Benedictines Offer Refuge in a Hectic World
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Single Issue: $1.00 Publication Mail Agreement No. 40030139 CATHOLIC JOURNAL Vol. 94 No. 13 September 14, 2016 Winnipeg synod Benedictines offer refuge in a hectic world The faithful spoke and Archbishop Richard Gagnon By Carol Glatz dictine order’s recent work: Many listened as the synod for the monasteries have been taking in Archdiocese of Winnipeg VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The migrants and refugees, offering held the first in a series of world’s Benedictines offer pre - them housing, employment and listening sessions to address cious gifts by providing quality education; promising relationships three questions. education, quiet refuge in a hectic have been formed with Buddhist — page 3 world and loving hospitality to monks and with Muslims; and JOY anyone in need, Pope Francis said. around 160,000 students are At a time when the church is enrolled worldwide in Benedictine A new Justice and Outreach called to focus increasingly on the educational institutions. Year (JOY) of formation essential, Benedictine monks and Pope Francis said the Bene - was recently launched in the nuns possess “a unique gift and a dictines’ work in the formation Diocese of Saskatoon. special responsibility — that of and education of youth “is very — page 6 keeping alive spiritual oases much appreciated and highly where pastors and the faithful can qualified.” Mercy a challenge draw from sources of divine Thanks to their studies and mercy,” the pope said. experience of the Benedictine “We need to learn the truth,” The pope’s remarks came in a way of life, these students can said Archbishop Emeritus speech Sept. 8 to abbots and con - become skillful experts in the val - James Weisgerber, speaking ventual priors from 250 monas - ues proposed by St. Benedict’s Courtesy of P. Novecosky, OSB of the historical treatment of teries of Benedictine men from rule, he said. BENEDICTINE MEETINGS — Abbot Peter Novecosky, OSB, is seen Aboriginal people in Canada. around the world as well as repre - He praised the monks’ efforts at the Vatican Sept. 8 during a meeting with the heads of Benedictine Mercy is a challenge for sentatives of Benedictine women. to live merciful and fraternal lives monasteries from around the world. The Benedictines are meeting in everyone who claims to be a They were in Rome to attend the in their communities, which they Rome Sept. 3 - 16 to elect a new abbot primate. disciple of Christ, he said. Congress of Abbots Sept. 3 - 16 do “through that industrious and — page 7 and to elect a new abbot primate eloquent silence that lets God Quaerere , on the contemplative and spiritual poverty.” to head the international confed - speak in the deafening and dis - life of women — a document that He urged them to not let the Call of the Arctic eration of monasteries Sept. 10. tracted life of the world.” is also addressed “by extension to declining number of members in Abbot Peter Novecosky, OSB, “Even though you live separate all monks,” he told his audience. their monastic communities be a Canadians representing St. Peter’s Abbey in from the world, your seclusion is The Benedictine charism of hos - discouragement, but rather to be take pride in Muenster, Sask., is in attendance. not sterile, rather it is an enrich - pitality, he said, allows members to an impetus to hold onto “the zeal the mythol - In his remarks to the pope, out - ment, not an obstacle to commu - encounter people whose hearts are of your testimony” and the enthu - ogy of the going Abbot Primate Notker Wolf nion,” he said, referring to his “lost and distant” and who may be siasm and courage needed to “True highlighted some of the Bene - apostolic constitution, Vultum Dei living a moment of “great human establish new communities. North,” “Your service to the church is writes very precious,” Pope Francis said; Gerald Commission educates church about abuse “Even today there is a need for men Schmitz, yet few have visited and women who put nothing before the Arctic Circle. This week By Carol Glatz when the memorial should be Members of the pontifical the love of Christ,” who receive he reflects on a July held, according a press release commission have spoken recently daily nourishment from God’s Arctic expedition. VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Sept. 12 from the Pontifical with officials at the Congregation word, who celebrate the holy litur - — page 9 Members of the pope’s commis - Commission for the Protection of gy in a dignified manner and who Sacred fire sion for child protection, includ - Minors. — UNIVERSAL , page 4 work in harmony with creation. ing an abuse survivor, have been While we don’t often realize speaking with new bishops and Anti-trafficking experts applaud decision it, both the wise and the major Vatican offices as part of a wicked feed off the same mandate to develop and educate energy, and it’s God’s energy, the church about best practices. By Deborah Gyapong names of alleged “johns,” is might end up with a bunch of writes Ron Rolheiser, OMI. Pope Francis also approved the applauded by anti-human-traf - cases on the books only to see the OTTAWA (CCN) — A 2015 ficking experts. laws repealed.” — page 10 establishment of a day of prayer for survivors of abuse, but decid - anti-prostitution sting in Sydney, But there are concerns the “And still others have never Ukraine at war ed it will be up to each nation’s N.S., and a recent court decision landmark 2014 prostitution law enforced the purchasing provi - bishops’ conference to decide upholding the release of the that for the first time in Canadian sion, believing the laws wouldn’t With 10,000 dead in history made the purchase of sex stand,” she said. “This inconsis - Ukraine’s eastern Donbass illegal and recognized that most tency was present even under the region, Russian tanks and prostitutes are victims exploited previous government, which had missile systems massing on by pimps and human traffickers is made its position very clear, but I the eastern border, two not being evenly enforced. think in the absence of clear di - million internally displaced “We know there is a lot of pres - rection from the current Attorney Ukrainians, Crimea already sure from pro-prostitution groups General of Canada, it’s become under Russian rule and the and the sex industry to repeal the even more of a concern.” Ukrainian Black Sea fleet laws,” said Evangelical Fellowship But former MP Joy Smith, sunk or stolen, Rev. Peter of Canada (EFC) policy analyst who played a leadership role in Galadza is putting his trust Julia Beazley. “But at this stage, organizing the grassroots cam - in the politics of the beati - the government has said only that paign to change Canada’s prosti - tudes, writes Michael Swan. they will be taking a good look at tution law in 2014, warned of a — page 11 the legislation — something they “backlash” if the bill is repealed. are doing with several laws passed “A lot of these young girls who Port of Churchill by the previous government.” service these men are trafficked Enforcement of the law de - and they don’t want to do it, they Recent events in northern pends on local police and Crown are controlled by traffickers,” said Manitoba regarding the clo - prosecutors, Beazley said. “Some Smith, who now works to combat sure of the Port of Churchill CNS/ L’Osservatore Romano jurisdictions have embraced the human trafficking full time should prove that, like high - objectives and approach of the leg - through the Joy Smith Foundation. ways, the fate of crucial rail YEAR OF MERCY — Pope Francis greets Giuseppe Chiolo, 16, in St. Peter’s Square during a Year of Mercy general audience at the Vatican islation and are enforcing it fully, “What about their shame?” lines should not be in the Sept. 10. The pope administered the sacrament of confirmation to the as we’re seeing in Cape Breton. “The fact of the matter is we hands of private companies, young man, who is being treated in the oncology ward of a Florence But we’re also starting to hear that are in a new era in Canada: buy - writes Dean Harder. hospital and had asked to meet the pope. “The love of God is bound - some jurisdictions that had initial - ing sex is against the law,” she — page 12 less,” he said. “Our whole life, although marked by the fragility of sin, ly embraced the approach are now is placed under the gaze of God who loves us,” said Pope Francis. backing off, concerned that they — JUDGES , page 5 2 Prairie Messenger INTERNATIONAL NEWS September 14, 2016 Monastic life serves God, fires the imagination By Carol Glatz Ending his third and final term For? Heretical Thoughts on is that whatever the communities without being moved to respond as leader of the confederation of Germany , piled high next to a are doing, “we are doing it out of is not following the Gospel, he VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Benedictine monasteries, the 76- stack of Dan Brown’s The Da love for Christ.” said. “We have to do something.” Though generally renown for year-old German monk also plays Vinci Code , at the Munich air - At the Congress of Abbots For today’s Benedictine monks Gregorian chant, curating libraries in a rock group, named Feedback, port’s newsstands. Sept. 3 - 16, abbots and conventu - and nuns, St. Benedict’s sixth- and offering quiet retreats, some in his spare time, and performs It’s not unusual to find monks al priors from each of those century rule means living out the Benedictine monks also brew classical and sacred music on flute.