Pictured: Sister Patricia Crowley, OSB, (left), Sister Benita Coffey, OSB, (middle) and Oblate Kevin Chears (right) at the 2018 Midwest Woodlands Regional Leadership Workshop for Oblate Directors and Oblates.
Sister Benita Coffey, OSB, Oblate Director for St. Scholastica Monastery, Sister Patricia Crowley, OSB, and Oblate Kevin Chears attended the Midwest Woodlands Regional Leadership Workshop for Oblate Directors and Oblates from September 30 through October 2, 2018 at Saint Meinrad Archabbey in Saint Meinrad, Indiana. Sister Patricia was the keynote speaker and Kevin Chears led the biannual gathering for sisters, monks and oblates. The theme of the workshop was "The Gift of Shared Leadership."
Pictured: Oblate Kevin Chears led the biannual gathering.
Sister Benita shared that, “These gatherings provide the opportunity to learn how Oblate programs vary from one monastery to another. The primary intent of all Oblate programs is to support the Oblates in their search for deeper relationship with God.”
In addition, Sister Benita reflected, “I returned to our Monastery anxious to share with the Sisters the importance of our understanding and support of, as well as personal relationships with our Oblates. They will be having an ever-increasing share of our joint task of moving the Benedictine charism forward for future generations.”
Sister Patricia Crowley, OSB, keynote speaker for the Midwest Woodlands Regional Leadership Workshop for Oblate Directors and Oblates.
Sister Patricia shared, “This was my very first meeting with Oblates from other monasteries. I was in awe of the dedication and the breadth of diversity among this group. The future unfolded right there!”
Saint Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana (Saint Meinrad photo).
If you are interested in learning more, contact Sister Benita Coffey, Director of Oblates, at bcoffey@osbchicago.org or 773.764.2413 x327.
For more information on Oblates, please visit our website here: https://www.osbchicago.org/oblates