Religious of the Diocese of Providence gather for picnic
 

The Abbey campus had just begun to settle into its annual late-spring period of respite on June 3, with the departure of the student body on their designated Travel Day. The Rhode Island rhododendrons had made their exuberant appearance, as if on cue, for graduation weekend and Memorial Day, but even they seemed to be taking their final bows and heading for the wings. This quiet downtime was to be short-lived, however. On Friday, June 10, overnight participants of the 2022 Humanitas Summer Symposium, hosted by the Portsmouth Institute for Faith and Culture, began arriving on Cory’s Lane. Among them was His Excellency, James D. Conley, Bishop of Lincoln, Nebraska, making his first visit to Aquidneck Island. The bishop delivered the keynote lecture following dinner that evening after which, he said, he planned to become a student once again, to sit back with his pad and pen and take notes during the three scheduled seminars of the next day. A full review of the Symposium activities appears elsewhere in this edition of The Current. 

Fr. Andrew Senay offers a prayer at the picnic

The pace quickened even more the next day with the monastery hosting the Summer Gathering of the Religious of the Diocese of Providence. One might call this an “annual” Summer Gathering, but for the fact that it was not held in 2020 nor in 2021, due to the COVID restrictions and lockdowns in place at the many religious houses throughout Rhode Island. The Portsmouth monks had been on tap to play host for both of those years and were now pleased to finally welcome the group to the Abbey. The event began with an 11 a.m. celebration of the Mass by Abbot Matthew Stark, followed at 11:45 by the recitation of Midday Prayers, joined by Diocesan Religious as well as Symposium attendees. The interaction between the two groups throughout the day was seamless, thanks to months of preplanning by Chris Fisher, Executive Director of the Portsmouth Institute, and Abbot Michael Brunner, assisted in so many areas by the various departments of the campus. As always, much appreciated help came from Operations, Grounds, Maintenance, Campus Safety, Housekeeping and, especially key for a picnic, Dining Services. Fr. Andrew Senay of the St. Louis Abbey, currently residing at Portsmouth, led the religious sisters, brothers and priests in giving thanks for the sunny but mild day. After saying grace and blessing the food, an al fresco lunch was served by the kitchen staff in the spacious monastic garden. The pergolas provided shade for anyone needing it, with the intertwining grapevines already sprouting their leaves. 

Dining under the pergolas

The only disappointing note was the absence of Sr. Elizabeth Castro, H.M.S.P., who was recovering from a bout with COVID. As the head of the Office for the Religious of the Diocese she, of all people, had been hoping that the picnic would finally come to fruition and was hoping to attend. Although she told us that she was feeling, “very strong, no pain, or more symptoms,” she had too recently tested positive to attend the picnic. Fortunately, the more technically advanced sisters at the lunch were able to “FaceTime” her from afar, giving her a virtual tour of the garden as well as of the food and beverage options available, with real-time greetings being sent her way across the Bay. Sr. Elizabeth texted a message of gratitude: “Thank you so much for your kindness and best wishes. I appreciate very much your warm hospitality. My prayers for everyone and best wishes to enjoy this beautiful day. God bless everyone at Portsmouth Abbey. My gratitude to Abbot Michael and the whole community for kindly hosting our diocesan Annual Picnic. God reward you abundantly, count on my special prayers.” 

Enjoying the afternoon picnic in the garden

The event brought together religious representing a number of orders within the diocese. With the Summer Symposium co-sponsored by the Providence College Humanities Program, and Fr. Paul Clarke, O.P., serving as a seminar leader, the many Dominican friars on campus that day were engaged in the Symposium and could not also attend the picnic. Dominicans, nevertheless, were ably represented by the Sisters of St. Cecilia of Nashville, headed by Sr. Josemaria Pence, principal of St. Pius V School in Providence. Also enjoying the gathering were the Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (S.A.B.S.) in Manville and, appropriately, the Daughters of Our Lady of the Garden (F.M.H.) in Johnston. A special guest was Anne Eden, a consecrated virgin in the diocese and a frequent visitor in years past to Portsmouth Abbey. She and Abbot Matthew spent a considerable amount of time happily reminiscing over their lunch and calling to mind the many monks and others who have passed from this life to their heavenly reward. The animated laughter between them, a sure sign of their long-standing friendship, entertained everyone around them in the garden. 

The monastic community was grateful for this additional opportunity to join with others of the Diocese of Providence. In his homily at Abbot Michael’s Abbatial Blessing Mass here on May 7, Bishop Thomas Tobin had remarked that the relationship between the Abbey and the diocese has “never been stronger.” Repeating that same message in casual conversation two weeks later when he returned to Cory’s Lane to attend the Catholic Schools Arts Festival at St. Philomena School, the bishop joked with bystanders that he had asked Fr. (Nathan) Ricci to drive him back to Portsmouth to start searching for a house to buy, since he has been spending so much time on the island. Additional opportunities have already arisen for shared fellowship, the next being Sunday, June 26, in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence. At 1:00 p.m. that afternoon, Bishop Tobin will be the principal celebrant at the Holy Mass bringing to a close the yearlong sesquicentennial celebration marking the 150^th year since the founding of the diocese in 1872. The Mass will be celebrated in the presence of His Excellency, The Most Reverend Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. The public is cordially invited to attend, and we look forward to seeing some Portsmouth Oblates and other friends there.