Oblate News
2025-2026 Oblate Program:
This year’s theme is Stability, a cornerstone of Benedictine life and a timely focus, given the current political, economic, and technological threats to stability in the world today. To accompany our theme and facilitate discussion, we selected author Nathan Oates’ book, Stability: How an Ancient Monastic Process can Restore our Relationships, Churches, and Communities to read together over the first months of our season.
OBLATE OCCURRENCES NOVEMBER 2025
Using Nathan Oates's book of the same name, Oblates met on October 7th to discuss Chapter 1. Following are some of the responses from small groups:
- God's presence is stable -like the Sun, it is always there. Our job is to become present to that.
- Awareness of God's presence in us leads to awareness of that presence in others.
- The Abbey is a "well of grace" where we are always connected regardless of physical presence.
- Connection to the Abbey increases consciousness of living in the ongoing presence of God.
- Everything we do emanates from this consciousness from making coffee doing the dishes saying the office changing the environment.
- Married and buried at the Abbey-eternal stability.
- Ongoing rhythms of monastic practices (Office, Mass, et al) and fidelity to such practices nourish and sustain stability.
- The Abbey church is a "wheel of grace" and thought.
- Changes occur, often unexpected, surprising, constant; but rooted in God's stable presence we can sustain change and retain a stable center.
- Technology affects and effects change. Awareness of possibilities and distractions needs attention and commitment to stable endurance.
On November 4th group discussions will continue based on Chapter 2. Please save these dates for upcoming events:
Saturday, December 6th, the Oblate community is hosting an in-person-only Day of Reflection from 9:00 am-3:00 pm (lunch included) in the Morcone Center. This day is an opportunity for Oblates and others to gather in daytime hours. It's a chance to share what a Glastonbury Abbey Benedictine Oblate is with the greater Abbey community. Finally, it is a gathering to encourage, re-engage and incorporate Lectio Divina prayer practice into our daily lives. Please call the Retreat Office (781-749-2155 x300) to register as an Oblate or interested party. An agenda for the day will be provided. Questions? Contact: Carolyn Carpenter (cccvisidyne@gmail.com).
Tuesday, January 7th Group discussions drawn from chapter 5 of Oates book
Sunday January 25th Food for Thought presentation by Steve Tumalo and Julene Teger strand on Peacemaking. 11 AM, Morcone Center.
Tuesday February 3rd "The Practice of Stability in the Age of AI" presented by Dr. Sean O'Callaghan, Salve Regina religion professor and co-author of AI Shepherds and Electric Sheep: Leading and Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence This is a hybrid presentation, hosted by the Oblates but open to all. Time to be confirmed. Registration required. Limited copies of book available in Abbey Book Store.
In this month we ask for and offer prayers especially on All Saints and All Souls days. May a harvest of Thanksgiving blessings fill you and your loved ones
Peace from the oblate steering committee: John Regan, Louise Deutsch, Carolyn Carpenter, Barbara Mirabito, Carol Stanton and Oblate director Fr. Albrecht Nyce, OSB.
[submitted 10/29/25 by Louise Deutsch & Carol Stanton]
For inquiries, please click here to email and a Steering Committee member will get back to you. Oblates meet the first Tuesday of every month September through July starting with Compline at 7:15 PM in the church, followed by our 7:30 PM hybrid meeting.
