Echoes from the Bell Tower

When your mission is focused on prayer and ministry, but you’re living in a “stay-at-home/lockdown” world, you need to reimagine the ways you can pray with and minister to others.

For monks and co-workers at Saint Meinrad, it has been “Challenge accepted!”

Fr. Christian Raab, OSB, was planning to teach his seminary courses as usual this spring, but when COVID-19 forced the canceling of on-campus classes, he took on another project. He helped develop an online retreat called “Make Your Quarantine Your Cloister.” Joining him on the project were another Saint Meinrad monk and some co-workers.

More than 500 people signed up for the retreat. You can find it here: https://quarantineretreat.wixsite.com/covid19

Another monk, Br. Simon Herrmann, OSB, has begun a daily lectio divina session on Twitter (@MonkSimonOSB).

In Saint Meinrad’s Office of Youth and Young Adult Formation, Tammy Becht quickly began collaborating with others in youth ministry to develop a lineup of activities to participate in from home.

Here is quick overview of those projects:

• Musician Steve Angrisano is praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy each day on Facebook Live. About 500-700 people are praying along.

• Robert Feduccia is creating a Bible study each Wednesday for young people. These studies can be done alone, or in a family, or with a virtually gathered group. Find it at https://www.saintmeinrad.edu/youth/word-on-wednesday/

• The college interns for the summer “One Bread, One Cup” conferences are hosting Compline every other night. You can find that on Instagram at obocstmeinrad.

• We are working with Katie Prejean McGrady to offer some Q&A on Instagram Live, coming soon.

• We are hoping to get “Today’s Liturgical Moment” up and running as well. Fr. Eric Augenstein will kick it off with “Spiritual Communion.” 

Of course, the Saint Meinrad monks continue their daily round of prayer and Mass, uninterrupted by the COVID chaos. However, with prayer services in Indiana (and many other states) now closed to the public, Mass and Vespers are livestreamed each day.

Please join us at: www.saintmeinrad.org/live.