Rt. Rev. Joel Rippinger OSB
Abbot, Marmion Abbey
Aurora, Illinois, USA

The annual pre-Lenten “Abbots Workshop” was held at Tepeyac Abbey in Mexico City. From 2-6 February, 25 superiors of monastic communities met to hear presentations by David Schellenberger, president and chief executive of the Saint John Vianney Behavioral Health Center in Pennsylvania on “Caring for Yourself as You Care for Your Brothers”. Mr. Schellenberger provided a series of presentations that engaged those present on perspectives regarding the care of spirit, mind and body for the membership of their communities and the superiors themselves.

Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder was present and gave an update on life at Sant’Anselmo and some developments in its administration, including the new appointments of rector of the Pontificio Ateneo and economo for the house. Sant’Anselmo guest area renovation is an immediate need and financial assistance is welcome. Ongoing communication with the Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum, (CIB), has continued and the Benedictine Confederation will be able to provide a community residential space for Benedictine women who wish to study at Sant’Anselmo through the nearby convent at Tor de' Specchi in Rome.

Abbot Jeremias related the planning taking place for the 2029 Jubilee of Monte Cassino. A steering group meets monthly, headed by Adam Simon. An academic committee has been established and a new website for the Jubilee will be up by 21 March. Abbot Marion Nguyen of Saint Martin’s Abbey was selected to be the American Abbots’ representative for contact with the Jubilee Committee.

Abbot Jeremias urged the superiors to cultivate events for the Jubilee on the local level. Under the emblem of “Places of Hope”, the Jubilee will commemorate places in Saint Benedict’s life for each year: Norcia (2026), Rome (2027), Subiaco (2028) and Monte Cassino (2029).

Abbots and priors of communities of North America combined with communities of Mexico and Central America, sharing the hospitality of the monastic community of Abadía del Tepeyac. All the participants took part in the Divine Office and Eucharistic Liturgy of the abbey each day and were treated to outings that visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Pyramids of Teotihuacán and other nearby sites.