Community Weekend and Oblate Commitments
The 2026 October Community Weekend was designed to bring oblates and sisters together in conversation around shared Benedictine values. In coordination with oblate co-directors Darcy Johnson and Susan Jenczka and liaison Sister Dianne Sabol, the monastic council planned the day around themes oblates discussed in breakout groups on Friday’s Oblate Day.
On Saturday, Oblate Leadership Team members presented summaries of the oblate conversations to the full group of sisters and oblates who then had an opportunity to discuss the topics. The four sessions were: Humility, Living into Practices, Rhythms of Prayer, and Spirituality of Aging.
The final afternoon session was a recorded presentation from Jeremias Schröder, OSB, Abbot Primate of the Benedictine Confederation who introduced preparations for the 1,500th anniversary of Benedictinism in 2029. Visit jubilee.osb.org to learn more.
Saturday evening more than sixty-five oblates gathered with sisters in the monastery chapel, with another thirty online, for the annual Oblate Commitment Ceremony. Three new oblates made their first commitment and six initiates were welcomed into the formation process. Photo gallery follows.
