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From God's Fullness We Have All Received, Love Following Upon Love

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From God's Fullness We Have All Received, Love Following Upon Love The Unitedaim States Secretariat of the Alliance usa for International Monasticism www.aim-usa.org Volume 22 No. 2 2013 [email protected] From God’s fullness we have all received, love following upon love. John 1:16 New Leadership AIM USA at AIM International ANNUAL BOARD MEETING On September 1, 2013, Jean-Pierre Longeat, OSB, retired The AIM USA Board of Trustees gathered for its annual meeting abbot of Ligugé, succeeded Fr. Martin Neyt, OSB, as President on October 29, 2013, at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery in Erie, of AIM International. Fr. John-Pierre Longeat was ordained a Pennsylvania. The AIM USA staff reported on the accomplishments priest in 1986 and became abbot in 1990 at the Abbey of Ligugé, and challenges of the past year. Discussions revolved around new France. During his ways to generate income to assist the mission monasteries and years as abbot, he was creative ways to expand the alliances. Since this was the first visit a longtime advisor to to Erie for a number of the board members, a tour of the AIM the Abbot President office and book warehouse was provided. They were amazed at of the Congregation the quantity and quality of the books that have been donated to of Solesmes and AIM. These books are shipped bi-monthly to mission monasteries. made many regular canonical visits around the world. He is the author of three books on monastic life and and an accomplished musician who has recorded two CDs of oboe music. After 23 years of service as abbot of Ligugé, Jean-Pierre is now be- Fr. John-Pierre Longeat ginning a new ministry as President of AIM International. He has been a member of this organization for over ten years. He will continue to function as President of the Conference of Religious AIM USA BOARD of France until 2016. Front seated (left to right) Sr. Mary White,OSB (St.Paul,MN), Abbot John Denburger, OCSO (Piffard,NY), Sr. Stephanie Schmidt, OSB (Erie,PA), Abbot John Klassen, OSB (Collegeville,MN) June 2013 GRANTS Back row: Sr. Karen Joseph, OSB (Ferdinand,IN), Abbot Paul Mark Schwan, OCSO (Vina,CA), Sr. Pia Portmann,OSB (Norfolk,NE), AFRICA Sr. Anne Shepard, OSB (Atchison,KS), Sr. Anne Wambach, OSB (Erie,PA), Sr.Susan Hutchens, OSB (Rock Island,IL), Abbot John Benedictine sisters in Twasana Brahill, OSB (Aurora,IL) –travel expenses of 3 superiors to meeting in Tanzania Benedictine monks in Madagascar –printing the Rule of Benedict in the local language Your monetary gift to AIM USA Cistercian sisters in Nigeria –tuition for one sister will give hope in the New Year LATIN AMERICA to Benedictine and Cistercian Benedictine sisters in Brazil monasteries around the world. –paticipation in Formation course in Rome Benedictine monks in Peru Thank You! –water pump and purifier ASIA To see any issue of the AIM USA newsletter in full color go Benedictine sisters in the Philippines to our website: www.aim-usa.org –participation in Leadership course in Rome OCIST monks in Vietnam –study for one monk in Paris Our 16-minute DVD on the works of AIM, especially the USA secretariat, is available at no cost, to groups and individuals. If Cover art: from Mosteiro Nossa Senhora da Paz, Brazil interested, please call, write or email us. 2 Benedict saw the entire world in a single ray of light. (Dialogues) The Eleventh Latin American and Caribbean EMLA XI Monastic Encounter, Mexico, 2013 by Patricia Henry, OSB, Prioress: Torreon, Mexico From July 22 to 29th over one hundred monastics from Lat- Latin American and the Caribbean today. From there we went on in America and the Caribbean gathered at a retreat house on the to reflect on our Benedictine and Cistercian life as we celebrate outskirts of Mexico City to share liturgy, reflections and life expe- the 50th anniversary of Vatican Council II. We named some of riences with one another at EMLA XI(Encounter of Monastics in the specific challenges that we are facing today and pondered Latin America). Cistercians and Benedictines, women and men, the significance of establishing or keeping the dialogue going between our monastic values and the values prevalent in to- day’s society. In the midst of all the beautiful reflections that we shared, one image has stayed with me as especially meaning- ful for our time. The President of the CLAR (Latin American Conference of Religious Life), herself a religious from an Ap- ostolic Congregation, addressed us and gave us her impression of what Benedictine Life has to give to our Church and world to- day. She had read the Dialogues, and reflected back to us that just as the young Benedict had made the broken sieve whole and sound through his prayer and concern for others, so we are called to take the broken rela- young and not-so-young met to reflect and dialogue on the topic, tionships, broken families, broken social structures, broken lives Monastic Life at this Time of Cultural Transformation. that surround us, and through our prayer and care of others, draw Much has changed since the first EMLA held in Rio de Janeiro, them into wholeness. Brazil in 1972. Then we were grappling with the renewal of monastic We alternated celebrating Liturgy in Spanish and Portu- life called for at the Second Vatican Council. We hardly knew each guese and were united in prayer with the millions gathered at other and there was a certain tension and distance among us, espe- World Youth Day with Pope Francis in Rio de Janeiro. cially among Benedictine nuns and sisters. I sense that those of us who remember those early post-Vatican Council years, have grown in humility, wisdom and charity. This time there was a warmth and deep joy as we met old friends and discovered new ones. The broad diversity in our ways of living the monastic char- ism no longer seems threatening or a cause for unfavorable com- parisons, but is rather perceived as a multi-colored tapestry that enriches our own understanding and appreciation of Benedict and Scholastica’s gift to the larger church. An outstanding characteristic of this gathering was the pres- ence of many monks and nuns of the “new generation.” Sisters and brothers in the under-forty age group made their presence felt in their laughter, their sincere desire to dialogue and get to know each other and their deep commitment to the monastic way of life. One of the highlights of our meeting was a large circle “panel” of this younger generation at which they were given the opportunity to express the challenges they face in monastic life today and the causes for hope they find in their communities. We are deeply grateful to AIM International for their en- The first day we began by considering the implications for couragement and for the financial aid that was used to help with us as monastics, of our socio-economic and political reality in travel expenses, accommodations and program expenses. Benedict saw the entire world in a single ray of light. (Dialogues) 3 Meet a North American Monastery In 2005 the com- munity was recognized Monastery of St. Gertrude— as Tree Farmers of the Cottonwood, Idaho Year; in 2008 it received the Kessler Keener Extraordinary Witness –Where Past and Future Meet– Award for its impact on “As we seek to serve the needs of our time may our service be as human rights, peace and justice and living out its faith-filled, visionary, generous and courageous as that of our faith to change the way the foremothers.” –Prioress Sister Clarissa Goeckner community and others see This historic monastery is a resource for North Central Idaho the world; and in 2013 the history, a community committed to social justice, a haven for peace community was cited for its and contemplation, a community in a rural setting stewarding the contributions to health care land, and the home of an array of ministries committed to meeting and education in Idaho’s the needs of our time. past and was recognized The Benedictine Sisters are active in a variety of ministries for its stewardship of the that express their core values: healing hospitality, grateful land, its forestry program, simplicity and creative peacemaking. The Idaho State Historical and its efforts to care for Society recently included the Monastery of St. Gertrude in a the earth. special exhibit, “Essential Idaho: 150 Things That Make the Gem State Unique.” Historical Museum The community began with three Sisters who arrived from In the spirit of Benedictine hospitality, the sisters invite Sarnen, Switzerland in 1882. As the community expanded, they visitors to learn about Idaho’s past through their Historical Museum, established schools in Uniontown and Colton, Washington and founded over 80 years ago by one of Idaho’s foremost historians, then throughout Idaho. Eventually they provided three hospitals in Sister Alfreda Elsensohn. In addition to its artifacts, the museum response to the needs of the pioneer families. Many Sisters continue has been a catalyst in hosting three Native American Symposia to to work as healthcare professionals; some continue to minister as foster understanding between Native Americans and other peoples; educators; others are pastoral care providers, retreat directors, artists it has also sponsored healing ceremonies at the Snake River site of the 1887 massacre of 34 Chinese gold miners. The healing ceremony was part of “Chinese Remembering,” a Lewiston history conference. Its purpose was to bring healing to racial violence and celebrate the influence of the Chinese in Idaho. Spirit Center With a tradition of welcoming people of all beliefs, Spirit Center offers retreats year-round in Benedictine spirituality and the arts.
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