Photo : Courtesy of Saint Bernard Abbey<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Cullman, Alabama: A joint meeting of Benedictine Abbots and Prioresses was held at the Byre Conference Center of Saint Bernard Abbey<\/a> in Cullman, Alabama, USA, on the weekend of 3 February 2023. The Prioresses were hosted by the Benedictine Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery<\/a>, while the Abbots were welcomed by the monks of Saint Bernard Abbey<\/a>. Twenty-seven Abbots and 44 Prioresses from Central America, the United States and Canada gathered to attend conferences on health-care issues and how best to serve the needs of the sick and the elderly.<\/span><\/p>\n Saint Benedict, the founder of the Benedictine tradition, included specific sections of the Benedictine Rule of Life on the care of the sick. Concern for implementing his admonitions in Benedictine life today, especially in care of the sick and elderly, was the focus of the presentations.<\/span><\/p>\n Rt. Rev. Gregory Polan, OSB, the Abbot Primate and representative of Benedictines worldwide, opened the first conference and gave a report on Benedictine communities around the world. He said, \u201cWe need to keep in mind that we are international. We are multicultural and many things are beginning to pick up after the heavy impact of the pandemic.\u201d\u00a0 He spoke at length about Benedictine life around the world and concluded by giving a report about Sant\u2019Anselmo, the international Benedictine\u00a0residential college<\/a> and athenaeum<\/a> located in Rome, Italy.<\/span><\/p>\n On Saturday, 4 February, Br. John Mark Falkenhain, OSB, a licensed psychologist and a member of the faculty at Saint Meinrad Seminary<\/a>, Indiana, USA, discussed mental health concerns in society today. He delineated the four main areas of psychological functioning, including affect, behavior, cognition and social functioning. He then described the specific problems and disorders present within each of these areas, particularly in an aging population.<\/span><\/p>\n