Summary of Convocation – Nov 2012 by Abbot.

Summary of Events and Leading Trends During November’s Convocation – 2012

by Abbot Michael-John

It is with great thanks and praise to God that I begin this summary of events during November’s Convocation – 2012. God continues to bless us in growth, steady numbers, and the willingness of individuals to “listen” to what God is saying to us in our corporate life together and in our individual lives when apart.

Before I go any further I want to acknowledge those who were not able to be with us with good cause: Brother Peter, Brother Nathan-Gregory, Brother Julian, Brother John-Paul, Brother Leo-Ignatius, Brother Tyrone, Brother Edward, Adrienne C., Kevin R. and Mark H. You were missed and remembered in our prayers.

I also want to thank Sister Sophia for her work on finances and logistics, Nancy S. for her coordination with Chef Michael, St. Dunstan’s and for being my second set of eyes on programming, Ken M. for doing our short and long distant runs in preparation for Convocation. I couldn’t have done it without all of you – Thank you!

Thursday is always an exciting time for the Community. After a period of six months the family is once again one. There is always that first look into some ones’ eyes, that look of welcome, then the hug. It happens over and over again at each convocation and never grows old. We dash around like bees to flowers making our rounds to each one, greeting old friends and welcoming new ones to our bush called – the family.

We finally make it into the Parish Hall of St. Dunstan’s where I have a chance to formally greet everyone, say a prayer and quickly give instruction on the new Prayer Book which we will be using at Vespers in about a half-hour.  All is well.

Sister Sophia has the members and guests assigned seats, remembering our entry date into Community. I begin Vespers with the words: “Lord, make speed to save us; and the choir’s response: O Lord, make haste to help us.” We begin with what every Benedictine has said at Vespers for over 1,500 years. We stand in a long tradition. It will take a day or so but we will find our common pace, our traditions will take their rightful place and remind us who we are: Individuals who have come together as Community with a common Vision, goal and purpose, who voluntarily take promises/vows to live under the Gospels, the Rule of St. Benedict, Customary and Abbot.

Convocation had a cloud cast over it at the beginning. Our beloved Bishop The Right Reverend Michael Garrison, who had planned to be with us again, had to change his plans because his father had a stroke. Family members were gathering in Philadelphia to decide how best to care for him. Our prayers and love were with him and continue to be with him now.

Convocation is all about prayer, sharing our stories, food, prayer, sharing our stories and more food. Occasionally we met for a Teaching Session, Formation Classes, and necessary meeting with me … and then there is always more prayer and food. We want to thank Chef Michael for his gift to us: his cooking.

After a good-nights rest we were back at it again. Friday was a heavy day of prayer. At Matins we saw Brother Michael-Francis clothed as a Novice in vowed life. Again, it was a wonderful opportunity for the Community to come together and “listen” to each other and become one in heart and intention.

Mass followed Matins. Father David celebrated the Mass in place of the Bishop. During the Mass I had the privilege of receiving into Full Oblation Sister Elizabeth-James, Sister Elizabeth-Sojourner and Brother Lawrence-Benet. It was clear through the Teaching Session and the movement of the Holy Spirit that God was not done with the House of Initia Nova yet.

God has also blessed us with a growing number of Contemporaries since last Convocation. They are: Mark H., Michael C., Raymond J., Carmen J.  We give thanks for their participation in our life and what they will continue to bring to our Community.

During the rest of the week I met with members and non-members alike. Out of our time together, it became clear that individuals had spent time in prayer and were in discernment about some major decisions in their life.  Two of these would impact the Community.

Sister Elizabeth-Sojourner requested that she be permitted to continue her journey into vowed life. This I approved. Scott K., who was named “Gregory” by St. Meinrad Archabbey [Roman] at Oblation, after a long discernment decided to transfer his Oblation from St. Meinrad to the House of Initia Nova. With that transfer comes a title. He is now among us: Brother Gregory. Other people were touched too and what will happen is up to God and those individuals.

On Saturday the House of Initia Nova returned to an early custom of Benedict’s era. We need to remember that Benedict was not a priest nor were any of his monks. The custom was for the monks to travel on foot to the local parish for the celebration of the Mass. Benedict received enough consecrated hosts for the week and returned to the monastery. The Mass that Benedict refers to is the Mass of the Pre-Sanctified. As Christ among them, he would take from the Reserved Sacrament and feed his flock during the week until the following Sunday. This was normal life in his monasteries until priests were raised up within their communities.

This gave me an opportunity to expound on our history before we entered into the Office. Many had not heard of the Mass of the Pre-Sanctified, in effect something that is done Tuesday – Saturday morning at the Abbey as a continuation of the Divine Office of Matins [The Word segment]. It was a special moment for me to be able to feed my flock and for my Community to understand where it came from. Having been feed spiritually it was time for more of Chef Michael’s tasty food.

Saturday was planned to be a day of work and bonding among the new with more seasoned members; and that it was. I had just returned from Iowa with Brother Thomas, having brought with us articles that were once in the former Chapel. All pitched in and started polishing the brass. Benedict tells us to “listen” to the youngest members for they may have something of value to share and sure enough Benedict was right. Pickle juice and vinegar are wonderful for removing tarnish from brass in ways I would not thought of. Thank you Michael. Mother Karen a guest of Sister Elizabeth-Sojourner, joined the Community to do the Impossible Task, for the brass had been in storage for near three years. But with a whole lot of elbow-grease, brass cleaner, pickle juice and vinegar, the brass was looking pretty good. Everyone worked hard, bonded well with each other, and Mother Karen, now tired, was sitting down pretty close to Abba. Another story, another God-thing.

With the chapel restored with all its “fine things”, the Community gathered with little room to spare. It’s time for Vespers again: “Lord, make speed to save us; and the choirs response: O Lord, make haste to help us.” This time, we were in our own chapel, we were home and we were One; a feeling and sense that was thick in the air.

Now it’s time for a little rest, refreshment and downtime. Chef Michael agreed to feed us at the Abbey. With our bodies fed, and clean-up taken care of, it was back to the chapel for Compline.

Compline is always a special time. It is a time of reflection, a time of reviewing the day with all its events, words said, words that should have been said, deeds done and not done, looking for answers, finding some and not others. Compline is very much about asking for forgiveness, asking for a new chance, a new beginning. It’s a time for invoking the angels to watch, protect and battle for us while we are asleep. We like Simeon can now say: “ Lord, you now have set your servant free to go in peace as you have promised; for these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, whom you have prepared for all the world to see: A Light to enlighten the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.”

Then we heard the prayer from the First Evensong of Easter:

O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death on the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

Then as a closing act and symbol of our baptism we are sprinkled with blessed water; we symbolically go down with Christ to death and are raised with him to new life. We become new creatures, the old has passed away.

On Sunday St. Dunstan’s saw a wave of black move forward into their nave. Brother Timothy-Titus was always in close attendance of Brother Lawrence-Benet who had slipped off a step and broken his foot coming to Convocation. His care of Brother was an excellent example of following the Rule of St. Benedict regarding the ill.  It was good for the congregation to see so many of the Community gathered together in one place, when usually it is Sister Sophia, Nancy and myself.

The rest of the day was about rest and relaxation at the Abbey. Brother Thomas, with sideline support from Brother Timothy-Titus, Sister Elizabeth-James, Ed and Sister Sophia,  gathered around the backside of the pool near the BBQ grill, to aid and encourage Brother as he grilled our meal.

Monday found us back at St. Dunstan’s for Matins. It was during this Divine Office that I received into Community Sister Elizabeth-Sojourner into Postulancy [vowed life]. At Mass I had the honor of receiving into Community Brother Gregory, Obl-OSB from St. Meinrad Archabbey as Full Oblate.

I want to thank Father Rob and Father David for assisting us as celebrants during Convocation. This is especially true as our primary celebrant was to have been Bishop Michael Garrison and last minute changes had to be made because of health related issues concerning the Bishop’s father.  I also want to take this opportunity to thank the staff at St. Dunstan’s who worked so hard to make our stay so pleasant.

With blessings and love…… Abba