News Release: Father Joel Macul to Speak at Saint Benedict Center

The Rev. Joel Macul, OSB, STL, will present a retreat titled, He Gave His Life to Set Us Free: The Passion according to Matthew at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, on February 27 – March 1, 2026

At the beginning of Holy Week, we will hear Matthew’s Passion on Palm Sunday this year. We will look at what Matthew focuses his attention on. He introduces Jesus as one who saves us from our sins, that is what his name means. He understands Jesus as the Messiah who does not crush what is already bruised and broken and instead, he becomes the ransom for many. That is how he serves. And what is the significance of the other people in the story: the disciples, Peter, Judas, Pilate, even the crowds? Is there any of them in us? Reflecting on this passion story for these days may be one way of obeying Jesus’ command to “keep watch,” of touching the truth of our hearts and allowing Jesus’ death to heal and free them.

Benedictine Father Joel Macul was the prior at Christ the King Priory in Schuyler, Nebraska, from 2017 till 2023. Prior to that, he served as abbot of St. Paul’s Abbey in Newton, New Jersey, and taught Scripture at Tangaza College and Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya. He now lives again in Newton, New Jersey.

The retreat begins on Friday, at 7:30 p.m. and ends on Sunday after Lunch. The program fee is $80; room and board charges are additional. 

News Release: Retreat on Spiritual Goal Setting

Lisa Kelly, MA, and Steve Titus, PhD, JD, will present a retreat titled, The Spiritual Path: Embarking on the Journey of a Lifetime, at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, on February 14 – 15, 2026. Make this the time for you and God to walk your spiritual path together. Discover the benefits of using a structured process to name how you are being called to live out the healthy desires of your heart. This workshop, adapted from the best-selling life coaching program, Your Best Year Yet, offers a process rooted in Ignatian Spirituality to gather wisdom from the challenges and joys of the past year, to uncover and attend to perceived limitations, and to set goals for the coming year. You will leave with a practical one-page plan of goals and objectives. Couples are invited to celebrate Valentine’s Day by making a Spiritual Path plan together. Mass is included (optional).

Lisa Kelly, the author of The Spiritual Path: Embarking on the Journey of a Lifetime (Loyola Press), is a 20+ year Ignatian Associate. She holds a Master from Harvard and a Master in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University. She and her husband, Tom, have raised four kids while living in Omaha and abroad and remain dedicated to serving marginalized communities globally.

Steve Titus, JD, PhD, is a trained spiritual director and executive coach and holds an MA in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University. Steve and his wife, Sara, live in Tucson, AZ, and have two daughters. – Both Lisa and Steve support Catholic leaders to implement synodality through the Discerning Leadership Program.

The retreat begins on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and ends on Sunday at 5:00 p.m.  The program fee is $100; room and board charges are additional.  Register at www.StBenedictCenter.com or call (402) 352-8819.

News Release: Christmas Craft Show

Under the motto, Christmas on the Hill, handmade crafts by over fifty vendors will be for sale at St. Benedict Center, 4 miles north of Schuyler on Highway 15, from November 30 – December 14, 2025. Shop in a peaceful atmosphere for unique gifts like wall hangings, quilts, Christmas decorations, woodworking, blown glass, homemade honey products, jewelry, and homemade bakery! Opening times are Monday through Friday, 2:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Final Sunday, Dec. 14, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The gift shop will be open. 

In addition, there will be an opportunity to view a colorful display of beautiful nativity scenes from all over the world!

There is no admission fee for the craft show and the exhibit.

Father Joe Miksch to Speak at Saint Benedict Center

On December 12 – 13, 2025, Father Joseph A. Miksch will come to St. Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, and present a seminar titled, A Way to Live and Enjoy Life More Fully!

This program will help you to attain a positive attitude about yourself, to accept yourself, to feel free to be yourself, and to forget about what others might be thinking about you. You will learn to think less about yourself, to reach out to others, and they in turn will accept you as one who really cares. Come and see how to embark upon the journey to enjoying life more and to becoming fully alive!

Father Joe, pastor of St. Isidore Parish in Columbus and St. Joseph Parish in Platte Center, NE, was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Omaha in 1966 and holds a Master from Creighton University. He first learned about rational emotive therapy about 45 years ago and uses it every day. It has truly changed his life and has helped him to become more fully alive. For that reason, he wants to share what he has learned with others. Since 2020, he has had the privilege of having daily Mass in St. Isidore’s Church televised on NCN-TV, and through Facebook and YouTube reaches people throughout Nebraska, throughout the Nation, and at places as far away as Africa, Switzerland, Spain and Japan.           

The seminar begins on Friday, at 9:00 a.m. and closes on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.  The program fee is $ 80; room and board are additional.

Fr. Thomas' Fall Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Life of Paul (detail), Aidan Hart with contributions from Andrew Jamieson, Copyright 2002, The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota USA. Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

St. Paul was the missionary and fruitful disciple of Jesus par excellence. In his vision on the road to Damascus, he had seen a light from heaven and encountered Christ. On the illumination in The Saint John’s Bible titled, Life of Paul, we see at St. Paul’s left elbow the arches from the entrance to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Christ suffered and died for us. He was buried, but then he rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples, finally also to Saul who became Paul in the process, a new person. He considered everything as loss because of the supreme good of knowing Jesus Christ as his Lord (Philippians 3:8)

The artist depicts St. Paul wearing a Jewish prayer shawl. He had grown up as a devout Jew. This was his background, but he was open to the working of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of all people, regardless of their culture or walk of life. We see him wearing sandals. As messenger of Jesus Christ, he traveled long distances on foot. We also see part of a ship. Sometimes he traveled by boat; being shipwrecked three times was just one example of the hardships he endured on his journeys!

The broken church building that St. Paul holds in his hands resembles St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Christians are divided into denominations today, but St. Paul’s core message of us being justified by faith in Christ (cf. Romans 5:1-9) can bring us back into unity.

After his conversion, St. Paul first traveled to Arabia through the desert. He needed a time of prayer and of stillness (cf. Galatians 1:17). Today St. Benedict Center is a place of prayer and of stillness, too, conducive to encountering Christ and to growing in our relationship with him. 

From our facility I can report that we have gotten new chillers this year which guarantee cool and dryer air in the building during the warmer months. – Especially worth noting among our upcoming events is the retreat titled, A Way to Live and Enjoy Life more Fully on December 12 – 13, 2025, with Fr. Joe Miksch from Columbus, NE. It will be about identifying and working toward eliminating inner obstacles that keep us from living the Great Commandment of Jesus. – I am looking forward to seeing you again soon! 

Fr. Thomas Leitner, OSB, Administrator            

News Release: Humanities Nebraska Speaker to Appear at Saint Benedict Center

Karen Wyatt Drevo will present a program titled, Maria Rodaway: Prairie Pioneer on September 21, 3:00 p.m., at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler. This presentation is made possible by Humanities Nebraska, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment and Saint Benedict Center as part of the HN Speakers Bureau.

Karen Wyatt Drevo

Maria (portrayed by her great-great granddaughter Karen Wyatt Drevo in period attire) looks back at her life as a prairie pioneer in Otoe County, Nebraska, where she homesteaded in 1867. Maria crossed the Atlantic Ocean with seven children to reunite her family after a 7½ year separation. She endured grasshoppers, hail, drought, tornadoes, blizzards, and the loss of her husband and six of her 13 children as she worked to become a citizen and a landowner in a new country. Resilient and resourceful, she lived a life of usefulness to her family and large circle of friends with her loving deeds and kind acts, delivering babies and nursing the sick.

Maria Rodaway: Prairie Pioneer is one of approximately 300 programs offered through the Humanities Nebraska Speakers Bureau. The more than 165 available speakers include acclaimed scholars, writers, musicians, storytellers and folklorists on topics ranging from pioneer heritage to ethics and law to international and multicultural issues, making it the largest humanities speakers bureau in the nation.

Speakers are available to any non-profit organization in Nebraska. Each program lasts 30 minutes to an hour, plus a question-and-answer period. 

The most frequent users of the HN Speakers Bureau are primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, libraries, museums and historical societies, agencies for the elderly, rural organizations, churches, arts organizations and ethnic organizations. Humanities Nebraska sponsors the largest Speakers Bureau program in the U.S. according to the National Endowment for the Humanities.

For information detailing the available speakers and guidelines for booking them, please access our website at www.humanitiesnebraska.org (Speakers section) or contact Humanities Nebraska at 215 Centennial Mall South, Suite 330, Lincoln, NE 68508, phone (402) 474-2131, fax (402) 474-4852 or e-mail info@humanitiesnebraska.org.   

There is no Admission Fee. A free will offering is requested.  For more information, call St. Benedict Center 402-352-8819 or visit our website event page.

News Release: Retreat with Father Larry Gillick

Fr. Larry Gillick, SJ

The Rev. Larry Gillick, SJ, will present an Ignatian Silent Retreat titled, Christ as The Sacrament, We as His Sacraments at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, on July 31 – August 3, 2025. During this retreat, we will spend time for personal prayer and reflection on the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church considering their comforts and their challenges. We will have special times for celebration of the sacrament of Reconciliation, the Eucharist, and the Sacrament of the Sick, as well as praying with the Sacraments of Baptism and Marriage.

Jesuit Father Larry Gillick was ordained a priest in 1972. His former assignments include Spiritual Director for the younger Jesuits, Rector of the Jesuit Community at Creighton Prep in Omaha, and Superior of Mulumba House.  He currently serves as Director of the Deglman Center for Ignatian Spirituality at Creighton University.  He is a sought after retreat master around the country and spiritual director of students, faculty, alumni at Creighton University, and people from far and wide.

The retreat begins on Thursday, at 6:00 p.m. and ends on Sunday after Lunch.  The program fee is $100; room and board charges are additional.

News Release: Retreat with Father Mauritius Wilde

The Rev. Mauritius Wilde, OSB, PhD, and Jodi Blazek Gehr will present a retreat titled, To Love and Be Loved, at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, on July 25 – 27, 2025.

Father Mauritius Wilde OSB, PhD,

The Great Commandment, to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" and "love your neighbor as yourself” is the foundation of our faith. We have been created to love and be loved. This is reflected in St. Benedict’s Rule who recommends the principles of stability, conversion of life, obedience, and hospitality. Benedict can inspire our love, whether we are monks or in a marriage or any other walk of life. His spirituality helps us to discover our "inner monk".

Jodi Blazek Gehr

Father Mauritius has been a Benedictine monk of Muensterschwarzach Abbey, Germany, since 1985. After studying Philosophy and Theology he earned his PhD at Tuebingen University with a thesis on Meister Eckhart. He worked as teacher and educator at the abbey’s high school and, for eleven years, was the director of the abbey’s publishing house, Vier Tuerme Verlag.  For five years he was the prior of Christ the King Priory near Schuyler. Currently he teaches at the Atheneo, the Benedictine study house in Rome, Italy. Fr. Mauritius is the author of several books, including Be Yourself: The Call of a Christian (Paulist), and directs retreats regularly.  His blog can be found at www.wildemonk.net. For his reflections on the Holy Rule of St. Benedict, listen to Spirit Catholic Radio or visit www.DiscerningHearts.com. 

Jodi Blazek Gehr is a wife and mother, a Benedictine Oblate, a certified SoulCollage® and Boundless Compassion Facilitator. Recently retired after 27 years of teaching high school Business, Marketing, and Information Technology, her passion is writing for her websites, Being Benedictine and SoulFully You, and leading retreats in creativity and spirituality. In 2025, Fr. Mauritius celebrates 40 years of monastic life and Jodi Blazek celebrates 40 years of marriage to her husband, Joe.

The retreat begins on Friday, at 7:30 p.m. and ends on Sunday after Lunch.  The program fee is $70; room and board charges are additional. 

Summer Newsletter from Fr. Thomas

Dear Friends, 

Pope Francis “established direct contact with individuals and peoples, eager to be close to everyone, with a marked attention to those in difficulty, giving himself without measure, especially to the marginalized, the least among us. He was a Pope among the people, with an open heart toward everyone. He was also a Pope attentive to the signs of the times and what the Holy Spirit was awakening in the Church.” In these words, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re characterized the late Pope.

Pope Francis visited the most remote areas of the globe, sometimes even war zones. His close contact with a parish in the Gaza Strip, which he maintained since the war between Israel and Hamas began in 2023, stood out for me particularly. Even from his hospital bed and while very ill, he stayed in touch with those Palestinian parishioners through video call or text message daily at 8 p.m.!

Pope Francis visiting prisoners on Holy Thursday

The Rev. Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of this only Roman Catholic church in Gaza, says Pope Francis would ask how he and his people were and send them his blessing. During a war that has killed over 50,000, injured and traumatized many, and turned virtually all the homes of residents and even hospitals into rubble, the parish has offered shelter to hundreds, Christians and Muslims. By keeping in touch faithfully, Pope Francis showed his solidarity with the suffering and mourning people in Gaza and so brought them peace and hope.

Pope Francis often ended his speeches by saying, “Do not forget to pray for me.” Now we may ask Pope Francis, as Cardinal Re suggested, to pray for us and the whole world from heaven. I feel we can attribute the election of Card. Robert F. Prevost as Pope Leo XIV also to his intercession!

From St. Benedict Center I can report that Brother Samuel, the new manager of bookstore, has brought new life to the store and extended its opening hours; you can find them on our website. – Especially worth noting among our upcoming events is the retreat titled, To Love and Be Loved on July 25 - 27. Our former prior, Fr. Mauritius Wilde from Rome/Italy, will direct it, together with our Oblate Jodi Gehr, drawing wisdom from the Rule of St. Benedict for all Christian in walks of life. – I am looking forward to seeing you again soon!  

Fr. Thomas Leitner, OSB, Administrator     

Spring Newsletter from Fr. Thomas

Dear Friends, 

When I was a teen, I went on my first pilgrimage to Rome, together with youths from my parish. It was during the Holy Year fifty years ago. I still have pictures of us wearing caps that read in Italian Anno Santo 1975. The peak point of the trip was for me a gathering of the Gen Rosso movement, which was inspired by the charismatic Focolare community founded by Chara Lubich. The event took place in a convention center filled with 20,000 people. The great Gen Rosso music played by their band alternated with moving witness talks. I couldn’t understand everything because these were given in various languages, but I sensed the joy that those talking had found in their faith. It became clear how the lives of those speaking were profoundly turned around by their relationship with Jesus Christ. I prayed that Jesus may also become the Lord of my life. It was my first unforgettable encounter with Christ!

2025 is again a Holy Year. Pope Francis gave it the motto, Pilgrims of Hope. The logo shows people on a sea voyage together, with the mast being the cross. The cross also yields the anchor of the ship. The person in red could be Jesus himself embracing the cross as part of his mission to make known God’s compassionate love for all. His garment and those of the ones behind him also look like sails. They allow themselves to be filled and moved forward by the wind of the Holy Spirit. 

While not everybody can make a pilgrimage to Rome, it is easier to visit the pilgrimage sites designated by the Archdiocese of Omaha, Nebraska. St. Benedict Center is one of them. We invite you to go on a pilgrimage of hope, to set out making a new beginning with God. It may lead you to a new and deeper encounter with Christ. Such a pilgrimage also expresses that we are sojourners on this earth until we reach heaven, the destination of our journey, our eternal home. For things to do at St. Benedict Center, please visit the Pilgrimage 2025 section on our website.

Especially worth noting among the upcoming events of our St. Benedict Center program schedule is the seminar titled, Humanity at the Brink of Artificial Intelligence on May 2 – 3. The presenters are professors Dr. George (“Guy”) McHendry and Dr.  Steven Fernandes from Creighton University. They will explain how AI works and help us understand its advantages and drawbacks from an ethical perspective. – I am looking forward to seeing you again soon! 

Fr. Thomas Leitner, OSB, Administrator

AI Seminar at Saint Benedict Center, Schuyler

Professors George F. McHendry and Steven Fernandes from Creighton University will present a retreat titled, Humanity at the Brink of Artificial Intelligence at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, on May 2 – 3, 2025

Recent developments in artificial intelligence are transforming many aspects of human life. This seminar will address how AI works and is being used today, as well as the advantages and drawbacks of future developments in the areas of machine learning, deep learning and generative AI. We will explore how AI as a tool is both a complement and a threat to human intelligence and will discuss the moral and ethical standards Christians can use to determine its use. Attendance on Saturday only is possible.

George F. McHendry, Jr., PhD

George F. McHendry, Jr., PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies and the Timms Endowed Professor and Director of the Magis Core Curriculum. Dr. McHendry’s research and teaching explore the ways we communicate about surveillance, privacy, and data collection. His previous work includes analysis of the Transportation Security Administration’s screening procedures, the circulation of hate speech online, and surveillance and data in popular culture. His current book project, Data (under contract with Parlor Press), examines how data have built and shaped society from the invention of the census to life today. Currently, Dr. McHendry is also leading efforts to teach about generative AI in Creighton’s core curriculum.

Steven Fernandes, PhD.

Steven Fernandes, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Creighton University. Prior to joining Creighton, Dr. Fernandes gained postdoctoral research experience at the University of Central Florida, working on an NSF-funded project focused on deep neural networks. Before that, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, working on an NIH-funded project in medical image processing. His current research involves developing innovative deep neural network models for applications in computer vision, natural language processing, and medical imaging. His research has been supported by federal pilot grants from the NSF and NIH, as well as internal grants from Creighton and cloud compute research credits from Amazon Web Services (AWS).

The retreat begins on Friday, at 7:30 p.m. and ends on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. The program fee is $80, room and board charges are additional.  Saturday attendance only is $60. Early Bird Rate for Fri-Sat (register before March 29) is $70. 

News Release: Astronomy and the Question for God Retreat at St. Benedict Center

Rev. Christoph Gerhard, OSB

The Rev. Christoph Gerhard, OSB, will present a retreat titled Astronomy and the Question for God at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, on April 5 – 6, 2025.

As a life-bearing “spaceship,” our Earth is a unique spot in the universe. Astronomy explores stars, planets, and distant galaxies in search of life. For many of us, looking through a telescope into the “infinite” cosmos inevitably raises the question of a creator. But is there even a place for God in the universe? Do science and faith not contradict each other? We view the two as related to one another, offering different, complementary approaches to the one reality. During this weekend, we will not only focus on the practical use of telescopes but also consider biblical texts relating to creation and the universe. In the evening, if the sky allows it, we will observe the beauty of the starry sky with and without a telescope. 

Benedictine Father Christoph Gerhard is an astronomer and comes to us from Germany for this retreat. He lives at the Abbey of Muensterschwarzach in Bavaria. He has authored several books on faith and astronomy, presents retreats, and is also the abbey’s business administrator. Visit www.klostersternwarte.de.                                                                      

The retreat begins on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and ends on Sunday after Lunch.  The program fee is $70; room and board charges are additional.

News Release: Lenten Retreat at Saint Benedict Center

On March 14 - 16, 2025, The Very Rev. James L. Secora, will come to St. Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, and present a weekend retreat on, Mercy—A Lenten Pilgrimage with St. Luke.

A principal theme of Saint Luke’s Gospel is mercy. In the Sunday liturgical cycle of Scriptures, Year 3 is devoted (with a few exceptions) to proclamation of and reflection on Luke’s Gospel. This is especially true during Lent. This retreat will center itself around the Gospel’s most famous discourse on God’s mercy, The Parable of the Prodigal Son/Father (Ch. 15). A brief overview of the theme of divine mercy and St. Luke’s gospel will introduce our reflection. Brief consideration will be given to the Parable of the Barren Fig tree (Ch. 13) and The Encounter of Jesus with the Sinful Woman (Jn.8) as bookends to chapter 15 which are proclaimed on either side of the Parable of the Prodigal. Consideration will also be given to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as a symbol of divine mercy.

Father Jim Secora, MDiv, MEd, is a priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa presently living in Ames, Iowa. Ordained in 1975, Fr. Jim's ministerial assignments have included: full-time high school teaching; instructor in the archdiocese's permanent diaconate formation process; chairperson of the archdiocese's worship commission and master of liturgical ceremonies to the late Archbishop Daniel W. Kucera; thirty-three years as parish pastor and presenter at various workshops. Father Jim is also an Oblate of Christ the King Priory in Schuyler since 2010. He holds a B.A. from Loras College, Dubuque, IA; a M.Div. from St. Mary's Seminary and University, Baltimore, MD; and a M.Ed. from Boston College, Newton, MA. Praying and reflecting with icons are essential components of Father Jim's prayer and ministerial life.

Friday, 7:30 p.m. to Sunday after lunch.

Father Joel Macul to Speak at Saint Benedict Center

The Rev. Joel Macul, OSB, STL, will present a retreat titled, “With Age-Old Love I have Loved You” (Jeremiah 31:3) at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, February 14 – 16, 2025.

Fr. Joel Macul, OSB.

 “Your words were my joy, the happiness of my heart” (Jer 15:16). This line sounds as though it comes from someone who delights in the Lord’s love. But for Jeremiah they come out of an experience of crisis. The world that he knows is coming apart. And he finds himself torn between his love for the community and his fidelity to God. He bears in himself the pain of Israel’s blindness to the truth and at the same time God’s everlasting love for his chosen people. It is the “age-old love with which I have loved you” (Jer 31:3) that Jeremiah clings to as he sees his familiar world disappear. We will see how Jeremiah stands firm in a changing world, how he confronts those who don’t want to see and how he speaks of a new relationship for the future built on a covenant that, once made, God will never let go of. We will hear how Jeremiah is no stranger to us in a time when we are living in a change of eras and still speaks to us of a compassion that wants to embrace us and make us new.

Benedictine Father Joel Macul was the prior at Christ the King Priory in Schuyler, Nebraska, from 2017 till 2023. Prior to that, he served as abbot of St. Paul’s Abbey in Newton, New Jersey, and taught Scripture at Tangaza College and Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya. He now lives again in Newton, New Jersey.

The retreat begins on Friday, at 7:30 p.m. and ends on Sunday after Lunch.  The program fee is $80; room and board charges are additional.

News Release: Christmas Craft Show at St. Benedict Center

Under the motto, Christmas on the Hill, handmade crafts by over fifty vendors will be for sale at St. Benedict Center, 4 miles north of Schuyler on Highway 15, from December 1 - 15, 2024.  Shop in a peaceful atmosphere for unique gifts like wall hangings, quilts, Christmas decorations, woodworking, blown glass, homemade honey products, jewelry, and homemade bakery! Opening times are Monday through Friday, 2:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Final Sunday, Dec. 11, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The gift shop will be open.

In addition, there will be an opportunity to view a colorful display of beautiful nativity scenes from all over the world!

There is no admission fee for the craft show and the exhibit.

Saint Benedict Center Newsletter, Fall 2024

Dear Friends, 

Saint Matthew begins his Gospel with Jesus’ genealogy, extending back to Abraham. Pronouncing the many names of Jesus’ ancestors correctly can be challenging if the reader is not prepared! Certainly, not all of these folks were saints! In The Saint John’s Bible, the first New Testament illumination presents the names of Jesus’ forbears in Hebrew: They were (mostly) part of the Jewish people. But they appear also in Latin characters, written in gold. Gold is the color of God’s presence in The Saint John’s Bible. God was present in those ancestors. And God can write straight on crooked lines! – The genealogy is shown in the shape of a menorah, a candle stand used in the Jewish tradition. This says: In a certain sense, this whole ancestry holds the light, Jesus! They have made an important contribution to his life!

Genealogy of Jesus, Donald Jackson, Copyright 2002, The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota USA. Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

A fascinating detail in this illumination are the stamps of a double helix in the arms of the menorah above. For us today, DNA is the symbol of our identity. No two human beings are genetically the same (except for identical twins). DNA reminds us here of Jesus’ humanity. He who was fully divine was fully human, too, and born into a human family with all its particularities, strengths, weaknesses, virtues and vices – as is the case with us! Like all the names, the DNA stamps are also in gold. God’s gold shone forth in Jesus. It shone forth in his ancestors. And it also shines forth in each one of us, in our humanity, in our uniqueness, despite and in the midst of our imperfections! 

My suggestion to you for a retreat at St. Benedict Center or for a quiet hour at home is to reflect on the following questions: How has God been at work in your family in the course of the generations, despite and even in the midst of sinfulness and dysfunction? For what are you grateful when you think of your ancestors and family members? Where is the gold in what you inherited from them (in your DNA) or in what you learned from them?  

Especially worth noting among the upcoming events of our St. Benedict Center program schedule is the seminar titled, Improving Your Communication Skills on December 13 – 14. The presenter is Fr. Joe Miksch, from Columbus, NE, a beloved priest and certified teacher of communication skills. – I am looking forward to seeing you again soon! 

Fr. Thomas Leitner, OSB, Administrator   

Father Joe Miksch to Speak at Saint Benedict Center

On December 13 – 14, 2024, Father Joseph A. Miksch will come to St. Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, and present a seminar titled Improving Our Communication Skills.

Communication skills are essential in the family, in church, and in all walks of life. In this seminar, Fr. Joe will teach active listening, avoiding Roadblocks to communication, and how to confront and resolve conflict. There is one caveat! Just reading a book or attending a seminar isn’t going to do much to improve your communication skills. One must make a conscientious effort to practice, practice, and practice these skills!

Father Joe, pastor of St. Isidore Parish in Columbus and St. Joseph Parish in Platte Center, NE, was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Omaha in 1966. He holds a Master’s with emphasis on Communication Skills and Counseling from Creighton University and is certified as a teacher of communication skills by Gordon Training International, Solana Beach, CA. Since 2020, he has had the privilege of having daily Mass in St. Isidore’s Church televised on NCN-TV, and through Facebook and YouTube reaches people throughout Nebraska, throughout the Nation, and at places as far away as Africa, Switzerland, Spain and Japan.          

The seminar begins on Friday, at 9:00 a.m. and closes on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.  The program fee is $ 70; room and board are additional.

Jane Tomaine to Speak at Saint Benedict Center

On August 23 – 25, 2024, acclaimed author on the Rule of St. Benedict, Jane Tomaine will come to St. Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, and present a weekend retreat on the topic of Strengthening Your Core: Spiritual Fitness with St. Benedict.

We exercise to build muscle and strengthen our physical bodies.  Why not do the same for our spiritual bodies? At this retreat you will receive practical tools for spiritual fitness rooted in the Rule of St. Benedict, such as living in the present moment, moderation, holiness in the ordinary, prayer with Scripture (lectio divina), and more. Retreat includes presentation, large and small group discussion, personal reflection, and fun.

The Rev. Dr. Jane Tomaine is the author of St. Benedict’s Toolbox: The Nuts and Bolts of Everyday Benedictine Living – 10th Anniversary Edition. This very helpful work shows how the Rule of St. Benedict gives Gospel-centered ways to shape life that are down-to-earth, practical, and doable. Jane also authored The Rule of Benedict: Christian Monastic Wisdom for Daily Living. A nationally known retreat leader, Mother Jane served as rector of an Episcopal parish in New Jersey for over 12 years. She publishes a newsletter that is available through her website www.stbenedictstoolbox.org.  Jane will be sharing her love of Benedictine spirituality and how wisdom from ancient practices speaks today with a living voice.   

The retreat begins on Friday, at 7:30 p.m. and closes on Sunday after lunch.  The program fee is $ 70; room and board are additional.

News Release: Grandparents – Grandchildren Retreat at Saint Benedict Center, Schuyler

This new and dynamic retreat for grandparents and grandchildren, ages 5-16, titled Best Friends in Faith will be offered at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler on June 22, 2024, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. It provides a grace-filled opportunity to share the things that really matter – family, God and faith. Come away with a grandchild (or two) for a day of prayer and summer fun! Concluding with a prayer service. 

Mary Eileen Andreasen, RN, MS, MA, is a mother of five and a grandmother of eight. She worked for twenty years in health care and twenty years in church ministry before retiring in 2018. Spending time with her grandchildren is her greatest joy!

Father Thomas Leitner, OSB, has presented retreats for forty years. He holds a Master of Religious Studies from St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO, and serves as administrator of St. Benedict Center. – They will direct this retreat together with several assistants.

No Charge. Donations accepted.

Summer Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Artificial Intelligence seems to be on everyone’s mind right now. Pope Francis’ points in his Message for this year’s World Day of Peace titled, Artificial Intelligence and Peace to its positive side.AI could introduce important innovations in agriculture, education and culture [and] an improved level of life for entire nations and peoples (#6).

However, the pope also mentions that AI’s automated processes could be used to judge the reliability of an applicant for a mortgage, the suitability of an individual for a job, the probability of a convict’s recidivism, and so much more. Machines could lead us to setting aside human values like compassion, forgiveness and belief in an individual’s ability to make a new beginning (#5)!

Critical thanking and discernment are very necessary in this new world. Another example is a well-known Catholic website’s use of a chatbot to answer people’s faith questions. The character, first called “Father Justin,” needed to be renamed “Justin,” however, in order to make it clear to everyone that while a robot can provide good answers from the Catholic tradition, he cannot grant online absolution and witness to the sacrament of matrimony!

To the Ends of the Earth, Donald Jackson with contributions from Andrew Jamieson and Sally Mae Joseph, Copyright 2002, The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota USA. Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

One illumination of The Saint John’s Bible shows a picture of the earth from outer space. In our globalized world, we as people with our human warmth, kindness and conviction are indispensable as witness to the person of Jesus Christ and messengers to his Good News to the ends of the earth! Then there is hope for humanity! – St. Benedict Center is a place to learn about our faith, to get to know Holy Scripture, and to be equipped for discipleship!

From our monastery I can report that several younger brother monks from our motherhouse in Germany have joined us: Br. Samuel brings new ideas and energy to our gift shop. Br. Moses, a nurse, will assist our older confreres and help in the administration of St. Benedict Center.

Especially worth noting among the upcoming events of our program schedule is the weekend retreat titled, Strengthening Your Core: Spiritual Fitness with St. Benedict.  The presenter is Rev. Dr. Jane Tomaine from New Jersey who has an exceptional gift to show concrete ways in which the 6th century Rule of Benedict can be a solid guide for spiritual living in our time. – I am looking forward to seeing you again soon! 

Fr. Thomas Leitner, OSB, Administrator