The peace of Christ be with you!

Bridgefolk, a movement for grassroots dialogue between Mennonites and Catholics, invites you to the third Bridgefolk gathering at Saint John’s Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota, July 29 – August 1. 2004. This email is being sent to all who participated in the 2002 and 2003 meetings, to those who were invited to those gatherings but were not able to take part, to those who heard about our summer gatherings and asked to be included in the invitation to the 2004 event, and to people we think would be interested in participating in this grassroots ecumenical movement.

Bridgefolk members Ivan Kauffman, Abbot John Klassen, O.S.B., Marlene Kropf, Weldon Nisly, Gerald Schlabach, and I met at Saint John’s December 11-13, 2003, to begin planning for the 2004 meeting. In addition we worked on refining our mission statement and, with the help of Dirk Giseburt, investigated the possibility of becoming a not-for-profit corporation. For a fuller report – and for more information about Bridgefolk in general – you can visit the website www.Bridgefolk.net

The theme of our 2004 conference is

SPIRITUALITY AND DISCIPLESHIP

Catholics and Mennonites Bridging the Divide

"Love one another as I have loved you," said the parting Christ to his disciples. Vibrant Christian lives and vital Christian communities are always marked by the unity of love for God and love for neighbor. Yet too often Christians have split off the spirituality by which they seek to know God from the discipleship by which they seek to love others in Christ-like ways. For the Mennonites and Roman Catholics who gather together as Bridgefolk, the "bridge" for which they work and pray is above all the joining of spirituality and discipleship.

For many, the great strength of the Roman Catholic tradition lies in its ancient spiritual practices, while the great strength of the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition lies in its persistent practices of discipleship. The 2004 Bridgefolk conference will focus on the possibilities and challenges of living on the bridge between these traditions. How does praying the Psalms and praying in song help form lives of discipleship? How must married couples as well as single people "count the cost" to family life that comes when they bridge the Mennonite and Catholic traditions? What can we learn about following Christ through work and ministry from activists who have discovered their need for contemplation, and from contemplatives who have found themselves called into action? We will explore these questions through panel presentations and discussion as we gather for prayer, song, and mutual encouragement.

During our time together we will be able to take part in the daily prayers of the monastic community. We will also have our own common worship (a foot washing service, an agape meal, and hymn singing). There will again be ample time for visiting and enjoying the lakes and woods of the Saint John’s campus.

You may wish to forward this email and the attached registration form to someone you think would be interested in participating in this conference. If you do, please indicate that since we would like to hold to an upper limit of 100 participants, we may not be able to accept all those who apply. The earlier the registration, the more likely the possibility of being accepted.

If you plan to attend this summer’s gathering, please print out the attached registration form, complete it, and send it in with your $25.00 registration fee to

Bridgefolk

Office of the Abbot

Saint John’s Abbey

Collegeville MN 56321

Please note that checks should be made out to SAINT JOHN’S UNIVERSITY. We would greatly appreciate receiving your registration before March 31. If you wish, full payment may accompany your registration. You may also pay when you arrive, either by check or by credit card (Visa or Master).

We look forward to renewing old friendships and making new ones as we join in prayer, reflection, and fellowship.

Yours in Christ,

William Skudlarek, O.S.B.

PS There are commuter flights from Minneapolis to St. Cloud. If you fly Northwest, the fare is very reasonable. We will be able to pick up participants at the Saint Cloud airport and take them back.

I will send out the e-mail addresses of all participants a couple of weeks before the conference for those who wish to arrange car-pools between the Minneapolis airport and Saint John’s.

William Skudlarek, O.S.B.
Administrative Assistant to the Abbot
Saint John's Abbey
Collegeville MN 56321
Phone 320 363 3850
Fax   320 363 3082