Category: News

+S. Theresa Schumacher OSB Died, 29 May 2019

Portrait: S. Theresa
S. Theresa Schumacher OSB

Sister Theresa (Mario) Schumacher OSB died, May 29, 2019, Saint Scholastica Convent, St. Cloud, Minn. Burial will be in the monastery cemetery. Friends may call at Saint Scholastica Convent, Sunday, June 2, from 1–4:30 p.m. or for a Vigil Prayer Service at 7 p.m. at Saint Benedict’s Monastery. Visitation continues at 9 a.m. until the time of the funeral on Monday, June 3. Benson Funeral Home, St. Cloud, is managing the arrangements. A long-time member of the American Benedictine Academy, S. Theresa Schumacher OSB served as president from 2006–08, was a member of the Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research Board and an active member of Bridgefolk, a Catholic-Mennonite group who celebrate one another’s traditions. May she rest in peace eternal.

Education for Peace in a Multi-Religious World: A Christian Perspective

Joint Ecumenical Document

Education for Peace in a Multi-Religious World: A Christian Perspective
Document issued 21 May 2019 by Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue and the World Council of Churches.

The purpose of this 13-page document is to encourage churches and Christian organizations to reflect on the structural roots of what has led to the disruption of peace in the world, and on their own current practices and priorities in relation to education and peacemaking. At the same time, it is hoped that the document, issued 21 May 2019, may assist a wider conversation on education for peace involving followers of other religions, as well as social and political actors in our multi-religious world, taking into consideration specific historical and cultural contexts.

Download full document: Education for Peace in a Multi-Religious World: A Christian Perspective (pdf)

+ Paul J. Nelson, 1951-2018

Paul Joseph Nelson and his wife, Dawn Ruth Nelson (d. 2017), participated actively in Bridgefolk.  Paul died,  13 September 2018, at Souderton (PA) Mennonite Home.

Visitation was at Plains Mennonite Church, 50 W. Orvilla Rd, Hatfield, PA, on Sunday, September 23rd. A memorial service followed at 3 p.m. with a meal afterwards with family and friends.

Fr. William Skudlarek OSB Named Interim Coordinator

Darrin Snyder Belousek <darrin.w.snyderbelousek@gmail.com> announces that henceforth Rev. William Skudlarek OSB <wskudlarek@csbsju.edu> succeeds to his former duties as Bridgefolk’s Executive Director.

Fr. William’s Bridgefolk title is Interim Coordinator.  Dom William is a monk of Saint John’s Abbey and serves as the international Secretary General of the official Monastic Interreligious Dialogue.

2018 Bridgefolk Conference

Mennonites and Catholics in Dialogue

Racial Harmony“Toward a Just Peace: Eradicating the Evil of Racism”

The 17th annual Bridgefolk conference was held at Saint John’s Abbey, Collegeville, MN, 26-29 July 2018.

Keynote speakers:

Anne McCarthy, OSB, Mount Saint Benedict Monastery, “Overturning Temple Tables: Toward Repairing a Racist Legacy”

Felipe Hinojosa, Associate Professor of History, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. Teaching specialty in Latina/o – Chicana/o, Religion. Author of Latino Mennonites:  Civil Rights, Faith, and Evangelical Culture (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2014). Keynote title to come.

2018 Conference Report, 10 August 2018

Pre-Conference News Release

Schedule

Registration is closed.

Travel Links

For more information: <info@bridgefolk.net>.

Pope calls for nonviolence in 2017 World Day of Peace message: U.S. religious leaders respond

Press release
Catholic Nonviolence Initiative
12 December 2016

Today in his message “Nonviolence: A style of politics for peace,” for the 50th World Day of Peace, celebrated each year on 1 January, Pope Francis urges people everywhere to practice active nonviolence and notes that the “decisive and consistent practice of nonviolence has produced impressive results.”

Continue reading “Pope calls for nonviolence in 2017 World Day of Peace message: U.S. religious leaders respond” →

15th annual Bridgefolk conference highlights common practices of mercy

This article has also appeared in The Mennonite.

 

Bridgefolk annual hymn sing in Sacred Heart chapel at St Benedict's monastery. Leading music (right to left) are Samantha E. Lioi, Julia Smucker, Sally McGill and Bro. John Hanson OSB.
Bridgefolk annual hymn sing in Sacred Heart chapel at St Benedict’s monastery. Leading music (left to right) are Samantha E. Lioi, Julia Smucker, Sally McGill and Bro. John Hanson OSB.

St. Joseph, Minn. (BRIDGEFOLK) — The 15th annual Bridgefolk conference was held July 28-31 at Saint Benedict’s Monastery and the College of Saint Benedict in Saint Joseph, MN.  The conference proceeded under the theme, “‘I Desire Mercy:’ Practicing the Works of Mercy.”

Bridgefolk is a grassroots movement of sacramentally-minded Mennonites and peace-minded Roman Catholics who come together to celebrate each other’s traditions, explore each other’s practices, and honor each other’s contribution to the mission of Christ’s Church.

Previous conferences have alternated between Catholic and Mennonite locations in the United States and Canada. Of the forty-five participants gathered for this year’s conference, about thirty were Mennonite and fifteen Catholic.

On the opening evening of the conference, following welcoming words from Sister Michaela Hedican, OSB (Prioress of Saint Benedict’s Monastery), this year’s conference featured Father Columba Stewart, OSB¸ a distinguished scholar of early Church history, especially the evolution of early monastic and other forms of intentional community.  Continue reading “15th annual Bridgefolk conference highlights common practices of mercy” →