As of June 25, 2003

SECOND ANNUAL

BRIDGEFOLK GATHERING

Spiritual Practices for Violent Times

Catholics and Mennonites Bridging the Divide

St. John’s Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota

July 17-20, 2003

Thursday, July 17

All sessions are in the Alumni Lounge (Quadrangle, first floor) unless otherwise noted

All day Registration Summer Registration Center, Mary Hall, Lower Level

3:00 Tour of the Abbey Church; Introduction to Monastic Prayer

Abbey Church (optional)

5:00 Mass Abbey Church (optional)

5:30 Supper

First meal on Conference Meal Contract

Your name tag is your meal ticket.

If you are living off-campus but wish to take a meal in the dining room, you may pay as you go through the line.

7:00 Welcome

7:15 Opening Worship

7:45 Introduction to the theme of the conference and the methodology for our conversation

8:00 A story of “breaking down the dividing wall” (Eph 2:14)

8:15 Group Spiritual Practice (Lectio divina of Eph 2: 11-22)

8:50 Helpful information

9:00 Social Sexton Commons

Friday, July 18

7:00 Morning Prayer Abbey Church (optional)

7:30 Breakfast (Breakfast is available at 7:00)

8:00 Opening Worship Service

8:30 “Questions out of the hat” – 10 minutes

Story I

Abbot John Klassen

The response of Saint John’s Abbey to Victims of Sexual Abuse

Moderator: Marlene Kropf

9:45 Coffee break: Allée Plaza or Dining Room

10:15 Small group discernment Anywhere except Alumni Lounge

· What spiritual practices in this story invited and sustained a peaceable Christian response to violence?

· Why were they significant?

· What do these practices offer us and our churches?

12:00 Noon Prayer Abbey Church (optional)

12:15 Lunch (Lunch is available at 11:30)

Free time (Some possibilities: Swimming, hiking, tennis, a visit to St. Bridget of Kildare Methodist monastery; a 40 minute BBC video on the Saint John’s Bible and exhibit of pages from the Gospels and Acts; a walk or drive to the arboretum….)

2:30 Coffee Great Hall

3:00 “Questions out of the hat” – 10 minutes

Panel I:

Community Peace Building & Dialogue as Spiritual Practice

Andrea Bartoli: The Sant'Egidio Community

Marilyn Stahl and Dick Giseburt: The Mennonite visit to Sant'Egidio

5:00 Mass Abbey Church (optional)

5:45 Supper

7:00 Panel II: Dialogue as Spiritual Practice

Helmut Harder on the International Mennonite Catholic Dialogue

Peter Erb on the Anabaptist Martyrs Conference

Moderator: Abbot John Klassen, O.S.B.

8:00 Ritual of reconciliation and healing Emmaus Hall Chapel

9:00 Ice Cream Social Emmaus Hall Dining Room

Saturday, July 19

7:00 Morning Prayer, Abbey Church (optional)

7:30 Breakfast (Breakfast is available at 7:00)

8:30 Opening Worship Service

9:00 “Questions out of the hat” – 10 minutes

Story II

Weldon and Marg Nisly

Opposing war and witnessing for peace in Seattle and Baghdad

Moderator: Marlene Kropf

10:15 Coffee break

10:30 Small group discernment

· What spiritual practices in this story invited and sustained a peaceable Christian response to violence?

· Why were they significant?

· What do these practices offer us and our churches?

12:00 Lunch

Free time

4:00 Summary of small groups’ discernment of spiritual practice:

“What do we do with what we are learning?”

6:00 Agape with foot washing and hymn sing

Centenary Room (Q264)

9:00 Social Sexton Commons

Sunday, July 20

7:00 Morning Prayer, Abbey Church (optional)

7:30 Breakfast (Breakfast is available at 7:00)

8:30 Opening Worship Service

9:00 Wrap up/planning for the future

Listening Panel: Alice Noe, Rene McGraw, Sheri Hostetler

10:30 Mass with the monastic community Abbey Church

12:00 Lunch Last meal on Conference meal contract