Denver Catholic

11 DENVER CATHOLIC | AUGUST 24-SEPTEMBER 14, 2019 Get a $25 Walgreens Gift Card* with your FREE Hearing Screening 7354 S. Alton Way, Suite 201, Centennial, CO 80112 720-616-6948 Advanced Audiology is now HearUSA. Don't miss your opportunity to schedule a FREE hearing screening. Now until September 30th! Improve your sense of hearing. Regain your sense of self. *Some restrictions apply. Must have hearing loss to receive gift card. One gift card per customer, per 12-month period. ©2019 HearUSA. All Rights Reserved. Oer expires 9/30/19. Benets vary. Call for verication and eligibility. Get a $25 Walgreens Gift Card* with your opportunity to schedule Fr. Tim Gallagher, OMV presents Begin Again The Life of Ven. Bruno Lanteri and a Spiritual Program for Life OCTOBER 26-27 9am to 3pm Holy Ghost Church - 1900 California Street Cost: $50 Please contact the church oice at 303-292-1556 to reserve a space or for more information. PARKING AVAILABLE AVAILABLE through website procedure holyghostchurch.org This two-day workshop is about Ven. Bruno Lanteri, founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary. Lanteri preached and wrote about the infinite Mercy of God. But more than that, he lived it in his everyday life, as he taught the Oblates to do. By reconciliation and spiritual direction, he connected with people along their personal journey to knowing God's mercy. Learn how you can create a Spiritual Program for your own life! the one who knows Jesus well." Referring to the life of contemplative prayer and work the monks follow, the archbishop reminded the abbot and his community to faithfully carry out those activities. "The Rule says you are called to pray no matter where you are. There's that delightful line by St. Benedict: You will know how well his prayer life is by the way he sweeps the fl oor." In addition to conferring the bless- ing, Archbishop Aquila entrusted Father Albanese with instilling the Rule of St. Benedict among the monks and pre- sented him with the instruments of his oª ce: a ring, symbolizing fi delity to the Church, and a crozier and mitre, signs of his role as shepherd of his commu- nity. Father Albanese also received an abbatial cross. The items had belonged to his predecessors. Receiving Abbot Joseph's ring was especially signifi cant. "It's an honor to have that," Father Albanese said. "He was abbot for over 33 years. That I've been chosen to succeed him is humbling." Born and reared in Brooklyn, N.Y., as an only child, Father Albanese joined the Air Force in 1969 right after grad- uating from high school. It was the time of the Vietnam War and he was stationed in Florida and England. "While I was in England I was visit- ing the monasteries and 11th and 12th century monastic ruins … and I got my vocation there," he said, adding that he was particularly drawn to Mount St. Bernard Abbey, the only Trappist mon- astery in England. After his discharge in 1975, he contin- ued visiting monasteries in the United States, including St. Benedict's. Capti- vated by the spectacular mountain loca- tion and the small size of the commu- nity, he entered St. Benedict's in 1977. He made his solemn profession of vows in 1983 on the feast of St. Benedict and was ordained to the priesthood in 2005. He has a liberal arts undergrad- uate degree and a master's degree in pastoral theology from the Aquinas Institute of Theology at St. Louis Uni- versity. During his 42 years as a monk he has served as novice master, cookie manager, work manager, prior and as secretary to the late abbot. "Our life is one of prayer and hospi- tality and community," Father Albanese said of the monastery, which supports itself through its retreat house, cattle ranching, a bookstore/gift shop and a cookie business. "Our main focus is o¨ ering hospitality to retreatants. People come to be nourished in prayer and refl ection, and they participate with us in praying the Divine Oª ce. I'm happy we can give people that oppor- tunity to get away from the world and come rest awhile." St. Benedict's is part of a 900-year- old contemplative tradition inspired by the desert fathers. Featuring austere Cistercian architecture, the monastery is located in a pristine high valley. "It is a very beautiful place we have here," Father Albanese said, adding that his predecessor called it "the sacred valley." "Mount Sopris is right in our front yard. It's Colorado at its best. No one takes it for granted. We're stewards of this land. When it comes my time to go, hopefully, we'll be able to hand it on to monks who will continue to steward it. It's God's gift." In his homily, Archbishop Aquila commended Father Albanese and his community for upholding their way of life. "Your prayer, your contemplative life and your intercessory prayer, espe- cially for the world and for the Church, is needed more today than ever before." Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila blessed Father Charles Albanese as the new abbot of St. Benedict's Trappist Monastery in Snowmass Aug. 10. PHOTOS BY CRAIG TURPIN

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