Monastery News

Monastery News: Reflection on the Benedictine Educators Colloquium

Matthew Nelson, Theology Dept. Chair In the sweltering summer sweat of New England in late June, the contour and character of my Benedictine identity would be forever changed at the National Educators Colloquium at Saint Anselm College. Standing in a line of illustrious ministers in this 1500 year tradition, I was possessed of an idea that God might actually be calling me – as he called the prophet Samuel in the Hebrew Bible – to be among those who carry the mantle of Benedictine education into the twenty-first century. There, in New Hampshire, was the first time when I thought that I might be more than a teacher at a Benedictine school, but that I would bear the responsibility of being used by God to live the Rule and actively work toward keeping the spirit of Benedictism flourishing at Priory. But more than me, that you and each and every member of our community – students, all faculty and staff, parents, trustees, and friends of our community – have the privilege as well as the responsibility of continuing a Christian wisdom tradition that maintains the contemplative vision that the “universe is a graced and sacramental place,” as one of the Anselmian monks put it. Moreover, that education in this tradition isn’t about the mastery of content and skillsets alone, but that it is the context and means for creating a truly meaningful life. To that end, we set our shoulders to the plow, and work in the Lord’s fields at the Woodside Priory School – a Benedictine community for the twenty-first century.

Al Zappelli, Director of Admissions Thirty-Four educators from thirteen Benedictine secondary schools in the United States met at Saint Anselm College this June to discuss leadership and future governance models. The theme, “Picking Up the Torch: Leadership in Benedictine Schools”, examined topics as to how the Rule of Saint Benedict speaks to leadership in Monastic schools, the hallmarks of Monastic schools and transitions in leadership from Benedictines to lay leaders. Keynote speakers included Abbott John Klassen of Saint Johns Abbey, Abbott Matthew Leavey of Saint Anselm Abbey and Father Gregory Mohrman of Saint Louis Abbey. The Colloquium produced a list of ten hallmarks of Benedictine Secondary schools and established a Steering Committee to continue dialogue among the schools.

Attending the Collquium from the Priory were Brother Edward Englund, Ben Owens, Brian Schlaak, Teri Dillon, Paul Trudelle, Matthew Nelson and Al Zappelli.