Greetings from the SSJE Superior
 

The SSJE brothers are not timebound. In our life and ministry we draw from the treasury of monastic tradition in the cadence of our prayer and life. We also lean into the future with an agile, prophetic freedom. We seek to be faithful "contractors" in building up what Jesus calls the kingdom of God here on earth. We say in our Rule of Life, "Faithfulness to tradition does not mean mere perpetuation or copying of ways from the past but a creative recovery of the past as a source of inspiration and guidance in our faithfulness to God's future, the coming reign of God." Nearly 140 years ago the founder of our community, Richard Meux Benson, spoke of us as "men, not simply of the day, but men of the moment, men precisely up to the mark of the times."

As I listen to my brothers preach and teach, as I hear of their ministry travel around the world, several themes recur. One is the wideness of God's mercy. These troubling times are so opportune. Our witness of Jesus' tender loving mercy is crucial in these days of violence, distrust, and fear. Jesus has come to bind up the broken hearted and to set captives free - people held captive because of poverty, discrimination, injustice, offenses done or done unto. A second theme I hear is hope, people's sometimes-desperate need to find hope, especially when they have lost their bearings in life. Hope is an inner light when there is no light on the path. Thirdly, I hear the theme of joy, a deep delight in practicing the goodness of life, oftentimes amidst real suffering.

Since our founding, we have been both monks and missioners. These days we are using technology to enable both. We are always so glad to personally welcome you to the monastery and Emery House for prayer and worship, for the replenishment of a retreat, or the enrichment of a workshop. We are also glad to connect with you and others around the world in word, sound, and image available on the internet. We pray this "virtual connection" be full of virtue.

Abounding in hope,
Curtis G. Almquist, SSJE

Making Connections, Making Meaning
 Kevin R. Hackett, SSJE

One derivation for the word religion is re (the Latin preposition for to) and ligio (the Latin stem from which we get the word ligament, the connective tissue of the body). Religion is that set of practices and beliefs which connect us, or more properly, re­-connect us to the source of being and meaning. As Christians, we brothers know that source to be Jesus Christ.

As religious brothers, we spend a good deal of our time helping others reconnect with what is most true about themselves in relation to God. Individually we do that through our ministries of spiritual direction and counsel. At a larger level, we do this through our preaching and teaching. Usually, this is what our founder Richard Meux Benson described as "hidden work." And indeed it is. In very real ways, we brothers are sowing seed when we preach or teach, and we will never know if a particular seed takes root and flourishes and bears fruit. It is not ours to know.

We know, however, that we are called to tell the good news that we do know, and in doing so, we trust and pray that those who hear will make connections that give meaning to their life of faith and their relationship with God. From the feedback we have received on SSJE Listen-Online, it seems God is honoring our willingness to preach and teach.

If you find one of our sermons particularly helpful in making some connection in your life, tell a friend!

Faithfully,
Kevin R. Hackett, SSJE

Feedback on SSJE Listen Online
 










Peace at Home "The monastery does imbue a sense of peace and tranquility, and I, for one, know that I need that in my life. I think anyone who is a graduate student knows how busy and hectic life can be. That's certainly the case for me. I have listened to the sermons online--I do like that feature--especially when a sermon particularly resonates for me. If I want to remember what was said, I now have a resource to draw upon. I am able to relax at home and listen to a brother's sermon. It sort of brings that peace and tranquility home."

Michael Bousquet, Harvard Divinity School, Cambridge, Massachusetts

My First iTune Podcast

-----Original Message-----
From: Ernestine King
Sent: Friday, June 15, 2007 11:38 PM
To: Curtis Almquist
Subject: My first iTune Podcast

Dear Br Curtis -

This is just to tell you of my gratitude for your leadership of the brothers within this electronic century! There is so much I try to do with pen and paper and the old Brother typewriter with which I am comfortable - but I am obliged to acknowledge that Cyberspace is also God's space and we are obliged to learn to use it wisely and well. You must find it useful supporting friends you have made in Tanzania and Kenya - well, everywhere that SSJE reaches out. My present problem is disciplining myself in the number of hours before this screen - even with trade-offs I'm not coming out quite even!

I somehow clicked my way into using the iTunes I hadn't expected to open, ever, then on to the Podcast that made it possible for me to hear ....

You know how I miss mobility that made it possible for me to be present at the Monastery or at Emery House in years past; there is no true substitute for that experience. Now I see that this new tool the brothers have chosen will prove to be another of God's blessings, shared by "The Artists of SSJE"! A shower of blessings on you!

Much love to all my dear friends among you; you are in my prayers.

Ernestine King, Maine

Message from Director, Friends of SSJE
 


In Matthew 9.37-38 Jesus says to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.' Jesus knows that God's reconciling love, the harvest, is unlimited but it is hard for us as we labor in the everyday world to be God's laborers as well and to experience the fruit of this harvest.

I hear from friends that they often find it easier to experience this plentiful harvest when they are literally in the same field where the brothers labor daily - when they visit the monastery and Emery House, when they attend services in the chapel, when they experience the brothers in person on retreat days and pilgrimages.

But not everyone can visit. Not everyone can afford to come. Not everyone can pick the fruit in the field where the brothers labor daily. So the brothers are taking extra time to reflect, to harvest fruit that can be packaged and sent out to the willing laborers who can not visit. Sermons are now online in text and audio format. Other fruits will be harvested and preserved so that they can be tasted by those far off.

I want to give my thanks to Friends who have donated, laborers, who have experienced God's harvest and have shared some of their financial harvest with the brothers. Br. Curtis wrote "To be faithful to our mission, our goal is to raise $400,000 before June 30th." The brother received 93% of the goal, $371,000.
Thank you.


James (Jamie) Coats