1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

Volume 3, Issue 5
Winter 2014
ur Journey
Saint Andrew Abbey • Benedictine Order of Cleveland
AbbatialBlessing
OfRt.Rev.GaryA.Hoover,OSB
From the Abbot, Rt. Rev. Gary A. Hoover, O.S.B.
DearFriends,
When the angel Gabriel appeared beforetheBlessedVirginMaryanddeclared
to her that God had found favor with her
andthatshewouldconceiveasonandname
himJesus,theSonoftheMostHigh,Mary
ponderedwhatthisgreetingmeantandhow
this would happen. The angel answered
thatitwouldhappenthroughtheHolySpiritandthepoweroftheMostHigh.Mary
thenresponded,“Behold,IamthehandmaidoftheLord.May
itbedonetomeaccordingtoyourWord.”Maryrespondedwith
aresoundingYES!YestoGod,YestohersonJesus,Yestous!
ShetooktheleapoffaithandtrustedthatGodwouldbefaithful
toHisWord.
Atthistimeinmylife,theLordhascalledmetoservemy
monasticbrothersinanewwayastheAbbotofourBenedictine
Community.Uponmyelection,whenIrepliedwithmy“yes”to
theAbbotPresidentofourcongregation,whoaskedifIwould
accepttheresponsibilitiesastheAbbot,ortheFather,ofSt.AndrewAbbey,Iwasultimatelysaying“yes”tothewillofGodthe
Father.JustlikeMary,ImusttrustinGodthatHeistruetoHis
WordandthatJesuswillwalkwithme,thatHewillwalkwithall
themonksofSt.AndrewAbbeyasIamcalledtoserveourLord
inanewway.
While we can’t add to the glory or greatness of God, you
and I can witness to and proclaim His love and presence
to others and to the world through our lives.
WhileIhavebeenAdministratoroftheAbbeyforoneand
halfyears,Itrulydonotknowwhatliesaheadofus,blessings
aswellaschallenges.However,whatIdoknowisthatGodhas
broughttogetheragroupofprayerful,caringanddedicatedmen
intheSpiritofSt.BenedicttofollowHisSon,JesusChristin
proclaimingandlivingtheGospelvaluesintheworld.Along
with each of you, walking with the monks on our journey towards the Heavenly Kingdom, we will make a difference, the
“Christ”differenceinthisworld.
InMary’sbeautifultestimonyofGod’sloveforherandfor
us,shegreatsElizabeth,hercousinwhoispregnantwithJohn
theBaptist,withherCanticlebeginningwiththeline,“Mysoul
magnifiestheLord...”Whilewecan’taddtothegloryorgreatnessofGod,youandIcanwitnesstoandproclaimHisloveand
presence to others and to the world through our lives. I have
chosen this phrase as my abbatial motto. I pray and ask that
allofyoupleasejoinmeandthemonks,alongourjourneyand
togethersayandlive,“MysoulmagnifiestheLord.”
Peace,
AbbotGary,OSB
Prepare for the Coming of Christmas
By Br. Peter Ancell, OSB
Adventisthefour-weekseasonthatstartsourliturgicalyear.
Themostpoeticandappealingofseasons,thisisthetimewhen
weprepareourselvesforthecomingfeastofChristmas.Adventmeans‘coming”thatisthecomingofChristourRedeemer.ButtherearedifferentcomingsofChrist.Someofusthink
thatAdventisconcernedonlywiththecomingoftheChrist
ChildinBethlehem,2000yearsago.Buttheliturgicalprayers
of the Church during this season refer to Our Lords Second
Comingattheendoftheworld.Thereisalsoathirdcoming–
theLord’scomingintoourheartsandlives,bydivinegrace.If
wearetryingtolivebytheteachingsofJesusChristandofHis
Church,thenthisAdventwillbealiturgicallyrich,profoundly
religiousexperiencethatwillleadustotheLord’scomingin
graceatChristmas.
The various readings and texts of theAdvent Masses and
LiturgyoftheHoursmentionthesethreecomingsofChrist.So
weshouldtrytounderstandtheAdventliturgyasreferringto
thosedevelopmentsbeforethecomingofJesusinBethlehem.
WeshouldnotethevariousreferencestotheLord’sComing
–Parousia–attheendoftime.Andweshouldthinkoftenof
HiscomingatthisChristmas–Hiscomingtooursoulsinthe
Eucharistandingrace.‘Forgracealthoughalreadywithinus,
2 • St. Andrew Abbey
cancometousagainandagainandinfullermeasure’(Pius
Parsch,The Church’s Year of Grace).
TherearemanywonderfulAdventandChristmascustoms
–specialhymnsandcarols,theAdventwreath,SaintNicholas, the Christmas tree, Christmas lights, mangers, gifts and
celebrations.ForadultCatholics,however,thefinestcustomis
aliturgicalobservanceofAdvent.InthiswaywiththeChurch
werecallthecenturieslonggoneby.Intheliturgywerememberthepastages,theancienthopesandlongingsforaMessiah.IntheantiphonstheHolyChurchchantsatMassandin
theLiturgyoftheHours,Shethrobswiththehopesandpains
ofathousandyears.
WelistentoandallowIsaiahandtheothertheProphetsto
guide us. In the December darkness we stand again in holy
darknesswhichsurroundedthem.Asdidourancestorsinfaith
andliturgy,wewrapoursoulsintheveiloftheirancientMessianic visions.A BlessedAdvent and Christmas to you and
yourfamilies.
In this Year of Consecrated Life, Pray for Vocations
By Fr. Finbar Ramsak, OSB
Preparations are rarely undertaken
fornoparticularreason.Wepreparefor
competitions, tests, meals with families,
interviews, and careers. Should it come
asanysurprisetousthatinthelifeofthe
Churchweenteraseasonofpreparation
beforetheSolemnityofChristmas?The
SeasonofAdventisaperiodofpreparation.Asthisseasonbeginsthispreparationisnecessary,butalsoagoodreminder
forusofwhereweareandwhatiscoming.Adventasatime
ofpreparationisnecessarytodayforallthatcandistractuswith
theholidayshoppingseason.Whilethiscanbeavalidpartof
ourpreparationforChristmas,itshouldnotbetheonlytypesof
preparationweareundertaking.
Thisyearaswebeginanewliturgicalyear,PopeFrancishas
announced2014-2015willbetheYearforConsecratedLifethat
begins November 21st. In making the announcement for the
Year of Consecrated Life, it was explained the first objective
wouldbeto“makeagratefulremembranceoftherecentpast,”
thesecondobjective“toembracethefuturewithhope”andthe
third,“livingthepresentwithpassion”Thispassion,speaksof
“being in love, of true friendship, of profound communion.”
TheYear of Consecrated Life will have an evangelical focus,
helpingpeopletorealize“thebeautyoffollowingChrist”inthe
varioustypesofreligiousvocations.
Asthoselivingamonasticlife,theYearofConsecratedLife
providesameanstoshowandremindbothothersandourselves
aboutoneofthewaysinwhichpeopleareabletofollowJesus.
Weareremindedthroughthisyearhowweareabletohelpothersbyexplainingwhatwedoandwhy.Yetaswereflectonthe
lifewehavebeencalledto,theonlywayweareabletolivethe
monasticlifeisbecauseofthepreparationsandtraditionsthat
havebeenpasseddowntousthroughoutthecenturies.
The Season
Our Journeyispublishedfourtimes
of Advent prepares
per year by the Benedictine Order of usforthecomingof
Cleveland, St. Andrew Abbey, for our
the King. The life
friends,oblates,andsponsors.
we live as monks
prepares us to meet
Publisher
the king. The
Rt.Rev.GaryA.Hoover,O.S.B.
preparation for this
Directors of Abbey Stewardship
meetingbeginswith
RobertJ.Allen
MaryKaySwenson
thediscernmentproPublic Relations & Design
cess to determine
SusanGarrison
whether or not to
enter the monastic
Ifyouhavequestionsorcommentsabout
life. This period of
thispublication,pleaseaddressthemto:
preparationisatime
St.AndrewAbbey
to reflect before en10510BuckeyeRoad
tering the monastic
Cleveland,OH44104
life to ensure that
(216)721-5300
one has been called
www.standrewabbey.org
tothemonasticlife.
The entrance to the monastic life should
not be done in haste for we see in chapter 58 of the Rule of St. Benedict: “Let
easy admission not be given to one who
newly cometh to change his life; but, as
theApostlesays,‘Trythespirits,whether
theybeofGod’(1Jn4:1).”Thereason
for this is, as St. Benedict will allude to
in places throughout the RB, the monastic life is not easy. So why test and try
throughthediscernmentprocess?
The term vocation is a reference to our call from God to
serveandcometoknowHiminaparticularwaythatleadsto
entrance into the Kingdom of God. Through discernment we
notonlyareabletohearinapositivelightthecalltoaparticular
vocation,butifwewillthepathswearenotcalledtofollow.The
preparationthroughdiscernmentandthewayonecomesthrough
theprocessofhearingGod’scallleadsusfurtherontheroad.
Ourentranceandjourneyintoandinthemonasticlifebeginsas
doallthingswithaprocess,andtherearecertainstepsthatmust
bemade.Canthesebetedious?Yes,butwhatwemustnotlose
sightofisthatthisperiodandthesestepsaredoneforthereason
ofpreparingusforwhatwewillface.
TheSeasonofAdventisasetperiodoftimethatpreparesus
forChristmas.Theseasoncomeseveryyearandwereflecton
thereadingsandprepareforthebirthofChrist.Inourliveswe
maylookpastthepreparationinanticipationofwhatistocome.
Unfortunatelywemayfindthistobetruewhenithappensevery
year,andtherearemanydistractionsintheair.Whetherweare
inthemonasticlifeortheSeasonofAdvent,thepreparationcannotbeoverlookedforthesimplereasonthatwhatwearepreparingforisthecomingoftheKing.ThecomingoftheKingwhich
werememberbothinthepresentmomentandforlife’sjourney
shouldleadushome.MaythisSeasonofAdvent,inourpreparationforthecomingoftheKing,letusnotlosesightofwhatwe
aretrulypreparingforandwhenHecomes.
PleasecontinuetoprayforvocationstothemonasticcommunityaswellasforallthosediscerningGod’scallintheirlives.
MayweallbethepresencethroughGod’sgracetohelpfoster
andencouragethatloveofGod.St.Benedict…prayforus.
Christmas Eve (Midnight) Mass – 9:00 PM
Because of limited seating, seating will be on a first come first serve basis. Reservations can be made by calling
(216) 721-5300. After the Mass, a cookie/punch reception
will be held in the
high school cafeteria.
Schedule for
Christmas Day:
7:10 AM Lauds
7:30 AM Mass
7:05 PM Vespers.
www.standrewabbey.org • 3
AbbatialBlessingofRt.Rev.GaryA.Hoover,
October5,2014
Servers, including students of Benedictine High School, lead the
procession.
The community processes into the church.
The Abbot and Br. Gabriel
during the sign of peace.
Photos on this page by
Debbie Furst.
4 • St. Andrew Abbey
Abbot Gary and Bishop Richard Lennon
during the ceremony.
Abbot Gary greets Auxiliary Bishop Roger Gries, OSB.
The monks singing the Ultima.
Scenes from the
reception.
www.standrewabbey.org • 5
TheSlovakInstitutehasthefollowingavailableforpurchase:
BooksinENGLISHaboutSlovaks
Slovak Songs and DancesbyMichaelSinchak,Originaledition,
1942,$7
Slovaks in Florida,asresearchedandwritten
byAndrewF.Hudak,Jr.,$10
Remembrances and Testimony,Dr.JozefTisoandtheSlovak
Republic1939-1945byDr.Charles(Karol)Murin,
SecretaryforTiso,$18
Cleveland’s Buckeye Neighborhood,Collectionofearlyethnic
photoswithcaptiuonsbyJohnT.Sabol,$22
Cleveland SlovaksbyJohnT.SabolandLisaAlzo,describedvintage
photos,$22
Slovaks of the Greater Mahoning Valley, VintagephotosfromOhio
citiesYoungstowntoWarren,plusbordertownsinPennsylvania,by
SusanJ.SummersandLorettaA.Ekoniak,$22
History of the SlovaksinCleveland&Lakewood,
JanPankuch’sfortyyearsinAmerica,translation ofhis1929book,$24
The Night of the Barbarians, Experiences under
Communism,byCardinalJanChryzostom
Korec,S.J.,$28
OdporúameknihvvSlovenine
Sv. Andrej-Svoradin1952byFr.Mikulᚊprinc,$7
Slovenské Rehole v Amerikein1955byDr.FrantišekHrušovsky,
$10
VKrá_och Dedinyin1968byJozefA.Mikuš,$10
Slovenská Republika(SF)1939-1949bySlovakInstituteMember
Writers,1949,$20
Driftwood PoemsbyMikulasSprinc,translatedtoEnglishfrom
Slovak,$12
Various Slovakia Landspaces,Largeusedpicturebooksof
Slovenskoorregionsorcitiesofhigh
interest.Yourchoice,$15
SeasonalItems
LargemapofSlovakia(blackandwhite),
$10
FlagofSlovakRepublic,Lg.3’x5’,$20
FlagofSlovakRepublicSm,$”x5.5”,$4
SlovakChristmascards(10pack),$10
SlovakChristmascardsTOCANADA,
$12(U.S.)
ENGLISHChristmascards(10pack)$10
ENGLISHChristmascardsTOCANADA, $12(U.S.)
ChristmasOplátky(1env.of3pcs),$1
Order now for Christmas!
ORDER FORM
Items and Number you would like:
Name
Address
City
State
Zip
Payment Enclosed $ ______________
+
$4.00 shipping & hndlg
Total
Please consider us when
making or revising your will.
Our legal name is
Benedictine Order of Cleveland, Inc.
6 • St. Andrew Abbey
We thank you for your support of the Slovak Institute.
–AndrewF.Hudak,Director
–JosephJ.Hornack,AssistantDirector
For more information or questions,
[email protected]
The following chapter is taken from a book entitled, “The
Wisdom of the Benedictine Elders: Thirty of America’s Oldest Monks and Nuns Share Their Lives’ Greatest Lessons” by
Mark McGinnis published by BlueBridge Books in 2005.
Father Placid Pientek / Born 1918
Fr. Placid is a member of the Benedictine community at St. Andrew Svorad Abbey in Cleveland, Ohio. St. Andrew Svorad is
an urban abbey, but one with well-designed buildings and lovely
grounds, where one can quite easily forget that downtown Cleveland is only ten minutes away. But there are reminders of the surrounding city, like the pigeons that make for the abbey’s primary
“wildlife.” Father Placid has been a city dweller most of his
life, growing up on a street in New York City that later gave way
to the World Trade Center.
IwasborninNewYorkCity,inlowerManhattanintheshadowofWallStreet.Ialwayswantedtobeapriest.Itwasduring
theDepressionandIneededtomakeadecisionaboutschooling
asIreachedtheeighthgrade.IgrewupintheSlovakparishattendingaCatholicschooltaughtbySlovaksisters.TheDepressionwasverybadandmanykidswerequittingschool,underthe
pretenseofhelpingtheirparentsmakesomemoney.Iknewthat
wasn’tforme.Iaskedoneofthesisterswhatschoolshewould
recommend,andshesentmetotheSlovakpastorwhosaidthere
weretwoSlovakpossibilities:thefirstwasSt.AndrewSvoradin
ClevelandwhichwasjuststartingoutandSt.ProcopiusAbbey
inIllinois.IchoseClevelandandIthinkitwasmainlybecause
itwasSlovakandbecauseitwasclosertoNewYorkandtravel
wouldbecheaper.
Icameherein1932attheageoffourteen.Ibeganhighschool
here and I really enjoyed it. My plans were to become a SlovakpastorandreturntoNewYork,butFatherGeorge,ofhappy
memory,keptsayingthatIshouldbecomeaBenedictine.Inmy
fourthyearIappliedtothemonastery.Iadmiredtheirlifestyle.
TheBenedictineswereactivewithusinoursports,conversation,
andrecreation–theywerefamily.Itwasaveryloving,wholesomeenvironment.ThefunnythingwasthatClevelandthensent
metostudyatSt.Procopius,whereIcouldhavegoneinthefirst
place,fortwoyearsofcollege.AfterthetwoyearsthereIwas
eligible for the novitiate. I was then sent to St. Benedict’s in
Atchison,Kansas,tofinishmycollegeeducation.
IcompletedmydegreeinAtchisonin1941andreturnedto
Cleveland.Thereweretwenty-sixseminarianshereatthattime.
WestartedourownseminaryandIstudiedtheologyhereforfour
years.Iwasordainedapriestin1944.Ithenbeganteaching
Latin,English,andreligionatourhighschoolhereandalsodid
quiteabitofcoaching.Ilovedathletics.In1948,Iwasappointed novice master. I spent all my life at the monastery except
twoyearsthatIwassenttoRometostudytobeanovicemaster
from1952to1954.AftermytimeasnovicemasterIreturnedto
moreteachingbutalsostartedwithsomeadministrativeduties.I
workedastreasureratthehighschoolandalsoatthemonastery
forsomeyears.By1969Iwasdoingfull-timeadministrative
workthatcontinuedforaboutthenexttwentyyears.
Isteppeddown
fromtheadministrativeworkinthelate
1980’s and focused
on other work. I
helpedwithourSlovak magazine for
years. I help with
mailings and fundraising in various
ways. I also help
organize an annual
volunteer dinner.
It’s become quite a
beautiful event. It
seemslikeeveryone
wants to come. A
Fr. Placid welcomes vocation visitors to the highlightofthedinabbey in the 1960’s.
ner is a skit put on
by the monks; one
yeartheskitwasentitled“HolyHavana,”anditsplotwasthat
the pope asked the Benedictines to start a monastery in Cuba
anditfeaturedcharacterssuchasJimmyHoffaandElvisPresley
whowerehidingthere.
Mywholelifeherehasgivenmejoy.Ihavebeeninvows
forsixtyyearsandeverydayhashadaglowtoit,notboringbut
growing.It’sathanksgivingtoGodthatIamstillhereandable
toworkandprayforHim.Therehasbeennoexplosionofhappiness,butasteadyconstantunionwithGod.Ijustkeepgrowingatit,nevertiringofit.I’mlivingundermyfourthabbothere.
Itseemsthateachonekeepsgettingbetter.Thecurrentabbot
(RogerGries)isagodsend.Hewasoneofmynovices.
Ofcoursetherehasbeensomesorrow.Ithasbeensadtosee
somemenleavetheBenedictinelife.Theyseemtoberunning
away.It’salsosadtoseeyoungmencomeandsamplethelife
butstillbeafraidtomakearealcommitment.
Ibelievefamilylifeisacorevaluetheworldneedsmore
oftoday.Nowwithbothparentsworkingandsomanysingleparenthomes,it’sverydifficult.Wearefoundedontheprecept
oftheabbotbeingthefatherofthefamily,andheiselectedfor
life.Wecouldteachfamilyvaluesthroughthestabilityofour
lives.Wehaveavowofstabilitythatcouldhelpmarriagesand
familiesstaytogether.TheRulealsoisverythoughtfulaboutthe
oldandtheyoungthatcouldalsobenefitsocietytoday.
The Rule of St. Benedicthasmuchguidanceforus.Ilove
thechaptersonobedienceandhumility.Itcomesfromthedays
Iusedtoteachthosechapterstothenovices.Iwouldtrytoteach
themthathumilityandobediencearetwosidesofthesamecoin.
I’vealwaysseenthePrologueandthefirstsevenchaptersasthe
mostimportantones;afterthatit’smostlydetails.
WhenIcamehereattheageoffourteen,Iautomatically
becamepartofthespiritualpracticesoftheBenedictines,andI
havebeenpartofthatpracticeforthelastseventyyears.Ibegan
prayingtheDivineOffice(TheLiturgyoftheHours)asanovice.TheOfficecreatestherhythmoflifewiththeseasons,the
Continued on page 8
www.standrewabbey.org • 7
Father Placid Pientek / Born 1918 – Continued from page 7
psalms,andthereadings.Itgrowsonyouovertheyears.EventhechangesfromLatin
toEnglishdidn’tupsetme.Itseemedanormalgrowth.TheOfficeisliving.EvenduringtheEasterseason,whensomereadingsmighthaveasmanyasnine“Alleluias,”you
mightthinkoneortwowouldhavebeenenough,butIlikeitwithallnine.Somedayswe
singtheOfficeratherthanreciteit.You’rehappywiththeembellishmentfortheOffice
nevergetsboring.
TheBenedictinewayisahealthy,balancedwayoflife.Youhaveallyourcompanionshelpingyouandguidingyou.Yougetintotheflowofthings.Theycanspotitwhen
youveeroffthebeatenpathwithfood,exercise,ordiet.Andit’snotjustthesuperior
helping you, but even more so the ordinary fellow monks. They encourage and help
youtotakecareofyourself.It’swonderfulthatwayitworkswithnobeatingofdrums
orfanfare,justgenuineconcern.Eveninthelateryearsthereisalwaysworktodo.I
alwayssayBenedictinesneverretire.It’safamilyandyouwanttocontinuetobepart
ofit.Thesuperiorandothermonkswillneverburdenyouwithsomethingbeyondyour
capabilitiesorcondition.
Wedon’thavetheconcernsforsecuritythatsomanypeoplehavewhentheygrow
older.Wehearsomuchaboutplanningforyourretirement.Thatdoesn’tupsetmebecauseIdon’thavetoworryaboutit.Idon’tneedtoworryaboutmoneyorinflation,or
deflation.Thosethingsarenotconcernsofmymonasticlife.
Ihavehopeforthefuture.Ihopeourmonasterywillgrow.Ihopewecanreturnto
thetimewhenweweremorenumerous.Wehaveaboutfortymembersnowandatone
timewewerearoundseventy.Naturehasmanycyclesandrebirths.Benedictineshave
theircyclesandrebirthaswell.
Fr. Placid, who played in the first BHS
varsity basketball game on December 7,
1934 against John Marshall High School
poses with the the Bengal basketball
team 75 years later on December 7,
2009.
Oblate Corner
WhenpassingbytheFreshmanLatinclassroomatBenedictine,onecouldheartherecitationoftheprinciplepartsbythe
students:Offero,offerre,obtuli,oblatum-tooffer,giveupor
sacrifice!Butthisisnomerechantorrecitation.Theboysare
actuallybeingintroducedtosomethingfardeeperthanancient
Latin grammar, though they will come to a fuller awareness
laterinlife.Theofferingoroblationisgoingtobetheirlives
onearthiftheychoosetoincorporatethemselvesintoChrist’s
oblationofHimselftoHisFatherontheCrossfortheSalvation
oftheworld.Nomeantaskisthis,norotememorization,but
holyvictimhood,selfimmolationandpersonalsanctification.
SotheheartofBenedictineeducationisthetrainingofthose
whoofferthemselvestotheFatherthroughJesusinthepower
oftheHolySpirit.Thisofferingiscalledoblation,andthose
whoofferitareoblates.
Nowonderthenattheheartofthevowceremonyamonk
singsthe“Suscipe”unfortunatelytranslatedas“Sustainmeo
Lord!”Thedayswelivein,findanyselfgivingdistasteful,hard
and even meaningless. But a better rendering of this phrase
wouldbe“ReceivemeoLord,takemeupoLord,Igivemyself
toYou,oLord,insacrifice!”-ReceivemeoLordasYouhave
promisedthatImayliveanddisappointmenotinmyhope-
three times, yes, and sung, three times for our incorporation
intotheBlessedTrinity.Repeatedverymuchliketheschool
boys’recitationinclassformemories’sake,sincerepetitionis
afterallthemotherofstudies.
Andsofromtimeimmemorial,Abraham’ssacrificeofIsaac,
thesacrificesoftheMosaicLaw,andtheritualofthePassover
totheLastSupperofChristandHisownimmolationonthe
Cross, this is at the heart of who we are and what we do as
Catholics, as ordained, as
religious,aslaity.Makeno
mistakethisistheonlyroyalroadtoheaven!AndsoI
asco-oblatedirectorinvite
you on this richly covered
pathfilledwithlightsasour
holy father Benedict trod
his way to heaven, as he
invites us monks and you
laitytobeoblates,offerings,livingsacrifices,wholeburntofferingstotheLord!
Thosewhoarenotordainedorinvowscandothisbysharing
inthewonderfulspiritualandcorporalworksofthismonastery
ofSt.AndrewSvoradasoblates.
Wearenotaskingyoutorapyourchildreninthealtarclothas
oncewasdone,buttohelpusprayforvocations.
Wearenotaskingyoutostandinchoirwithusfourtimes
aday,buttoshareourpraywhenyoucanandofferyourown
divineofficeaccordingtoyourstateinlife.
Wearenotaskingforlargedonationsofland,propertyand
wealthasinthemiddleages,butforyourrealandpracticalhelp
inourserviceofGodandneighborinourlocaleaswestruggleto
meetthespiritualandphysicalneedsofthoseweserve.
Weinviteyouandchallengeyoutotakeupthecalltobea
Benedictine oblate of St.Andrew SvoradAbbey. We meet on
everythirdSundayattheAbbeyaround3p.m.
ThankYou!GodBlessyou!
Fr. Bede Kotlinski OSB, Br. Mario Parisi OSB