News Release: Retreat with Father Mauritius Wilde

The Rev. Mauritius Wilde, OSB, PhD, and Jodi Blazek Gehr will present a retreat titled, To Love and Be Loved, at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, on July 25 – 27, 2025.

Father Mauritius Wilde OSB, PhD,

The Great Commandment, to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" and "love your neighbor as yourself” is the foundation of our faith. We have been created to love and be loved. This is reflected in St. Benedict’s Rule who recommends the principles of stability, conversion of life, obedience, and hospitality. Benedict can inspire our love, whether we are monks or in a marriage or any other walk of life. His spirituality helps us to discover our "inner monk".

Jodi Blazek Gehr

Father Mauritius has been a Benedictine monk of Muensterschwarzach Abbey, Germany, since 1985. After studying Philosophy and Theology he earned his PhD at Tuebingen University with a thesis on Meister Eckhart. He worked as teacher and educator at the abbey’s high school and, for eleven years, was the director of the abbey’s publishing house, Vier Tuerme Verlag.  For five years he was the prior of Christ the King Priory near Schuyler. Currently he teaches at the Atheneo, the Benedictine study house in Rome, Italy. Fr. Mauritius is the author of several books, including Be Yourself: The Call of a Christian (Paulist), and directs retreats regularly.  His blog can be found at www.wildemonk.net. For his reflections on the Holy Rule of St. Benedict, listen to Spirit Catholic Radio or visit www.DiscerningHearts.com. 

Jodi Blazek Gehr is a wife and mother, a Benedictine Oblate, a certified SoulCollage® and Boundless Compassion Facilitator. Recently retired after 27 years of teaching high school Business, Marketing, and Information Technology, her passion is writing for her websites, Being Benedictine and SoulFully You, and leading retreats in creativity and spirituality. In 2025, Fr. Mauritius celebrates 40 years of monastic life and Jodi Blazek celebrates 40 years of marriage to her husband, Joe.

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

Summer Newsletter from Fr. Thomas

Dear Friends, 

Pope Francis “established direct contact with individuals and peoples, eager to be close to everyone, with a marked attention to those in difficulty, giving himself without measure, especially to the marginalized, the least among us. He was a Pope among the people, with an open heart toward everyone. He was also a Pope attentive to the signs of the times and what the Holy Spirit was awakening in the Church.” In these words, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re characterized the late Pope.

Pope Francis visited the most remote areas of the globe, sometimes even war zones. His close contact with a parish in the Gaza Strip, which he maintained since the war between Israel and Hamas began in 2023, stood out for me particularly. Even from his hospital bed and while very ill, he stayed in touch with those Palestinian parishioners through video call or text message daily at 8 p.m.!

Pope Francis visiting prisoners on Holy Thursday

The Rev. Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of this only Roman Catholic church in Gaza, says Pope Francis would ask how he and his people were and send them his blessing. During a war that has killed over 50,000, injured and traumatized many, and turned virtually all the homes of residents and even hospitals into rubble, the parish has offered shelter to hundreds, Christians and Muslims. By keeping in touch faithfully, Pope Francis showed his solidarity with the suffering and mourning people in Gaza and so brought them peace and hope.

Pope Francis often ended his speeches by saying, “Do not forget to pray for me.” Now we may ask Pope Francis, as Cardinal Re suggested, to pray for us and the whole world from heaven. I feel we can attribute the election of Card. Robert F. Prevost as Pope Leo XIV also to his intercession!

From St. Benedict Center I can report that Brother Samuel, the new manager of bookstore, has brought new life to the store and extended its opening hours; you can find them on our website. – Especially worth noting among our upcoming events is the retreat titled, To Love and Be Loved on July 25 - 27. Our former prior, Fr. Mauritius Wilde from Rome/Italy, will direct it, together with our Oblate Jodi Gehr, drawing wisdom from the Rule of St. Benedict for all Christian in walks of life. – I am looking forward to seeing you again soon!  

Fr. Thomas Leitner, OSB, Administrator     

Spring Newsletter from Fr. Thomas

Dear Friends, 

When I was a teen, I went on my first pilgrimage to Rome, together with youths from my parish. It was during the Holy Year fifty years ago. I still have pictures of us wearing caps that read in Italian Anno Santo 1975. The peak point of the trip was for me a gathering of the Gen Rosso movement, which was inspired by the charismatic Focolare community founded by Chara Lubich. The event took place in a convention center filled with 20,000 people. The great Gen Rosso music played by their band alternated with moving witness talks. I couldn’t understand everything because these were given in various languages, but I sensed the joy that those talking had found in their faith. It became clear how the lives of those speaking were profoundly turned around by their relationship with Jesus Christ. I prayed that Jesus may also become the Lord of my life. It was my first unforgettable encounter with Christ!

2025 is again a Holy Year. Pope Francis gave it the motto, Pilgrims of Hope. The logo shows people on a sea voyage together, with the mast being the cross. The cross also yields the anchor of the ship. The person in red could be Jesus himself embracing the cross as part of his mission to make known God’s compassionate love for all. His garment and those of the ones behind him also look like sails. They allow themselves to be filled and moved forward by the wind of the Holy Spirit. 

While not everybody can make a pilgrimage to Rome, it is easier to visit the pilgrimage sites designated by the Archdiocese of Omaha, Nebraska. St. Benedict Center is one of them. We invite you to go on a pilgrimage of hope, to set out making a new beginning with God. It may lead you to a new and deeper encounter with Christ. Such a pilgrimage also expresses that we are sojourners on this earth until we reach heaven, the destination of our journey, our eternal home. For things to do at St. Benedict Center, please visit the Pilgrimage 2025 section on our website.

Especially worth noting among the upcoming events of our St. Benedict Center program schedule is the seminar titled, Humanity at the Brink of Artificial Intelligence on May 2 – 3. The presenters are professors Dr. George (“Guy”) McHendry and Dr.  Steven Fernandes from Creighton University. They will explain how AI works and help us understand its advantages and drawbacks from an ethical perspective. – I am looking forward to seeing you again soon! 

Fr. Thomas Leitner, OSB, Administrator

AI Seminar at Saint Benedict Center, Schuyler

Professors George F. McHendry and Steven Fernandes from Creighton University will present a retreat titled, Humanity at the Brink of Artificial Intelligence at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, on May 2 – 3, 2025

Recent developments in artificial intelligence are transforming many aspects of human life. This seminar will address how AI works and is being used today, as well as the advantages and drawbacks of future developments in the areas of machine learning, deep learning and generative AI. We will explore how AI as a tool is both a complement and a threat to human intelligence and will discuss the moral and ethical standards Christians can use to determine its use. Attendance on Saturday only is possible.

George F. McHendry, Jr., PhD

George F. McHendry, Jr., PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies and the Timms Endowed Professor and Director of the Magis Core Curriculum. Dr. McHendry’s research and teaching explore the ways we communicate about surveillance, privacy, and data collection. His previous work includes analysis of the Transportation Security Administration’s screening procedures, the circulation of hate speech online, and surveillance and data in popular culture. His current book project, Data (under contract with Parlor Press), examines how data have built and shaped society from the invention of the census to life today. Currently, Dr. McHendry is also leading efforts to teach about generative AI in Creighton’s core curriculum.

Steven Fernandes, PhD.

Steven Fernandes, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Creighton University. Prior to joining Creighton, Dr. Fernandes gained postdoctoral research experience at the University of Central Florida, working on an NSF-funded project focused on deep neural networks. Before that, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, working on an NIH-funded project in medical image processing. His current research involves developing innovative deep neural network models for applications in computer vision, natural language processing, and medical imaging. His research has been supported by federal pilot grants from the NSF and NIH, as well as internal grants from Creighton and cloud compute research credits from Amazon Web Services (AWS).

The retreat begins on Friday, at 7:30 p.m. and ends on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. The program fee is $80, room and board charges are additional.  Saturday attendance only is $60. Early Bird Rate for Fri-Sat (register before March 29) is $70. 

News Release: Astronomy and the Question for God Retreat at St. Benedict Center

Rev. Christoph Gerhard, OSB

The Rev. Christoph Gerhard, OSB, will present a retreat titled Astronomy and the Question for God at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, on April 5 – 6, 2025.

As a life-bearing “spaceship,” our Earth is a unique spot in the universe. Astronomy explores stars, planets, and distant galaxies in search of life. For many of us, looking through a telescope into the “infinite” cosmos inevitably raises the question of a creator. But is there even a place for God in the universe? Do science and faith not contradict each other? We view the two as related to one another, offering different, complementary approaches to the one reality. During this weekend, we will not only focus on the practical use of telescopes but also consider biblical texts relating to creation and the universe. 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 $70; room and board charges are additional.

News Release: Lenten Retreat at Saint Benedict Center

On March 14 - 16, 2025, The Very Rev. James L. Secora, will come to St. Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, and present a weekend retreat on, Mercy—A Lenten Pilgrimage with St. Luke.

A principal theme of Saint Luke’s Gospel is mercy. In the Sunday liturgical cycle of Scriptures, Year 3 is devoted (with a few exceptions) to proclamation of and reflection on Luke’s Gospel. This is especially true during Lent. This retreat will center itself around the Gospel’s most famous discourse on God’s mercy, The Parable of the Prodigal Son/Father (Ch. 15). A brief overview of the theme of divine mercy and St. Luke’s gospel will introduce our reflection. Brief consideration will be given to the Parable of the Barren Fig tree (Ch. 13) and The Encounter of Jesus with the Sinful Woman (Jn.8) as bookends to chapter 15 which are proclaimed on either side of the Parable of the Prodigal. Consideration will also be given to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as a symbol of divine mercy.

Father Jim Secora, MDiv, MEd, is a priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa presently living in Ames, Iowa. Ordained in 1975, Fr. Jim's ministerial assignments have included: full-time high school teaching; instructor in the archdiocese's permanent diaconate formation process; chairperson of the archdiocese's worship commission and master of liturgical ceremonies to the late Archbishop Daniel W. Kucera; thirty-three years as parish pastor and presenter at various workshops. Father Jim is also an Oblate of Christ the King Priory in Schuyler since 2010. He holds a B.A. from Loras College, Dubuque, IA; a M.Div. from St. Mary's Seminary and University, Baltimore, MD; and a M.Ed. from Boston College, Newton, MA. Praying and reflecting with icons are essential components of Father Jim's prayer and ministerial life.

Friday, 7:30 p.m. to Sunday after lunch.

Father Joel Macul to Speak at Saint Benedict Center

The Rev. Joel Macul, OSB, STL, will present a retreat titled, “With Age-Old Love I have Loved You” (Jeremiah 31:3) at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, February 14 – 16, 2025.

Fr. Joel Macul, OSB.

 “Your words were my joy, the happiness of my heart” (Jer 15:16). This line sounds as though it comes from someone who delights in the Lord’s love. But for Jeremiah they come out of an experience of crisis. The world that he knows is coming apart. And he finds himself torn between his love for the community and his fidelity to God. He bears in himself the pain of Israel’s blindness to the truth and at the same time God’s everlasting love for his chosen people. It is the “age-old love with which I have loved you” (Jer 31:3) that Jeremiah clings to as he sees his familiar world disappear. We will see how Jeremiah stands firm in a changing world, how he confronts those who don’t want to see and how he speaks of a new relationship for the future built on a covenant that, once made, God will never let go of. We will hear how Jeremiah is no stranger to us in a time when we are living in a change of eras and still speaks to us of a compassion that wants to embrace us and make us new.

Benedictine Father Joel Macul was the prior at Christ the King Priory in Schuyler, Nebraska, from 2017 till 2023. Prior to that, he served as abbot of St. Paul’s Abbey in Newton, New Jersey, and taught Scripture at Tangaza College and Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya. He now lives again in Newton, New Jersey.

The retreat begins on Friday, at 7:30 p.m. and ends on Sunday after Lunch.  The program fee is $80; room and board charges are additional.

News Release: Christmas Craft Show at St. Benedict Center

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 December 1 - 15, 2024.  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.

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.

Saint Benedict Center Newsletter, Fall 2024

Dear Friends, 

Saint Matthew begins his Gospel with Jesus’ genealogy, extending back to Abraham. Pronouncing the many names of Jesus’ ancestors correctly can be challenging if the reader is not prepared! Certainly, not all of these folks were saints! In The Saint John’s Bible, the first New Testament illumination presents the names of Jesus’ forbears in Hebrew: They were (mostly) part of the Jewish people. But they appear also in Latin characters, written in gold. Gold is the color of God’s presence in The Saint John’s Bible. God was present in those ancestors. And God can write straight on crooked lines! – The genealogy is shown in the shape of a menorah, a candle stand used in the Jewish tradition. This says: In a certain sense, this whole ancestry holds the light, Jesus! They have made an important contribution to his life!

Genealogy of Jesus, Donald Jackson, Copyright 2002, The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota USA. Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

A fascinating detail in this illumination are the stamps of a double helix in the arms of the menorah above. For us today, DNA is the symbol of our identity. No two human beings are genetically the same (except for identical twins). DNA reminds us here of Jesus’ humanity. He who was fully divine was fully human, too, and born into a human family with all its particularities, strengths, weaknesses, virtues and vices – as is the case with us! Like all the names, the DNA stamps are also in gold. God’s gold shone forth in Jesus. It shone forth in his ancestors. And it also shines forth in each one of us, in our humanity, in our uniqueness, despite and in the midst of our imperfections! 

My suggestion to you for a retreat at St. Benedict Center or for a quiet hour at home is to reflect on the following questions: How has God been at work in your family in the course of the generations, despite and even in the midst of sinfulness and dysfunction? For what are you grateful when you think of your ancestors and family members? Where is the gold in what you inherited from them (in your DNA) or in what you learned from them?  

Especially worth noting among the upcoming events of our St. Benedict Center program schedule is the seminar titled, Improving Your Communication Skills on December 13 – 14. The presenter is Fr. Joe Miksch, from Columbus, NE, a beloved priest and certified teacher of communication skills. – I am looking forward to seeing you again soon! 

Fr. Thomas Leitner, OSB, Administrator   

Father Joe Miksch to Speak at Saint Benedict Center

On December 13 – 14, 2024, Father Joseph A. Miksch will come to St. Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, and present a seminar titled Improving Our Communication Skills.

Communication skills are essential in the family, in church, and in all walks of life. In this seminar, Fr. Joe will teach active listening, avoiding Roadblocks to communication, and how to confront and resolve conflict. There is one caveat! Just reading a book or attending a seminar isn’t going to do much to improve your communication skills. One must make a conscientious effort to practice, practice, and practice these skills!

Father Joe, pastor of St. Isidore Parish in Columbus and St. Joseph Parish in Platte Center, NE, was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Omaha in 1966. He holds a Master’s with emphasis on Communication Skills and Counseling from Creighton University and is certified as a teacher of communication skills by Gordon Training International, Solana Beach, CA. Since 2020, he has had the privilege of having daily Mass in St. Isidore’s Church televised on NCN-TV, and through Facebook and YouTube reaches people throughout Nebraska, throughout the Nation, and at places as far away as Africa, Switzerland, Spain and Japan.          

The seminar begins on Friday, at 9:00 a.m. and closes on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.  The program fee is $ 70; room and board are additional.

Jane Tomaine to Speak at Saint Benedict Center

On August 23 – 25, 2024, acclaimed author on the Rule of St. Benedict, Jane Tomaine will come to St. Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, and present a weekend retreat on the topic of Strengthening Your Core: Spiritual Fitness with St. Benedict.

We exercise to build muscle and strengthen our physical bodies.  Why not do the same for our spiritual bodies? At this retreat you will receive practical tools for spiritual fitness rooted in the Rule of St. Benedict, such as living in the present moment, moderation, holiness in the ordinary, prayer with Scripture (lectio divina), and more. Retreat includes presentation, large and small group discussion, personal reflection, and fun.

The Rev. Dr. Jane Tomaine is the author of St. Benedict’s Toolbox: The Nuts and Bolts of Everyday Benedictine Living – 10th Anniversary Edition. This very helpful work shows how the Rule of St. Benedict gives Gospel-centered ways to shape life that are down-to-earth, practical, and doable. Jane also authored The Rule of Benedict: Christian Monastic Wisdom for Daily Living. A nationally known retreat leader, Mother Jane served as rector of an Episcopal parish in New Jersey for over 12 years. She publishes a newsletter that is available through her website www.stbenedictstoolbox.org.  Jane will be sharing her love of Benedictine spirituality and how wisdom from ancient practices speaks today with a living voice.   

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.

News Release: Grandparents – Grandchildren Retreat at Saint Benedict Center, Schuyler

This new and dynamic retreat for grandparents and grandchildren, ages 5-16, titled Best Friends in Faith will be offered at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler on June 22, 2024, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. It provides a grace-filled opportunity to share the things that really matter – family, God and faith. Come away with a grandchild (or two) for a day of prayer and summer fun! Concluding with a prayer service. 

Mary Eileen Andreasen, RN, MS, MA, is a mother of five and a grandmother of eight. She worked for twenty years in health care and twenty years in church ministry before retiring in 2018. Spending time with her grandchildren is her greatest joy!

Father Thomas Leitner, OSB, has presented retreats for forty years. He holds a Master of Religious Studies from St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO, and serves as administrator of St. Benedict Center. – They will direct this retreat together with several assistants.

No Charge. Donations accepted.

Summer Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Artificial Intelligence seems to be on everyone’s mind right now. Pope Francis’ points in his Message for this year’s World Day of Peace titled, Artificial Intelligence and Peace to its positive side.AI could introduce important innovations in agriculture, education and culture [and] an improved level of life for entire nations and peoples (#6).

However, the pope also mentions that AI’s automated processes could be used to judge the reliability of an applicant for a mortgage, the suitability of an individual for a job, the probability of a convict’s recidivism, and so much more. Machines could lead us to setting aside human values like compassion, forgiveness and belief in an individual’s ability to make a new beginning (#5)!

Critical thanking and discernment are very necessary in this new world. Another example is a well-known Catholic website’s use of a chatbot to answer people’s faith questions. The character, first called “Father Justin,” needed to be renamed “Justin,” however, in order to make it clear to everyone that while a robot can provide good answers from the Catholic tradition, he cannot grant online absolution and witness to the sacrament of matrimony!

To the Ends of the Earth, Donald Jackson with contributions from Andrew Jamieson and Sally Mae Joseph, Copyright 2002, The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota USA. Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

One illumination of The Saint John’s Bible shows a picture of the earth from outer space. In our globalized world, we as people with our human warmth, kindness and conviction are indispensable as witness to the person of Jesus Christ and messengers to his Good News to the ends of the earth! Then there is hope for humanity! – St. Benedict Center is a place to learn about our faith, to get to know Holy Scripture, and to be equipped for discipleship!

From our monastery I can report that several younger brother monks from our motherhouse in Germany have joined us: Br. Samuel brings new ideas and energy to our gift shop. Br. Moses, a nurse, will assist our older confreres and help in the administration of St. Benedict Center.

Especially worth noting among the upcoming events of our program schedule is the weekend retreat titled, Strengthening Your Core: Spiritual Fitness with St. Benedict.  The presenter is Rev. Dr. Jane Tomaine from New Jersey who has an exceptional gift to show concrete ways in which the 6th century Rule of Benedict can be a solid guide for spiritual living in our time. – I am looking forward to seeing you again soon! 

Fr. Thomas Leitner, OSB, Administrator   

Ron Noecker to Perform at Saint Benedict Center

Pianist and composer Ron Noecker will perform Spiritual Concert titled, Marking Moments in Time at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, on Sunday, June 2, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. In this concert, Ron will share his musical journey of faith through the various iterations of his life which now include Central America and world travel to help those in need. Joined by musical members of his family and friends, he will feature music from his most recent recording, In Memorium (released 1 November 2023), as well as some pieces from other recordings throughout the year.

Ron Noecker lives in Antigua, Guatemala, and now returns to his origins in Nebraska and a place always near and dear to his heart, St. Benedict Center. Jackson Berkey of Mannheim Steamroller always told Ron, “Whenever you do a recording, it marks a moment in time.” Those moments for Ron have always included his faith that God is with us through every twist and turn of our lives. 

Free. A free will offering will be taken to support Corazon de Enfermeria (Nursing Heart), a health initiative he founded in Guatemala.

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.

Baptism of Our Lord

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