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 DECEMBER 2025
The Oblates of Our Lady of Glastonbury Abbey met twice in December to continue our reflection on the 2025-2026 seasonal theme of Stability (one of the core Benedictine monastic vows, along with Obedience and Conversatio Morum).
Both December gatherings included a focus on Lectio Divina (Divine Reading). At our regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, December 2nd, Fr. Albrecht led Oblates in Group Lectio, where Oblates read and contemplated scriptural passages. Lectio Divina is a core practice of our Benedictine community. Spiritual practices like Lectio (and many other forms of prayer) can provide a container of stability that can anchor us amid the technological, social, and political upheavals that are affecting our world. We concluded the evening with refreshments and socializing in the spirit of the Christmas season.
On Saturday, December 6th, the Glastonbury Oblates did something new and hosted an Advent Day of Reflection that was open to the wider Glastonbury community. The event drew both Oblates and others from the community; this was an opportunity to share information with others the Oblates, get to meet new friends or deepen existing relationships outside of our usual group. Again, our topic was Lectio Divina, and again Fr. Albrecht took the lead, giving an informative and inspiring talk on the history, methods, and form of this spiritual practice. Individual Oblates also testified to their own personal experience of Lectio in their daily lives. A simple (but delicious) lunch was enjoyed, and the afternoon ended on a high note with group lectio, followed by attendees sharing and reflecting on their experiences with this venerable method of prayer.
Please continue to keep upcoming events on your calendar; underline them now with the intention to attend:
Sunday, January 18th (11am-12:30pm) Open to entire community. Morcone Center.
Peacemaking: Changing Our Lives with Oblates Steve Tumolo and Julene Tegerstrand
Sponsored by “Food for Thought” after Mass. All are welcome!
Tuesday, February 3rd (7:30pm) Open to entire community. Morcone Center.
Stability and Artificial Intelligence
Salve Regina University Professor Sean O’Callaghan, co-author of AI SHEPHERDS AND ELECTRIC SHEEP, shares critical ideas about AI and humanity.
This is a hybrid online/in-person event. Registration is required: https://gacc.retreatportal.com/calendar/event?programcode=26SDY07610
All are welcome!
The next regular Oblate meeting begins with Compline in the Abbey Church followed by the meeting in the Morcone Center:
Tuesday, January 6, 2026. Continued discussion on stability (Oates ch 5)
All blessings and peace as we move through Advent and Christmas from the oblate steering committee: John Regan, Louise Deutsch, Carolyn Carpenter, Barbara Mirabito, Carol Stanton and Oblate director Fr. Albrecht Nyce, OSB.
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.
