Abbey RAVEN September 2015 PDF

R
THE RICHMOND
AVEN
September 2015
Mary Mother of the Church Benedictine Abbey
12829 River Road Richmond, Virginia 23238
Abbey and Preparatory School Look to the Future
By Fr. John Mary Lugemwa, OSB
This is a very exciting time in the history of our community. The vision of our predecessor monks continues
to unfold with a renewed hope and vigor. Our school, the
Benedictine College Preparatory, finally
moved to its new home at the newly renovated Goochland Abbey campus in
2013 and continues to grow. Once again
the monks are reunited with the school
as one Benedictine family. In February
our Brother Vincent made his simple
vows. At the same time, we welcomed
two vibrant young men, Br. Ambrose and Br. Joseph ,
into our community beginning their monastic journey as
novices. We are blessed to be financially stable. For all
these great achievements and the many signs of hope,
we are very grateful.
As part of the larger Benedictine family, we inherit
a 1,500 year old vision of monasticism birthed by our
father, Saint Benedict whose inspiration is drawn from
further back in third century ascetic movement of the
Desert Fathers, men such as Saint Anthony, Pachomius, Evagrius, Cassian, Basil, and others before him in
the West. These men were spiritual giants but the story
is not complete until we trace it back to its primary origin.
The asceticism of the early church was an expression of
virtues embodied in the life of Christ, embracing His Father’s
grand vision of salvation of all souls—“Be holy, therefore, as
your heavenly Father is holy” (Mt 5:48) and “Go therefore
and make disciples of all nations”(Mt 28:19). Monasticism,
though not missionary in nature, is a living out of this vision
in a very defined and unique way in the Church. It’s a vision
passed on to every baptized Christian with a call to work toward its realization.
Each Benedictine community lives out and expands
this vision in some specific ways in a particular locale. The
monks in Richmond have always sought to advance this
grand vision since 1860 following a path into the new world
paved by Archabbot Boniface Wimmer who founded Saint
Vincent Archabbey in 1846 from Bavaria, Germany.
In the past several months, the monks have engaged in a
prayerful process of reviewing and clarifying our mission and
vision for the future of Benedictines in Richmond. This is an
effort to capitalize on the current positive energy and exciting
developments in the monastic community and school.
Continued on Page 2
Looking to the Future
Continued from Page 1
This effort of clarifying and renewing our vision is aimed
at inspiring holy, talented and dedicated young men to consider a vocation to our monastery. We seek to set ourselves
on a path in building up a vibrant monastic community radiating monastic spirituality in Richmond bracing for the next
century and beyond.
Each day, the monks strive to live out our great mission
of seeking God in the spirit of the Rule of St. Benedict as
expressed through our prayerful Liturgy and the work of our
ministries. We believe that a clear vision for the future is a
critical component of our growth strategy.
The past several years have presented some seemingly
insurmountable challenges. However, we have fought the
good fight, persevered patiently amid uncertainties, our
friends have reached out to us with a generous hand, and
with God’s grace and provident care we have triumphed.
We are small but not weak. We are men driven with passion
for our vocation and filled with zeal for our monastery—our
home.
The Unfolding of a Big Dream
The vision roadmap can be traced way back at the
founding of our priory and school in 1911. Up to this time
since 1862, the monks founded and staffed a number of
parishes around the Richmond Diocese. Responding to the
call to open a boys’ high school in Richmond, the monks
have focused their energy and resources on the education
and formation of young men as their primary apostolate,
operating on a small campus, less than three acres, on
North Sheppard Street in downtown Richmond. As the demand for Catholic Benedictine education continued to grow,
the monks envisioned operating a large campus in a serene
rural setting allowing the abbey and school to thrive. Since
1911, the monks have formed more 6,000 young men sent
out into the world doing amazing things and touching so
many lives.
The journey to fulfilling this vision began in 1994 when
the monks purchased a 50 acre parcel of land in Goochland
County. The move to a larger campus opened up an opportunity for the monks to run a retreat and conference center
as well as a religious gift shop. However, to free up space
for the school to relocate at the Abbey campus, these two
ventures have been temporarily put on hold since 2012. Our
goal remains to reopen these two ministries in the future. At
this point, we have given priority to our primary apostolate –
the school.
When the monks bought the property in Goochland, they
envisioned a campus where students would have an opportunity to interact with monks on a daily basis to achieve the
core of Benedictine education i.e. the spiritual and moral
formation of our students. In 2010, we sold the North Sheppard Street property to the Diocese of Richmond. Renovations commenced on the Goochland campus. Despite some
hurdles in the process, the school finally moved to the Abbey in fall of 2013.The new school facility provides state-ofthe-art computer and science laboratories, expanded library, larger classrooms, a 640-seat auditorium, a scenic
cafeteria with outdoor patio, administrative office wing, robotics lab, and fine arts wing. We have also renovated and
upgraded our monastic cloister to provide comfortable living
Bro. Joseph, Bro. Vincent, Bro. Ambrose, Bro. Jeffery and Fr. John Mary
quarters for the monks. We have designed a robust and
comprehensive formation program integrating leadership
development to prepare our young monks to carry the vision
of the Abbey and school forward of the Abbey and school
forward.
Operating on the same campus with the monks, the Catholic identity of the school has been strengthened and various
programs such as Emmaus group (a spiritual and vocation
discernment group), choir, and weekly Mass with confession
comprehensive formation program integrating leadership s
and devotions have been initiated to facilitate the spiritual
and moral formation of our young men.
Phases one and two have been a tremendous accomplishment. We are grateful to our school community, alumni,
donors, and friends whom without their support all this progress would not have been possible.
Looking to the Future
The third phase of this vision roadmap is perhaps the
most exciting and challenging of these ambitious projects.
The full realization of the monks’ long-term vision lies in the
steady growth of the monastic community and construction
of a new monastery with a retreat center on the back of our
property overlooking the historic James River.
We inherit a rich Benedictine tradition of which we are
very proud. Not only are we committed to this tradition, but
we strive to expand the impact of its values on the young
men who come through our school and on the people of the
local community. Our growth strategy is contingent on the
expansion of our physical infrastructure, rigorous vocation
recruitment effort, as well as a strong well-rounded formation
and education program for our monks.
The eventual move from the current facility will free up
additional space for the school to grow. As enrolment continues to rise, additional classroom space will be required to
meet the demands for a quality Catholic education.
These recent milestones: the school’s move and being
reunited with the monks, a revamped and shinning campus,
financial stability, young men in formation, and strong local
support cast a bright light on the future of Benedictine presence in Richmond.
We are filled with HOPE – a hope founded in faith, our
common goal, a strong will, and determination to thrive as a
vibrant monastic community.
It is indeed time, now, to set a stage for a long term
vision of the future. What will our next 100 years look like?
Belmont Abbot and Benedictine Alumnus
Chosen to Guide Richmond Monks
By Abbot Placid Solari, OSB
In the early fall of 2013, I was
asked by the Abbot President of
the American-Cassinese Congregation of
Benedictine
Monasteries, of
which Mary
Mother of the
Church Abbey is
a member, to
serve as canonical administrator of the Abbey.
Since Belmont Abbey had originally founded the community in
1911, and is geographically the
closest monastic community,
there was already a bond between the two communities. For
me, it was also an invitation to
attempt to make some return for
all that I received from the
monks in Richmond. Growing up
in Saint Benedict’s Parish, and
graduating from Benedictine
High School in 1970, I had the
monks as my parish priests and
my teachers. It is a singular privilege to be able to return and
serve with a community from
whom I received so much.
Much has transpired during
the two years I have been with
the community. Perhaps the
most significant events have
been the profession of simple
vows last February by Brother
Vincent, and the entrance into
the novitiate at that time of
Brother Ambrose and Brother
Joseph. Our three men in formation are an encouragement
and sign of hope for our community.
Another encouraging sign
for us has been Father Adrian’s
strong and steady recovery from
a bad fall last spring. In order to
allow Father Adrian to concentrate all his attention on his recovery, Father John Mary has
taken up leadership in the community as acting Prior with dedication and competence.
One of the more significant
events in the community’s life in
recent years was the successful
move of Benedictine College
Preparatory School from the
original campus on Sheppard
Street to the Abbey at the beginning of the 2013 school year.
This is now the beginning of the
third year at the more modern
and spacious campus. Most
significantly for our monastic
community, the cadets and the
monks are once again together
on the same campus.
I hope this newsletter will
bring you up to date on significant events in the life of our
community. Most of all, I hope
you will join your prayers to
ours, that Mary, Mother of the
Church, will continue to intercede for us and for the welfare
of our Abbey and school communities.
The Future is Now
at Benedictine
By Jesse Grapes, Headmaster
Benedictine College Preparatory is in the most exciting
period of its history. The
school completed
its move to a new
campus on the
James River, rejoining with its
founding monastic community
after 20+ years apart.
The school has completed
$8 million of renovations to its
new campus in just the past
two years, and plans to add a
new gymnasium and other athletic facilities in the coming
years.
The school’s mission, to
form Christian men of conscience, discipline and
achievement, is accomplished
by a rigorous blend of academic and leadership curricula.
It’s 104 year history as a
Catholic, all-male, military, day
school makes Benedictine College Preparatory unique among
all Catholic schools in the
country.
Continued on Page 4
Fr. Adrian Honored
60 Years a Priest
The Fr. Adrian Harmening
Board Room was dedicated on
the opening day for Benedictine College Preparatory. Fr.
Adrian has been a part of the
school since 1955, and served
as Principal for 25 years.
Father Adrian celebrated
the 60th anniversary of his ordination to the Priesthood in June. The monastic community will honor
his life-long service to the Abbey and the Church
with a special Mass at 9:00am on November 15th,
2015. Please join us for this special
moment.
Father Adrian graduated from
high school in 1943 and served in the
Navy through the end of World War II.
He believes it made him a better man
and ultimately, a better priest. “It
taught me,” he said, “a lot about people.”
Speaking of the school, Fr. Adrian Fr. Adrian and
Cadet Nisely
said, “the best part of my life has
1963
been watching students come in as
boys at around 14 and leave at 18 as young men.”
He added, “Seeing our alumni go out into the world
and do such incredible things … it convinces me
we are doing God’s work.”
@ the Abbey
It’s not the Nutcracker
It’s not A Christmas Carol
It is the newest addition
to your holiday traditions
Sister’s Christmas Cathecism
The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold
by Maripat Donovan
Starring “Sister” Aubrey Manning and
Fr. Adrian Harmening
St. Nick’s Feast Day
Sheppard Auditorium
12829 River Road in Goochland
Sunday, December 6, 2015 at 2:00pm
Tickets: $30.00
Information online at www. RichmondMonks.org
or call 804 708 9654
Raven
THE RICHMOND
Published by the monks of
MARY MOTHER OF THE CHURCH BENEDICTINE ABBEY
12829 RIVER ROAD RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23238– 7206
804 784 3508
WEBSITE
www. RichmondMonks.org
Three Brothers Undertake Monastic Journey
Br. Ambrose
Okema is
originally from
Uganda. He
attended the
St. Thomas
Aquinas Major Seminary.
He is a highly trained automobile mechanic. Prior
to coming to Richmond,
Br. Ambrose spent nearly
ten years with the missionary Benedictines in
eastern Uganda.
He is enjoying his novitiate experience and
says ; “I love the Benedictine way of life centered
on structured Prayer and
Work (Ora et Labora). As
a novice, I feel the joy of
fraternity in the community and I am privileged to
live and serve with others.
God calls each one of us
from near and far for a
purpose that His name
may be glorified.”
Oblates
Meet: Third Saturday
Sept. –May. 9am –noon
Oblates are lay men and
women striving to incorporate
Benedictine spirituality into
everyday life.
Contact: Fr. John Mary 708 9653
Br. Joseph
Wasswa
comes from
Uganda. Before joining
the Abbey, he
was a seminarian for more
than nine years. Joseph
attended the Bukalasa
Minor Seminary and
Queen Apostles,
Katigondo Major Seminary, Uganda, earning a
Diploma in Social and Philosophical Studies. He also
obtained B.A. degree in
Philosophy from the Pontifical Urbaniana University,
Rome.
His time in formation is
a realization of his dream:
“I increasingly became
interested in monastic life
and now I am doing my
novitiate formation to become a monk. I feel happy
that my spirituality is increasing as I spend more
time with the Lord in prayer with this community. I
am motivated by no consideration other than the
Glory of God, the service
of the Church, and the salvation of my soul.”
Shroud of Turin Center
The Center promotes an
awareness and understanding
of the Shroud of Turin and
conducts research into its origins.
There are periodic
multimedia presentations featuring images of the Shroud.
Contact:
Bryan Walsh at 784-3366
MASS SCHEDULE
Sunday
Mon– Fri
9:00 am
7:00 am
Saturday
8:00 am
Br. Vincent
McDermott is
from Jersey
City, New Jersey. Completing his novitiate,
he took his simple vows in
February.
Brother Vincent said his
“first blessing and grace,”
was to know the life of a
Benedictine priest and witness how God uses priests
to win people over and influence them to live a way
of life that leads to eternal
life.”
The Divine Office, he
believes, is the heavenly
mystery that prepares a
monastic community to take
part in the sacred liturgy of
the word and sacrament. “A
brother,” he said, “has a
great responsibility to carry
out this life of prayer for the
salvation of the world.”
ROSARY
CONGRESS 2015
October 9 and 10th
at The Abbey
In summoning the Church to an
Extraordinary Jubilee,
A Holy Year of Mercy,
Pope Francis is calling on
us to become living signs of love.
For more information on
line go to:
RichmondMonks.org
or call: 804 708 9654
The monks invite men
18 to 45
to join us for a
VOCATIONS
WEEKEND
October 16-18, 2015
Contact:
vocations@ richmondmonks.org
804 708 9653
Benedictine
From Page 3
Benedictine’s military program builds leaders as no others do, because the leadership
program is founded on the truest
model – Jesus Christ and his
teachings informed by the magisterium of the Catholic Church.
The school’s successes are
evident. 98% of graduates matriculate to 4-year universities. The football, basketball,
wrestling and baseball teams
have all won state championships in the last five years.
19 of Benedictine’s Cadets
are enrolled in the Emmaus program for young men discerning
a religious vocation.
All of our Cadets fill the pews
in Mary Mother of the Church
Abbey every Friday morning for
Mass.
Benedictine is a school that
makes real men, and is always
looking for adult male leaders
that can help in the process.