Pope Francis declared an Extraordinary Year of Mercy beginning Dec. 8, 2015, and ending Nov. 20, 2016. In addition to designating shrines within the St. Cloud Diocese as places of pilgrimage, Bishop Donald Kettler encourages parishioners to pray with the diocese’s religious communities during this Holy Year of Mercy.
This is the last of the religious communities to be featured. Previously spotlighted were the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls (March 25), the Poor Clare Sisters (April 8), the Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict (April 22) and the Crosier Fathers and Brothers (May 6). The Visitor also introduced a pilgrimage passport to help people to participate in this jubilee. The passport may be downloaded at http://stcloudvisitor.org/year-of-mercy.
The following answers were submitted by St. John’s Abbey in response to questions from The Visitor.
Where is the church located?
The Benedictine monks of St. John’s Abbey pray the Liturgy of the Hours and celebrate Mass daily in St. John’s Abbey Church, located at 2900 Abbey Plaza, Collegeville. All are welcome.
What are the important features of the church?
The Bell Banner stands as the dominant landmark for the St. John’s community, intended to boldly proclaim salvation through the cross. Standing 110 feet tall, it houses a 28-by-15-foot white oak and concrete cross. Five bells hang just below the cross, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, the Blessed Virgin Mary, guardian angels, St. John the Baptist, and St. Benedict.
The front of the church displays a massive stained glass window. Filled with the colors of the liturgical year, the hexagonal pattern represents the strength and support each part of a community provides and receives, reminding us that the many parts make one Body of Christ: all are called and welcomed to gather and worship around a single altar in the Abbey Church.
Inside the church, the baptistery, nave, altar and abbot’s throne establish a sacred axis around which the plan of the church is organized. Surrounding this axis, the 12 folded walls of the church body represent the 12 tribes of Israel and the Twelve Apostles.
The Blessed Sacrament Chapel at the eastern entrance of the church houses the nickel-plated tabernacle, which follows a tradition established with the Ark of the Covenant of lining the metal of the tabernacle interior with wood. The chapel, itself conceived as a tabernacle with its clean wooden walls, welcomes quiet prayer and meditation.
The Chapel of Mary sits across the church from the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at the western entrance with a Romanesque, Burgundian-style statue.
What to do when you visit:
Visitors are invited to join the monks at Mass or at the Liturgy of the Hours.
n Mass: Monday through Friday, 5 p.m.; Saturday, 11:30 a.m.; Sunday, 10:30 a.m., unless otherwise noted.
n Liturgy of the Hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m., noon and 7 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Sunday, 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The Benedictine monks of St. John’s Abbey welcome prayer intentions, which may be submitted through www.saintjohnsabbey.org/your-visit/praying-us.
All are welcomed to sign up for retreats and spiritual direction at www.abbeyguesthouse.org.
For more information on St. John’s Abbey and the Abbey Church, visit the website at: www.saintjohnsabbey.org.
2016 jubilarians
St. John’s Abbey will celebrate the jubilarians’ ordination to the priesthood on May 19 in St. John’s Abbey Church. The abbey will celebrate their jubilarians’ monastic profession July 11 at the church. All are welcome to attend both.
70 years of monastic profession: Father Kilian McDonnell
60 years of monastic profession:
Fathers Rene McGraw and Simeon Thole, Brother Otto Thole
60 years of priestly ordination:
Fathers Wilfred Theisen and Knute Anderson
50 years of monastic profession:
Brother Walter Kieffer and Father Cyprian Weaver
50 years of priestly ordination:
Fathers Roger Klassen, Blane Wasnie, Michael Naughton, Joel Kelly and Roman Paur
25 years of monastic profession:
Brother Neal Laloo