Mepkin Abbey Announces 6 Contemplative Retreats for 2012
Fr. Nicholas Amato
In response to many requests, beginning this year Mepkin Abbey will offer six contemplative directed retreats in addition to the private spiritual retreats available throughout the year.
Fr. Nicholas Amato, an Associate member of Mepkin Abbey, will be the presenter for the directed retreats. After serving as a pastor for 20 years in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Fr. Amato’s full time ministry now includes directing contemplative retreats, preaching parish missions and offering days of recollection. He spends several weeks a year in residence at Mepkin Abbey.
“Over the years, we have had many, many requests for directed retreats,” said Abbot Stan Gumula. “Now, with Fr. Amato’s help, we will be able to provide this much needed ministry.”
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Fr. Jonas receives the novice habit
Fr. Jonas enters Noviate
On Saturday evening, December 3rd, in the chapter room of Mepkin Abbey, Father Jonas Palmares, having completed a year as a postulant, was clothed as a novice by Dom Stanislaus, our abbot. A novice wears a white robe, as do all monks, and the white scapular and white cloth belt which identify him in the two further years of prayer and study that are the preparation for profession of vows. Over these garments he wears a white cloak. The cloak is worn by novices and those in temporary or simple vows.
Father Jonas came to us from the Archdiocese of Lipa in the Philippines where he had been serving as the chancellor of his diocese for eleven years. Ordained a priest for twenty years on November 20th, with the permission of his archbishop he began a process of discernment of a call to the monastic life three years ago. During his lengthy discernment he visited a number of monasteries both in the Philippines and in North America. The conviction grew in him and was affirmed by our community that the call was to Trappist life here at Mepkin.
We pray in gratitude to God for calling Father Jonas to our life and ask you to join us in praying for him that he may persevere in the path to which God has led him.
Read Abbot Stan’s Homily given for Fr. Jonas’ Noviate
Read More »Mepkin Abbey’s 62nd Anniversary Celebration
The monks and friends celebrated the anniversary of the founding of Mepkin Abbey 62 years ago. The Sunday Eucharist on this anniversary day, called “Joy Never Ending” began in the monastic cemetery with a blessing of the graves and prayers for Mepkin’s departed brothers.
Abbot Stan’s last blog
Abbot Stan
Saturday October 1, St Therese of the Child Jesus
Dear Brothers:
I am in my room at Tamié after a wonderful drive with Dom Victor. We went over the Pass of Montecisi. What a gorgeous panorama! We picnicked up near the top, looking out over a beautiful blue lake, with snow on the mountains in the distance. And then coming down the other side into several beautiful French villages. As we drew near to Tamié the landscape changed to a more rural feel, with houses and children and farms and animals (cattle and sheep). Climbing up the road to the Abbey itself is a very winding road and then this ancient monastery comes into sight. It feels very much like a home away from home for me.
We left Assisi at six in the morning on Thursday and drove first to Boschi in northwest Italy, a community with a unique history. They were founded at the end of the Council by a couple of monks from Tre Fontane and Frattocchie at the urging of the Bishop of the place. When these houses could no longer support them, they turned to Tamié, who became their Father Immediate and were officially brought into the Order in 1996. They were raised to the rank of a Major Priory at this Chapter. They are a small community – seven at present. They live in what could be termed a large farmhouse on only 15 hectares of land. Very hilly. Mostly woods. They work hard on their garden and make wine, honey, and fruits and vegetables galore. They eat most of what they grow, storying up potatoes and apples and so forth for the long winter. Their chapel is very dark, with a huge tree stump as the altar. They have a good liturgy and there is a great camaraderie among the brothers. Their refectory is a long wooden table, very rustic.
We arrived for dinner and had two meals with the community and the Spanish group who had arrived before us. M. Pilar, the dynamic young abbess of Tulebras, M. Rosa of Alloz, Dom Juan Javier of Oseira, Jésus of Paraiso in Ecuador, and Dom Enrique of San Isidro. There was great talk at these meals and much laughter throughout – with Italian, Spanish, French and English all intermingled.
Read More »Auto-Critique
Abbot Stanislaus
DATE: September 27, 2011 MGM
SECRETARY: Stanislaus, Mepkin 4TH COMMISSION
TOPIC STUDIED: AUTO-CRITIQUE
Let us start with what is most important: the food was excellent and there was plenty of it, if you came on time. However, if you were late, well…. It is to be noted that our commission was very conscious of this and we arrived at dinner today to be among the first in line.
On a more serious note, we believed this Chapter was above all a pastoral Chapter. The transparency and honesty with which our House Reports are now written called forth a like transparency and pastoral sense in the capitulants. The first two weeks in Mixed Commissions were intense, and hard work had to be done. But the environment of trust and openness allowed us to deal creatively and compassionately with some very delicate issues. Focussing on the needs of the communities became our primary response. Hearing from all involved: superior, Father Immediate, Founding House, etc. was so crucial. Giving letters personally to the superiors of houses helped this pastoral atmosphere.
We were impressed by the Coordinating Commission and their work and commend them highly for the quality of their listening. We felt people were heard and our suggestions most often found expression in the reformulation of votes, etc. The patience of the moderators was palpable.
We suggest that there must be a different way to handle elections than the present one. We suggest the use of an ad hoc Commission to give final formulation to the votes in each language.
We thought there was excellent work done on the Statute on Foundations, but regret the division that exists concerning the suppression of monasteries. We hope something creative on this will happen at the next General Chapter. We were struck by the seemingly unconscionable lack of respect and responsibility in voting. Some votes brought out about 166 votes cast and the next one only 155 or so. Abstaining is valid. Not voting at all dismays us.
Desiderata: Simpler English psalm tone at Lauds. Larger type face used for Name Tags. Food stays out longer.
Finally, the cheerfulness and good humor in the aula, in the Coordinating Commission and in the Mixed Commissions kept everything in perspective. The Chapter has given birth to new life in the Order, even while it was saddened by the decisions we had to take concerning other communities.
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