February 2010

FEBRUARY CALENDAR 2010

1. Lucernarium, 7:15 p.m.

2. Presentation of the Lord, feast
  • Mass without Vespers, 5:15 p.m.

3. St. Blase (opt. mem’l)

  • Blessing of throats at Lauds, 7:00 a.m.
  • Blood Drive, Gregory Room, Fr. Stephen Findley Pavilion

5. St. Agatha, memorial

6. St. Paul Miki & Companions, memorial

7. Fifth Sunday of the Year

  • World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life
  • Middle School Mass & Brunch

10. St. Scholastica, feast

14. Sixth Sunday of the Year

17. Ash Wednesday

  • Imposition of Ashes at 6:30 a.m.,

10:00 a.m., & 5:15 p.m.

21. First Sunday of Lent

  • Oblate meeting, Vincent House
  • Hospitality Sunday, Estabrook

Dining Hall

22. Chair of St. Peter, feast

28. Second Sunday of Lent

  • Sophomore Retreat II

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.

LECTIO DIVINA: The following is the schema of readings for this month which we encourage you to consider as a prayerful preparation for the Sunday Eucharist:

  • February 7: Is. 6:1-2a, 3-8, 4-5, 7-8; 1

 Cor. 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11.

  • February 14: Jer. 17:5-8; 1 Cor. 15:12,

16-20; Luke 6:17, 20-26.

  • February 21: Deut. 26:4-10;  Rom. 10:8-13; Luke 4:1-13.
  • February 28: Gen. 15:5-12; Phlmn 3:17 -4:1; Luke 9:28b-36.


CANDLEMAS:The feast of Presentation of the Lord commemorates when Mary and Joseph presented Jesus in the temple forty days after his birth in accordance with the Jewish custom.  Jesus was proclaimed by Simeon to be the “light of revelation to the nations and the glory of Israel” (Luke 2:32).  On this feast the church traditionally blesses candles used during the year; hence the name Candlemas.
You are welcome to join us for the Lucernarium, a vigil candlelight procession and service of psalms and readings on the eve of the feast.  We will celebrate this Lucernarium on Monday, 1 February 2010 at 7:15 p.m. in the Abbey Church.  The Conventual Mass will be celebrated at on Tuesday, 2 February 2010.  

CONSECRATED LIFE: Pope Benedict XVI has designated the first Sunday in February as World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life.  As part of this world-wide observance, we acknowledge the various ways women and men dedicate their lives to Christ in religious institutes, societies of apostolic life, secular institutes, as virgins or hermits.  Through vows and promises of these consecrated women and men, may the life of Christ shine more clearly in the Church and in our world!

BLOOD DRIVE: Delbarton annually hosts a blood drive.  This year the drive will be held on Wednesday, 3 February 2010 from 9 a.m. -5 p.m. in the Gregory Room on the lower level of the Father Stephen Pavilion. 
We encourage our healthy friends and family to consider a life giving donation.  Donors are needed!  For more information, please call Barbara Pereyra at 973.538.3231 [ext. 3080] or e-mail: BPereyra@delbarton.org.

OBLATES: This month the Oblates of Saint Benedict will meet in the lounge on lower level of Vincent House immediately after the Sunday Eucharist on 21 February 2010.  For more information, call Father Hilary at 973.538.3231 [ext. 2019]. 

LENT begins on Wednesday, 17 February 2010.  The blessing and imposition of ashes takes place at the following services:

  • Lauds with monks, 6:30 a.m.
  • Ecumenical Service with students, 10 a.m.
  • Following Conventual Mass, 5:15 p.m.

May this season of grace and renewal bring you every blessing from above! 

ADULT EDUCATION: During Lent the Abbey will offer three lecture series.  On Tuesday, March 9, 16, 23, Fr. Gabriel Coless, O.S.B. will present a series on Dante’s Paradiso.  On Wednesday, March 10, 17, 24, Fr. Gerard Lair, O.S.B. will present a series on The Historical Jesus.  On Thursday, March 11, 18, 25, Br. Liam Mullin, O.S.B. will present a series, Defending the Faith: Church History Revisited.  The fee for each lecture series is $10 per person.  The lectures begin at 8 p.m. and will be in the Kountze Room of Old Main.  For more information or registration, contact Father Bruno at 973.538.3231 [ext. 3002] or e-mail: Bruno@delbarton.org.  All are welcome, Bring your Bible!  

MUSIC & DRAMA: You are cordially invited to the following performing arts events in the Fine Arts Center:

  • Winter Musical: Kiss Me Kate, by Cole Porter, February 5 & 6, 7:30 p.m., February 7, 3 p.m.
  • Choral Concert on February 20, 8 p.m.
  • Instrumental Concert on February 26th, 8 p.m

For more information call David Blazier at 973.538.3231 [ext. 3078] or e-mail: dblazier@delbarton.org.

COFFEE & CAKE: We will serve coffee and cake in the Estabrook Dining Hall immediately following the liturgy on Sunday, 21 February 2010.  This is a wonderful opportunity to meet some of the people with whom we worship each week.  Feel free to bring guests to the Abbey for our liturgy.  If you can bring a cake or some other baked goods, please call Kathleen Anderson at 973.267.7008.

OFFERING: During January, the congregation offered the monastery $6,000.00 through the collection at the Sunday Eucharist.  Thank you for your kindness and generosity!

MAILING LIST: If you know a friend who would like to receive this mailing, or for address corrections, contact Roberta Roser at 973.538.3231 [ext. 3042] or email her at rroser@delbarton.org.