Adapting to New Settings and New Responsibilities
Saint Benedict's
[In 1887 the Sisters opened a hospital in Bismarck, North Dakota. They faced some anti-Catholic prejudice.]
One morning three men entered the hospital and told the sister in charge that they wished to see the sisters. “We understand,” they said, “that the nurses and the sisters are here under compulsion and are treated as prisoners. Now if we can see them and talk to them and find any who are anxious to go, we will give them the means.”
The sister in charge saw that they were honest in their purpose and after explaining that it was washday and all were very busy and could not be called away from work, she told them they were free to go to the laundry, the kitchen, and sick wards and talk to any or all of the sisters there. They looked surprised at this but made the tour of the hospital.
They came back astounded at the joy and contentment they found among the sisters and apologized for their intrusion. The next day the hospital received a large gift from an unnamed donor—no doubt from these men.
[From M. Grace McDonald, OSB, With Lamps Burning, American Benedictine Academy, Historical Studies: Monasteries and Convents, 4. Convent of Saint Benedict (St. Joseph, Minnesota: Saint Benedict’s Convent, 1957), 113.]
Saint John’s
[If the people of Bismarck had to get used to the sisters, the monks had to get used to a new environment and culture in the Bahamas, where they eventually established a monastery. Abbot Alexius Edelbrock, shortly before his death in 1891, sent Father Chrysostom Schreiner to the Bahamas, as part of a deal with Archbishop Corrigan of New York, who gave Saint John’s a parish in New York with the stipulation that they take over ecclesiastical charge of the Bahamas, then under the jurisdiction of the New York archdiocese.]
Saint John’s for years, however, had no official association with the project. It was a case of nonrecognition in theory and cooperation in practice.
In practice, perhaps this was the best procedure. For as members of the community were able to visit the islands and slowly come to understand the need and potential of this mission field, the work became an integral part of the abbey’s life.
[Father Chrysostom sent the following initial report to Archbishop Corrigan:]
“There are about 50 practical Catholics here, children included. The number of apostate Catholics is about 20, of whom I think, some can be reclaimed. These figures are not thoroughly reliable. During the month I will see every Catholic here and will then give your Grace the exact numbers.”
[From Colman Barry, OSB, Worship and Work, 3rd ed. (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1993), 206, 208.]