Number of Oblates Continues to Increase

Sacred Heart Monastery’s Oblate program has been growing rapidly. They are men and women who have affiliated themselves with a Benedictine community to enrich their lives by sharing in the wisdom of Christ as interpreted by St. Benedict.

[Carol Houtkooper, oblate novice, and Oblate Myrna Brennick, both of Yankton, enjoyed Sunday brunch in the monastery refectory at the close of the retreat.  Their smiles suggest they understand St. Benedict's emphasis on the role of shared meals in building community.]

SHM’s Oblates are of all ages, many professions, religious affiliations, and geographic locations. They come from South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Oklahoma, California, New York, New Mexico, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota and Washington, DC.

These Oblates are organized in six chapters, coordinated by S. Ann Kessler, who also leads the Yankton chapter. Other chapters are located in Lincoln, Greenwood and Steinauer, NE, in Sioux Falls, SD, and at Mount Marty College. S. Phyllis Hunhoff  directs the Nebraska chapters, S. Margretta Doyle the one in Sioux Falls, and S. Eileen O’Connor the student chapter at MMC.

Fifty of these Oblates recently were part of a weekend retreat at the monastery. The retreat included a presentation on Benedictine history as well as small group sessions on reverence, contemplation, forgiveness, liturgy of the hours, community, prayer, Benedictine culture, and the story of SHM’s beginnings. There was also time for individual conferences and tours of the new monastery addition.

What did retreatants like about the retreat? “The quiet,” “the hospitality,” “learning about the Rule and the sisters’ experiences and insights.” “I loved the presentation on contemplation and am considering a week-long directed retreat.” “Hearing about the history gave me a sense of being part of a long and blessed tradition.”

[Pictured below, Chad Theisen, left, and Chandra Ostiek, right, enjoy some moments in the Peace Chapel book nook with S. Eileen O'Connor, the Mount Marty College Student Chapter Associate Oblate Director.]

All the chapters meet monthly, and all study the Rule. The college student group relate their study to the liturgical season and conclude their evening meetings by praying Compline. Several of them volunteer weekly service at the monastery switchboard and in reading to sisters in the Care Center. They also enjoy their own book nook set up in the Peace Chapel area.

The Nebraska, Sioux Falls and Yankton chapters are using Preferring Christ, a book by Oblate Noreen Vest, as a guide in their reflections on the Rule. Like the college group, the Sioux Falls chapter also reflects on current liturgies. The Yankton group joins the sisters for brunch after Sunday Eucharist on their meeting day, and on occasion several of them join the community for other liturgical events.

The Nebraska chapters also include faith-sharing and Vespers as part of their meetings. The Lincoln group, with 129 members, is served by ten senior Oblates—deans—who prepare topics for study and lead Oblate novices in companion groups to study the Rule.

After final Oblation, Lincoln Oblates join cells of 10-12 members to continue formation in scripture, the divine office,and Benedictine works. Nebraska Oblates have also participated in retreats at Schuyler, NE, Conception, MO, and Atchison, KS.

To become an Oblate, one spends a time of preparation that culminates in an act of Oblation in a rite approved by the church. In recent chapter receptions, 30 persons became Oblate novices, and 35 made final Oblation.

[Oblation became a family affair when MMC student, Susan Cantin, was received as an Oblate novice in a ceremony  witnessed by her parents, Oblates Leon and Judy Cantin.]