The Oblate the Oblate
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TThehe OOblateblate Newsletter of Newark Abbey Oblates Issue 17 Spring/Summer 07 Inside this issue: FOCUS—Past and Present by: Don Brennan As warm weather approaches we start off this update God. She learned of the oblates in Newark while Focus— at a cooler time, namely, the December, 2006 meeting. attending St. Mary’s Church. She has been an oblate for Fr. John Gorski, M.M., a Maryknoll missioner, spoke over twenty years. Felix Lorenzo had been active in the Past and Present about his missionary experience for the past fifty plus Church but became disenchanted with it. After some Don Brennan years’ association with Maryknoll. After his ordination time he began seeking to fill a void in his life. In his search Fr. John spent all of his years of service in Bolivia except he found The Rule of St. Benedict and the Newark Abbey Meet A Monk for a few years when he was getting his Doctorate in oblates to be the help for his spiritual journey. Kristen Augustine J Curley, Missiology in Rome. He spoke about the Church being Wisniewski was also searching for more direction in her OSB born and not planted from outside. It is born among the spiritual life. She found out about the oblates and people in their own culture and this culture must be contacted Fr. Lucien who said “Come on up” to Sussex. Sesquicentennial Of respected. He said that “Theological diversity is based She traveled to Bethany House, Fr. Lucien’s residence and Benedictines in NJ on a profound respect for the diversity of the human began her venture with Benedictine spirituality. Both experience of God.” The talk was interesting and Dave and Kristen only knew Fr. Lucien for a short time Don Brennan informative. Presently, Fr. John, a St. Benedict’s Prep before he died but both were greatly impacted by his alumnus and classmate of Don Brennan, is transitioning oblate leadership. There was much more to each of the God’s Plan...Not Mine. from living in Bolivia back to the USA. At the invitation stories and discussion ensued after the presentations. All John Baier of Abbot Melvin, he is living at Newark Abbey and who attended the meeting came away enriched with the participating in the prayer life of the monks when he is sharing of personal stories. in the US. He is the Staff Missiologist for the Pontifical Paul Drew, who became an oblate two years ago, spoke Jane Tomain at Mission Societies in the USA and works in their New Joint Meeting at the March meeting. He is the author of three books and York office. When in Bolivia, he is completing several he spoke about “A Writer’s Journey”. The first article he Don Brennan books on theology and missiology. had published was a story about the Rosary and a soldier At our January meeting we were fortunate to have Sr. going on duty. It took many tries but the article was Monastic Wisdom Germaine Fritz, OSB, former Prioress of St. Walburga eventually published in a magazine. Paul’s writing was Albert Holtz, OSB Monastery in Elizabeth, discuss the chapter on Listening finally off and running. His first book, After the Storm, was from the book, The Path of Life, by Fr. Cyprian Smith, OSB, a rebuttal of Robert MacNamara and the war in Vietnam. a monk of Ampleforth Abbey in England. St. Benedict The next book, Jenny 4, was a work of fiction and dealt opened The Rule with the word asculta – listen. This with the subject am I my brother’s keeper. The third chapter mentions that, “God is speaking to us all the book, published in 2006, is entitled, I Saw Jesus Today. It is time in all the circumstances of life.” Sr. Germaine a compilation of short stories where Paul recognized Jesus engaged her audience with lively discussion. She is other people and also the reflection of them seeing Jesus expounded on the practice of Lectio Divina as a means of in him. This book was able to be written because of the being able to listen to God speaking to us. As an changes and experiences in Paul’s life over the years. Paul interesting note, she said that the students at shared background information on how the books came Benedictine Academy spend fifteen minutes of silence to be written. His power point presentation was very with Lectio each day. Sr. Germaine encouraged us to effective and well received. Paul is an alumnus of St. read Fr. Cyprian’s book as an aide on the journey as ob- Benedict’s Prep. lates. A Service Day was held on March 31 when several In February, a panel of four oblates spoke about their oblates came to clean St. Mary’s experiences in becoming oblates. Dave Walsh related Church for the upcoming Easter Triduum. how he had made retreats at S. Paul’s Abbey in Newton Fr. Matthew Wotelko, OSB, Subprior of Newark and became acquainted with the prayer life of the Abbey, joined us for the April meeting. His subject was monks. His interest in learning more about Benedictine Disbelief – And the Power and Joy of Jesus’ Resurrection. life led him to contact Fr. Lucien Donnelly, OSB who He talked about Thomas and his disbelief that Jesus had encouraged him to join the oblates. Margaret Joseph appeared to the other disciples after His Resurrection. He knew the Benedictines in her native country, Trinidad. noted that disbelief is not sinful. Having doubts is as Having been in a bad accident which resulted in the much as believing as there are high and low tides. There death of her husband, the premature birth of her is risk in believing. Doubt is not a negative situation but daughter and herself being hospitalized for eighteen is one that can lead to greater belief. Discussion followed months, Margaret had a crisis of faith. A Benedictine the talk and insight was gained from it. monk came to visit her daily and through his persistent prayer Margaret was able to again express her faith in See separate article about the May meeting. Page 2 The Oblate Meet a Monk! - Augustine J. Curley, O.S.B. January 9, 1956—Orange, NJ- Rose & Michael Curley of Livingston welcomed their sixth & seventh children into the world. One of the twins born that day was named James. The Curley family was religious and went to Mass on Sundays and then would have a nice breakfast together, usually eggs and bacon, and crumb buns. With a number of priests and religious in his family over the years, he grew up hearing about them. Fr Augustine also remembers waiting on the front porch of his aunt’s house for the parish priest who would bring her communion, since she was homebound. This experience, also, influenced his eventual decision to become a priest & monk. Photo credit—Matt Kaelin Fr Augustine had thought about becoming a priest since he was young. While attending St. Benedict’s, he was impressed with the monks, and decided that he would like to join them. After college, however, Fr Augustine went to graduate school to study philosophy, with the idea that he would get a job teaching philosophy at the college level. In 1977 after graduating from Assumption College, Worcester, Mass; with a B.A., with a double major in philosophy and politics; and minor in studio art he got a teaching fellowship in the Department of Philosophy, at Boston College. All of the time, however, Fr Augustine kept in touch with the monks in Newark, and, one day, he realized that that was where he belonged. So in 1982 Fr Augustine came back to Newark Abbey and St Benedict’s Prep. While at the monastery he completed his Ph.D. in philosophy. He also received an M.A. from Immaculate Conception Seminary of Seton Hall University, where he did his seminary studies. Fr Augustine was ordained a priest in 1988. Currently a religion teacher at St. Benedict’s, he has also served the monastery and school as librarian, archivist, and as vocation director. For twelve years Fr Augustine served as secretary to Abbot Melvin when he was President of the American-Cassinese Congregation of monasteries. During that time he traveled with the abbot to different parts of the world for meetings, and got to know many of the world-wide Benedictine community. Fr Augustine is an active member of the New Jersey Catholic Historical Records Commission. He has contributed a number of articles to the Encyclopedia of New Jersey. He has also published a book on Saint Augustine, and has an article accepted for publication in the American Benedictine Review on the 1854 Know- Nothing attack on Saint Mary’s Church. In addition Fr Augustine continues to write and speak around the country on various historical topics, including his latest—“The Identity and Early Career of Edith O’Gorman, the ‘Escaped Nun’ ” to the American Catholic Historical Association. He is also currently chairing the committee for the 150th anniversary of the founding of the monastery. Issue 17, Spring / Summer 07 Page 3 SESQUICENTENNIAL OF BENEDICTINES IN NEW JERSEY by Don Brennan On a bright beautiful day in March the Benedictines opened a yearlong celebration of their one hundred and fifty year presence and service in New Jersey. A solemn Mass was celebrated in the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark on March 24. Archbishop John J. Myers was the main celebrant. Other concelebrants included Archbishop Emeritus Peter Leo Gerety, Bishops Edgar da Cunha, Charles McDonnell, and Frank Rodimer, Abbot Primate Nokter Wolf, OSB, Abbots Melvin Valvano, OSB and Giles Hayes, OSB, as well as many other Archabbots, Abbots, monks and other clergy.