At our recent UK Oblate Retreat at the Kairos Centre, we received four Novices, Jan Bundy, Sharon, Moira Whelan, and Anne Jaxa Chemiec as full oblates and welcomed Robert Mc Laughlin as a postulant. Their reflections are part of this article. At the retreat we asked what additional support was needed for our UK oblate community. And apart from all that we currently offer, there was a question:
Can any WCCM members join our oblate events and the answer is a resounding YES!
We welcome all who may either be interested in the oblate community, or wish to share in a time of Lectio Divina and reflections.
The UK Oblate cells are regional and are a combination of physical, hybrid and on line. The schedule for these is organised locally, but centrally communicated and can be found on the WCCM UK website and in the UK newsletter. All WCCM members are welcome at our oblate cell meetings.
A little bit about our Oblate community and what we do offer. We are the largest Oblate community within WCCM (approximately 100 oblates) with Australia, America and Canada having large numbers of oblates. There are approximately 450 Oblates internationally, across 30 countries.
The Oblate website is international, as is the Via Vitae newsletter, which will now be sent electronically rather than hard copy. https://oblates.wccm.org
The weekly Benedict’s Well is international and is open to all. It is the Oblate outreach. If you wish to join us from 9.00 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. every Monday, please email: wccmbenedictswell@gmail.com We begin with meditation, followed by a reflection or talk from members of our community and others.
There are now 21 online meditation groups: 7.30 a.m. and 6.00 p.m., 7 days a week and 12.30 midday, Monday to Friday
The groups are moderated and facilitated by UK Oblates and they form part of the worldwide meditation groups that can be found on the international and UK websites. Once again – all are welcome.
The Oblate Guide forms the framework by which all Oblate national communities are supported. It sets out the guidelines for all aspects of the Oblate community, from a first enquiry to ongoing support for oblates.
The Oblate Path booklet describes the stages in becoming an Oblate and is of particular value to meditators enquiring about the oblate life within WCCM. It is available through a link on the Oblate website homepage.
The Bonnevaux Prayer Booklet has been produced by Oblates, under the guidance of Father Laurence and is available on line or hard copy in English.
Father Laurence leads the International Oblate Council and Marie Louise Schmidt is our International Oblate Coordinator. We have recently established Regional Oblate Coordinators who will support the National Oblate Coordinators.
I hope this information helps you to understand a little more about our oblate community, but the short reflections may illustrate the welcome and love that we offer.
Janet Robbins
On behalf of the UK Oblate Council
Reflections from the UK Oblate Retreat
As I write it was only 2 weeks ago when members of the Oblate community met for a retreat in the lovely Kairos Centre in Roehampton which offered us great hospitality and delicious food! Only 2 weeks and I am still absorbing the import of that weekend when four of us novices were received as Oblates, when we committed to following the Rule of St Benedict, to “strive for God and make your spiritual journey the underpinning reality of your life, finding its influence in everything you do, in everything you are” (John Main). So for me this commitment has arisen as the only possible next step to honouring the Christ within me and live according to his/her precepts. Not a receiving of a diploma but a seeking to an ever broadening out into following that inner light.
The ceremony, which included Rev Jude Carpenter leading the Eucharist and blessings and a talk from Father Laurence on line, was beautiful and prayerful. During the ceremony I was asked to read from Ephesians 3:14-21.which was highly significant as these verses have always resonated for me and been an important part of my journey “… and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love…”
What was particularly moving for me, and I think for all of us becoming Oblates, was that we were meeting at last with those with whom we had had spiritual sharings with on line over the past few years, and this included my wonderful mentor who stayed with me on the path of formation. Despite technology,( which could be seen as a barrier), we had formed spiritual friendships. I felt, and feel, very blessed to be received in to this loving spiritual family. How true it is that meditation creates community!
Jan Bundy
If I were to sum up our annual oblate retreat in one word that word would be JOY ( yes ! in capital letters).
It was such a joy to meet up again with old friends and to meet in person those friends whom previously we had only known as tiny images on our screens (There’s so much more to us than the digital “eye “ can begin to perceive !) It was pure joy to spend time together in silence and then in- between times to pray and reflect together. It was especially helpful, I thought, to do our lectio together in small breakout groups and to stay in those groups for each of the three sessions. It enabled us to attend to each other at ever deeper levels and to be increasingly open and honest together and that was profoundly helpful.
Of course, it was nothing but joy to receive and accompany our four novices as they made their full oblation during our Eucharist on Sunday. Their offering of themselves to the service of God through WCCM was such a significant moment for them and for all of us as we, too, re-affirmed our baptismal promises.
And then for me it was a great privilege and pure joy to be invited to celebrate our contemplative Eucharist together on Sunday. For a long time now I have bemoaned the wordiness of our standard ( Anglican ) liturgies. For me they have become so deadening. To be able to slow things down, to let go of the barrage of words, to include pauses for reflection, to introduce silences which allowed us to savour the moment, to be still, to pray and to remember our Lord’s presence with us… For me this is how it should be and it gave me more joy than words could ever express.
To cap it all there was for me an additional joy… I was greeted by the Sisters at the Kairos Centre with absolute delight ! For them I was tangible proof that with God all things are possible, even women priests, for heaven’s sake !! praise God indeed. It was fitting that we danced our way out at the end of the service to the song, “ You shall go out with joy and be led forth in peace…”
Our special thanks must go to Angela, Julia and Janet for all they did, and do, to nurture and strengthen the bonds between us and to build up the community of love to which we are so very privileged to belong. It was such a lovely weekend.
Thankyou !
Jude x
I entered the weekend as a seeker but left as a postulate. At the age of 19 I was given the gift of meditation while working as a volunteer at the Grail in Pinner, Middlesex. We had a weekly Christian meditation group that was, at that time, referred to as prayer of the heart. During my time at the Grail John Main lead a retreat about Christian meditation. On leaving the Grail this gift remaind in my possession but rarely appreciated. Some 45 years later during the Covid pandemic I discovered, to my amazement, via the internet, the WCCM and joined a local meditation group at Axbridge in Somerset. Attending the annual Oblate retreat brought me back full circle to a community of love which I felt compelled to commit myself to as a follower of Jesus Christ on my spiritual journey.
Robert Laughlin
After meditating with the WCCM for years I sensed God’s call to deeper silence, stillness and simplicity. This led to being on the Oblate Path: a journey in dispersed community of ongoing formation, mutual acceptance and support. Each day I am learning to integrate this commitment to meditation, daily prayer, lectio and the deeper meaning of the Rule of Benedict. The annual oblate retreat was an expression of spiritual unity and physical community. We celebrated a joyful Eucharist during which I was received as a full oblate. A new beginning as part of the UK and worldwide community.
Sharon