IN C NACULO From the Benedictine Monks of Silverstream Priory - Special issue Candlemas 2020 vol. 1 no. 19
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IN ^ CNACULO
——————
Special issue
Candlemas 2020
From the Benedictine Monks of Silverstream Priory vol. 1 • no. 19
——————
Brother Placid McKee
at the ruins of Fore
Abbey, Co. Westmeath
1
2
A WORD FROM FATHER PRIOR
D
ear friends & oblates of silverstream
Priory, it hardly seems possible that a year has gone
by since the last issue of In Cœnaculo. This silent in-
terlude in no way means that life at Silverstream
Priory has been uneventful. Quite the contrary!
Advent 2018 was marked by the vestition of Br Isaias on 8 De-
cember. We opened 2019 with the Simple Profession of D. Chrys-
ostom on 6 January and the oblation of his mother on the following
day. The feast of the Assumption on 15 August saw the Simple Pro-
fession of D. Thomas Aquinas.
Summertime is always marked by the arrival of young men eager
to experience our monastic life for an initial three months; 2019 was
particularly fruitful in this regard. We await the return of five men as
postulants early in 2020. More recently, October saw a very success-
ful “Vocations Weekend” requested by five fine lads from Cork; it is a
heartening thing to see young men respond with enthusiasm to their
first exposure to Benedictine life at Silverstream.
Throughout the year we are blessed by the frequent visits of
the Bishop of Meath, Dr Tom Deenihan, and by an uninterrupted
stream of priest visitors from all over Ireland and from abroad. See
IN THIS ISSUE
the Chronicle for details.
The monastery walls in no way alienate us from the life of the •4•
wider Church, both locally and universally. We are aware of the joys
and sorrows of the Body of Christ and, by remaining in ceaseless Becoming Christ’s
prayer at the heart of Church, we bring the people and events en- Pure Bread
trusted to our intercession before the Face of God. Homily at the vestition of
In his recently published book, The Day Is Now Far Spent, Robert Br Isaias, 8 December 2018.
Cardinal Sarah writes eloquently of the place of monasteries in the
life of the Church today:
There is another place where we can have the experience of God
•6•
who gives himself in the Church: the monasteries. We find there
a concrete actualization of what the whole Church ought to be. I Thy sons shall
have often said so and I am not afraid to repeat it. The renewal come from afar
will come from the monasteries. [...] [Monasteries] are the present Homily at the simple profession
and the future of the Church. God dwells there: he fills the hearts of D. Chrysostom, 6 Jan. 2019.
of the monks and the nuns with his silent presence, and all of life
there is liturgical. It is nourished by faith and the Divine Office
and on fire with love and the burning bush of the Divine Presence. •8•
With regard to the construction of our monastic church: the
architectural plans are completed; we have obtained the requisite Choosing the
approval from the Meath County Council; the ground has been Better Part
cleared and is ready for construction. One thing alone delays the Homily at the simple profes-
beginning of work: the lack of sufficient funds. We are, nonethe- sion of D. Thomas Aquinas,
less, determined to go forward, trusting in Divine Providence and 15 Aug. 2019.
in your support and prayers. I am confident that the next issue of In
Cnaculo will contain photographs of the construction in progress.
In Our Lord & His Most Holy Mother,
• 10 •
Monastic Chronicle;
Refectory Reading
3
BECOMING CHRIST’S PURE BREAD
Adapted from a Sermon preached by Father forehead. Father R. extended his the One whose Face all the world desireth
Prior at the Vestition of Br Isaias Maria stole over you and said, “Come to see, as we shall sing at the First
Kwasniewski, Feast of the Immaculate Con- into God’s sanctuary, Peter Julian, Vespers of Christmas, a Face veiled
J
ception, 8 December 2019. where you will be given a share to the ken of sight as men see, but
ulian, my dear son, with Christ in everlasting life”. resplendent to the eyes of faith.
nineteen years ago today, Today, dear son, I say to you Come to spend yourself in
in Gaming, Austria, the again, “Come into God’s sanctu- singing the praises of God by day
saving waters of Holy ary.” For what is the monastery and by night. Come to practice the
Baptism flowed over your if not the sanctuary of God? You good zeal which will keep you from
head. To the question, “Pe- have waited for this day. Your soul vice and lead you to God and to
ter Julian Mariusz, what has been longing and pining for life everlasting. Prefer the least of
are you asking of God’s Church?” the courts of the Lord. Your heart your brothers to yourself. Patiently
your godparents answered, “Faith”. and your flesh have tasted joy in endure our infirmities, whether
It is in the strength of this gift the living God. The Holy Ghost of body or of mind. Vie with your
of faith, received from God, and has taught you in a short time what brothers in obedience. And always,
men twice and three times your age at every moment and in every
lovingly cultivated by your dear
take years to learn: that one day place, prefer nothing whatever to Christ.
mother and father, that you have
in the courts of the Lord is better Nineteen years ago, Father R.
grow up in wisdom, and age, and
above thousands. touched your ears and nostrils
grace. It was in the strength of this You have chosen wisely. The with spittle, saying, “Ephpheta, be
gift of faith that you crossed the pinch of salt placed on your tongue opened, and perceive the fragrance
sea to Ireland and, like many of nineteen years ago has penetrated of God’s loving ways”. Julian, you
your elder brothers, you have come you deeply, causing you to choose have perceived the fragrance of
here today asking for the mercy of abjection in the house of God over God’s loving ways in your life, and
God, for a place in this house of the all of those passing things that glit- with the bride of the Canticle, you
Lord and of the Immaculate Virgin ter in the abode of sinners, and that have said, Draw me: we will run after
Mary, Our Lady of the Cenacle, leave the children of this age empty thee to the odour of thy ointments (Can-
and for the holy habit of Saint and disillusioned. ticle 1:3).
Benedict. Come into God’s sanctuary, Again, nineteen years ago, you
Nineteen years ago today, Ju- then. Come to be hidden with were anointed with the oil of cate-
lian, you received your first taste Christ in God. Come to enter into chumens for a lifetime of spiritual
of the salt of wisdom. The sign the obedience, and silence, and hu- combat. You have come to the mon-
of the Cross was traced over your mility of the Host. Come to adore astery for this: to follow the glorious
4
example of Saint Antony of the a daily round that is unchanging, Dear son, much of what was
Desert, of Saint Benedict at Subiaco relentless, and humble. It is by the enacted in mystery nineteen years
and at Monte Cassino, and of all our joyful gift of yourself given once, ago in Gaming, Austria, is mir-
fathers among the saints. You have never retracted, and ground over rored today in what we are doing
come to the cloister not to escape and over again in the terrible quo- here and now. What we are doing
from combat, but to put yourself in tidian of the cloister, that you, Ju- here and now will, by God’s grace
the front lines. About this, have no lian, will be refined into a eucharis- and by the intercession of the Im-
illusions. “Your adversary the devil, as a tic flour, and so become a pure host maculate Virgin Mary, be brought
roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he fit for the altar, and for the white to completion in due time by mo-
may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). corporal that rests upon it. nastic profession and, then, by your
Then, dear son, you were car- Finally, Julian, a burning candle consecration as a monk.
ried to the baptismal font, the was entrusted to your godparents. Until then, Julian, tend carefully
tomb of the old man and the vir- Today, another candle given you the flame ignited in your soul to-
ginal womb of Mother Church, on the day of your Baptism, burns day by the fire of Divine Love. Do
made fruitful by the Holy Ghost. here. In entrusting the candle to nothing to grieve the Holy Spirit
The pure waters flowed over your your godparents, Father R. said: of God. Seek rather to be the joy
head. You were baptized in the “Take this burning candle as a of God. This you will do if you live
name of the Father, and of the Son, reminder to keep your baptismal with the Immaculate Virgin, allow-
and of the Holy Ghost. The Father innocence. Obey God’s command- ing her to be, at every hour and so
recognised in you the radiant im- ments, so that when our Lord often as the sun rises, the cause of
age of His First-Born, a member of
comes for the joyous wedding your joy. Thus, dear son, will the
His Body, a sharer in His death and
feast, you may go forth to meet prophecy of Isaias be fulfilled in
resurrection.
Him with all the saints in the halls you: Et gaudebit super te Deus tuus: And
The old inherited corruption
was washed away. A divine newness of heaven, and be happy with Him thy God shall rejoice over
shone out of you: the refulgence of forevermore.” thee (Isaias 62:5). >
the indwelling Trinity. You were
anointed with Holy Chrism, a
pledge of the seal of the gift of the
Holy Ghost, marking you for the
day when you would, for the first
time, taste the sweetness of the
Body and Blood of Christ.
What happened next, dear son?
You were clothed in a white robe.
Giving you this white robe, Father
R. said, “Take this white robe, and
keep it spotless until you arrive at
the judgment seat of our Lord Je-
sus Christ, that you may be reward-
ed with everlasting life.”
Today, Julian, you will receive
not a white robe, but a black tunic
and a hooded scapular: these too the
symbols of a new life in Christ. The
tunic and scapular are black like the
soil, rich and fertile, that hides and
envelopes the grain of wheat in a
death at once mysterious and fruit-
ful. Today, you become the grain
of wheat. You, no less than Saint
Ignatius of Antioch, can say, Frumen-
tum Christi sum: “I am the wheat of
Christ: and shall be ground by their
teeth so that I may become Christ’s
pure bread” (Ad Rom. 4)
You come to the monastery to be
ground into flour, not by the teeth
of beasts, but by the millstones of
5
THY SONS SHALL
COME FROM AFAR
Adapted from a Sermon preached by Father Prior at the Simple
Profession of Dom Chrysostom Maria Gryniewicz, Feast of the
M
Epiphany, 6 January 2019.
y dear son, Brother Chrysostom,
you know well what our father Saint
Benedict says concerning the admis-
sion of men to the monastery: To him
that newly cometh to change his life, let not an
easy entrance be granted, but, as the Apostle saith, Try the spirits if
they be of God (ch. 58). Shortly after you first knocked at
the door of Silverstream, I wrote you an honest and
hard-hitting letter. Do you remember it? I wrote:
“Men coming to Silverstream to be monks must
not expect to find the tranquility of an established
abbey with gleaming cloisters, spacious precincts, and
well-established routines. A vocation to Silverstream
is more than an ordinary monastic vocation; it is a call
to enter generously into the hardships and sacrifices
of living as monastic pioneers. Men who cling obsti-
nately to their own conceptions of what Benedictine
life ought to be will not do well at Silverstream. The
will of God comes to us not in what ought to be,
but in what is. Holiness, for us, here and now, lies in
trusting abandonment to all that Divine Providence
wills or permits. Men who are looking for the calm
and security of a well-ordered life in which there are
no surprises, no setbacks, and no interruptions, should
not think of entering at Silverstream.”
You, dear son, were not daunted by what I wrote
you. Quite the contrary. You replied to me:
“I am undissuaded by the material poverty of Sil-
verstream, the lack of gleaming cloisters or spacious
precincts, because it is not any of those things that
have attracted me, but ability to do the one thing I
have always longed to do, to give myself entirely to
God, in complete union with the Host.”
I wanted to make certain that you were not delud-
ed about what Silverstream had to offer you. And so,
I wrote to you:
“We are poor at Silverstream, even as the Sacred
Host is poor. We are fragile at Silverstream, even as
the Sacred Host is fragile. We choose to be hidden
at Silverstream, even as the Sacred Host is hidden.
We try to be silent at Silverstrean, even as the Sacred
Host is silent. Our Benedictine life is to be offered
and immolated, even as the Sacred Host is offered
and immolated. The offering is joyful, and the im-
molation is a sacrifice of praise.”
Still you were not daunted, Brother Chrysostom.
Your treasure and your heart were in the same place.
This is, of course, the beginning of the making of a
monk: the letting go of one’s most cherished attach-
ments and accessories, and the unification of a man
around The One Thing Necessary. You replied to me
on 20 August 2016:
6
“You say that the host is poor,
fragile, hidden, silent, offered, and
immolated: I would be those things
as well. If I could [I would] be
hidden in the rock with Moses or
immolated with Saint Ignatius, be-
coming God’s pure wheat, ground by
the teeth of beasts. If God permits, I
would be all these things, because I
have never known success in medioc-
rity, half-heartedness, or lukewarm-
ness, and I have only ever found joy
in giving without limits. . . .”
Today, three years later, Broth-
er Chrysostom, after having been
tested, and after having shared our
life, you are here, ready to sing what
generations of monks have sung be-
fore you: Suscipe me, Domine, secundum
eloquium tuum et vivam: Et non confundas
me ab expectatione mea. “Take Thou to call “the liturgical providence of mystically addressed to the Virgin
me unto Thyself, O Lord, and God”. You reminded me that you Mother who, like a living mon-
I shall live: and let me not be arrived here in Ireland and crossed strance, holds her Son and shows
confounded in my expecta- the threshold of Silverstream on 31 Him to all whom come to adore
tion” (Psalm 118:116). May 2017. It was the feast of Mary, Him (Matt. 2:11).
Last evening, dear son, you came Mediatrix of All Graces, and you There is a sense, then, dear son,
to me after Vespers — missal in walked into the oratory during the in which the words that you heard
hand — to share an extraordinary celebration of Holy Mass. The Al- on the very day of your arrival here,
discovery. What you had to share leluia Verse of that particular Mass 31 May 2017, and that you hear
left me grateful and amazed. It was was the very same passage that we again today on the day of your mo-
striking evidence of what we like heard just a few moments ago in the nastic profession are addressed to
Lesson from Isaias given us for this you: Thy sons shall come from afar, and thy
feast of the Epiphany: daughters shall rise up at thy side.
Lift up thine eyes round You will, by Our Lord’s grace —
about, and see: all these are and this is my prayer for you today
gathered together, they are — grow as a man and as a monk
come to thee: thy sons shall into a spiritual fatherhood that, al-
c ome from afar, and thy though it be hidden, and silent, and
daughters shall rise up at lowly, like the Host on the corporal
thy side (Isaias 60:4). and in the tabernacle, will be none-
No amount of human planning theless generative, that is, myste-
riously life-giving for the Church.
or foresight could have made this
Thy sons shall come from afar. Already,
happen. If ever a confirmation you
there are brothers who have come
needed of the providence of God after you. Each one has his part to
guiding your steps and bringing you play in the Church’s procession to-
to the place where He wants you wards the glory of the Lord.
to be, I think you have it. And, as is You are ready, dear son, to make
always the case, when God speaks to your offering. Give Christ the gold
us through the sacred liturgy, He does of your heart’s love. Give him the
so not merely by means of a text, but frankincense of your liturgical
also by means of the context. prayer, of your faithful presence in
The prophet is singing of the choir to sing His praises, of your
restoration of Jerusalem, of the silent adoration in the radiance of
re-peopling of the Holy City, once His Eucharistic Face. Give Him the
forsaken, but called by God to myrrh of all that, in your monastic
a great rejuvenation. Lift up thine life, may prove bitter, or hard, or
eyes and see ... they are gathered together, costly because it involves a death to
they are come to thee. The Church, the old man. Arise and be enlightened,
singing these words in the light of for the glory of the Lord has risen upon thee
the Epiphany, knows that they are (Isaias 60:1). >
7
THE BETTER PART SHALL Adapted from a Sermon preached by Father
Prior at the Simple Profession of D. Thomas
NOT BE TAKEN FROM HIM Aquinas Maria Borders, Feast of Our Lady’s
Assumption, 15 August 2019.
M
y dear son, In Psalm 8 we heard this: What is In Psalm 23 we heard this: This
Brother Thomas man, that Thou art mindful of Him? or the is the generation of them that seek Him, of
Aquinas, last eve- son of man that Thou visitest Him? Know them that seek the Face of the God of Jacob.
ning as we chanted this, dear son, and never doubt it: By making your monastic profes-
Matins, you were Our Lord is mindful of you. You sion today, you take your place in
very much in my heart. One of the are never forgotten, never far from the generation of those who, as St
things that you will have learned the radiance of His Face. At every Benedict says in ch. 58, truly seek God.
here thus far is, I think, that the moment you are the object of His The single great unifying desire of
Opus Dei is more about listening to Heart’s attention. He visits you your life is to see the face of God.
the Word of God than about pro- by day and by night. You may not Psalm 44 began with an irre-
ducing sound. always recognise the guise under pressible cry of jubilation: My heart
It is not that the sound produced which He visits you, but visit you hath uttered a good word: I speak my works
is negligible; it is, rather, that the He does, to lift you when you fall, unto the king. Does not this “good
hearing and the receiving of the to console you in sorrow, to correct word” go to the heart of what it
Word of God is the inestimable you when you stray, to feed you and means to be a son of St Benedict?
grace, that by which the heart is give you drink when you hunger and “Benedicere.” Allow Our Lord
purified, and healed, and sanctified, thirst for the sustenance that only to fill the storehouse of your heart
and lifted up, even into the heav- He can give, even the mysteries of with His own utterances, and you
enly places where Christ is sitting at the His adorable Body and Blood. will never be at a loss for words of
right hand of God (Col. 3:1), and with In Psalm 18 we heard this: The blessing.
Him is His Most Holy Mother all testimony of the Lord is faithful, giving In Psalm 45 we heard this: Be
glorious in the mystery of her As- wisdom to little ones. You have spent still and see that I am God. You were
sumption. your retreat in the company of drawn, dear son, to our monastery
Did not you hear in yesterday’s St Thérèse. I rather suspect that by adoration of the Most Blessed
Gospel of the Vigil of the Assump- from her you will have learned Sacrament. Something deep inside
tion, Yea rather, blessed are they who something about choosing little- you quickened at the prospect of
hear the word of God, and keep it (Luke ness over greatness, weakness over adoring stillness in the presence
11:28)? strength, and confidence over fear. of the hidden Jesus. Learn to say,
8
more and more, with your patron, And finally in Psalm 98 we
St Thomas Aquinas, Adoro te devote, heard this: He spake to them out of the SOME REFECTORY
latens Deitas. “Yearning, I adore You, cloudy pillar. The cloudy pillar was READING IN 2019
wondrous hidden God.” that mysterious sign by which God BIOGRAPHIES ° Benedict Neenan
In Psalm 47 we heard this: We at once concealed His presence OSB, Thomas Verner Moore: Psychia-
have received Thy mercy, O God, in the and revealed His presence to Mo- trist, Educator, Monk ° Anca Marti-
midst of Thy temple. By your mo- ses, to Aaron, and to the children nas, Vladimir Ghika: Prince, Apostle,
nastic profession today, dear son, Martyr ° René Laurentin, Bernadette
of Israel. For you, dear son, and of Lourdes ° Jean-Marie Élie Setbon,
you take your place among those for all of us, there is more than the From the Kippa to the Cross: A Jew’s
whom the Holy Ghost has brought pillar of cloud; there is the Sacred Conversion to Catholicism ° Mark
together to abide semper in templo, Host — all fragile, hiding the pres- Tierney OSB, Blessed Columba Marm-
laudantes et benedicentes Deum (“always ence of God and revealing it, silent ion: A Short Biography ° Jean-Jacques
Antier, Charles de Foucauld (Charles
in the temple, praising and bless- and yet speaking to those who are of Jesus) ° Ven. Fulton J. Sheen's au-
ing God,” Luke 24:53). The en- content to tarry in Its presence. tobiography, Treasure in Clay ° Aidan
closure of the monastery becomes Have no doubt that He who spoke Nichols OP, The Latin Clerk: The Life,
for you the place wherein mercy is once to Moses and to Aaron will Work, & Travels of Adrian Fortescue
always at hand, the place wherein speak to you face to face as a man is wont HISTORY ° John O’Neill, The Fish-
the praise of God draws you seven to speak to his friend (Ex. 33:11). erman’s Tomb: The True Story of the
times a day and once in the night Vatican’s Secret Search ° Godfrey E.
It was, as I said, last night dur- Phillips, The House of the Virgin Mary:
upward and out of yourself into ing Matins, that this catena aurea The Miraculous Story of Its Journey
the joy of Our Lady’s Assumption. (“golden chain”) of verses began to from Nazareth to a Hillside in Italy °
In Psalm 86 we heard this: Glo- emerge from the psalms we were Colmán Ó Clabaigh OSB, The Friars
rious things are spoke of thee. As you singing in praise of the Most Holy in Ireland: 1224-1540 ° Martin Mose-
grow, dear Brother Thomas Aqui- bach, The 21: A Journey into the Land
Virgin assumed into heaven. I of- of the Coptic Martyrs ° Msgr Ronald
nas, in the grace of your monastic fer it to you, dear son, in this hour Knox, Enthusiasm: A Chapter in the
profession, you will see ever more of your first monastic profession. History of Religion
clearly the glorious things that the Hold fast to it in the three years MONASTIC ° Pius Engelbert OSB,
Word of God and the witness of that lie before you until the day Sant’ Anselmo in Rome: College & Uni-
the saints speak concerning the when, by Our Lord’s all-sufficient versity ° Godfrey Siebert OSB, The
Mother of God. Never say, “I have grace and the unfailing intercession Benedictine Congregation of St Ottil-
learned, and seen, and repeated all ien ° Alban Hood OSB, From Repatri-
of the Mother of God, I pray that ation to Revival: Continuity & Change
that can be learned, and seen, and we will say amidst great rejoicing: in the English Benedictine Congrega-
repeated concerning the Mother tion, 1795-1850 ° Erik Varden OCSO,
of God.” For every monk there is Dom Thomas Aquinas The Shattering of Loneliness: On
an inexhaustible spring of joy in hath chosen for himself Christian Remembrance ° St John
the best part: which shall Henry Newman's essay, “The Mission
the contemplation of the Blessed
of Saint Benedict”
Virgin Mary. not be taken from him.
9
the monastic chronicle
¶ 6-12 Nov. 2018 • Four priests of Se- great number of guests for Vespers and
attle, Washington—Frs Mel Strazicich, Benediction on Sundays, including nu-
Joseph Altenhofen, Cal Christiansen, merous priests of the diocese. In order to
and Ed White—make a retreat at Silver- better accommodate visitors in the long
stream, at the end of which, in the pres- winter evenings, D. Finnian installs new
ence of Fr Prior, they pledge themselves outdoor lighting around the monastery.
to a daily hour of Adoration. ¶ 2-7 Dec. • Frs James Bradley and
¶ 12 Nov. • Sister Nina, of the Mon- Thomas Mason, of the Ordinariate of
astery of St Elisabeth in Minsk, Belarus, Our Lady of Walsingham, Fr Lee Kenyon
makes a brief visit to Silverstream, pro- of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter,
viding us with beautiful hand-carved and Fr Gerard Deighan, of the Archdio-
crucifixes for the new noviciate cells. cese of Dublin, make retreats with us.
¶ 20 Nov. • D. Benedict, D. Hilde- ¶ 3 Dec. • Sisters Camillus, Maria
brand, and Postulant Br Julian visit St Goretti, and Regina, of the Sisters of
Kevin’s, Harrington Street, Dublin, to as- Mercy, visit Silverstream to offer early
sist with the celebration of Confirmation Christmas greetings.
in the usus antiquior by Raymond Leo ¶ 6 Dec. • Feast of St Nicholas. Fr Pri-
Cardinal Burke. Br Julian proudly pre- or distributes gifts brought by St Nicho-
sents His Eminence with one of the first las for the community.
samples of the monastery’s homemade ¶ 8 Dec. • Feast of the Immaculate
soap. The same evening, Christopher Conception of the B.V. Mary. In the
Suen arrives from Canada, en route to Chapter Room after Prime, Julian
the Holy Land. Kwasniewski is clothed in the holy habit
¶ 22 Nov. • Feast of Saint Cecilia. The and given the name Brother Isaias Maria.
community enjoys a festive meal in hon- ¶ 10-17 Dec. • Christopher Suen re-
our of American Thanksgiving. We are turns to Silverstream bringing gifts from
joined by several guests, including Rick the Holy Land. Before returning to Can-
Yoder, visiting from Oxford, and Fr John ada, he is clothed as an oblate novice. Fr
McKeever (Obl. Br John Fisher). Prior names him Brother Pierre Célestin,
¶ 22-30 Nov. • Fr Christian Chisvasi, in honour of St Peter Celestine and the
from Romania, makes a retreat along Chinese Benedictine, Pierre-Célestin Lu.
with his good friend Alexis. He presents ¶ 12 Dec. • Feast of St Finnian, Patron
us with a precious relic of the priest-mar- of the Diocese of Meath, and onomastico
tyr, Bl. Vladimir Ghika (†1954). of D. Finnian.
¶ 24 & 26 Nov. • The community and ¶ 15 Dec. • His Lordship, Dr Deeni-
guests celebrate the birthday of Br Placid, han, Bishop of Meath, visits the monas-
and two days later the birthday of Postu- tery and assists at the Offices of None and
lant Br Julian. Vespers. Along with Fr Prior and several
¶ 26-30 Nov. • D. Finnian and D. of the monks, His Lordship meets with
Elijah spend a week at Glenstal Abbey Rev’d Mother Immaculata, Prioress of the
in Co. Limerick, where they take part Benedictine Nuns of Perpetual Adoration
in a week-long course on early monastic in Tegelen, Netherlands, to discuss possi-
hagiography. bilities for further collaboration between
¶ 28 Nov.—3 Dec. • Helen DeCant, the two monasteries.
mother of Dom John Baptist, visits ¶ 19 Dec. • Ember Wednesday of
bringing many gifts for the community. Advent. The Gospel of the Annunciation
¶ 30 Nov. • His Lordship Dr Michael (Missus est) is solemnly sung in Chapter,
Smith, Bishop Emeritus of Meath, visits and Fr Prior gives a homily about Our
the monastery for the first time since his Lady’s role in obtaining for souls a new
retirement. All the brothers are happy beginning in grace.
to see him and to express their gratitude ¶ 22 Dec. • D. Finnian and his brother
for his fatherly solicitude in the founding Tommy work to clear the land for the
years of the community. construction of the new Oratory by
¶ 1 Dec. • A group of young mis- removing trees around the site. In the
sionaries from FOCUS (Fellowship of evening, Bishop Deenihan again visits
Catholic University Students), working the monastery for Vespers, with the
in Dublin, spend the morning in prayer singing of the “O” Antiphon, and joins
at Silverstream and speak with some of the community for a festive supper in
the monks. Andrej Kutarna (Oblate Br anticipation of Christmas.
Samuel) from Czech Republic arrives for ¶ 24 Dec. • The coming of the Lord's
a retreat of several days. Nativity is announced by the solemn
¶ 2 Dec. • First Sunday of Advent. chanting of the Martyrology in Chapter
Throughout the season, we welcome a on Christmas Eve morning. The solem-
10nities of the Holy Night begin at 9:00 for the Cistercian abbey of Vyšší Brod.
PM with Matins, which ends with the They also visit Prague to give a day of
chanting of the Genealogy of Christ. recollection for priests. The brothers
Holy Mass is sung by Fr Prior, ending return to Silverstream greatly inspired
with a procession to the crêche. After 4 by the perseverance of the Czech monks
hours of contemplation and praise of the in restoring monastic life in the wake of
Incarnate God, the community enjoys a Communism. While they are away, back
festive collation before retiring. at Silverstream the roof is removed from
¶ 25 Dec. • As all priests may celebrate the old cattle shed, which will soon be
three Masses on Christmas Day, the early demolished to make way for the con-
morning hours are filled with the repeated struction of the Bethlehem Oratory.
offering of the Holy Sacrifice in the Low ¶ 23-28 Jan. • Polish Fr Cesary Paciej
Mass Oratory. At 10:00, D. Benedict sings visits Silverstream and tells the brothers
the Solemn Mass of the Day. At recrea- about his ministry in Kazakhstan.
tion, the brothers and guests open Christ- ¶ 1 Feb. • Feast of St Brigid, secondary
mas gifts, including both spiritual reading patroness of Ireland. Fr Pawel Bandurski,
and useful clothing items. US Provincial of the Society of Christ,
¶ 28 Dec.—4 Jan. 2019 • Br Gregory’s visits Silverstream.
mother Dianna and sister Chelsea make ¶ 1-9 Feb. • Deacon Robert Healey
a post-Christmas visit. from the Diocese of Tulsa spends a week
¶ 31 Dec. • Br Chrysostom begins his at the monastery.
retreat in preparation for profession. The ¶ 2 Feb. • At the invitation of Bishop
same day, his parents, Tom and Ellen Deenihan, the community travels to the
Gryniewicz, arrive at the monastery to Cathedral of Christ the King in Mulling-
spend the week with us. After Vespers ar for Vespers of Candlemas, attended by
the "Capitulum Pacis" is celebrated, in religious communities from around the
which the brethren ask and exchange diocese. The schola sings the Responsory
pardon for the faults of the past year. Adorna thalamum during the service.
The community spends the evening in ¶ 8-15 Feb. • Two seminarians from
adoration, singing Matins at 8 pm before the Pontifical North American College,
beginning the new year with the Veni Rome, make a retreat in preparation for
Creator and Benediction at midnight. ordination as deacons. During the same
¶ 31 Dec.—7 Jan. 2019 • Abbé week, Fr Jim Lowe, of the Companions
Marcelo de Oliveira, ICRSS, makes a of the Cross, makes a retreat.
retreat, coinciding with the profession of ¶ 11 Feb. • Workers begin dismantling
his old friend, Br Chrysostom. the stone walls of the old cattle shed.
¶ 1 Jan. 2019 • Feast of the Lord's Before the end of the month, the site of
Circumcision and Octave of his Nativity. the former building and the surrounding
The professed monks of Silverstream area have been cleared to prepare for the
renew their vows during Holy Mass. construction of the new church.
Te Deum is sung before Benediction in ¶ 15 Feb. • Amma Philomena and
thanksgiving for the graces of the past Amma Gabriella, of the Coptic Ortho-
year. Fr John McKeever (Obl. Br. John dox monastery in Delvin, visit Silver-
Fisher) and Fr Paul Murphy (Obl. Br. stream for lunch and recreation with the
Columba) visit in the course of the day. community. The brothers listen eagerly
¶ 6 Jan. • Feast of the Epiphany of the as they share with us their experience of
Lord. At Holy Mass, in the presence of monastic life as it continues to be lived in
Bishop Tom Deenihan, as well as of his Christian Egypt.
parents and friends, Dom Chrysostom ¶ 21 Feb. • Fr David Erickson visits
Maria professes his simple vows. Silverstream along with his nephew Fr
¶ 13-19 Jan. • Fr David Abernethy, Joshua Erickson. Fr David is pleasantly
CO, of the Pittsburgh Oratory, gives the surprised to meet Br Isaias, who was his
annual community retreat, with a series parishioner as a boy.
of conferences on St Isaac the Syrian ¶ 21 Feb.—1 Mar. • Rev'd Mother
(†c. 700). He is accompanied by Fr Paul Scholastica OSB, Prioress of the Ben-
Werley, CO. During the same week, Frs edictine Nuns of Perpetual Adoration
Martin Pletts and Neil McGarrity, from in Tororo, Uganda, spends a week at
Scotland, visit for a retreat. Silverstream. Each night, she shares with
¶ 19 Jan. • Bishop Tom Deenihan vis- the community some of her insights into
its Silverstream for Vespers, Supper, and our Eucharistic Benedictine charism. She
Compline, accompanied by his secretary also teaches the brothers some lively Af-
Fr Joe Campbell. rican hymns.
¶ 21-30 Jan. • Fr Prior, accompanied ¶ 22-25 Feb. • D. Benedict visits Den-
by D. Cassian and D. John Baptist, trav- mark, where he offers Holy Mass and the
els to Czech Republic to preach a retreat sacraments in the usus antiquior for the
11Society of St Canute. He makes a return Mass about the role of Saint Benedict as
visit at the end of March. our spiritual father.
¶ 25 Feb. • Second anniversary of ¶ 25 Mar. • Feast of the Annuncia-
the canonical erection of the monastery. tion of Our Lady. The community has
The community gives thanks with a Solemn Exposition throughout the day,
Votive Mass of St Benedict and Solemn praying for an increase in fidelity to the
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. grace of our vocation.
After Vespers, a relic of Mother Cathe- ¶ 31 Mar.—6 Apr. • Fr Prior, accom-
rine-Mectilde of the Blessed Sacrament, panied by D. Finnian, travels to Connect-
Foundress of the Benedictines of Perpet- icut to visit his ailing parents and other
ual Adoration, is installed in a place of friends of the monastery. They return in
honour in the Chapter room. time for First Vespers of Passion Sunday.
¶ 26 Feb.—2 Mar. • Mother Immac- ¶ 2 Apr. • Birthday of D. Benedict. D.
ulata returns from Tegelen to visit Silver- Hildebrand, accompanied by several nov-
stream. We are blessed to have her with ices, visits the Little Sisters of the Poor
Mother Scholastica for the Feast of Rep- to give a day of retreat for a gathering of
aration, 28 Feb. (Thu. before Ash Wed.). superiors. On the way, they stop at Holy
¶ 6 Mar. • Ash Wednesday. At the Cross Church in Dundrum, where Bl.
morning Chapter, Fr Prior distributes Columba Marmion was curate.
specially selected books for each member ¶ 13 Apr. • Three seminarians from
of the community to read during Lent. the Pontifical N. American College arrive
Ashes are blessed and imposed before to spend Holy Week at the monastery.
Holy Mass. Following Mass, the Blessed ¶ 14 Apr. • Palm Sunday. Fr Prior cel-
Sacrament is solemnly exposed to begin ebrates the Blessing of Palms, Procession,
forty days of continual adoration by and Mass. The Tract from Ps. 21 is sung in
members of the lay faithful from all over full, and the Passion from St Matthew is
Ireland. In the afternoon, Fr Michael sung by D. Benedict, D. Hildebrand, and
Duffy, OFM Cap, performs the solemn Br. Gregory. The 40 Days of Adoration
blessing and erection of the Stations of which began on Ash Wednesday conclude
the Cross in the newly-renovated corridor after Vespers with the Act of Consecra-
connecting the noviciate with the rest of tion of Ireland to the Immaculate Heart
the monastery. of Mary and Benediction.
¶ 10-18 Mar. • Five priests from Ger- ¶ 17 Apr. • Spy Wednesday. The Sa-
many make a retreat at Silverstream. On cred Triduum begins in the evening with
17 March, the Second Sunday of Lent, the singing of Tenebræ, which will be
they are clothed as novice oblates after repeated for the next two nights.
the Office of None. In naming them, Fr ¶ 18 Apr. • Maundy Thursday. In the
Prior entrusts them to the patronage of morning Fr Prior performs the Manda-
German Benedictines: Br Rupert (Fr tum (Washing of the Feet) in the Chap-
Daniel Kretschmar), Br Marianus (Fr ter Room. The Last Supper discourse
David Beckmann), Br Wolfhelm (Fr from St John’s Gospel is read by D. Ben-
Walter Simon), Br Rabanus Maurus (Fr edict in the refectory. Fr Prior celebrates
Robert Ginter), and Br Ulrich (Fr Jan the Mass in Cena Domini, followed by a
Gerrit Engelmann). procession outside to the Altar of Repose
¶ 12 Mar. • Feast of St Gregory the in the Low Mass Oratory. Many of the
Great and onomastico of Br Gregory. community and guests remain in adora-
¶ 18 Mar. • Feast of St Patrick, prin- tion until midnight.
cipal patron of Ireland (transferred from ¶ 19 Apr. • Fr Prior celebrates the
Sunday). Before a large gathering at Holy Mass of the Pre-Sanctified of Good Fri-
Mass, Fr Prior speaks of the need for day, which is preceded by the singing of
a new generation of Irish saints. After the Passion according to St John and the
Mass, he blesses the community and traditional “creeping to the Cross”, with
guests with a relic of St Patrick. the singing of the Improperia.
¶ 19 Mar. • Solemnity of St Joseph, ¶ 20 Apr. • The Paschal Vigil is cel-
Spouse of the Virgin Mary. We also cele- ebrated by Fr Prior, with D. Benedict
brate the birthdays of Dom John Baptist chanting the Exsultet. Many guests join
and Br Gregory. the community in keeping vigil as the
¶ 20 Mar. • Fr Michael Nevin visits Prophecies are read and the Litanies are
from Dublin and resumes his series sung prior to the first Mass of Easter.
of classes for the community on Irish ¶ 21 Apr. • Before Conventual Mass
Church History. of Easter Day, the monks go in proces-
¶ 21 Mar. • Feast of the Transitus sion around the site of the future church
(Passing) of Our Holy Father Benedict, building, singing the triumphant Salve
and onomastico of D. Benedict Maria. festa dies. The community begin singing
D. Benedict preaches at the Conventual the ancient Greek chant Christos anesti
12prior to the grace before meals through- her monastic profession on the occasion
out the Paschal Octave. of her 60th jubilee.
¶ 22 Apr. • Easter Monday. Four dea- ¶ 19-24 June • Fr Radim, OSB, of the
cons from the North American College Abbey of Emmaus in Prague, visits Silver-
arrive for their retreat in preparation for stream with Oblate Br Samuel (Andrej
priestly ordination. In the afternoon, Fr Kutarna) and his son Matouš. Through-
Prior and the brothers take a long walk out the week, Fr Radim inspires the com-
to the beach at Gormanstown Strand, munity both by his example of prayer and
accompanied by our guests. humility and by his story of perseverance
¶ 24 Apr. • Sisters Shawn, Carolyn, in monastic life throughout the years of
and Colleen, of the Apostles of the Sa- Communist persecution. He tells us of
cred Heart, visit Silverstream, bringing the books that sustained him: St Thérèse’s
with them a first-class relic of their Foun- Story of a Soul and Bl. Columba Marmion’s
dress, Bl. Clelia Merloni. Christ the Ideal of the Monk.
¶ 10 May • Bishop Tom Deenihan ¶ 21-28 June • Feast and Octave of
visits for Vespers and Benediction of the Corpus Christi. After several days of
Most Blessed Sacrament. preparation, the feast is celebrated with
¶ 13-21 May • Hieromonk Gregory all possible solemnity. The procession
Hrynkiw, from Saskatoon, Saskatche- after Holy Mass goes through the mon-
wan, makes a retreat. During his stay, he astery’s forest, stopping at two beautifully
celebrates the Byzantine Divine Liturgy appointed outdoor altars. With the gen-
for the community and shares with us his erous assistance of lay adorers, the Bless-
experiences as a Greek Catholic monk in ed Sacrament is exposed continuously for
post-Communist Ukraine. adoration throughout the octave.
¶ 17-22 May • D. John Baptist’s moth- ¶ 21-24 June • Oblate Br Luke (Ca-
er Helen makes a visit to her son and his thal Steele) visits with several friends
monastic brothers. During the weekend to undertake an intensive cleaning and
of 18-19 May, Br Thomas Aquinas’ sister repainting of the monastery’s kitchen.
Elizabeth makes a brief visit. ¶ 23-30 June • Fr Sebastian Jones and
¶ 20-22 May • The oratory is tem- Br Illtyd, from the Oratory-In-Forma-
porarily moved to the library while a tion in Cardiff, make a retreat.
team of monks and enquirers, led by Br ¶ 24 June • Feast of the Nativity of
Placid, gives the current oratory a bright St John the Baptist, and onomastico of
new coat of paint. Shortly thereafter, the D. John Baptist. The brothers spend the
Low Mass Oratory is also repainted. The afternoon on a long walk to the beach at
sacristans simultaneously implement the Gormanstown Strand.
use of higher quality candles which will ¶ 24-28 June • Stephen, a seminarian
not blacken the walls with soot. from the United States, visits Silver-
¶ 25 May • Feast of Pope St Gregory stream. During the same week, Oblate Br
VII and onomastico of D. Hildebrand. Martin ( Joseph Wood) makes a retreat,
Preaching at Conventual Mass, D. Hilde- and Tom Murphy from Galway visits for
brand holds up his patron as a model of several days.
zeal for the renewal of the Church exer- ¶ 27 June—1 July • Fr Pius Mary
cised in the humility of the monastic life. Noonan, OSB, Prior of Notre Dame Pri-
¶ 26 May • Bishop Deenihan visits ac-
ory in the Archdiocese of Hobart, Tas-
companied by Dom Alban Hood, OSB,
mania, visits with two junior monks, Br
Prior of Douai Abbey in Berkshire. The
Bede and Br Gregory. The community is
two attend Vespers, followed by supper
blessed by the presence in choir of these
outside with the community.
brethren from the antipodes.
¶ 28 May—11 June • Di Aylward,
¶ 28 June • Feast of the Sacred Heart.
mother of D. Cassian, visits from Syd-
The number of monks in choir reaches
ney; from 31 May to 8 June Michael and
an all-time high, as our guests from Tas-
Shirley Houser, parents of D. Hilde-
brand, visit the monastery along with his mania are joined by D. Jean de Britto, D.
sister Mary and brother Anthony. Jean Marie, and D. Basil from the Abbey
¶ 5-11 June • Msgr Kasteel visits from of St Joseph de Clairval in Flavigny, who
Rome, accompanied by Fra Massimo remain through the weekend.
Sansolini, and Madre Paola, formerly ¶ 3 July • The community enjoys an
Prioress of the Benedictines of Perpetual outing to the ruins of Fore Abbey, Co.
Adoration in Rome. The Tonsure and Westmeath—destroyed in Henry VIII’s
the Minor Orders of Porter, Lector, Ex- suppression of the monasteries. Spend-
orcist, and Acolyte are conferred upon D. ing most of the day at this site made
Elijah and D. Cassian. On 6 June, Bishop holy by our Benedictine “forefathers”, the
Deenihan visits and has lunch with our monks sing Holy Mass in the ruins of
guests. On 9 June, Madre Paola renews the abbey church. Bishop Tom Deenihan
13and Bishop Emeritus Michael Smith porary refectory is set up in the common
join us for this historic occasion and for room upstairs.
a picnic lunch. Before departing in the ¶ 29 July—2 Aug. • The guesthouse
evening, we sing Vespers in the hermitage is filled with more priest retreatants,
long occupied by anchorites, concluding including priests from Rochester, New
with the Office of the Dead in the church York, Norwich, Connecticut, and Lan-
of St Fechin. sing, Michigan. On some days, as many
¶ 6 July • Feast of St Isaias the Proph- as eleven Masses are celebrated at the
et. Br Isaias Maria celebrates his first monastery’s altars!
onomastico in the monastery. ¶ 5-8 Aug. • In the evening, Br Thom-
¶ 9-10 July • His Eminence Raymond as Aquinas begins his retreat in prepara-
Leo Cardinal Burke visits along with tion for simple profession.
Msgr James O’Brien (Cloyne) and Can- ¶ 6 Aug. • Feast of the Transfigu-
on Patrick McCarthy (Cork and Ross). ration, and anniversary of the solemn
After assisting at Vespers and sharing professions of Fr Prior (1986) and D.
supper with the community, the Cardinal Benedict (2015), as well as the simple
offers words of encouragement about the profession of D. Hildebrand (2018).
importance of the monastic vocation for ¶ 10-11 Aug. • Over twenty young
the Church in our time. French Catholics spend the night camping
¶ 9 July • Dom Benedict returns to on the property of Silverstream, led by Fr
Silverstream from a short residency at Gaspar of the Society of St Jean Marie
the parish of Ramsgate, Kent, where he Vianney. Joining us for Mass on Sunday
celebrates the traditional Mass in the morning, they join energetically in the
Shrine of St Augustine, A.W. Pugin's singing of the Ordinary, as well as offer-
neo-Gothic masterpiece. ing a beautiful rendition of Je vous salue
¶ 9-15 July • Dr Jennifer Donelson, Marie after Mass. Preaching in English
Professor of Sacred Music at St Joseph’s and French, Fr Prior quotes the words
Seminary, Dunwoodie, NY, visits with of Scripture, “My house shall be called a
her fiancé Jacek. During her stay, she house of prayer for all nations.”
offers musical training to the members of ¶ 11 Aug. • After Vespers, D. Bene-
the schola and other brothers. dict receives the blessing for a monk on
¶ 11 July • Solemnity of Our Holy Fa- a journey as he prepares to depart for a
ther Benedict, and second onomastico of short time of study in New York under
D. Benedict Maria. The feast is prepared the renowned patristics scholar, Arch-
for by a novena each night in front of the priest John Behr. Upon arrival, D. Bene-
statue of St Benedict, and followed by dict takes up residence in Annunciation
an octave during which the Filial Com- Church in Crestwood, and at the request
mendation to St Benedict is prayed each of the parish priest, begins to celebrate a
night. daily traditional Latin Mass.
¶ 13 July • D. Hildebrand and the ¶ 14 Aug. • Fr Sebastian Hew, from
members of the novitiate attend the Sydney, arrives for a retreat. After First
"Evangelium" Conference held at the Vespers of the Assumption, in Chapter,
historic campus of All Hallows, Dublin. Br Thomas Aquinas makes his petition
D. Hildebrand’s speaks of the Eucharistic to be admitted to profession.
doctrine of the Church as expressed in ¶ 15 Aug. • Solemnity of the Assump-
the Corpus Christi sequence, Lauda Sion tion of the B.V. Mary. D. Thomas Aqui-
Salvatorem, which the brothers sing for the nas Maria makes his simple profession
participants. during Holy Mass. A number of local
¶ 20 July • Feast of St Elias (Elijah) priests and other friends of the mon-
the Prophet and onomastico of D. Elijah. astery join us, followed by an outdoor
¶ 23 July • Feast of St John Cassian, reception. We also give thanks for the
and onomastico of D. Cassian Maria. Fr first anniversary of solemn profession of
Brendan Kilcoyne and Fr Shane Sulli- D. Finnian and D. Elijah.
van visit Silverstream. Fr Matthew from ¶ 21-27 Aug. • Br Kevin De Cubber,
Syracuse arrives to spend several weeks postulant at the Abbey of Affligem in
sharing our monastic life. Belgium, spends a week at Silverstream
¶ 24 July—1 Aug. • Frs Peter and shortly before returning to Affligem to
Cezar Winiarek, from Poland, make a re- receive the holy habit.
treat. Fr Peter Gruber, of the Pittsburgh ¶ 29 Aug.—5 Sept. • D. Elijah travels
Oratory, visits during the same days. to Tulsa, Oklahoma to visit his family.
¶ 29 July • Work begins on a renova- ¶ 31 Aug.—6 Sept. • Frs Jonathan
tion of the monastery’s refectory. A tem- Romanoski and Daniel Heenan, FSSP,
14make a retreat at Silverstream. During chosen for the canonization, provides Throughout the past year, numerous
the same week, Tom Murphy from Gal- homiletical inspiration: "Jesus began to works have been conducted on the
way visits for several days. speak to the multitudes concern- buildings and grounds of the monas-
¶ 7-15 Sept. • Fr Prior travels to Con- ing John". (Matt. 11:7). tery. In addition to the renovation of
necticut to visit his ailing parents, accom- ¶ 15-22 Oct. • Msgr Michael Palud, the refectory, the summer and autumn
panied by D. John Baptist. CO, from the Oratory in Port Antonio, saw extensive work on the electrical
¶ 8 Sept. • Feast of the Nativity of Our Jamaica, makes a retreat at Silverstream. wiring of the house, as well as the
Lady. Our guest, Msgr Arthur Calkins, He recounts his experience at the canon- installation of an up-to-date sewage
preaches eloquently at Holy Mass about isation of St John Henry Newman and treatment plant. Finishing touches
the place of Mary in the divine plan of also gives a conference to the community have been put on the noviciate build-
salvation. on canon law for religious life. ing, and a new laundry room has been
¶ 10 Sept. • As we prepare to begin the ¶ 18 Oct. • The community returns set up to meet the needs of the growing
“Monastic Lent” (starting on 14 Sept.), to the refectory after several months of community. The sacristies for the main
the community expands the hours of sol- work. The improvements include the ad- oratory and the low Mass oratory have
emn exposition of the Most Blessed Sac- dition of several tables to accommodate been equipped with suitable cabinetry.
rament. Henceforth there will be contin- more monks and guests, a raised platform Bookshelves have also been installed
uous exposition and adoration for most for the Prior’s table, where special guests in several spaces in order to allow for
of the day from Tuesday through Friday can also be seated, and a raised pulpit for proper storage of the library collection,
each week. The brothers eagerly embrace the reader, adorned with a sculpture of an important aspect of the monastery’s
this next step towards the establishment the Agnus Dei, a gift of Fr Michael Cahill, life. Meanwhile, the brothers have
of perpetual watches of adoration in the PP of Johnstown. worked continually at clearing and
monastery. ¶ 18-20 Oct. • Five young men from beautifying the lands of the monastery,
¶ 14-17 Sept. • Ron Sliwa, father of Br the "Juventutem" group in Cork visit providing a suitable atmosphere for
Gregory, visits and joins the community Silverstream for a vocation retreat, dur- prayer and reflection for the commu-
in some of the outdoor work. ing which they participate in the Divine nity and guests. We are grateful to all
¶ 17 Sept. • With the blessing of His Office and outdoor work, as well as whose generosity has enabled these
Excellency, Bishop Lopes of the Ordi- hearing conferences by the Father Mas- works for the house of God.
nariate of the Chair of St Peter, Dom ter and testimonies of several brothers.
Benedict travels to New Britain, CT, to The end of the retreat coincides with the
preside and preach at Solemn Evensong visit of Bishop Tom Deenihan—a Cork
according to the Anglican liturgical rites native—who joins the young men for tea
approved by Pope Benedict XVI. before Vespers and remains for supper
¶ 18 Sept. • A group of seminarians with the community.
from St John Vianney Seminary in St ¶ 21-25 Oct. • Fr Bernard and Br Ga-
Paul, Minnesota, make a brief visit before briel, O. Cist., from the Abbey of Vyšší
beginning a semester in Rome. Brod, Czech Republic, spend the week at
¶ 22-28 Sept. • We welcome retreat- Silverstream along with Oblate Br Sam-
ants Fr Tom Ryan from Tipperary and Fr uel (Andrej Kutarna) and Fr Dominik
James Fleming from Newfoundland. (Obl. Br Benedikt of Vyšší Brod).
¶ 24 Sept. — 8 Oct. • Rev'd Mother ¶ 26-29 Oct. • Tom Murphy visits,
Immaculata of Tegelen, Netherlands, bringing along his violin, which he uses
returns to Silverstream for her annual re- to entertain us at recreation with music
treat. She is accompanied for the first few of Mozart, Puccini, and others.
days by Sr Justine from her community. ¶ 27 Oct. • Feast of Christ the King.
¶ 1 Oct. • Feast of St Thérèse, pa- The Blessed Sacrament is solemnly ex-
troness of the noviciate. Priest-novice posed throughout the week from Con-
Br Gregory celebrates the conventual ventual Mass until 9 PM, to intercede for
Mass and preaches a moving homily in the spiritual needs of the country.
the form of “A Novice’s Letter to Saint ¶ 28-31 Oct. • Fr Bernardino, Fr Jo-
Thérèse”. At the end of the day, Fr Prior seph Mary, Br Damien, and Br Seraphim
announces the appointment of D. Hilde- Marie, CFR, visit Silverstream.
brand as Master of Novices. ¶ 1 Nov. • Feast of All Saints, fifth
¶ 2-10 Oct. • D. Chrysostom travels to anniversary of D. Benedict’s priestly ordi-
Michigan to visit his family. While there, nation, and first anniversary of profession
he speaks to the students of Gabriel of D. John Baptist.
Richard Catholic High School about his ¶ 2 Nov. • All Souls Day. After the
monastic vocation. He returns with his Solemn Requiem Mass, the community
friend Peter, who stays at the monastery goes in procession to the cemetery of the
for several days. Visitation nuns located on the monastery
¶ 13 Oct. • Dom Benedict again pre- grounds, where Fr Prior performs the Ab-
sides at Anglican Ordinariate Evensong in solutions. In the afternoon, the brothers
New Britain, Connecticut, and preaches walk to the Stamullen, where they sing the
a homily on the occasion of the canoni- Office of the Dead in the parish church
zation of St John Henry Newman. One and visit the nearby cemetery with the
of the occurring scripture readings, not ruins of a medieval chantry.
15O
n Tuesday, 11 February 2020, the Feast of the Apparition
of the Immaculate Virgin Mary at Lourdes, our Brothers
PLACID M. MCKEE of the Archdiocese of Armagh &
GREGORY M. SLIWA of the Diocese of Springfield in
Massachusetts will make Simple Profession under the Holy
Rule of Our Father Saint Benedict. We recommend Brothers Placid &
Gregory to your prayers. The Lord hath so magnified thy name this day, that thy praise
shall not depart out of the mouth of men (Antiphon, Office of 11 February).You can also read
