"St. Benedict's hospitality should be like an oasis in the desert of life where people can find spring waters of new life and a place of rest and relaxation in the shadow of God's presence."

St. Benedict Center Newsletter # 38      Summer 2010

75 Years Missionary Benedictines in Nebraska

Dear Friends,

 We monks have a special reason to give thanks to God and to celebrate!  For seventy-five years, Missionary Benedictines have prayed and worked in Nebraska.  In 1935, the first three monks arrived from Germany.  Msgr. Joseph Rummel, then Bishop of Omaha, received them and assigned to them a former school of the Notre Dame Sisters in Schuyler which was no longer in use.  The brothers came in order to raise funds for our missionary work around the globe, which the Roman Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith had entrusted to us Missionary Benedictines.  Getting financial support for the missions had become very difficult under the Nazi rule in Germany.

With the help of the American people, our missionary work in Africa, South-east Asia and South America could continue during the war years.  Even today, many of us are stationed in overseas countries, leading native people to Christ and assisting them if their basic human needs are not met.  The fundraising work of the Benedictine Mission House, which is now located four miles north of Schuyler on land donated by the Ehernberger family, continues effectively today as well, thanks to the generosity of so many people in the United States.

In his Rule, St. Benedict, the founder of our order, summons his monks to be good hosts and to receive every guest like Christ.  At our retreat house, St. Benedict Center, we monks offer hospitality in a quiet setting to people, individuals and groups. Also, the Center is our way of saying “thank you” to the people of Nebraska and from around the country who for decades have supported the foreign missions.

Many pastors used the opportunity to send their parish secretaries to St. Benedict Center for a one-day retreat during Administrative Professionals Week.  Benedictine Sisters Kathleen Courtney and Marita Kolbeck from Yankton, SD, expressed to them appreciation for their important ministry.  They helped them to grow in competence, compassion and creativity and to live spiritually at their work place.   John and Teri Bosio presented a wonderful retreat for couples on communication in marriage in April.  Please click here in order to see beautiful photos from the retreat.

This summer and fall, I would like to direct your attention especially to several marriage and family related programs.  In July there will be opportunities at the Center for fathers and their teenage sons, ages 11-15, and for mothers and their adolescent daughters, ages 15-19, for activities that are fun, further mutual learning, and help to grow in faith.  On August 29, we will offer for the first time a retreat day specifically for couples married five years and with the heading, Loving Your Marriage: The Early Years.  Noteworthy is also a one-day retreat on September 11, titled, Sabbath: Resting in the Goodness of God with Father Joe Nassal, a Missionary of the Precious Blood and author from Berkeley, CA.  It is a very good way of treating yourself to a time of relaxation in God’s presence before life gets busy again in the fall.  Finally, I would like to point out to you a one-day retreat with Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ, from New Orleans, LA, on October 23, titled, Dead Man Walking: The Journey Continues. It is thrilling to listen to Sr. Helen and her experiences with ministering to people on death row. - I am looking forward to seeing you again soon!

Fr. Thomas Leitner, OSB, Administrator

P.S. Please consider our personalized St. Benedict Center Gift Certificate as a present to you family and friends!