“Nothing Dearer than
Christ”
Oblate letter of the
Pluscarden Benedictines,
Elgin,
Moray, Scotland. IV30 8UA.
Ph. (01343) 890257 fax
890258
DMB series No 25
Oblate Letter Lent 2015
Monastic
voice:
• “The most important
need in the Christian world today is this inner truth nourished by this Spirit
of contemplation: the praise and love of God, the longing for the coming of
Christ, the thirst for the manifestation of God's glory, his truth, his
justice, his Kingdom in the world. These are all characteristically
"contemplative" and eschatological aspirations of the Christian
heart, and they are the very essence of monastic prayer. Without them our
apostolate is more for our own glory than for the glory of God.
Without this contemplative orientation we are
building churches not to praise him but to establish more firmly the social
structures, values and benefits that we presently enjoy. Without this
contemplative basis to our preaching, our apostolate is no apostolate at all,
but mere proselytizing to insure
universal conformity with our own national way of life.
Without contemplation and interior prayer the
Church cannot fulfil her mission to transform and save mankind. Without
contemplation, she will be reduced to being the servant of cynical and worldly
powers, no matter how hard her faithful may protest that they are fighting for
the Kingdom of God. Without true, deep contemplative aspirations, without a
total love for God and an uncompromising thirst for his truth, religion tends
in the end to become an opiate.”
“The Climate of Monastic Prayer”—Fr. Louis
(Thomas) Merton OCSO
• “Out of the false
peace that is imposed by means of an arbitrary system comes nothing but further
conflict, resentment, hatred, war. We live on the brink of disaster because we
do not know how to let life alone. We do not respect the living and fruitful
contradictions and paradoxes of which true life is full. We destroy them, or
try to destroy them, with our obsessive and absurd systematizations. Whether we
do this in the name of matter or in the name of spirit makes little difference
in the end. There are atheists who fight God and atheists who claim to believe
in Him: what they both have in common is the hatred of life, the fear of the
unpredictable, the dread of grace, and the refusal of every spiritual gift.
Nor can I complacently say "they"
and blame others as if I were not to blame. The evil is in us all. It is the
blindness of a world that wants to end itself. It is the blindness from which
we must pray with tears and anguish that we may be delivered. It is the
blindness with which we must never cease to struggle as long as we are in the
world. Those who give up the struggle are themselves in turmoil, and impose
their turmoil on the whole human race. Those who continue to struggle are at
peace. If God wills, they can pacify the world. For he who accepts the struggle
in the name of Christ is delivered from its power by the victory of Christ.
My first and last words in this book are,
then, to summarize whatever "witness" these pages may contain. When a
man enters a monastery he has to stand before the community, and formally
responds to a ritual question: "Quid petis?" 'What do you ask?"
His answer is not that he seeks a happy life, or escape from anxiety, or
freedom from sin, or, moral perfection, or the summit of contemplation. The
answer is that he seeks mercy, "The mercy of God and of the Order."
Whatever else it may do, this book should bear witness to the fact that I have
found what I sought and continue to find it. The Order has been patient with
me, God has been merciful to me, and more, countless readers have given me a
gift of friendship and of love which is to me precious beyond estimation.
These readers sometimes write to me, and
generally I am not able to reply. But here at least let me assure them of my
gratitude, my love, and my prayers. They are in my silence, in my Mass, and in
my solitude. I hope we will be together in Paradise.” “First and Last Thoughts:
an author’s preface” from “A Thomas Merton Reader” ed. by McDonnell---Fr. Louis
(Thomas) Merton OCSO
FROM
THE OBLATEMASTER'S DESK
Fr. Louis (Thomas) Merton OCSO—Cistercian
of the Strict Observance ( Trappist monk) must be one of the better known monks
of the modern era trying to follow the Rule of our Holy Father St. Benedict
like us but according to the constitutions of the “Reformed” Benedictines,
Trappist, Cistercians (like Nunraw Abbey). Only he could have answered whether
he was first a writer and second a monk. I tend to think he would have asserted
that he was first a monk. Be that as it may he was called to the monastic life
as a writer just as Peter was called as a fisherman. Peter became a fisher of
men, Fr. Louis (his religious name) became a fisher of men for Christ, for the
monastic vocation and for contemplation, through his books.
The Monastic Voices above are both Merton’s
and both final in different ways. The first piece on the “Climate of Monastic
Prayer” is the actual ending of the last book Merton prepared for publication
before his untimely, accidental death, probably through touching faulty wiring.
It is his providential last words as it were, on the fundamental importance of
contemplative prayer to the Church, to humanity, to the individual Christian
and monk. In its own way it seems to echo the thought of St Thérèse that
contemplation and the life of the monk is the “heart” of the Church and without
that contemplation the love that is the Life of God dwindles in the heart of
the Church and her apostolate. But the last sentence (above) of Fr. Louis’s
published works sounds a strange note: “Without true, deep contemplative
aspirations, without a total love for God and an uncompromising thirst for his
truth, religion tends in the end to become an opiate” At the time this was
written it must have been highly provocative seeming to echo Karl Marx’s
“Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world,
and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people” That is not
fair to Merton. He is saying that religion essentially MUST be salted with prayer, and that contemplative prayer. It is
not a decorative extra. Still the writer in Fr. Louis cannot avoid or eschew
the well-turned phrase, the trenchant word, even at the risk of sometimes
misleading ambiguities that might hinder his message.
But Fr. Louis Merton filled the monasteries
with monks and called oblates to their oblate lives. The tree is known by its
fruit our Lord teaches us and so it is with Fr. Louis’s good fruit. This brings
us to our second quotation.
The second quotation is from Merton’s
deliberate, meditated, planned, intentional last words from the preface of a
then comprehensive reader of his works. It is meant as his postscript to his
life and in many ways his intended wisdom for any monk, any oblate, any Christian:
“'What do you
ask?" His answer is not that he seeks a happy life, or escape from
anxiety, or freedom from sin, or, moral perfection, or the summit of
contemplation. The answer is that he seeks mercy, "The mercy of God and of
the Order." Whatever else it may do, this book should bear witness to the
fact that I have found what I sought and continue to find it. The Order has
been patient with me, God has been merciful to me, and more…..”
The delightful peace and joy that is the
“pearl of great price” for which we are prepared to sacrifice everything is
God’s superabundant loving mercy. As imperfect and sinners we have this daily,
pilgrim necessity of seeking God’s mercy. As Our Holy Father, Pope Francis
reminds us, God is always ready to show His mercy to us if we seek it--- if we
seek it. God our loving Father never tires of showing His mercy to us—but we
sometimes tire of seeking God’s mercy.
From the whole of his lifetime’s valuable
writings it is the mercy of God that Fr.
Louis Merton singled out for us his readers as his bequest, the pearl of great
price that he treasured and passed on as the essence of his message as a
spiritual guide. Our Holy Father St. Benedict gave us the key to that mercy in
his little guide for we beginner’s namely the ever-growing humility to keep
seeking the treasure of God’s mercy each and every day. Our Holy Father St
Benedict help us! Amen.
Books and Media
Fr. Louis (Thomas) Merton wrote over 60
readable books of all kinds and poetry –some of his better known and more
highly valued books are:
·
The Seven Storey
Mountain, 1948
- The
Tears of the Blind Lions, 1949
- Waters
of Siloe,
1949
- Seeds
of Contemplation,
1949
- The
Ascent to Truth,
1951
- Bread
in the Wilderness, 1953
- The
Sign of Jonas,
1953
- The
Last of the Fathers, 1954
- No
Man is an Island,
1955
- The
Living Bread,
1956
- The
Silent Life,
1957
- Thoughts
in Solitude,
1958
The above quoted work “A Thomas Merton
Reader” edited by McDonnell 1962 No 62-1637 published by Harcourt, Brace
&World Inc., New York, gives a good introductory selection approved by the
author himself. This should be available second hand. Many would begin with his
autobiographical works but biographies might usefully be consulted as well
because the Order edited some of his own autobiographies-- worth noting in
fairness to Fr. Louis.
Prayer
Intentions For our new Oblates, Mrs.
Lilian ANNE Bailey, James PAUL Lavery, Cyprian FRANCIS Lee, Joseph EDWARD
Staton; new novices, Stephen Connolly, William Moir, Kevin Shinkwin, Rev. Angus
Macleod; new postulants including, Fr. Andrew Clark, John Gleeson and Albert
Paterson ( whose 90 year old mother is in hospital after a fall). For Abbot
Anselm's and Bishop Hugh's intentions. For vocations to Pluscarden, St
Mary's, Petersham and Kristo Buase. Br. Adrian and Br. Finbar, health.
The
repose of the souls?
Please pray for Br. Gabriel who is in his
Silver Jubilee year of Profession and for Br. Martin of KB who has just completed
his 2 years preparation for farther vows and returned to his monastery with all
our blessings and prayers following him.
For Brothers Joseph and John who have come to
us from Tien Phuoc priory in Vietnam for two years for their English and for a broadening of their monastic experience.
For the repose of the soul of Robert
Cantafio’s father and Norbert cairns.
Please pray for our sick Oblates and their
relatives & especially , Mgr. Robert after his hip replacement “recovering
from his recovery!” and for his older brother Canon Bernard in his 91st
year), Eileen Grant's son Robin recovering , Sarah Drever’s husband Leslie, ,
Mrs. Allie Brien, Brigitte Mackay and Maggie Barrett, Paul Miller, Margaret
Rawcliffe( and for the repose of her sister Veronica’s soul) , Mrs. Gertrude
Corker’s two daughters, Bob Barr, Brian Milne, Gail Schmitz continued
improvement, Martin's wife Mary, Maurice Dufficy, Mary Bradley recovering,
Maureen’s sister Dorothy, Leonora, Graham Dunbar, Alison Donald, Beth Fraser
and her husband Chris, Bob Clark, Nick MaCrae’s son, Martin MaCrae battling
illness, Dr. David Paterson and his wife Angela, Jacqui’s daughter Sally,
Hester, Poppy Sinclair, Ian Brodie and his twin brother, for Pat Foster, Johan
Baillie, James and Helen Timoney, both very ill, Carolyn Boardman and especially her son Malcolm, Martin Farrelly
and especially for his wife Val making a
good recovery from her recent heart attack , David Braine of Aberdeen, foremost philosopher in Scotland( read his
books if you are up to the challenge!), Susan Stephen, Evelyn, Violet, Sheila
and all friends of the Abbey and for all oblates, and all the sick, and those
who care for them--and for Josaphat our sponsored seminarian.
Events----present and past
• Oblate
Retreat here at Pluscarden first weekend of Lent February 2015 led by Fr. Abbot, our Abbot Anselm, as before.
Friday
20th- Monday 23rd February 2015: book with Fr. Bede (may get a cancellation—no
harm in trying!) ----or attend daily. As before—if attending traveling in each day
then please bring your own sandwiches and flask—Lent!
Fr.
Abbot’s Lenten Retreat Conferences in the Church:
1. Saturday 21st February 10.30 am
2. Saturday 21st
February 3.00 pm
3. Sunday 22nd
February 3.00 pm
1 - 6 APRIL
2015(Please spread the word among your families and friends)
The Abbot and monks of Pluscarden Abbey
invite young people (aged 18-30) to celebrate the Liturgy with them from
Wednesday 1st April of Holy Week until Easter, 5th March
2015 (6th April Monday)
Our guests will stay in the abbey guest
houses. Those taking part will be able to gain deeper insight into the
Christian life, monastic life and the Abbey. There is no charge for staying;
but if anyone wishes to make a donation, this will be gratefully received. “If
you are interested in joining the Pluscarden community in celebrating Easter,
contact Fr Bede Kierney OSB by email or at:
Fr. Bede Kierney O.S.B.
Pluscarden Abbey,
Elgin
IV30 8UA”
•Pluscarden: Return
"Intermonasterial" exchange
this time of Prinknash to Pluscarden. Fr. Martin McLaughlin and 14 of their
Prinknash Oblates will be here on retreat 1st -5th May
2015 (arriving and departing) During that time you are invited to:
1.
Saturday Retreat
talk from Fr. Martin Birrell in the Church, Saturday, 2nd May at
11.15 am
2.
Sunday Sit-down
lunch, their Oblates and our Oblates in the Pluscarden Village Hall (green
wooden building with parking, past the Kirk turn-off on the Pluscarden Elgin
side)12.55 for 1.00 pm approx., Sunday 3rd May 2015. You are invited. Please
let me know as soon as possible by post or my email
oblatemaster@pluscardenabbey.org if
you think you are coming and your spouse etc for the numbers (essential) (They
fed us very well at Prinknash—we’ve promised not to be outdone so your cash
donations made out to “Pluscarden Abbey” are cordially requested—envelope: “Fr.
Martin, Oblate Meal” and address as at head of the Oblate Letter, please.) You
can come even if you can’t donate and you can donate even if you can’t come! I
don’t want to be left with “egg on my face!”----The Prinknash Oblates are
having an outing too!
3.
Monday Final
Retreat talk from Fr. Martin B., Monday 4th May at 11.15 am in the
Church
•Pentecost
Lectures Fr. Erik Varden 26th -28th May 2015—St
Scholastica’s as before pm Tues, am & pm Wed, am Thurs.
•National
Pilgrimage in honour of St John Ogilvie being held in Keith.
•“THE BENEDICTINE WAY”—A RETREAT FOR OBLATES OF ANY
COMMUNITY BEING HELD AT TURVEY ABBEY 9TH-11TH OCTOBER
COST OF WEEKEND £110 AT TIME OF BOOKING
CONTACT: SR JUDITH, PRIORY OF OUR LADY OF PEACE, TURVEY ABBEY, TURVEY,
BEDFORD, MK43 8DE.
WEB turveyabbey.org.uk
•5th National Inter-Abbey Retreat ( arranged by
the UK Oblate Team) for Benedictine Oblates being held at Douai Abbey 4-6th
September— Fr.Gervase Holdaway, OSB
Oblatemaster of Douai on “ What does it mean to be an Oblate in 2015?” To book
email Stephen Day on day.sj@virgin.net or tel. 01453
860367
PAST:
From the INTERMONASTERIAL EXCHANGE( AT PRINKNASH)
PRINKNASH/PLUSCARDEN 12-14 JULY 2014 LAST YEAR—Our Oblate John Mackinnon’s
presentation at it to his fellow-Oblatesfollows:-
“MY PERSONAL HISTORY:-
To begin my presentation I would like to just say a
little about myself, who I am and my experience as an oblate of Pluscarden
Abbey near Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland.
I have been married for 39 years and have three grown up
children. Catriona, the eldest, is 31, happily married and a primary
schoolteacher; David, second in line, 30 years of age in August this year,
works for the Royal College of Surgeons, and is getting married next May.
Katherine, the youngest at 29, works as a policy officer for the GLA, and is
also getting married next year, in the autumn.
Initially trained
as a primary schoolteacher, I have been involved in education for over 40
years. I gained an MA in Education from London University, and an MBA from
Lincoln, and went on to lead 5 primary schools in London, and later worked as
an educational consultant in the Middle East before retiring from full time
education, allowing me to spend time doing voluntary work travelling, visiting
my spiritual home Pluscarden Abbey, and enjoying watching and participating in
sport. I’ve been involved in supporting development projects in the
Philippines, Bangladesh and Sierra Leone, and more recently an educational
project in Cambodia, where I’ve worked as a teacher of English, on a voluntary
basis, an donated funds to support the building of additional classrooms.
My own personal mission statement is as follows:
“To strive to show God’s love to those whom I meet in my
daily walk through life, without seeking reward or favour; to be guided by my principles which are based
on Gospel values, respect for oneself and one’s neighbour, and a desire to
communicate God’s Love to others.”
I was born in 1948 the year Pluscarden Abbey was
refounded. I came to know of the Abbey through a friend of mine whose parents
were both oblates. Michael invited me to join him on retreat at the Abbey the
summer following my graduation as a primary schoolteacher, and having booked a
week’s retreat with Fr Camillus, the then guestmaster, I duly set off on my
motorbike from Glasgow, where I was living at the time to begin my retreat.
If only life was so simple! Half way to the Abbey my bike
broke down, it was late evening, I was in a small village in the middle of
nowhere and the local garage was closed for the night. Luckily I met a neighbour who tried to fix my
bike, then offered to provide accommodation for me until the following day. After supper and breakfast he took me down to
the garage and facilitated repairs to the bike.
On leaving his home, his wife offered me a packed lunch to take with me
on my journey. This family’s kindness,
complete strangers as they were, has stayed with me throughout my life. They
enabled me to reach my destination safely.
I still feel the hand of the Holy Spirit at work in ensuring I arrived
at Pluscarden Abbey.
Pluscarden Abbey I now regard as my spiritual home. I remember, in 1970, the Abbot, Dom Alfred,
Father Giles, Prior, Father Camillus, Guestmaster, Father Maurus, Oblatemaster,
and numerous other monks who I encountered from time to time, as if it were yesterday.
There is a certain spirituality about the Abbey, which inspired me then and
continues to inspire me today. Every
time I visit Pluscarden I feel a connection with the Holy Spirit and there is
always some problem/issue which needed to be resolved and I am always guided to
make the right decisions following my retreat there. I would arrive at the Abbey at the beginning
of the week with a burning issue concerning a member of my family, my work, a
health problem etc. and by the end of the week I would know with certainty how
I was going to deal with it. The Holy
Spirit has never let me down, and I always leave a better person than when I
arrived.
I have learn to “Listen” – to shut out the clutter, and
cacophony of daily life – and find the space (and TIME) to hear God’s voice in
the silence of my heart. I believe that God, through the Holy Spirit, calls out
to all of us, but sometimes we don’t HEAR HIM, because we are too preoccupied
with our own thoughts! Like Samuel, I repeat constantly:-
“Speak Lord, your servant is listening!”
Sometimes I feel inspiration flowing out from the words
of the particular day’s Gospel reading, as if they were meant for me alone!
It’s message resonating with some pressing issue in my life. I remember
visiting Des Moines, Iowa, USA, on a Fullbright exchange and going to Chicago
for the weekend with a friend. It was a Sunday, and we wanted to attend Mass.
My friend said that unfortunately we had missed the service. I believed in that
instant that we could still go to Mass; that there was a service on. We parked
near St Patrick’s cathedral, and on entering, found Mass just about to start.
My friend, astonished, said, “How did you know?”
I replied, “The Holy Spirit told me!”
“BECOMING AN OBLATE
I understand that oblates of St Benedict are Christian
individuals who have associated themselves with the Benedictine community in
order to enrich their Christian way of life.
Oblates shape their lives by living the wisdom of Christ as interpreted by
St Benedict. They seek God by striving
to become holy in their chosen way of life.
By integrating their prayer and work they manifest Christ’s presence in
society. The role of the oblate is to
live in the world, to become holy in the world, to do what they can to bring
the world to God by being witnesses of Christ, by word and example to those
around them. Oblates concern themselves
with striving to be what they are, people of God and temples of the Holy
Spirit. Their prayer life flows from
this awareness as is their willingness to offer themselves for the service of
God and neighbour to the best of their ability.
For me, becoming an oblate at Pluscarden Abbey was an
opportunity to share in a great Benedictine tradition with the only medieval
monastery in Britain, still inhabited by monks and being used for its original
purpose. The atmosphere of quiet
reflection and of work dedicated to the glory of God is the same now as it was
in the 13th century, when a community of monks first came to this part of
Morayshire. Oblates are able to share
with the monastic community the sacrifice of the Mass and full Divine Office,
sung in the Abbey church in Gregorian chant.
Its position, situated 6 miles SW of Elgin in a secluded glen,
surrounded by forest and close to the sea engenders a special atmosphere of
peace and tranquillity. I have very fond memories of my time spent at
Pluscarden over the years, and the inspiration I have felt from being on
retreat there!
I know that Oblation is made with the intention that it
should be for life. As oblates we
“preserve in stability” by frequently renewing our commitment in our
hearts. The 21st November is the
principal oblate feast and I try to visit Pluscarden Abbey at least once a year
to renew my oblation.
The oblate’s promise of “conversion of life” is a
ratification of baptismal consecration. It is also a statement that I wish by
entering St Benedict’s “school of the Lord’s services’ to make progress In the
Christian life, especially through prayer, lectio divina, work and the practice
of the virtues, guided by the Holy Spirit.
MEMORIES
I remember on one of my first retreats in the early
1970s, I was accommodated in one of the old Nissen huts and was doing some
gardening when I noticed a fellow retreatant working nearby. We started talking and I learnt that he was
also a teacher, as it happened. He was Dr Rae the Head Master of Westminster
Public school. He told me that his wife and
children were also staying at the monastery and his wife was shortly leaving
for Calcutta to work with Mother Theresa. On another occasion I met Graham
Dunbar, a local artist, who painted a picture of the Abbey for me to hang on my
wall. I have met numerous interesting, and some famous personalities staying at
the Abbey over the years, and learnt a great deal from them as a result! I enjoyed attending the services which are in
Latin and the rich singing of the monks in their Gregorian chant. I used to look forward to coffee after lunch
in the Refectory hosted by Fr Camillus, the Guestmaster, where we as a group of
retreatants would discuss current affairs and shared many a joke with fellow
retreatants and members of the community.
One of my favourites is the following:
There was a terrible flood and the preacher was trapped
on the roof of his house as the waters rose higher. The preacher was a man of indomitable faith
and when two men in a rowing boat came by and offered to rescue him he replied,
“No need to bother, I have faith that the Lord will save me.” Hours passed and the waters rose to the
preacher’s waist. Another rowing boat
passed and again rescuers offered, but the preacher simply said, “I do not need
rescue, the Lord my God will save me.”
Even more time passed by and the water continued to rise until it was up
to the preacher’s neck. A rescue
helicopter swooped down and threw him a line but still the preacher was
unswerving in his faith. “I thank you my
sons but my Father in heaven will deliver me from this flood.” After
a short while the water rose above the preacher’s head and he
drowned. When he arrived in heaven, the
preacher was furious. “ Lord” he said “ I was sure you would save me! Why did you let me drown?” “I can’t understand it,” replied God.
“I sent two boats and a helicopter, didn’t you see them?”
I’ve seen enormous changes in Pluscarden Abbey over the
years! When I first arrived it was a Priory, with much of the former Abbey
still in ruin. Accommodation was quite spartan. There were no modern
guesthouses as there are now. Many years later the Abbey looks much like it
would have in the 13th century, although not completely restored! It is a
magnificent building, with a thriving community, led by the current Abbot, Fr
Anselm.
Mealtimes were always very interesting especially if I
was staying in the monastery itself and eating in the Refectory with the
monks. The readings are varied
incorporating Holy Scripture, the lives of the saints as well as excerpts from
Catholic journals. The meals too were
very interesting, depending on who was working in the kitchen that week. I remember biting into some fruit crumble and
feeling something crunch between my teeth.
To my surprise I pulled out half a black beetle. I am not sure what happened to the other
half!
In conclusion I believe that as oblates we have a duty to
preserve, live and develop the monastic tradition in our various cultural and
individual circumstances; truly the task of a lifetime for us as oblates. When we visit our monasteries we listen to
the word of God and we allow the Holy Spirit to work through us, incorporating
the monastic tradition, into our daily lives, so we can leave refreshed and
better able to cope with life’s slings and arrows, as we journey through life.
As Cardinal Hume used to say to the children in my
school, in his homily, following his visits to my school:-
“Remember above all that Jesus LOVES YOU very much! In
His eyes you are precious, and very special. Hold firm to His love, and your
step will be firm, and will not falter.”
In times of my great need, it was Jesus’ love for me that
carried me forward, and enabled me to endure!
I would like to close my presentation with a quotation
from Lucius Annaeus Seneca, a famous Roman philosopher:-“Virtue closes the door
to no-one. It is open to all, admits all, invites all: freeborn and freedman,
slave and king.”
Note from Fr.
Martin: I think we will all see John’s infectious enthusiasm and one of his
inspirations is the following invitation from him that I pass on to you:-
>>Benedictine Shared Prayer Circle<<
There has been a need
felt by some for a shared prayer circle, for a time to allow oblates to come together using
modern communications even though in many different locations, and with varying
degrees of health and fitness, perhaps unable to attend meetings, to be able to
join in prayer together, to Our Blessed Lord, Our Blessed Lady, and St
Benedict, our patron, and to ask for their assistance and blessing in our
lives! This notion has been discussed and shared and has also been warmly
welcomed.
The idea is to help oblates who might feel lonely or
isolated to connect, through prayer, with their brother and sister oblates, and
so be part of the Oblate brotherhood of prayer. The prayer schedule is taken
from the “Benedictine Prayer Book” (John will let you know which one!) - a
breviary, based of course, on the rule of St Benedict, and will be made
available to all oblates who wish to sign up, and make a commitment to this
form of shared prayer.
There is opportunity for personal intentions, within the
schedule, and in this way we are praying together for our own as well as the
intentions of our fellow oblates.
It is hoped that we those who wish may be able to join in
prayer with other Oblates at midday on Friday each week. Those who wish may
pray together on a daily basis if they so wish. The prayers will only take 5
minutes of our time, so it is not arduous!
If interested please contact me for further details,
and/or a copy of the prayer schedule.
Best wishes,
PAX,
John G McKinlay jmgm07@yahoo.co.uk --You can see John is very enthusiastic and
you might have suggestions how he can take this farther and might want to share
with him by email in the first instance and receive the material he has garnered so far. Fr.
Martin
•St Mungo’s Chapter Glasgow. As announced. Peter Aitken 11, Maxwell Grove,
Glasgow. G41 5JP. Phone: 0141 4272084.
Numbers have been steadily increasing.
•St Margaret’s Chapter,
Dunfermline.
•St. Monica’s Chapter,
Thurso. Contact Jane Coll. "Scaraben”, Westside, Dunnet, Thurso,
Caithness, KY14 8YD. Phone 01847 851467
•ST.PETER'S CHAPTER OF
OBLATES Aberdeen NEXT MEETING February -2015-- Mr Brian Milne Tel 01224
485781 stpetersbulletin1803@talktalk.net (Brian’s HEALTH IS POORLY SO PLEASE CHECK)
•New Chapter—St.Mirin’s
Chapter. Date: 1st Saturday each month. Time 2-4 pm. Venue: Hall 2, St Mirin’s
Cathedral, Cathedral Precincts, Incle Stret Paisley, PA1 1HR—secure parking
there within Cathedral enclosure. Farther information: St Mirin Chapter,
Benedictine Oblate Group, c/o Campbell Murdoch, Fircroft, Knockbuckle Road,
Kilmacolm, PA13 4JT m: 07810 350006 ejcmurdoch@yahoo.co.uk
UGANDAN SEMINARIAN. UPDATE JANUARY 2015.
The
Pluscarden Oblates continue to support Josaphat Christian our 22 year old
Seminarian. He is currently involved in Pastoral work as part of his formation
for the Archdiocese or Tororo in Eastern Uganda about 130 miles northeast of
Kampala. His present parish is in the village of Magale were he had to learn
the local tribal language for the Bagisu tribe. He appears to be very popular
with the Parish Priest who seems to enjoy Josaphat’s culinary skills together
with his ability in the music ministry.
He has
recently spent a few days in Convocation for Seminarians allowing him to
receive teachings and to meet other Seminarians.
Josaphat
will remain in the Parish till August and with good reports, he will enter the
Major Seminary in September this year.
We continue
to receive communication from Josaphat and also from Sr. Catherine at the
Benedictine Priory in Tororo who keeps us
fully informed.
Please
keep him in your prayers.
If you
are called to sponsor Josaphat in any way please contact me, Paul Costello at
4, Commercial Road, Ellon, Aberdeenshire AB41 9BD Tel:- 01358-721512 or
e-mail:- paulandjocostello@btinternet.com
From
Fr. Ambrose-- former Oblatemaster, now superior of KB--Dear Fathers, Brothers and Sisters, Greetings from Kristo
Buase! We have just launched a new website: www.kristobuasemonastery.org Prayers
please for the repose of the soul of our dear Father Bartholomew Banzie
OSB and for Br Anthony who is now
studying for the monastic priesthood.
Reminder: the “UK Oblates Team” who comprise oblates of different monasteries
including our own(Jane Coll, lead writer for website, and John MacKinlay are
members) plan biennial, inter-oblate conferences in Rome and also plan other
events in the U.K (as above) and have a website www.benedictine-oblates.net that often has very
useful information and articles and advertises events.
“For He says: At the
favourable time, I have listened to you; on the day of salvation I came to your
help. Well, now is the favourable time; this
is the day of salvation”
Lenten
Blessings!
Yours in Christ and SPNB
Fr. Martin
+pa
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