Home Oblate

What are Oblates? Oblates are Christian individuals (and couples) who seek spiritual growth and fellowship by associating with our community. They shape their lives by incorporating the spirituality in the Rule of St. Benedict into their secular lives. Oblates seek to become holy in the world and to bring the world to God as witnesses of Christ through word and example to those around them. There are no prescribed religious practices or prayers in the daily life of an Oblate and they do not take religious vows like the monks and sisters do. Our Oblate group meets monthly on the first Sunday of the month in the afternoon starting at 2 p.m. There is a time for getting acquainted with visitors and new people, a teaching for about 45 minutes, time for reflection on the teaching and then group sharing. Meanwhile those seeking to join the Oblate community take a separate class using a workbook learning the Benedictine spirituality from the Rule of St. Benedict. The Oblate day concludes with everyone participating in Vespers followed by a pot-luck supper. Currently there are about 60 who have made oblation with the Benedictine Monastery of Hawaii. About 30-35 are still actively involved and regularly attending Oblate meetings. There are about 10 more who are Oblate novices, who have committed themselves to spending a year attending oblate days and learning Benedictine Spirituality in the hope of making oblation, (offering themselves to God). For more information about the Oblate program and for those interested in becoming Oblates, contact Br. Gregory Fored at the monastery. Benedictine Monastery of Hawaii Box 490, Waialua, Hawaii 96791 (808) 637-7887 (808) 637-8601 [fax] benedictHI@verizon.net