We have a monthly meeting to support those who are involved in the Benedictine life, including oblates from  the two Anglican Benedictine Communities in Australia. the meetings are usually held at St George’s. We try and meet once a month to provide a support for those who are called to follow the Benedictine way whilst living in the world.

Our next meeting of our Benedictine oblates will be on Thursday 19 March, 2026.

This is a good little clip about oblates from PBS in the USA.

Extract from the Guidelines for Oblates

In June 1971, a group of Directors of Oblates came together at St. Procopius Abbey, Lisle, Illinois, to consider how Benedictine Oblates might best be served in the light of Vatican II. One year later a second meeting was held, this time at St. Mary’s Abbey, Morristown, New Jersey, to review papers that had been written in the interim and to exchange ideas pertinent to Benedictine Oblates.

The second meeting resulted in a document of Guidelines for Oblates of St. Benedict, and this document has since been generally endorsed by a considerable number of Directors of Oblates in North America. It is intended to serve as both Constitution and Guidelines for the spiritual life of Oblates, and it is hoped that its availability will assist all Directors of Oblates in their efforts to interest men and women who, while retaining their position in the world, wish somehow to identify with a given Benedictine monastery or convent.

Constitution

1. Oblates of St Benedict are Christian men and women admitted into spiritual union and affiliation with a Benedictine community of monks, nuns, or sisters so that they may share in the spiritual life, prayers, and good works of the community.

2. Oblates do not usually live in the monastic house of the community, yet they remain one with the community while they continue faithfully to carry out the duties of their particular state in life and occupation, wherever they may be. We are therefore not concerned here about those who wish to live as Oblates with the community in the abbey or convent itself. Such cloistered Oblates must qualify for community life, be accepted by the vote of the community, and be ready to work and pray under the same conditions as the monks, sisters, and nuns themselves.

3. Within the framework of their daily lives in the world, Oblates strive to lead full Christian lives enlightened by personal efforts to understand Christ’s teaching in the Scriptures as interpreted by St Benedict in his Rule for monks. Oblates are guided and inspired by their continued spiritual association with the monastic community.

4. Oblates are a “spiritual arm” of the Benedictine community, reaching out into all areas of life, seeking to share with others what they themselves gain as Oblates of St. Benedict. Their affiliation with a community of monks or Benedictine women is not therefore for their own personal good alone. It is chiefly by their Christian example, even by their very presence among others, that they hope to bring St Benedict’s ideal of service to God and man into the world where they live and work.

5. Since Oblates of St. Benedict primarily offer themselves for the service of God and others, they will therefore strive for God’s honour and glory before all else, keeping in mind the Benedictine motto: “That in all things God may be glorified.”

Oblates New sheet for July

The Benedictine GROUP

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Daily Rule, Daily Office, Sacramental Life

In so far as our state of life allows

ST BENEDICT in the Rule at times is clearly just giving general advice. For example, he tells us how to divide the psalms up, but if we have a different opinion, he doesn’t mind. But today we dealt with chapter 69, that the monks presume not to defend one another. Here he is firm – if anyone breaks this rule the person would be severely punished.

Benedict is very concerned about how the community is to be organised. The abbess or abbot is to be elected, but the other offices, such as the prior, are appointed. A leader has particular responsibilities, that at times cannot be shared.

Next week we are having the funeral of Fr Michael Varnish at St George’s. So, I am organising a priest’s funeral, which has its own ritual oddities. One of these is that the priest’s body is placed in the chancel, and the feet point towards the congregation, not the altar. The reason is that normally bodies are toward the altar because we must face Our Lord at the Day of Judgment, so we will rise and face him. But priests – we also have to face the judgment of our people, so we face the people whom we have served.

Leaders have that responsibility to those they serve. In the Rule Benedict recognises that responsibility and takes care not to undermine it by rival priors or with factions of family associations. All must be equal under the leader. Sometimes, I know as a priest, we have particular confidences that make us deal with people in ways that others do not understand – yet we have the care of the souls, so we must prayerfully do what we think Our Lord wants. Therefore, the Rule is clear – don’t make factions and undermine what you don’t know. This is also emphasised in obedience – we have to trust our leaders and not go into conspiracy theories.

We had 13 at mass today and 9 at our meeting afterwards. We had news from the Benedictines in South Africa, like us they do not have a community there, and although they are associated with Wantage in England, it is very hard to maintain that connection. Oblates in many places have the challenge of living without a community, and we are fortunate that we have established a regular routine of meetin g and discussion.

We heard news of Jane Lee Barker, who is being treated for leukemia and serving on the NSW Victoria border. She is in our prayers.

Our next meeting will be on Thursday 24 September at 11 am at Joan Magdalene’s house in Goolwa.

God bless,

Fr Scott.