Thirty-five persons gathered at Saint John’s Abbey from July 25 to 28, 2024 for a Bridgefolk retreat focused on spiritual practices for peacemaking that support resistance and resilience. Six additional persons participated remotely through Zoom.
Abbot Doug Mullin welcomed the group to the Abbey on Thursday evening and BearPaw Shields, from the Native American Studies Center at St. Cloud State University, provided a welcome on behalf of the local indigenous community.
Beginning on Friday morning, each session began with a time of prayer, led by Abbey Dupuy, choral director at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud, Minn. These times were marked by thoughtful presentations of scripture, which included the two children who were present, as well as sung refrains that repeated throughout the retreat. Many participants expressed appreciation for the “simple yet profound” character of the worship. A retired pastor shared his appreciation for the engaging ways that scriptures were shared.
The introduction of a spiritual practice followed each worship period, with time for individual practice. These included spending time in nature, artistic expression, compassionate listening, and a labyrinth walk, which took the form of a chapel walk among the pews at Saint Benedict Monastery when the afternoon heat moved the group inside.
On Friday afternoon, Sarah Augustine, executive director of the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery, challenged participants to deepen their personal and communal commitment to addressing the injustice that indigenous communities around the world continue to experience. Bridgefolk conferences have prioritized the concerns of racial and indigenous justice since 2018, yet participants felt the urgency in a new way as Augustine lamented: “My people want to live.”
Afterward, Bridgefolk co-chair Ann Marie Biermaier, OSB, likened Augustine’s message to the “bolt of lightning that knocked Saul from his horse” in the story from Acts 9. She acknowledged the importance of next steps: “what are we going to do?” First-time participant Rosanne Fischer offered her experience in a “Repair Community” in Minnesota as one form of response. (See related article in this newsletter.)
Friday afternoon the sisters of the Saint Benedict’s Monastery welcomed the retreat group for their afternoon liturgy of prayer and to join their community for dinner. At dinner, Prioress Karen Rose OSB, a former Bridgefolk board member, gave a welcome on behalf of the monastery. In the evening the monastic community joined Bridgefolk participants in a hymn sing, led by Abbey Dupuy, Catherine Duenne OSB, Carol Meier, and a small group of musicians.
On Saturday evening, Phil Waite, pastoral team leader of College Mennonite Church, Goshen, Ind., presided at a foot washing and agape meal liturgy. Michelle Sherman, a spiritual director and retreat leader who works for Pax Christi USA, the national Catholic peace movement, gave the homily.
Saturday afternoon participants celebrated the retirement of former Abbot John Klassen OSB, who originally offered the emerging movement a home at Saint John’s Monastery. Klassen went on to serve as the Catholic co-chair of the Bridgefolk board for over 20 years. The celebration included video and written messages from people who have been part of Bridgefolk over the years but were not present at the retreat.
During the closing session, as they reflected on the weekend, many participants expressed appreciation for the retreat format. Several first-time participants thanked the group for their warm welcome and embrace. A number of persons wished for additional time to interact with Sarah Augustine in order to process her challenge and invitation at a deeper level. As Elizabeth Soto Albrecht concluded two terms on the Bridgefolk board, she noted that Bridgefolk is “still a well-kept secret. Many don’t know that we exist. Both Catholic and Mennonite church cultures, on the extreme, want to convert and acculturate. Bridgefolk offers space to embrace both; we don’t need to choose.”