a more contemplative life in the secular world. She is also co-author with Brother Paul Quenon of The Art of Pausing: Meditations for the Overworked and Overwhelmed, winner of a 2013 Catholic Press Association Award. She is a former on-air correspondent who covered faith and values for Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly on national PBS-TV. She contributes articles to National Catholic Reporter and U.S. Catholic magazine. Ms. Valente is also a poet whose poetry chapbook, Inventing An Alphabet, was chosen by Mary Oliver for the 2005 national Aldrich Poetry Prize. Her second collection, Discovering Moons, was published in 2009. Ms. Valente holds a BA in English and classical languages from St. Peter's University in Jersey City, NJ, and an MFA in creative writing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She is married to former Illinois Judge Charles Reynard, also a poet, with whom she co-edited the 2005 anthology, Twenty Poems to Nourish Your Soul, winner of an Eric Hoffer Book citation. The couple operates an alfalfa farm in central Illinois. She is vice president of the International Thomas Merton Society.

The retreat begins on Friday, at 7:30 p.m. and closes on Sunday after lunch.  The program fee is $ 70; room and board are additional.

Kathleen Norris to Speak at Saint Benedict Center

On June 16 - 17, 2023, award-winning poet, writer, and best-selling author Kathleen Norris will come to St. Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, and speak on the topic of Discerning What Matters: Embracing a Life of Meaning. On Friday, June 16, at 7:30 p.m. she will give an evening presentation, followed by discussion and sharing. On Saturday, June 17, she will present from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

What matters most to us in our lives? Why does belief matter? To what do we give our hearts? What is the core message of what we believe—creeds or commitment? To what extent is to believe also “to belove”? The Bible as our collective story matters. How is that story reflected in our daily lives? What is it about the Bible that always seems to address our present moment? Community matters for in it individualism and imperfection meet grace and acceptance. What is our part in the Body of Christ? Place Matters: In what ways is faith set within the physical space of home, church, land and people? We Matter: What does it mean to remain in God’s image and to counter our selfishness by embracing the world and its needs? Kathleen Norris’ presentations will be at once intimate and historical, rich in poetry and meditations, brimming with exasperation and reverence, deeply grounded in both nature and spirit, sometimes funny, and often provocative.

Norris is the author of The New York Times bestsellers, The Cloister Walk, Acedia and Me: A Marriage, Monks and a Writer’s Life, Dakota: A Spiritual Geography, Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith and The Virgin of Bennington. She also has published seven books of poetry. Some reviewers have compared her portrait of the world of the monastics in The Cloister Walk to the writings of Thomas Merton. Norris also appears on the DVD and companion book project titled Embracing a Life of Meaning: Kathleen Norris on Discovering What Matters. Kathleen Norris is a Benedictine Oblate of Assumption Abbey in Richardton, North Dakota. Widowed in 2003, she lives in Honululu, Hawaii. She travels to the mainland regularly to speak to students, medical professionals, social workers, and chaplains at colleges and universities, as well as churches and teaching hospitals. She also serves as an editorial advisor to Give Us This Day.

The program fee is $70. for Friday only it is $20; for Saturday only it is $50. On Saturday, lunch is available at the Center for $12.87 (includes tax), if you request it in advance. All guest rooms at St. Benedict Center for the night from Friday to Saturday are fully booked. However, hotel accommodation is available in Schuyler and Columbus.

Father David Hemann to Perform at Saint Benedict Center, Schuyler

Come and enjoy an evening of beautiful music and sharing of the Gospel with Fr. David Hemann on June 4. This prayerful, inspirational concert will draw you into the presence of our Lord. Fr. David’s original music provides peace and hope for the anxious heart and wisdom for the discerning soul.  The concert, which will delight your whole family, will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Fr. David Hemann

Fr. David Hemann, a priest of the diocese of Sioux City, IA, received his STB from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy and his MA in Sacramental Theology from the San Anselmo in Rome.  He is the Pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Sioux City, IA. His previous assignments include Pastor of Sacred Heart in Ida Grove, IA.  He also taught in high schools and grade schools for over 10 years and was always very involved in the youth ministry of his parishes. Father David is a priest who works well with people of all ages from conception to death to eternal life.

In addition to his regular priestly activities, Fr. Hemann has been engaged in a music ministry before and throughout his priesthood. He believes that music is the language of the people. Father David's music has lent itself to involvement in a number of nationwide ministries of giving retreats, missions and concerts. One highlight was being a featured artist in the presence of Mother Teresa of Calcutta at the first World Youth Day in Rome in 1984 at the English speaking session at Santa Sabina. During 2000-2001, he was released for the period of one year from his regular priestly duties to pursue ministry around the diocese preaching on the themes of spirituality, discipleship, prayer and vocations. Each weekend was spent in a different parish putting on a mission which included regular weekend masses and homilies, a Sunday Evening Concert of original music and sharing the gospel, a Monday Evening talk on "Pruning and Fruitfulness in the Catholic Life" in the context of a reconciliation service, and a Tuesday Evening Healing Mass.

Fr. David has had the privilege to craft numerous CDs that have helped people to pray, bring consolation and the Good News to them, and build the Kingdom of God including, Let Nothing Trouble You, a collection of prayers and wisdom that helps bring peace and hope to the anxious heart, Into the Light, Psalms, Saints and miscellaneous prayers.  In God's Company, a very well received work of traditional Catholic prayers set to music and Holy Warriors, more prayers with a definite Irish flavor and great variety.

There is no Admission Fee. A free will offering is requested.  For more information call St. Benedict Center 402-352-8819 or visit the website page here.

Kathleen Norris to Speak at Saint Benedict Center

On June 16 - 17, 2023, award-winning poet, writer, and best-selling author Kathleen Norris will come to St. Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, and speak on the topic of Discerning What Matters: Embracing a Life of Meaning. On Friday, June 16, at 7:30 p.m. she will give an evening presentation, followed by discussion and sharing.  On Saturday, June 17, she will present from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

What matters most to us in our lives? Why does belief matter? To what do we give our hearts? What is the core message of what we believe—creeds or commitment? To what extent is to believe also “to belove”? The Bible as our collective story matters. How is that story reflected in our daily lives? What is it about the Bible that always seems to address our present moment? Community matters for in it individualism and imperfection meet grace and acceptance. What is our part in the Body of Christ? Place Matters: In what ways is faith set within the physical space of home, church, land and people? We Matter: What does it mean to remain in God’s image and to counter our selfishness by embracing the world and its needs? Kathleen Norris’ presentations will be at once intimate and historical, rich in poetry and meditations, brimming with exasperation and reverence, deeply grounded in both nature and spirit, sometimes funny, and often provocative.

Norris is the author of The New York Times bestsellers, The Cloister Walk, Acedia and Me: A Marriage, Monks and a Writer’s Life, Dakota: A Spiritual Geography, Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith and The Virgin of Bennington.  She also has published seven books of poetry.  Some reviewers have compared her portrait of the world of the monastics in The Cloister Walk to the writings of Thomas Merton. Norris also appears on the DVD and companion book project titled Embracing a Life of Meaning: Kathleen Norris on Discovering What Matters.  Kathleen Norris is a Benedictine Oblate of Assumption Abbey in Richardton, North Dakota. Widowed in 2003, she lives in Honululu, Hawaii. She travels to the mainland regularly to speak to students, medical professionals, social workers, and chaplains at colleges and universities, as well as churches and teaching hospitals. She also serves as an editorial advisor to Give Us This Day. 

The program fee is $70, for Friday only it is $20; for Saturday only it is $50. The early bird rate for both Friday and Saturday (register before May 12) is $60.  On Saturday, lunch is available at the Center for $12.87 (includes tax), if you request it in advance.  Guest rooms are available at St. Benedict Center for the night from Friday to Saturday.  Room and board charges will be added to the program fee.

Retreat on Henri Nouwen at Saint Benedict Center, Schuyler

Henri Nouwen

Wil Hernandez, PhD, Obl OSB, is the presenter of a retreat titled, Coming Home to Our True Self: Reflections on the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen on April 28 - 30, 2023, sponsored by Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler. In this retreat, Wil will explore Henri Nouwen's insightful reflections on the Prodigal Son, highlighting the deep love God has for us as his children even as we sometimes struggle to find our way back home into God's embrace. There will be talks, group Lectio Divina (Sacred Reading), as well as Visio Divina (Divine Seeing) exercises based on Luke 15 (Parable of the Prodigal Son), small group interaction, personal solitude, and liturgical prayers.

Wil Hernandez

Wil Hernandez is an international retreat leader, a spiritual director, and the author of Mere Spirituality: The Spiritual Life According to Henri Nouwen (SkyLight Paths Publishing, 2015), as well as of a trilogy on Henri Nouwen published by Paulist Press. All year round he conducts retreats, workshops, and seminars and teaches courses focused on the spirituality of Nouwen in both Catholic and Protestant institutions in the U.S. and abroad through The Nouwen Legacy, an outfit he manages which is dedicated to promoting the enduring legacy of Nouwen (www.nouwenlegacy.com). Wil is the founder and executive director of CenterQuest, an ecumenical hub for the study and practice of Christian Spirituality (www.CQCenterQuest.org). He holds a private practice in a professional office in Pasadena, California, doing counseling, life coaching, and spiritual direction. As an active member of Spiritual Directors International (SDI), he serves on the Editorial Panel of Presence Journal and regularly conducts Nouwen workshops at SDI conferences. Wil is also an active Benedictine Oblate of Saint Andrew’s Abbey in Valyermo, CA.

Please note: Due to unforeseen personal circumstances, Wil Hernandez will now direct this retreat on Zoom. He will not be here in person. The retreat runs from Friday, at 7:30 p.m. to Sunday at noon. You can attend this retreat at St. Benedict Center or from your own home. Register now at www.StBenedictCenter.com or call (402) 352-8819. For those attending in person, the program fee is $70; room and board charges are additional. Total fee for those attending on Zoom: $99.

News Release: Retreat with Richard W. Miller, PhD

Professor Richard W. Miller, PhD, will present a retreat titled, Authentic Hope in an Age of Crisis: Exploration in Pope Francis’s Encyclical Laudato Si’ at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, on April 15 – 16, 2023. This retreat will focus on the virtue of hope in the face of what the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and other scientific bodies call a ‘human-induced emergency.’ We will reflect on Pope Francis’s Encyclical Laudato Si’ and practice centering prayer. There will be time for individual prayer and reflection, small group dialogue, and Mass on Sunday with the monks. 

Richard W. Miller, PhD, is professor of philosophical and systematic theology and professor of sustainability studies at Creighton University.  He is a contributor to and editor of seven books including God, Creation, and Climate Change: A Catholic Response to the Environmental Crisis (Orbis, 2010), which won a 2011 Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada book award in the faith and science category.  He has been invited to speak around the world on the ecological crisis, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference (COP 22, 2016, Marrakech, Morocco) and the problem of God’s providence and human suffering. Dr. Miller has engaged political figures at the highest level in the United States, including a special assistant to President Obama, and the highest levels in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches. He was awarded (2020) the “Steward of God’s Creation” award from the National Religious Coalition on Creation Care.  This award is bestowed annually on an individual who “exhibits courage and commitment in the keeping of the earth in a heroic, distinguished, and effective manner.”      

The retreat begins on Saturday, at 9:30 a.m. and ends on Sunday after Lunch.  The program fee is $60; room and board  charges are additional. 

Spring Newsletter from Fr. Thomas

Dear Friends,

In our monastery courtyard across the street from the retreat center, we have a beautiful garden fountain. It has several tiers: two smaller bowls on top, a mid-size one at the center, a large one and then a basin below. During our recreation time in the evening, when the weather allows it, we monks sit together in the yard, visit and listen to the gentle bubbling of the fountain.

The fountain has a water reservoir and a stem in which the water rises. The water flows into the first bowl and fills it. It overflows and fills the second bowl. The second bowl overflows and fills the third and so on. The Doctor of the Church, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (c. 1090 – 1153) must have seen such a fountain when he wrote: Those who are wise will see their lives more like a fountain than like a canal. The canal simultaneously pours out what it receives; the fountain, on the other hand, retains the water till it is filled, then discharges the overflow without loss to itself. You, too, must learn to await this fullness before pouring out your gifts. “Do not try to be more generous than God. The fountain imitates the spring. Only when it is saturated with water, it flows to the river and becomes a lake. Do likewise. Start with filling; then pour out” (On the Song of Songs).

This is wonderful advice for our human and spiritual journey. We need times of being re-filled physically, emotionally, and spiritually. A retreat at St. Benedict Center can serve all three purposes. Particularly it can be a time of being replenished with the life-giving water of the Holy Spirit that wells forth in us so that we then can overflow in everyday life with the goodness of God.

Form our monastery I can report that Fr. Anastasius Reiser became the new prior of our monastic community in January. Fr. Anastasius was the abbot of a large Benedictine abbey in Tanzania for eleven years and has now lived with us in Schuyler for a year. Congratulations, Fr. Anastasius, we are happy!

Especially worth noting among the upcoming events of our program schedule is the weekend retreat on June 16 - 17 with best-selling author Kathleen Norris from Hawaii titled, Discovering What Matters: Embracing a Life of Meaning. Through storytelling and poetry, and inspired by the monastic tradition, Kathleen will help us ponder what is truly important to us in our lives. – I am looking forward to seeing you again soon! 

Fr. Thomas Leitner, OSB, Administrator            

Christmas Letter from Fr. Thomas

Schuyler, Nebraska, Christmas 2022
                                   
Dear Friends,

“The root of joy is gratefulness... It is not joy that makes us grateful. It is gratefulness that makes us happy.”                           

These words of Camaldoli Benedictine Brother David Steindl-Rast express a deep truth. "Our eyes are opened to that surprise character of the world around us the moment we wake up from taking things for granted… Surprise is the beginning of gratefulness," he writes. Standing by our lake often helps me to marvel again. St. Ignatius of Loyola considered gratitude to be one of the most important virtues. He said that ingratitude is the root of all sin, because sin is abuse of the gifts God has given us. If we are truly grateful for the gifts, then we will not abuse them. Therefore, I would like to share with you some of God's gifts that I have received during the past year.

Fr. Anselm explains rituals

Thinking of St. Benedict Center fills me with gratitude. It is well occupied again now, almost as it was before Covid. A highlight of our program schedule was a day with Fr. Anselm Grün in June. He gave us guidance and suggestions for good, supporting, religious rituals that we can practice in our everyday lives. – After some personnel changes, we now have a good team of co-workers again. Mark, Patty, and Liz: Your retirement is well-deserved; thank you very much for all the good you have done for us! Linda: May heaven reward you abundantly for your good and faithful service! RIP.

On July 7th we celebrated the Center’s 25th birthday. In a panel discussion, guests shared many wonderful experiences that they had while on retreat. Fr. Prior Joel’s summarizing words in the end were programmatic: “That we accept everyone as Christ is not just a saying on the wall, it is something we live. We let people be who they are; we do not judge. This is what hospitality is and it is absorbed into the culture of monastic life.”

Keynote address by Rev. John Ross

Our permanent and interactive exhibition on The Saint John's Bible continues to give me joy, too. July 17 was also the day of its Grand Opening. As mentioned earlier, The Saint John's Bible is the first handwritten and illuminated Bible in over 500 years, commissioned by a Benedictine monastery: St. John's Abbey in Collegeville, MN. Our Heritage Edition, which we received as a gift from Allen and Vivian Hager, is a fine-art, leather-bound, seven-volume reproduction, whose gold and silver leaf were applied by hand and which in its size and beauty is not inferior to the original. The Rev. Dr. John Ross, Executive Director of The Saint John’s Bible’s Heritage Program, emphasized in his keynote address that we have lost the skill of patient and prayerful reading. The beautiful text of the Bible with its impressive illuminations invites us to do so.  

"Gratitude creates a space of peace in the human heart", P. Prior Joel recently said in a sermon. I wish you gratitude for God's gifts during this Christmas Season, in spite of and even in the midst of difficulties and suffering.  May this gratitude create a space of peace in you! May God bless your Year 2023 abundantly!

See you again soon!

Fr. Thomas

 

 

That God Can Arrive: Advent Thoughts from Fr. Thomas

Dear Friends,

Advent means arrival. Does God have a chance to arrive with me this advent? Do I expect God? Do I open my heart for God? In the gospel that we heard on this First Sunday of Advent (Matthew 24:37-44), Jesus reminds his disciples of the time before the Great Flood. All were so busy with eating and drinking, marrying and being married that they noticed the impending disaster only when it was too late.

Advent is a busy time. Throughout the year, we have to do justice to our manifold obligations in the family and at work. During the upcoming weeks, however, we are also meant to write Christmas mail, decorate the home, buy presents and prepare a nice feast! Still the gospel makes it clear to us: All that we do and plan can come to an end at a moment’s notice. There are more important things than what keeps us occupied in everyday life.

Attending a retreat at St. Benedict Center could be one way of making time for God and of opening our hearts to God. All our programs coming up in 2023 are listed on our website now. Please have a look at our retreat schedule.

While visiting our craft show, you may find a few more good Christmas presents. And, stopping by our nativity scenes display, you can get in touch with the true reason for the season. I wish you blessed weeks of Advent! See you again soon!

Fr. Thomas

News Release: Christmas Craft Show

Under the motto, Christmas on the Hill, handmade crafts by over fifty vendors will be for sale at St. Benedict Center, 4 miles north of Schuyler on Highway 15, from November 27 to December 11, 2022.  Shop in a peaceful atmosphere for unique gifts like wall hangings, quilts, Christmas decorations, woodworking, blown glass, homemade honey products, jewelry, and homemade bakery items! Opening times are Monday through Friday, 2:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Final Sunday, Dec. 11, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The gift shop will be open. 

In addition, there will be an opportunity to view a colorful display of beautiful nativity scenes from all over the world!

There is no admission fee for the craft show and the exhibit.

                       

 

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