Oblate News & Events
Feb 16, 2013
Day of Recollection
Father Pius X Harding, O.S.B., will be coming to St. Joseph Catholic Church on Saturday, February 16, 2013 (the first Saturday of Lent), to provide a Day of Recollection for the Vancouver Oblates and others who might wish to attend. All are welcome, though we do ask people to let us know ahead of time so that we have plenty of juice, coffee, etc.
Click here here for the day's agenda. For more information please contact Dan and/or Donna Bevens at 360-693-4595 or bevenses@comcast.net.
Nov 3, 2012
Requiem Mass
All are invited to attend a Requiem Mass for the souls of the faithful departed Benedictine oblates of Mount Angel Abbey (Missa Contata with Gregorian Chant, sung by Schola Cantus Angelorum, directed by Lynne Bissonnette-Pitre). The Mass will be celebrated in the Abbey Crypt on Saturday November 3, at 2:30 pm. Click here for the list of the deceased oblates.
The Requiem Mass is part of the Nov. 2-4 Benedictine Oblate retreat. Although the retreat is fully booked, you are welcome to attend as a commuter. Click here for the reatreat schedule. The Requiem Mass is open to all, even if you are unable to attend the retreat.
May 2012
Bible Lands Pilgrimage
A group of 34 pilgrims journeyed to Turkey on the Mt Angel Abbey Bible Lands Pilgrimage 2012. The pilgrims were led by Fr Odo Recker, O.S.B. and LaVern Hayworth, Associate Director of Oblates. Oblates were given the opportunity to renew their oblation at the Church of St Mary Draperis in Istanbul, Turkey. One "high point" of the pilgriamge was a hot air balloon tour of Cappadocia. The pilgrims also visited the home of our Holy Mother Mary on Mt. Koressos near Ephesus, where Oblate Claudette Reeves attached prayer requests from Mt Angel Abbey and the Oblate Community to the prayer wall. See photos.
Another Bible Lands Pilgrimage to Israel and Jordon is scheduled for next spring, May 13-30, 2013. For more information, contact LaVern Hayworth by email: zernyh@charter.net
April 2012
New Web Page Editors
Oblates Michael and Cheryl Schwartz will now be maintaining the Mount Angel Abbey Oblate web page. They welcome news and activities contributions from oblates and oblate groups, as well as suggestions, resources, links, and other information which may help oblates to “seek God” and “prefer nothing to Christ.” The goal is to make the web site useful for all oblates, from novices to long-standing members, to be used as an instructive tool in the “school of the Lord’s service” (RB Prol. 45).
Michael and Cheryl Schwartz, oblates since 2008, live in Colton, Oregon (about a 30 minute drive from Mt Angel Abbey). They have been married for 20 years and have been blessed with two children, Chelsea and Jason. They are also members of St Philip Benizi parish in Redland (near Oregon City).
They spent about a year and a half reminding Fr. Pius to update the oblate web site, so they seemed to be the natural choice to maintain and enhance its presence and usefulness. The oblate director and oblate council hope that this may become a beneficial resource to all our oblates. Cheryl & Michael may be contacted at MtAngel.oblate@gmail.com. Come back soon to view the changes and additions.
Friday, July 6 - Sunday, July 8, 2012
Saint Benedict's Day Festivities - Retreat & Picnic
Saint Benedict’s Day weekend will be celebrated this year from Friday, July 6 to Sunday, July 8. The Benedictine Oblate Weekend will celebrate our Blessed Father Saint Benedict with prayer, good food and socializing with the monks.
Afternoon arrivals for the retreat can check in at the Guest House. Festivities will begin with vespers on Friday, July 6, followed by a social on the Aquinas Hall patio and dinner in the seminary dinning room. A conference will be offered on Saturday morning. After mid-day prayer and lunch, there is another opportunity for study & discussion in the afternoon. The time between the conference and vespers is set aside for quiet or for prayer and relaxation.
Refreshments will be available on the Aquinas Hall patio during all free times. After dinner, the patio will once again be the place for root beer floats and visiting with the monks. It is a rarity for the monks to socialize after vigils in the evening, so it is quite a rare opportunity. Breakfast on Sunday will be from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Sunday Mass is celebrated at the special time of 10:00 a.m., where all the oblates together renew their oblation. The annual oblate picnic will follow immediately with plenty of German sausage and other good things to eat and drink. Once again, Bluegrass and folk musicians “LeRoy & the Sidekicks” will perform (with a little help from Fr. Pius and his bodhran).
To make reservations for this year's Oblate Weekend, which will be held July 6-8, 2012, please contact Karen at the Retreat House: 503-845-3025 or by e-mail retreat@mountangelabbey.org . Specify whether you will be with us for the retreat, or just the picnic. The cost of the weekend: room, meals, conferences and socials is $155.00 for singles or $252 for doubles. There is no cost for the picnic, which is provided by the monks in gratitude for your prayers and fellowship. Likely both the Retreat House and Aquinas Hall will be utilized during this weekend celebration.
Again, all the monks hope you will be able to share this festival of Saint Benedict with us here at Mount Angel.
September 30 - October 10, 2010
Oblate World Congress
Two oblates are representing Mount Angel Abbey at this year's Oblate World Congress held at the Ospitalita Salesianum in Rome. LaVern Hayworth (the Associate Oblate Director), from Hermiston, OR., and Pat Clark (Secretary to the Oblate Council), from Salem, OR., were chosen by Abbot Nathan Zodrow, O.S.B. upon the recommendation of the Director of Oblates, Fr. Pius X Harding, O.S.B.
In the midst of all their activities and presentations, Pat and LaVern have managed to check in with the Abbey two times:
"Hey there, having a good time. The Congress starts today. We went in to Roma yesterday and to St. Peters, then lunch etc. We took the bus, and it worked great from here. We prayed at the tomb of Saint Pius X! Well, just did morning prayer now off to breakfast. (Lavern)."
"Had to share with you about my day at Montecassino. It was incredible. The biggest gift from God is I had the privilege to sing with the Oblate schola for the Mass at montecassino and I can't even sing. Not only did I sing but the schola was behind the altar in the choir stalls facing the tomb of St. Benedict and St. Scholastica. There were no monks present as they had had their Mass earlier. The archabbot was the presider and this was his first Mass in English and his second time to preach in English. He did a great job. We also had lunch in the big refectory and we were the first group to eat in there since the Pope had eaten there. It is three long tables in a room that is about as long as a football field. Will have to show you pictures when I get back. It has been a great week. (Pat Clark)."
Lavern and Pat will post full reports upon their return.
