A Prayer for Peace without Borders

International Board of Directors

We are looking . . .

for Board Members of all Faith Traditions. Would you be interested in making this a truly global Prayer for Peace Without Borders?

As you can see we were founded by Benedictines and other religious and laity of those groups. It popped out of that box rather quickly. A monk at St. Anselm’s Abbey in Washington, D.C., Fr. John Hayden, OSB, said, “People are hungry for peace.”

We believe

the time is now.

The Board of Directors

The Prayer for Peace Day was founded by Benedictines and Benedictine Lay Associates who are usually called Oblates. But we are expanding our Board of Directors, adding Peace Representatives and Prayer Leaders of all Faith Traditions. We have One Creator. We will all be enriched if we share our vision and eat and drink together in that ancient tradition: those who pray together, and eat and drink together will not fight. And together let’s celebrate Peacemakers around the world.

The Honorary Board of Directors

Sr. Antoinette Purcell, OSB., President, North American Association of Benedictine Oblate Directors

Our Lady of Grace Monastery, 1402 Southern Ave., Beech Grove, IN 46107-1197

Telephone: (317) 787-3287. FAX (317)780-2368. www.Benedictine.com

Sr. Antoinette is the Oblate (lay associate) Director for Our Lady of Grace Monastery and President of NABOD. Like most Benedictines, she is modest about her achievements but she is an organizer of superior ability. She made her final profession in 1969 and has her Masters in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University, Chicago, a Masters in Education from Ball State University in Muncie, IN and a Bachelor of Arts from St. Benedict College, Ferdinand, IN. She pursues on-going education in Spiritual Direction and Contemplation.

Our Lady of Grace Monastery is easily accessed, just outside Indianapolis. It is home to over 70 Sisters. They also have about a dozen Sisters on mission, a very active Oblate program and Getaways for singles or retreats. Spiritual Direction is available upon request.

Vocations Director: Sr. Nicolette Etienne, OSB

Oblate Director. Sr. Antoinette Purcell, OSB

Click for Benedictine Getaways: • Benedict Inn

The Board of Directors

Rt. Rev. Paschal A. Morlino, OSB, St. Benedict Church, 2612 Wilkins Ave., Baltimore, MD 21223 410.947.4988. Parish Center 410.947.4988; Parish Offices 2612 Saint Benedict Street, Baltimore, MD

Fr. Paschal, as he is known within inner-city Baltimore, St. Benedict Church and his community at St. Vincent Archabbey, is energetic and genial. He is a retreat master and gives Days of Recollection and Parish Missions. His humility belies his remarkable achievements.

A native of Portsmouth, VA, Fr. Paschal made his profession of vows in 1960, as a monk of Belmont Abbey earned a BA from Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina, a Masters in Theology in 1966 at St. Maur’s Seminary, KY and ordained a priest in 1966 in Savannah, GA. In 1967 he transferred to St. Vincent Archabbey when the priory came under their jurisdiction. He has earned a Master in Library and Information Sciences for the University of Pittsburgh in 1969 and worked in a Masters in Eastern Christian theology at Fordham.

He was Secretary to the Abbot President of the American Casinese Congregation from 1976-78, Blessed as an Archimandrite of Acco in Galilee because of his work with the Christian Arabs of Galilee. Thus he is honorary Abbot in the Byzantine Rite. He has been a pastor in Waynesburg, OH, and now Baltimore, MD. He is an Oblate Director and the U.S. Representative to the First World Congress of Benedictine Oblates in Rome, 2005.

Fr. Abbot Aidan Shea, OSB.St. Anselm’s Abbey, 4501 South Dakota Ave. NE, Washington, D C 20017-2753. 202.269.2300. E-mail dcabbey@erols.com, wwww.stanselms.org. Fr. Abbot Shea retired in 2006 as the Abbot of St. Anselm’s but remains active as Oblate Director, teaches at the Abbey School and gives spiritual direction and retreats.

St. Anselm’s is a member of the English Benedictine Congregation and is known for its Benedictine hospitality. The work of the monks is education either at St. Anselm’s Abbey School or Catholic University of America nearby. They give retreats, weekend assistance at local parishes and chaplaincies at nearby convents.

St. Anselm’s is best-known for its St. Anselm’s Abbey School. Since 1942 young men, grades 6-12, have achieved high academic standards and gone on to better-known universities and important positions.

The Very Rev. Simon McGurk, OSB, is the new Prior at St. Anselm’s. He is a gracious host and of English tradition.

Oblate Director: Fr. Abbot Aidan Shea, OSB

Vocations Director: Prior Simon McGurk, OSB

Headmaster St. Anselm’s Abbey School: Fr. Peter Weigand, OSB

Guestmaster: Br. Matthew Nylund, OSB

Fr. James Wiseman, OSB, retired in 2006 as Prior at St. Anselm’s Abbey and has the same contact information as does Fr. Abbot Aidan Shea, OSB. Fr. James primary position’ is Associate Dean, School of Religion and Theology, Catholic University, Washington, DC. He also teaches Theology at St. Anselm’s Abbey School.

He is a well-known scholar of Christian Mysticism and lives of the saints. He is the author of Spirituality and Mysticism: A Global View (Maryknoll, NY, Orbis, 2006) and Theology and Modern Science: Quest for Coherence (New York and London: Continuum Publishing 1997.) He is editor and contributor for several works, including Donald Mitchell, Transforming Suffering: Reflections on Finding Peace in Troubled Times (New York, Doubleday, 2003) Editor and contributor, with Donald Mitchell, The Gethsemani Encounter; A Dialogue on the Spiritual Life by Buddhist and Christian Monastics. (New York: Continuum Publishing, 1997,) Editor, with Louis Dupre, Light from Light: An anthology of Christian Mysticism. (New York: Paulist Press, 1988.).

Sr. Michaela Hedican, OSB, is the vigorous leader of the Federation of Saint Benedict, an International Federation of Ardent Women. The Federation has in it eleven Benedictine Monasteries around the world, including St, Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Mount Benedict Monastery in Ogden, UT, St. Martin Monastery in Nassau, The Bahamas, Annunciation Monastery in Bismarck, ND, St. Bede Monastery in Eau Claire, WI and St. Placid Priory, Lacey, WA. www.osb.org/fedben/html/news

Sr. Dorothy Jean Beyer, OSB, Prioress of Queen of Angels Monastery, 840 South Main St., Mt. Angel, OR 97362-9527, Telephone 503.845.6141. FAX 503-845-6585. www.benedictine-srs.org.

Queen of Angels is becoming famous for the Sister’s Monastery MustardTM . They won a Silver Medal in the prestigious Napa Valley 2006 Worldwide Mustard Competition. (Order 503.845.6535)

It was at Queen of Angels in 1999 when the idea for the Prayer for Peace was first put into words. Benedictines walk by faith and we didn’t know where we were going with this but Sr. Dorothy Jean said I should talk with God, a Spiritual Director, and try to discern. Then trust in God. I followed her wisdom; that is a Benedictine trait, especially the ones who have been in a monastery for a while.

She is a woman of wit and charm and passion for her Sisters, and the underprivileged. She uses her considerable energy to fight for justice and peace. She began her career as a parochial school teacher, was director of Shalom Prayer Center (the retreat center,) and on the Federation of St. Gertrude Federation Council and on the LCWR National Board. She was elected Prioress of Queen of Angel’s in 1987 and served until 1995, then 1999 to present.

In addition to Shalom Center (see Benedictine Getaways) Queen of Angel’s sponsors St. Joseph Shelter, a refuge for homeless families.

Sr. Gloria Schultz, SCP, is an early supporter of the Prayer for Peace Day concept. At the time she was oncology chaplain at Washington Hospital Center as well as Supervisor of Ministry Students. She is certified as a Bereavement Pastoral Care specialist, a Reiki Master and is also trained in Cranialsacral therapy and Guided Imagery.

She was elected as the District Superior of the Sisters of St. Paul in 2003. In November 2004, she moved to Escanaba, Michigan to better serve her Sisters.

Sister Ann Kessler, O.S.B., Ph. D., Benedictine Monastery, 1005 W. 8^th St. Yankton SD 57078

Webpage: www.yanktonbenedictines.org

In 2005, the Benedictine Monastery celebrated their 125^th anniversary, andnSister Ann will be celebrating her Diamond Jubilee of religious profession—this year—60 years: 1947-2007. She joined the community in 1945. Sacred Heart Monastery, home to 150 Benedictine nuns, is located above the Missouri River bluffs on the South Dakota/Nebraska border.

Also on the campus are two monastery sponsored institutions, Mount Marty College and Avera Sacred Heart Hospital—a very large medical center. They teach, care for the sick and minister to Native American and Hispanic minorities. They also do pastoral counseling and social works. Where there is a special need, one may find a Benedictine Sister.

Woman, usually under 50, are welcome to make a monastic experience to discern if God is calling them to this special monastery. A steady group of young and older women are in formation throughout the years. Several others are under consideration as possible candidates.

The monastery has a guest and retreat center where quiet reflection may be had at will. About 500 oblates are affiliated with the monastery in Yankton, Sioux Falls, and various Nebraska towns. Many of these are on-line oblates who are not able to attend meetings in Yankton or other chapter cities. Yankton oblates meet the third Sunday of each month from 1-2 p. m. College oblates meet on Sundays convenient for the students. Nebraska chapters set their meetings at other times.

Sister Ann has taught forty-five years, thirty-seven at Mount Marty College as a professor of history and government. She is now a Professor Emerita but still teaches Benedictine History.

Her numerous publications, articles, and book reviews include

a comprehensive Benedictine history:

Benedictine Men and Women of Courage: Roots and History

540 pp. 1996—now out of print but available on CD-ROM from the author.

Chapters in several books including one on Elena Cornaro Piscopia, first woman to receive any kind of college degree—in Benedict in the World, bios of outstanding Benedictine Oblates.

Other chapters—in South Dakota Leaders, detail the lives of Bishop Martin Marty, Benedictine Abbot-Bishop of St. Meinrad Abbey and the Dakotas; Mother Jerome Schmitt, prioress of our Yankton monastery for twenty-nine years, and a brief history of our college in From Idea to Institution.

Several articles and reviews are published in periodicals, especially in the American Benedictine Review, Benedictines, South Dakota History, South Dakota Social Science Review.

Articles relating to South Dakota’s church history are in the latest edition of the multi-volume Catholic Encyclopedia—also by S. Ann Kessler.

The Advisory Board of Directors

Fr. Volker Futter, OSB, St. Benedict Center, PO Box 528, Schuyler, NE 68661-0528 Telephone: 402-352-8819, Fax: 401.352.8884. E-mail: Retreats@StBenedictCenter.com. Website: www.StBenedictCenter.com.

Fr. Volker Futter, OSB is a Missionary Benedictine from Germany. The Missionary Benedictines began their work in Africa in the late 1800s and now have 30 different Mission Stations of their Congregation: China, Korea, Philippines, Africa: Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, India and Germany. Thus Fr. Volker has been instrumental in our Prayer for Peace going world-wide.

He is Oblate Director of the Benedictine Mission House and has an easy manner with lay people who are new to Benedictine Spirituality. He does not dwell on his education and accomplishments which are many.

Fr. Germar Neubert OSB,

See Benedictine Getaways: Saint Benedict Center in Nebraska.