by Rt. Rev. Abbot Michael-John Austin, OSB

FOR ALL THOSE who have found their way to this update: Greetings, peace and more peace be yours through the One who brings stability to an ever-changing landscape.

Amid hourly updates of COVID-19 and the destruction it brings, there is good news, the type that gives hope.

I have heard recently social media programming centered on “where people can find hope, a place where they can cast their line,” securing them to something unmovable. It was good to hear that there is introspection going on, and faith was one of the places where comfort was being found.

But for many people, “faith” is linked to their local faith community, and those places are closed to many. Without a “place,” the message can sometimes become muddled and distorted. This leaves people on their own to figure out what the next step should be.

Wishing to find clarification, people have started looking at other models of “faith walking” that have stood the test of time. There is an ever-increasing interest in Religious life that has weathered the test of time and catastrophic events. Their interest may not necessarily be to become a monk (although all things are possible), but they seek something much deeper that is built on a Rock and has a structure and value system that has given “answers” to ageless questions.

We have seen this interest by the number of inquiries we have received recently. People are looking for an expression of “constancy, reliability, continuity, answers to ancient and new challenges.” For hundreds of thousands of people across time and circumstance, that has been monastic life. Because of this, the House of Initia Nova (HIN) is growing and spreading from the shores of the United States to the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia.

The pandemic has caused many a church and monastery to close its doors to the public. But social media has advanced to the point where individuals can now see their doctor via a phone, tablet, or computer. Taking advantage of this technology, HIN is now holding weekly gatherings with its membership worldwide. We gather for prayer (a priority for Benedictine life), instruction/spiritual guidance and mutual sharing.

If you should want to join us, write me at abbot272727@hotmail.com and in the subject line write: Prayer Invitation. We would love to have you join us.

With blessings of every kind … Abbot Michael-John +