This year the annual community retreat was given by Dom Peter Eghwrdjakpor, Conventual Prior of Ewu Priory, Edo State, Nigeria.
Both Fr. Abbot Anselm and Fr. Benedict already knew Dom Peter well, from their various Monastic Visitation journeys in Nigeria. Prior Peter had made himself available to help with these in every possible way, with competence, good humour and apparently boundless generosity. In August 2019 Fr. Benedict of Pluscarden was able to visit Ewu and spend some days there.
Founded in 1979 from Glenstal Abbey in Ireland, St. Benedict's Priory Ewu has a thriving community of around 45 members. It now has a foundation of its own in Calabar, in the South East of Nigeria. The brothers of Ewu are drawn from at least 15 different language groups, so communication among them is always in English; as is their liturgy. Prior Peter himself belongs to the Urhobo people, who mostly inhabit the Delta State region of Nigeria.
Ewu monastery has a large guest house, a book shop, a farm, a garden, a bakery and various other small industries, including the manufacture of candles, marmalade, and Palm oil. Most famously, the monastery also runs a herbal medicine clinic, factory and research institute. Dom Peter was elected Conventual Prior in 2010. According to their Constitutions, he is now serving his second eight-year term in office.
His retreat conferences at Pluscarden were deeply appreciated by all. Their focus was always on essential elements of our monastic vocation. According to Dom Peter, we should live this whole-heartedly, and in an entirely authentic manner!
It was wonderful for us to listen to a man who has such a profound understanding of and love for the Rule of St. Benedict. He comes from a different Continent and a very different culture, yet we found his teaching exactly matching all that we most dearly strive for and believe in!
Even apart from the retreat, Prior Peter's visit was a blessing for our community. We hope that the fraternal link between our communities can be well maintained in future.
