In addition to the immense blessings of adding several new oblates to the St. Benet Biscop Chapter of St. John’s Abbey Oblates last weekend at St. John’s Abbey as well as at other places in the country, we were graced with a visit from Bishop Lopes of the Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter. Attached below are his kind words of thanks and encouragement. We were also graced with a fine sermon at Evensong by new oblate, Bishop Michael Aidan Smith, Obl.S.B, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota.
[Photo (left to right): Br. John-Bede Pauley, O.S.B., Liaison for the St. Benet Biscop Chapter; Bishop Michael Aidan Smith, Obl.S.B.; Bishop Steven J. Lopes]
“Dear Brother John-Bede,
“Thank you for your hospitality at the Abbey. Benedictine life and spirituality is central to the identity of English Christianity. I am delighted that the St. Benet Bishop Chapter of Oblates is a way to bring that noble spiritual tradition to support the Ordinariate.
“Grateful for your work,
“Most Rev. Steven J. Lopes”
+SJL
