SVA and Rome

http://www.stbenedictfoundation.org/

One of the great apostolates that a number of our monks are involved with is the Benedictine School in Rome, Sant' Anselmo (Our Fr. Edward Mazich, O.S.B. is the President of the St. Benedict Education Fund which helps Benedictines from around the world study at Sant' Anselmo and our Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B. sits on the board of incorporators and the board of directors) (here is a little more about the school from their website):

Founded in 1887 by Pope Leo XIII, students including Benedictine men and women come from all corners of the world to study at Sant' Anselmo, receiving degrees at both the baccalaureate level and the graduate level. As an educational center, Rome houses many of the pontifical schools and faculties of the church, and opportunities for students to learn in a setting at the heart of the Catholic Church. Sant' Anselmo, while an ocean away from the United States, has had a major impact on the Catholic Church, educating cardinals, archbishops and bishops, from Cardinal Paul Augustin Mayer to Archbishop Wilton Gregory to Bishop J. Peter Sartain, recently appointed as the new shepherd of the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois by Pope Benedict XVI.

The Saint Benedict Education Foundation, Inc., was formed in the United States to provide support to one of the best-kept secrets in Rome, our international Benedictine University. Sant' Anselmo continues, as it has for many years, to educate both lay and religious students ministering throughout the world in Christ's name.

Vows 2008

Check out this slide show of the first profession and renewal of Monastic Vows which occurred at the Abbey on the evening of July 10, 2008. (Click on the arrows to scroll through the show)

MC Sisters

 
Recently our Father Boniface Hicks, O.S.B. conducted the perpetual vows retreat Missionary of Charity Sisters in Washington, DC. Here the professed sisters pose with Fr. Boniface at the convent following their profession which was held at the Basilica National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. (Note: the Crucifix in the background was a gift to the sisters from our Fr. Paschal, O.S.B.)

Anniversary of the Dedication of the Archabbey Basilica

The Basilica is a modification of Rheinish Romanesque architecture by New York architect William Schickel. The Basilica is 230 feet long and 75 feet wide at the nave and choir, and it is 112 feet wide at the crossing. The sanctuary and monks' choir occupy nearly half the space of the building. In 1996 and 1997 renovations of the Basilica were undertaken, including a new roof, cleaning the exterior bricks, replacing the original steps, painting the interior, restoring the artwork and all of the stained glass windows, restoring the stations of the cross, gilding the cornices, and replacing the old lighting and sound systems. The altar rail was removed, as were the side altars. The altar in the eucharistic transept was replaced by a sacrament tower containing the tabernacle with the Blessed Sacrament. In 1999 and 2000 two spires and a bell tower were added to the front of the Basilica and the two back spires were re-roofed.

"Come and See" Dates Released

Mark your calendars for the 2008-09 St. Vincent Archabbey "Come and See" Weekends. This year our program will be October 31 - November 2, 2008, February 6 -8, 2009, and our Triduum Retreat which will take place April 8-12, 2009. As you can see, we have created a flyer that you can post on your refrigerator, computer, desk, etc., wherever it can serve as a reminder. We also ask that you spread the word about these weekends by printing out our flyer (it's a jpeg image, just save it to your desktop and print it out) and asking your local parish, campus ministry, or Catholic discernment clubs if you can post it.