Pope’s Visit to Korea

The visit of Pope Francis to South Korea 13-18 August 2014 has drawn worldwide attention to the agitated church history of this country. In a radio feature of the Bayerisscher Rundfunk Abbot Primate Notker and Abbot President Jeremias explain the role of the Benedictines in the evangelization of Korea.

Radio Feature

Congregation House renovated

The renovation of the Congregation House, seat of the Congregation offices at St. Ottilien, was finished in September 2014. The old procure building had been put up in 1972 following a decision of the general chapter. It needed re-roofing and new windows, re-wiring, a new entrance and some interior reconfiguration. It now houses the offices for the abbot preisdent, the Congregation procurator and the Congregation secretary, the administration and the logistics office, a small library and conference room. The same building also houses the mission procure of the archabbey of St. Ottilien and its press office.

Old People’s Home in China Inaugurated

On 21 March 2014, the feast of St Benedict, the archbishop of Shenyang inaugurated the new Benedictine old people’s home in Shuanghe, North East China. An earlier very simple buliding had been destroyed by a flood a few years ago. The new old people’s home can host 100 senior citizens and thus is an Catholic contribution to the growing need for care for the elderly who can no longer be looked after by their offspring, a result of the one-child-policy.

The compound also houses a church which will serve the local catholic population, and a building for the monastic community which is responsible for the home.

Photos by G. Birkle