MONASTERY NEWS 40
Innovative Hospitality
By Father Matthew Leavy, O.S.B. Adaptability has forever been a feature of Benedictine culture–hence the continued existence of a 6th century way of life which is alive and well in 21st century Covidtime in Silicon Valley. Hospitality is a core concept in the Rule of Saint Benedict and one of the five Benedictine values which undergird curriculum and culture here at Priory. Ordinarily, that is, in non-Covid times, Priory hospitality is practiced in a somewhat “passive” way. People come to Priory for a variety of reasons: students, faculty, staff, administrators, guests, beggars, worshipers, and we strive to welcome them as we would welcome Christ himself, following the teaching of St. Benedict. But 2021 is no “ordinary” time in our world. As a consequence of Covid and the necessary restrictions to safeguard all concerned, hardly anyone is able to come to campus. And so, the question–how do we then exercise Benedictine hospitality? It would be both a shame and a scandal to let this valuable and powerful expression of Benedictine identity lie dormant. And so, we monks have shifted our focus to more innovative ways of extending hospitality by “reversing the direction” of our efforts. Instead of waiting for people to come to us, we have decided to “go out to them” in a variety of new venues. Thanks to Zoom and other technological tools, we have been able to share spiritual hospitality via our online Liturgical celebrations, both on a weekly basis with Sunday Masses in both English and Hungarian, as well as festive occasions such as our traditional Advent Vespers Service.
We have also participated in various student retreats, weekly Chapel services, Benedictine conversation sessions for parents, and, most recently, in a well-attended Zoom session for those members of the extended Priory family who have experienced loss in its many forms and who are experiencing grief. Similar sessions are currently being scheduled to provide pastoral support in a group setting to those who grieve. The monks and counseling staff also make themselves available for personal pastoral care. The meal sharing program chronicled in the last issue of Priorities continues to serve our fellow campus dwellers and their families, but has been extended beyond to include those in our area suffering food insecurity and homelessness. New opportunities to assist the needy are in process for this semester as well. This past semester we have placed special emphasis on serving the needs of the kids who live on campus with events which combine food and faith. Following upon a safe and successful Halloween event, we have hosted outdoor suppers and bonfire celebrations for St. Martin’s Day, St. Nicholas Day, and quite memorably on Christmas Eve itself. On that night, the campus kids were all shepherds, who, armed with staff and flashlight, had to find the child Jesus up in our fields. Eventually they found him and brought him back to the monastery bonfire where they placed him in a new manger made by Father Martin. Then each rang the big bell to tell the whole neighborhood that they had found the baby Jesus. They received a short sermon on Jesus and the Grinch whose heart was “two sizes too small”, whereas the heart of Jesus is the biggest ever. I thought maybe that my message was
