2024 Annual Appeal

Greetings Friends!

In this season of gratitude and hope, I am reminded of the many blessings we have enjoyed since The Benedictine Way first opened its doors. Recently, hundreds of supporters who have embraced our ministry came together at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral to celebrate the fifth anniversary of our founding. It was a blessed and joyous occasion during which Brother Jerry Thompson responded to God’s call as our entire community prayed him into his solemnly professed vows. During that memorable night, The Benedictine Way also welcomed a new member of the Benedictine Service Corps and several new Oblates. We’ve enjoyed so much growth and yet we know we must not rest on our laurels.

Five years ago we were a fledgling religious order dedicated to prayer, building community, and helping those in need. We faced several uphill battles as we established our roots. The global pandemic, the need for social distancing, an economic downturn, and civil unrest in our country seemed to trumpet nothing but hardship and doom during our early years.

Our young community prayed continually and responded to all of these obstacles with grace and ingenuity.

LOOKING FORWARD
We are working hard to expand our ministry throughout Nebraska and beyond. Our virtual Centering Prayer Ministry continues to grow leaps and bounds since its beginning in 2020. We will soon embark on a new prayer journey, Contemplative Underground, calling more of the faithful to a deeper, richer connection with Jesus through the teachings of various forms of contemplative prayer. Contemplative Underground will be an online ministry, particularly reaching out to our friends living in rural and underserved areas.

The Benedictine Way and our young adult ministry, The Benedictine Service Corps, continue outreach to those challenged by food insecurity and homelessness. St. Benedict’s Food Pantry is now open a second day each week in response to the tremendous need for help in North Omaha. At the pantry, we provide fresh produce grown in our three urban gardens, purchased non-perishable items, and donated food items. We have the privilege of serving several hundred people per week who are food insecure.

We also provide retreats, ministry to immigrants, support for the unhoused, and participation in the LGBTQ Rainbow Initiative pilot program. We plan to expand our Monastery in Residence program, sharing monastic prayer traditions, teaching contemplative prayer, offering workshops, and listening to the voices of other Christians who are living in isolated regions. Of course, our greatest priority is to always pray for all and rejoice in God’s love and creation.

Will you look to the future with us? Please make a generous donation today to help us continue to grow our ministries throughout Nebraska and America’s heartland. You can give to our annual appeal here. If you prefer, you may make an annual pledge of support online or send a check to the address below. We promise to put your donation to good use, planting seeds of hope and growing them through prayer and service.

We are humbled by the outpouring of love we experienced as we celebrated our five years as a community. We remain faithful and forever thankful to God for hearing our prayers. We are also truly grateful for our many friends like you who have lifted us up in prayer and provided financial support to make our work possible.

May you know only love and peace during the Blessed Advent Season.

Peace in Christ,

Brother James Dowd, OSB
Prior
Incarnation Monastery
3020 Belvedere Blvd.
Omaha, NE 68111

P.S. Your gift will help us to continue to minister to those who need us throughout the Heartland.