New Prior

Today, Sept. 23rd 2016, Abbot Michael Reepen, Abbot of our motherhouse in Germany announced, that our Prior Fr. Mauritius Wilde has been called to be the next Prior at St. Anselmo in Rome. Under the leadership of the recently elected Abbot Primate Gregory Polan, he will serve Benedictine monks from all over the world who live, study, and teach in this monastery.

As Fr. Mauritius will move in November, Abbot Michael appointed Abbot em. Joel Macul as the new Prior of Christ the King Priory. Abbot Joel is a monk of St. Paul’s Abbey in Newton, NJ, a monastery of our Missionary Benedictine Congregation, and will resume his office at the beginning of the next year.

We ask all our friends for their prayers in this time of transition and trust the God will bring about much good through these changes.

The community of monks of Christ the King in Schuyler

Prior's Message

When I moved here to Schuyler almost 6 years ago, as a German native I wanted to know where this place was compared to the latitude in Europe. The discovery I made was stunning: Christ the King Priory in Schuyler, NE, (41°30′32″N 97°3′16″W) is exactly on the same latitude as Montecassino (41°29′24″N 13°48′50″E) in Italy, which is the place where our founder Saint Benedict established his community in the 6th century. This monastery still in existence today is built on a mountain as a response to Jesus’ word: “A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14). It was very touching to me to realize that my confreres, over 80 years ago, chose exactly this place. Was it intuition, or divine providence? It is a beautiful coincidence in any case, to be on the same latitude as Montecassino, “in line” with our monastery of origin.

Schuyler                        Montecassino

After this discovery I wanted to know about our sisters in Norfolk, NE. They are our neighbors, friends, allies, combatants in Christ, from the beginning. Actually, they were here in Nebraska already 12 years before us. And again, a beautiful surprise. Their monastery is pretty much on the same latitude as Subiaco Abbey in Italy, the place where Saint Benedict spent three years in a cave as “his novitiate”. Today it is a Benedictine monastery located in the most beautiful surroundings you can imagine.

This connection between the “old world” and the “new world” encourages me that God leads us the way he wants to, even if we don’t notice at first. He plans everything with his gracious and merciful hand, and we – if we just listen to him – are graced to follow his plans and Jesus’ footsteps. May St. Benedict bless us here in Schuyler and our whole order of brothers and sisters around the world.

Fr. Mauritius Wilde O.S.B.

Bestowal of the Mission Cross

On July 10, monks, oblates, family and friends celebrated the upcoming missionary work of Fr. Paul Kasun in Colombia, South America. In a joyful celebration the mission cross was bestowed on him. Fr. Paul will work at St. Benedict’s Priory in El Rosal, Columbia, a monastery of our Missionary Congregation, for two years. After the Holy Eucharist Fr. Paul also shared experiences of working on his Ph.D. in Texas and Guatemala. Congratulations and prayers to Fr. Paul!

Prior's Message

Some people look at us monks with a certain sense of longing wishing they too could be monks or nuns themselves,  living in the silence and peace of a monastery at a serene place and in a beautiful community. Well, I think this is a good longing, because we all need peace in our lives and a supporting community. However, the real life in a monastery is not as romantic as we can assure you. We are all humans. As I entered the monastery 31 years ago, my mother was concerned that I would flee the world and talked with the Abbot. He smiled at her responding: Don’t worry; your son will experience the world…

Still, there are features in our Benedictine spirituality that help us on a day-to-day basis to stay in contact with the Lord. We monks are often asked about these tools, and we are happy to share them. Not only with our Oblate family, but with all guests who visit our monastery or attend a retreat at St. Benedict Center. In addition, I have just started a blog in which I share thoughts from the monastery that might enhance your spiritual life as well. The articles issued every three or four weeks are not long and easily digestible. So, if you want to have a look, go to www.wildemonk.net. It’s not as wild as the name would suggest, but maybe a bit. We all carry in us the archetype of a monk. This “monk in us” wants to live and be alive.

As we leave the Easter Season and enter the ordinary time of the Church year I wish you all God’s continued blessings and greet you on behalf of the monastic community,

Fr. Mauritius Wilde O.S.B.