News Release: Retreat with Fr. Mauritius Wilde

The Right Rev. Abbot Mauritius Wilde, OSB, PhD, will present a one-day retreat titled, On Human Dignity at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, on June 6, 2026. We will spend a day with the German mystic Meister Eckhart. In his sermons and writings, he meditates on the immediate presence of God in the human soul. Eckhart particularly likes to stimulate our imagination by using metaphors. Above all, we will explore the question of the extent to which human beings are created in the image of God. Because this is where the dignity or noble essence of every human being derives from. Eckhart shows us how to get in touch with and to respect this dignity within ourselves and others.

Abbot Mauritius is the abbot of the Benedictine Abbey of Maria Laach in Germany. Father Mauritius has been a Benedictine monk of Muensterschwarzach Abbey, Germany, since 1985. He studied Philosophy and Theology, then earned his PhD at Tübingen University with a thesis on Meister Eckhart. He worked as teacher and educator at the abbey’s high school and, for eleven years, was the director of the abbey’s publishing house, Vier Türme Verlag.  For five years he was the prior of Christ the King Priory near Schuyler. Then he served as prior at Sant’ Anselmo, the Benedictine study house in Rome, Italy. Fr. Mauritius is the author of several books, including Be Yourself: The Call of a Christian (Paulist), and directs retreats regularly.  His blog can be found at www.wildemonk.net. For his reflections on the Holy Rule of St. Benedict, listen to Spirit Catholic Radio or visit www.DiscerningHearts.com.                                                                                                        

The retreat begins at 10:00 a.m. and ends at 4:00 p.m. The program fee is $50; lunch is available for $14.77 (includes tax).

News Release: Retreat with Father Larry Gillick

The Rev. Larry Gillick, SJ, will present an Ignatian Silent Retreat titled, The Many Births of Jesus at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, on May 28 - 31, 2026. This retreat will have presentations about the many ways that Jesus took flesh in the lives of others. In these days of prayer, retreatants will be encouraged to spend time in imaginative contemplations of how Jesus came that we may have life. Prayer will focus not on self-improvement but on Christ-Centered intimacy.

Jesuit Father Larry Gillick was ordained a priest in 1972. His former assignments include Spiritual Director for the younger Jesuits, Rector of the Jesuit Community at Creighton Prep in Omaha, and Superior of Mulumba House.  He currently serves as Director of the Deglman Center for Ignatian Spirituality at Creighton University.  He is a sought after retreat master around the country and spiritual director of students, faculty, alumni at Creighton University, and people from far and wide.

The retreat begins on Thursday, at 6:00 p.m. and ends on Sunday after Lunch.  The program fee is $100; room and board charges are additional. 

Spring Newsletter from Fr. Thomas

Dear Friends,

Spring is the season of lengthening days. The light and the warmth of the sun bring forth new life. Spring is also the season of Easter when, at the Vigil, we carry the light of the Easter candle, representing Christ risen from the dead, into the dark church.

Sermon on the Mount, Thomas Ingmire, Copyright 2002, The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota USA. Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

One of my favorite illuminations of The Saint John’s Bible is the one on the Beatitudes with which Jesus opened his Sermon on the Mount. The text is written in golden characters. The print shown here does not fully do it justice because in the original (and also in our Heritage Edition) the gold leaf of the letters literally jumps off the page! Gold represents God at work in this bible, the light of God present in this biblical scene. It gives witness to Jesus, the light.   

On the right side we see the paradoxical word “Blessed,” written many times in bright colors. How can the poor, the mourning, and the meek be called blessed and favored by God? Jesus knew about their preciousness, their dignity, and proclaimed it. He also knew that those not attached to material things are often more open to the gifts of God. Jesus’ transgression of boundaries in order to make known God’s love for all and solidarity with all, led him to the cross. But his resurrection from the dead showed him as the Light that the darkness has not overcome. – A retreat at St. Benedict Center is an opportunity to open our hearts anew to Christ, to his Good News, and to God’s amazing gifts to us.   

At St. Benedict C33enter, we are happy that often a friendly monk welcomes you now (again): Br. Moses spent some time in Germany but is back with us! – Especially worth noting among the upcoming events of our program schedule is the marriage retreat titled, Blessed are the Merciful with Deacon Dr. Steve Doran and his wife Sharon on April 10 – 11. – Also, I’d like to point you to the one-day retreat with Abbot Mauritius Wilde on June 6. Abbot Mauritius, of Maria Laach Abbey in Germany, was formerly our prior here in Schuyler. – I am looking forward to seeing you again soon! 

Fr. Thomas Leitner, OSB, Administrator

News Release: Father Joel Macul to Speak at Saint Benedict Center

Fr. Joel Macul, OSB., STL.

The Rev. Joel Macul, OSB, STL, will present a retreat titled, He Gave His Life to Set Us Free: The Passion according to Matthew at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, on February 27 – March 1, 2026

At the beginning of Holy Week, we will hear Matthew’s Passion on Palm Sunday this year. We will look at what Matthew focuses his attention on. He introduces Jesus as one who saves us from our sins, that is what his name means. He understands Jesus as the Messiah who does not crush what is already bruised and broken and instead, he becomes the ransom for many. That is how he serves. And what is the significance of the other people in the story: the disciples, Peter, Judas, Pilate, even the crowds? Is there any of them in us? Reflecting on this passion story for these days may be one way of obeying Jesus’ command to “keep watch,” of touching the truth of our hearts and allowing Jesus’ death to heal and free them.

Benedictine Father Joel Macul was the prior at Christ the King Priory in Schuyler, Nebraska, from 2017 till 2023. Prior to that, he served as abbot of St. Paul’s Abbey in Newton, New Jersey, and taught Scripture at Tangaza College and Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya. He now lives again in Newton, New Jersey.

The retreat begins on Friday, at 7:30 p.m. and ends on Sunday after Lunch. The program fee is $80; room and board charges are additional. 

News Release: Retreat on Spiritual Goal Setting

Lisa Kelly, MA, and Steve Titus, PhD, JD, will present a retreat titled, The Spiritual Path: Embarking on the Journey of a Lifetime, at Saint Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, on February 14 – 15, 2026. Make this the time for you and God to walk your spiritual path together. Discover the benefits of using a structured process to name how you are being called to live out the healthy desires of your heart. This workshop, adapted from the best-selling life coaching program, Your Best Year Yet, offers a process rooted in Ignatian Spirituality to gather wisdom from the challenges and joys of the past year, to uncover and attend to perceived limitations, and to set goals for the coming year. You will leave with a practical one-page plan of goals and objectives. Couples are invited to celebrate Valentine’s Day by making a Spiritual Path plan together. Mass is included (optional).

Lisa Kelly, the author of The Spiritual Path: Embarking on the Journey of a Lifetime (Loyola Press), is a 20+ year Ignatian Associate. She holds a Master from Harvard and a Master in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University. She and her husband, Tom, have raised four kids while living in Omaha and abroad and remain dedicated to serving marginalized communities globally.

Steve Titus, JD, PhD, is a trained spiritual director and executive coach and holds an MA in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University. Steve and his wife, Sara, live in Tucson, AZ, and have two daughters. – Both Lisa and Steve support Catholic leaders to implement synodality through the Discerning Leadership Program.

The retreat begins on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and ends on Sunday at 5:00 p.m.  The program fee is $100; room and board charges are additional.  Register at www.StBenedictCenter.com or call (402) 352-8819.

Father Joe Miksch to Speak at Saint Benedict Center

Fr. Joe Miksch, OSB

On December 12 – 13, 2025, Father Joseph A. Miksch will come to St. Benedict Center, four miles north of Schuyler, and present a seminar titled, A Way to Live and Enjoy Life More Fully!

This program will help you to attain a positive attitude about yourself, to accept yourself, to feel free to be yourself, and to forget about what others might be thinking about you. You will learn to think less about yourself, to reach out to others, and they in turn will accept you as one who really cares. Come and see how to embark upon the journey to enjoying life more and to becoming fully alive!

Father Joe, pastor of St. Isidore Parish in Columbus and St. Joseph Parish in Platte Center, NE, was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Omaha in 1966 and holds a Master from Creighton University. He first learned about rational emotive therapy about 45 years ago and uses it every day. It has truly changed his life and has helped him to become more fully alive. For that reason, he wants to share what he has learned with others. Since 2020, he has had the privilege of having daily Mass in St. Isidore’s Church televised on NCN-TV, and through Facebook and YouTube reaches people throughout Nebraska, throughout the Nation, and at places as far away as Africa, Switzerland, Spain and Japan.           

The seminar begins on Friday, at 9:00 a.m. and closes on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.  The program fee is $ 80; room and board are additional.

Fr. Thomas' Fall Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Life of Paul (detail), Aidan Hart with contributions from Andrew Jamieson, Copyright 2002, The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota USA. Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

St. Paul was the missionary and fruitful disciple of Jesus par excellence. In his vision on the road to Damascus, he had seen a light from heaven and encountered Christ. On the illumination in The Saint John’s Bible titled, Life of Paul, we see at St. Paul’s left elbow the arches from the entrance to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Christ suffered and died for us. He was buried, but then he rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples, finally also to Saul who became Paul in the process, a new person. He considered everything as loss because of the supreme good of knowing Jesus Christ as his Lord (Philippians 3:8)

The artist depicts St. Paul wearing a Jewish prayer shawl. He had grown up as a devout Jew. This was his background, but he was open to the working of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of all people, regardless of their culture or walk of life. We see him wearing sandals. As messenger of Jesus Christ, he traveled long distances on foot. We also see part of a ship. Sometimes he traveled by boat; being shipwrecked three times was just one example of the hardships he endured on his journeys!

The broken church building that St. Paul holds in his hands resembles St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Christians are divided into denominations today, but St. Paul’s core message of us being justified by faith in Christ (cf. Romans 5:1-9) can bring us back into unity.

After his conversion, St. Paul first traveled to Arabia through the desert. He needed a time of prayer and of stillness (cf. Galatians 1:17). Today St. Benedict Center is a place of prayer and of stillness, too, conducive to encountering Christ and to growing in our relationship with him. 

From our facility I can report that we have gotten new chillers this year which guarantee cool and dryer air in the building during the warmer months. – Especially worth noting among our upcoming events is the retreat titled, A Way to Live and Enjoy Life more Fully on December 12 – 13, 2025, with Fr. Joe Miksch from Columbus, NE. It will be about identifying and working toward eliminating inner obstacles that keep us from living the Great Commandment of Jesus. – I am looking forward to seeing you again soon! 

Fr. Thomas Leitner, OSB, Administrator