Visiting Community from Manquehue Apostolic Movement

Our four visitors from the Manquehue Apostolic Movement completed their time with us this past Thursday and have made their way back to Santiago, Chile. The purpose of their visit, stated simply, has been to animate the student lectio groups and faith experience, joining them in their search for God and their response to God’s Word. Berni Opazo, speaking on behalf of her group, highlighted the time they had “praying with them, participating in their lives, just being present.” She noted the authentic spirit of openness and conversion the students brought to lectio divina: “They have been truly motivated; we can really see God’s action in them.” In addition to this growth in student spirituality, the group was overwhelmed by the strong sense of community, feeling welcomed by students, faculty, and staff alike. And this experience was all centered for them in their interaction with the monastic community, a fundamental and most edifying aspect of the entire experience. Although undertaking the journey presented unique challenges and serious risks this year, they still feel they have “received double what we have given,” and have felt powerfully blessed by the “strong sense of community beginning from the time of quarantine that started the visit,” during which they felt the support of many who reached out to them.

A principal focus of the Manquehue team has been their work with students and support of the school’s student lectio groups, currently numbering eight. Integral to this project has been the training and cultivation of lectio leaders. Berni notes that the twenty-one leaders have remained active and are increasingly comfortable in their sense of what lectio is about and how to direct their groups. Beyond this core program, the team also assisted Fr. Michael in providing a two-day retreat for the Confirmation group. An effective activity they introduced was the making of rosaries. Berni noted that the process of making the rosaries was itself a silent and contemplative one. This experience of silence is, she comments, “not always so common in the students’ lives, and it proved to be particularly powerful.” The retreatants also heard testimonies from lectio leaders, who witnessed to the effect of prayer and scripture in their lives. The Confirmation retreat helped the MAM crew to deepen their relationships with students, and so to more fully engage with them and engage them in lectio. The Manquehue team has also gotten to know some of the faculty better, particularly Chris and Lauren Fisher, together with Dan and Emily McQuillan, who continue in their role in providing faculty guidance to lectio groups. The MAM group has been grateful to deepen that connection and to assist them with their own motivation in lectio, an assistance that proved mutual.

Visiting Manquehue community together with monastic community (photograph by Thomas Belcastro ’22)

The group felt most blessed in its contact with the monastic community. Praying the Divine Office in choir has been an unparalleled experience for them, of such central importance in their encounter with the power of this prayer and the sense of spiritual community. Despite masks and distancing, the visitors shared profoundly a feeling of presence and of a deep knowledge of this community. This bond with the monks was forged even in silence, the silence of prayer – especially and uniquely within that space. The monastic community also was able to continue the practice of hosting Sunday dinners, which opened conversation and strengthened a sense of fellowship. Despite the geographical and cultural differences, the Manquehue guests felt very connected to “ a shared search…a shared Christ,” as Berni frames it: “We were also able to see God acting in many of the little details of our encounters with the monks.”

While most would recognize in their journey a willingness to accept risk and stepping forward despite great challenge and hardship during this time of pandemic, the MAM team seems remarkably nonplussed. Rosario Achondo, the group’s leader, remarks simply: “We did not really feel brave; God knows our weakness.” She identifies a genuine gift of the Spirit to be moved to make the trip that, while objectively fraught with risk, seemed to them not at all threatening. Supplementing and affirming this gift of peace was the additional gift of feeling so welcomed into the community, from the first days of quarantine. Berni stresses that they see much evidence to confirm that they made the right decision, that God’s hand was in it: to have made the trip without incident and remaining healthy; to grow so close to the student groups; to see the fruits of their encounter with the monks. It proved a true joy to them to be able “to step forward to share light in darkness,” sharing the light of faith during a difficult winter.

Rosario, Trinidad, and Bernardita enjoying a snow day

The winter in fact had much to offer them this season: periodic snowfall accentuating the winter beauty; sunny and warm days during which they could explore the campus; the proximity to the beautiful Narragansett Bay. They also appreciated some of the wildlife, such as the crows reminding them of Benedict’s ravens, and the deer that boldly made their presence know during the quietude of the pre-term quarantine. Another highlight they noted was the winter musical, taking in rehearsals and performances alike, a rare treat during the pandemic, and watching the show come together into an accomplishment they found most impressive.

While much has changed in the monastic community since Rosario’s last visit in 2013, particularly with the loss of many of the monastic community, she recognizes the continuity that persists, its perseverance in the Rule, the same presence of the spirit in prayer. It is this shared prayer, with all of its spiritual vitality, at the center of the group’s engagement with the school that has also inspired the development of student spirituality and involvement in lectio over those years since her previous visit. And now, we here can only in turn express our gratitude for their energy and their gifts, and the many blessings they have brought to our community in their brief but momentous visit.