North Central Region Visitation - 2002
John Michael Talbot

Brothers and Sisters,

Viola and I are just home from a most successful and encouraging Visitation of the North Central Region of the Domestic expression of our community. Many thanks to our Regional Minister and Vicar, Rick Manella and John Puleo, our Domestic General Minister, Eve Weiss, our friend and coworker Mike Reasoner, and the many others who helped to make this a truly successful visitation!

We began by flying to Minneapolis after World Youth Day in Toronto. After a day or so of rest we did two concerts in the Minneapolis area at Ham Lake and Medina, and one in the vacationer's paradise of Cross Lake. Everywhere we found the people most supportive of our community and ministry, and many expressed interest in our way of life. We concluded with a contemplative Prayer Walk in the St. Paul area. We hope and pray that these more public events can help to establish some cell groups in this part of the region.

From there we moved on to formally visit our cell groups in the Dubuque area with the Rauen family on the farm that has been in their family for five generations. Then we visited the Herberts in Mendota, and our younger neighborhood cluster community coordinated by Tom Buonincontro (to absolutely no exclusion of energetic participation by the others!) in Westmont Illinois. Each of these is appropriately different from the other in tone, for all preserve faithfully the Brothers and Sisters of Charity Domestic charism in a most beautiful way.

During this time we had the time to stay overnight with the Cistercians in their Guest House and Retreat Facility at New Melleray Abbey, where Dave Rauen helps with their agricultural farms, and monastic casket businesses. We so enjoyed the contemplative monastic environment, which became a reminder of our own monastic home. Dave took us on the "grand tour," which is a most impressive attestation to the faithfulness of monks from the past, and those of the present. I enjoyed singing at Mass at the Abbey as well.

After this we made stop to visit our retired founding bishop, Andrew J. McDonald at the Little Sisters of the Poor in the suburbs of Chicago. It was wonderful to celebrate Mass with him and the precious elderly to whom he still ministers, and to provide music for that celebration. He embarrassed us with high praises to the local community. We shared stories and some quiet tears as we reminisced, and spoke of how we are all doing. I was again reminded of Bishop Andrew's saintliness, which prompted him to choose to remain in the mission diocese of Little Rock instead of seeking "promotion" to a larger diocese. His quiet yet powerful words overflowed from a treasury of wisdom learned in a way that only comes with the experience of many faithful years of service to and love of Jesus Christ.

From there we ventured to St. Benedict's Abbey and Retreat Center on the border between central Wisconsin and Illinois for our North Central Regional Annual Gathering. It was such a joy to see all we had just visited, plus many more from around the Region. We were also blessed with the presence of our Domestic General Minister, Eve Weiss. The beautiful setting on the shore of Benet Lake, and the accommodating staff and facility, made this a perfect spot for the Gathering, which went off without a hitch. During this Gathering I taught from the Come to the Quiet Book, which seemed well received.

We then traveled to Milwaukee to visit a newly forming community and ministry who wish to associate with us in some way. We celebrated a beautiful Feast of St. Clare with them, and discussed further discernment tools regarding their becoming a part of our community. Time will test their call, and will direct them and us to their right place in the Church.

We concluded with a wonderful visit and concert for the Dominican Sinsinawa Mound near Dubuque. With places such as New Melleray Abbey, this holy place reminded us of the faithfulness and sacrifices of our spiritual forbears. This remarkable place was once the residence for 1700 sisters at a time, who were also sent around the region to help in a faithful religious and secular education. The concert was most special in that place. I shared the stage with our domestic brother, Greg Walton. Between my witness and his, some 100 names were generated for interest in our community there.

The next day Viola and I rented a car and spent a leisurely two days driving back to Little Portion Hermitage, not wanting to navigate the security checks of flying two guitars back home. We are home, tired but invigorated by the wonderful spirit in His Spirit that is so evident with our Domestic brothers and sisters of Charity in the North Central Region. Thanks to all who helped make this visit such a success.

May God bless you with His peace, joy, and charity in Christ and the Church.

In Jesus,
John Michael Talbot
Founder and General Minister,
The Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage