Apple Harvest 2009

The apple trees on Mission Hill yielded another abundant harvest this year.  Our resident apple expert, Fr. Germar, along with co-workers Marv and Brad, led the effort of picking and pressing the apples to be used for our home made cider and jelly.  Apples were also sliced and frozen to be used in various cakes and pastries in the coming year.

Another Successful Fish Fry!

On March 27th, St. Benedict Center was the destination for people from near and far seeking good food and good company.  When asked about the reason for attending the Fish Fry on Mission Hill, the most common responses were: Mark and Patty Bosh prepare the best Carp and Pollock, the price is right, the setting is great, and the service is superb!

The secret to such remarks is to have a dedicated team working together with each one knowing his or her responsibility, and of course fresh carp and all the other ingredients that add to a great dining experience. The nine people working in the kitchen with food preparation, cooking, and supplying the buffet managed without much stress to feed over 700 people. They were assisted by several members of the Oblate family and volunteers who served beverages, cleared tables, and directed the traffic flow in the dining area.  Also, employees of St. Benedict Center deserve thanks for setting-up the dining area and cleaning of the facility the morning after the Fish Fry. The regular kitchen crew managed to call it a night around 9:00 p.m., only to return by 6:30 the following morning to serve breakfast for 80 retreatants and to serve over 140 guests for lunch.  Definitely, the key to success with food service and hospitality is team work which even allows for interaction with the visitors.

Lenten Fish Fry

Saint Benedict Center hosted the first of two fish fries Friday, March 6th, a Lenten tradition in its third year.  Over 550 guests enjoyed an all-you-can-eat buffet of pollack and carp with a variety of side dishes.  Each Lenten Fish Fry is an opportunity for the monks, oblates, and co-workers of Mission Hill to provide a space of hospitality and fellowship for families and individuals in the local community while serving a delicious home-cooked meal.  Guests from as far away as Omaha and Lincoln came to savor the delectable selection of food and to take time to explore the beautiful facility and grounds of Saint Benedict Center.

The second Lenten Fish Fry is Friday, March 27th, from 5:00-8:00 p.m.  The cost is $8 for adults, $3.50 for children ages 6-12.  There is no cost for children age 5 and under.  Take out containers are also available.  For more information contact the Saint Benedict Center at (402) 352-8819.

Vocation Awareness Days

Br. Damian & company at St. Leo, Omaha

Each year the Omaha Archdiocesan Association of Consecrated Life sponsors several Vocation Awareness Days for both rural and urban sixth grade Catholic school students.  Students have the chance to hear the vocation stories of women and men religious, members of secular institutes, priests and deacons from various communities throughout the Archdiocese.  It is a wonderful opportunity to expose young people to the witness and ministry of men and women who have committed their lives to serving God, the Church and the world.  With Br. Tobias still in Germany, Br. Damian volunteered to represent the community and hosted several small group sessions each of the five days.  He was also privileged to be one of the keynote speakers for two of the days.  

All Christians are called to vocation ministry.  We are called to identify, nuture, and encourage the faithful use of the God-given gifts in others, especially in the youth.  Let us pray that young men and women may have the courage to commit their lives to serving God in whichever way God has called them.

Members of OAACL at St. John Vianney, Omaha

Teresa of the Apostolic Oblates leads the kids in a song at St. Patrick, Gretna

Students at St. Leo, Omaha

Joan of the Apostolic Oblates gives a keynote talk at St. Leo

Br. Damian with Br. August of Mount Michael Abbey & Sr. Carole Ann of Norfolk Priory

Sr. Mary Kay of the Sisters of Mercy leads a small group presentation at St. John Vianney

Fr. Paul, Archdiocesan Vocation Director, speaks at St. Leo

Co-Workers in the Lord’s Vineyard: El Puente

Elliot, Maria, & Rudy

This is the first in a series of profiles on our co-workers here at Christ the King Priory & Saint Benedict Center.  These women and men are more than just staff or employees – they are co-workers in the vineyard of the Lord, assisting the monastic community in fulfilling our mission of reaching out to God’s people and extending our Benedictine hospitality to the world.

One of the more distinctive ministries of our community is El Puente (Spanish for “the bridge”), an office which provides immigration services at a minimal cost to families and individuals in need.  Our confrere Fr. Paul began this ministry, with the support of the monastic community, after having done similar work during his time as a priest of the Archdiocese of Omaha.  El Puente is a member of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC), an organization which provides support and resources to its member agencies.  CLINIC works in collaboration with the United States Conference of Bishops to advocate with the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice to improve immigration policies and practices.

A dedicated team of co-workers keep the work of El Puente going while Fr. Paul completes a Masters in Sociology at the University of Texas – Austin:

• Rudy Salazar – Rudy, a proud father of two beautiful daughters, met Fr. Paul as a student at Central Community College during a presentation on immigration.  He began volunteering at El Puente in August 2007 and has worked with us full-time since July 2008.  Having recently received an Associates Degree in Business Administration, he is in the process of completing a Bachelors in Business Management from Bellevue University and would eventually like to attend law school.  Rudy is a Board of Immigration Appeals accredited representative, allowing him to accompany clients to such things as citizenship interviews.  He is passionate about immigration work and enjoys the challenge of keeping up with ever-changing immigration laws and the opportunity to educate and strengthen families through this ministry. 
• Maria Davila – Maria is originally from Guadalajara, Mexico and has been living in Columbus, Nebraska for the past 15 years.  She is the mother of a daughter and two sons.  Maria was first acquainted with El Puente at an immigration clinic in Columbus where she met Fr. Paul.  She had been involved with immigration services since 2003, volunteering at twice-yearly immigration clinics sponsored by Connect Columbus, a local volunteer and human services organization.  Maria began working at El Puente four months ago.  She finds joy in helping a lot of families, especially those would normally not be able to afford an attorney.
• Elliot Jacobson – Elliot is a native of Omaha, Nebraska and is currently completing his undergraduate studies in Spanish Translation & Cultural Studies from Midland Lutheran College.  Following his graduation this coming may, he plans on attending the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago to begin a Masters in Divinity program in preparation for ordination as a Lutheran pastor.  Elliot’s interest is Spanish language and culture began when he took his first Spanish class in the second grade.  Many of his friends are of Hispanic origin, and hearing their life stories and the issues they face sparked an interest in immigration work.  A member of his church in Omaha and an Oblate of our monastery, Sheri Rose, suggested that he contact our monastery to inquire about volunteer opportunties.  Elliot will be volunteering at El Puente throughout the fall semester and will depart for a study abroad program in Mexico during the spring semester.

The monks of Christ the King Priory appreciate the ministry of our co-workers at El Puente and their dedication to building a more just society and improving the lives of countless families in need!

Holy Apple Pickers, Batman!

Work can be a lot of fun…especially when it involves apples!  There hasn’t been a day these past couple of weeks without some sort of apple product on the refectory table — apple cider (both fresh and fermented), apple pie, applesauce, apple strudel, apple jelly…the list goes on.  Two of our Missionary Benedictine Sisters (Sr. Catherine & Novice Gina) and a co-worker (Monica) from Immaculata Monastery came by today to help relieve us of our overabundance of apples.  We were later joined by a couple of priests from the Sioux City Diocese who were on retreat at Saint Benedict Center.

Sr. Catherine enjoys the fruits of her labor

Nov. Gina

Br. Damian looking busy

Sr. Catherine

Monica

Br. Damian & Nov. Gina

Apple Pickin' Priest!

Good times!

Germans love apples!

The apples keep coming in such abundance!  Fr. Germar picked several more bushels of apples from the orchard the other day, reporting that the trees are still full of fruit.  Perhaps there are some Oblates who are interested in picking and taking home a bag or two of apples after the meeting this Saturday?  

Our guests from Germany, Emmy, Hans & Constanze (Br. Vianney’s brother & sister-in-law) assisted Br. Vianney with peeling, coring, and slicing apples to be stored in the freezer.  The sliced apples stay fresh for delicious desserts throughout the coming months.

Hans & Constanze

Emmy, Br. Vianney, Hans & Constanze

Emmy

Hans, Constanze & Br. Vianney

Emmy, Hans & Constanze

The harvest is plenty, but the workers are few…

Our apple orchards have yielded an incredibly abundant harvest this year!  Several monks and co-workers have been busy this past week picking apples and pressing them (on an old-fashioned Geman press) for fresh cider and most, a fermented cider the monks enjoy every evening at supper.  Br. Vianney and Emmy, our friend from Germany, have been busy in the kitchen making apple jelly and preparing all sorts of yummy apple desserts & pastries.  A big thank you to our co-workers Marv, Harold, and Becky for all their hard work and effort!

Marv & Br. Linus at the press

Br. Linus

Br. Damian attempts to press...

Monastic Muscle Power!!