OBLATES
An Oblate Community United in Christ
Here you will find information about Benedictine Oblates, why a person would want to become an oblate, what Benedictine oblates do, and how they practice. This page also includes answers to frequently asked questions.
What is an oblate?
Benedictine Oblates are ordinary people: men and women, married and single, lay and ordained; Catholic and non-Catholic Christians; retired, working in the home, and working in the community. Members of the Oblate community are from Schuyler, Omaha, Lincoln, and South Dakota — even as far away as New York and Louisiana. What they have in common is a deep desire to live as members of the Body of Christ in a special way — according to the principles Saint Benedict set out in his Rule.
Why become an Oblate?
Oblates seek God by striving to become holy in their chosen way of life
Oblates are Christian individuals associated with a monastic community
Oblates offer their lives to God through prayer and service
Oblates are faithful in their participation in the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church, or to the prayers and practices of their particular denominations
What does a Benedictine Oblate do?
Benedictine Oblates live their lives according to the principles Jesus laid out in the Gospels which St. Benedict exemplified in his Rule.
They are obliged to:
Pray daily
Reflect on Scripture
Work with dignity
Engage in re-creative recreation
Attend monthly meetings as much as possible.
Pray for the monks of Christ the King Priory
Pray for the needs of other oblates, and for vocations to our monastery.
Pray for other intentions that might be presented to them.
Oblate Practices
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Balance
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Faithfulness
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Hospitality
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Humility
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Obedience
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. The Oblates of Christ the King Priory are both women and men even as Christ the King Priory is a men’s community.
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Yes. By design, the Oblates program is ecumenical. Our Oblate community includes Christians in Eastern and Protestant denominations. We are united by faith in Christ and a desire to learn and practice Benedictine spirituality in our daily lives. Clergy are welcome.
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We meet every second Saturday of the month. In October, we have a Friday evening through Sunday Noon retreat with a guest speaker. We encourage you to attend as often as possible, and to make attendance at the annual retreat a priority.
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We practice lectio divina, attend eucharist, share a meal and prayer requests, share news from the monastery and our Oblate community, and discuss a book that we are reading together.
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Yes. If you want to see what Oblate gatherings and Oblates are like, you are welcome at our gatherings.
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All are welcome to share comments or questions. We want our Oblate community to be a safe place for sharing the questions and insights from each person’s faith journey.
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Inquirers and Novices attend as many of the monthly meetings as they can, and novices have a Friday night through Sunday morning retreat on the weekend they are received as an Oblate. No one is expected to take the next step until feeling ready.
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Other than room and board during the annual retreat, and purchasing the book that is being studied, there is no cost. If you want lunch on a meeting day, you can purchase a meal at the retreat center or bring your own.
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Please visit with our director or any of the following Benedictine Oblates:
Fr. Anastasius Reiser, OSB—Oblate Director
info_bmh@benedictinemissionhouse.comTeresa Kretz, Treasurer
tkretz@catholicexchange.com
402-615-2169Betty Bohaty (Schuyler)
bbohaty@gmail.com
402-615-3012Gloria LaCrosse (Omaha)
gjlacrosse@yahoo.com
402-740-2571Jodi Gehr (Lincoln)
jodigehr@gmail.com
402-432-9479 -
See Matthew 18:15-18 and The Rule of Benedict (RB) 23:1-7 and 4:73.
