St Mary's Abbey Newsletter

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God Bless Bishop Elias!
On Tuesday, June 30, Abbot Elias was ordained a bishop by Cardinal Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, during a mass celebrated at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newark. Bishop Elias will serve as an auxiliary bishop, assisting in the territory of Union County. Abbot Richard, Fr. Edward Seton, Fr. Demetrius, Br. William, and Br. Finnbar attended the ordination. Read more here.

Rest in Peace Helene Lens
On Monday, July 6, Prior Edward Seton Fittin ‘82 and the monastic community assisted the Wave-4-Life student group from Delbarton School to honor Helene Lens, a woman who recently passed away at Marion Manor without any family to handle burial arrangements. Robert Prout ’74, his son Steven ’08, and daughter Julia of Prout Funeral Home in Verona contributed their services and coordinated with Helene’s social worker at Marion Manor. Read more about Helene here.

After the service, pallbearer Owen Hand ’21 said, “This funeral has helped me to weigh the significance of this life versus the significance of eternity. Confronting the fact that, one day, we will all pass away has helped me to see the importance of living each day in anticipation for our Judgement before God. This is something that I lose sight of very often, so today's service was a great reminder.”

Following the funeral service, Fr. Edward presided at the interment service at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover. Please join the St. Mary’s Abbey and Delbarton community in praying for Helene Lens.

Abbot's Table Update
Due to COVID-19 and for the safety of our benefactors, the Abbot's Table Committe has decided to postpone the event until next May. This constitutes a financial burden on the abbey.

We know this is a difficult time for everyone, but if you are able, please consider a donation—any amount helps!
Donations of $300 or more will secure one ticket for next year's event and a blessed Benedictine medal. Please click here to donate and for updates.

Abbey Garden Produce
In the next few weeks, the first organic produce should arrive on the Abbey Garden's Produce Stand, located near the South Gate entrance to Delbarton's property. As produce is available, it will be placed on the stand. A free-will offering box will be there for your donation.

We're Open for Prayer!
The Abbey Church is OPEN to the public for the following times before masses: M-F, 3:30 p.m.| Saturday, 7 a.m. | Sunday, 10 a.m. Masks are required and keep 6 feet distance at all times. Review all the guidelines here.

Mass Livestream
We will continue to livestream Mass daily from the Abbey Church at the following times on our Youtube page here: Sunday, 11 a.m. | Monday-Friday, 5 p.m. | Saturday, ca. 8 a.m.

How can we pray for you? Click here to submit prayer requests

Fr. Demetrius explains the steps of Lectio Divina in this video.

Pray with the Sunday Mass readings for the month.

+ 7/5: Zec 9: 9-10; Rom 8: 9, 11-12; Mt 11: 25-30

+ 7/12: Is 55: 10-11; Rom 8: 18-23; Mt 13: 1-23

+ 7/19: Wis 12: 13, 16-19; Rom 8: 26-27; Mt 13: 24-43

+ 7/26: 1 Kgs 3: 5, 7-12; Rom 8: 28-30; Mt 13: 44-52

August 2020
1. St. Alphonsus Liguori, memorial
2. XVIII Sunday (Fr. Hilary) 8:30 AM
4. St. John Vianney, memorial
6. Transfiguration of the Lord, feast
8. St. Dominic, memorial
9. XIX Sunday (Fr. Hilary)
10. St. Lawrence, memorial
11. St. Clare, memorial
14. St. Maximillian Kolbe, memorial
15. Assumption of Mary, solemnity
16. XX Sunday (Fr. Edward Seton)
20. St. Bernard, memorial
21. St. Pius X, memorial
22. Queenship of Mary, memorial
23. XXI Sunday (Abbot Richard)
24. St. Bartholomew, feast
27. St. Monica, memorial
28. St. Augustine, memorial
29. Passion of John the Baptist, memorial
30. XXII Sunday (Fr. Hilary)

This calendar follows the Order of Worship as approved by the Congregation for Divine Worship on 22 June 1972 in Rome for the American-Cassinese Congregation of Benedictine Monasteries.

Retreat Center News

We are considering different strategies to re-open the center for guests amidst COVID-19. Please keep in touch with us at retreatcenter@delbarton.org or our website.

Our July collection was $3,326. Thank you to our benefactors!
Please consider making a donation to support the abbey!

The Saint for the month of August is Aidan of Lindisfarne. His feast day is August 31st. Aidan was a native of Ireland, and is said to have been a disciple of St. Senan, but nothing else is known with certainty of his early life before becoming a monk on Iona. He was known for his humility and piety and encouraged all those traveling with him to spend their time learning the psalms by heart.
Aidan was appointed bishop of Lindisfarne, an island off the coast of England. Aidan was known for reproving the proud and the great. After a monk experienced little success in evangelizing to the pagan people of Northumbria, he blamed it on their rude character and indocile disposition. Aidan charged that the fault lay rather in him: that he had been to harsh on the people, "who ought first to be fed with the milk of milder doctrine till they should be able to digest more solid food." Thus, Aidan exemplified the moderation evident in the Rule of St. Benedict.

St. Aidan of Lindisfarne, pray for us!

Adapted from Butler's Lives of the Saints

Be sure to keep up to date with community news by visiting
Delbarton School and
the American-Cassinese Congregation