A community of Norbertine priests from California is putting down roots in the Midwest by opening a new priory and educational institute in Springfield, Illinois, this summer.
Father Augustine Puchner, OPraem, the community’s new prior, told Catholic News Agency that the new priory and institute represent the fruition of an almost 20-year vision for the growing Norbertine community. Puchner lives at the new priory in Springfield with six other Norbertine priests from St. Michael’s Abbey in Orange County, California.
Located in the former Corpus Christi Priory on Springfield’s northeast side, which has been standing nearly a century, the new priory is technically still “dependent” on the main abbey in California, but the goal is for the priory to grow and gain its independence in the coming years, Puchner said.
The new priory had its official opening July 1. The Norbertines plan to offer daily Mass and thrice-weekly confessions in the new space, located at 4867 Laverna Rd., as well as host diocesan events and retreats for groups and individuals. The buildings and grounds of Corpus Christi Priory are the former site of the Chiara Center, operated by the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, who will continue to live in a convent on the property. The Norbertine fathers will serve as chaplains for the sisters, Puchner said….
The new initiative, The Evermode Institute, seeks to serve Catholic teachers, administrators, and formators by offering a complete curriculum in the fundamentals of the Catholic faith that is “confident in its Catholicism and clear in its approach,” its website proclaims. It’s named for the 12th century St. Evermode, a close collaborator of St. Norbert. Evermode is known for his “great and effective works of evangelization and formation in the Catholic faith,” the Springfield Diocese said….
From the Catholic News Agency
These priests are the best! Great news for the Midwest.
“If you build it, they will come.”
Wonderful news.
Another sign of the new springtime that Saint John Paul II spoke about.
You have an order of very faithful priests, determined to impart the faith in all its splendor. If all the religious orders showed such zeal, what a spring time it would be.
I know they did not build this but it seems large for seven priests.
I keep thinking of St. Teresa of Avila who wanted small convents.
“But as for a large ornate convent, with a lot of buildings—God preserve us from that! Always remember that these things will all fall down on the Day of Judgment, and who knows how soon that will be?
It would hardly look well if the house of thirteen poor women made a great noise when it fell, for those who are really poor must make no noise: unless they live a noiseless life people will never take pity on them.”
And she also says “Those who erect large houses will no doubt have good reasons for doing so. I do not utterly condemn them: they are moved by various holy intentions.
Way of Perfection, Chapter 2
If someone donates a priory to a growing Religious community (or if it’s purchased as a reduced price), that community does not determine its size.
Also, Carmelite spirituality isn’t necessarily for Norbertines or others.
Saint Teresa of Avila is great. But, that. doesn’t mean her vision is imposed on the entire Church. Think of St.Francis as well. He had a very strict rule that the Church modified, even for the Franciscans (as happened with St. Teresa of Kolkata).
That is a good point.
The article does not say whether they are just living there and it is owned by the diocese or if they purchased it or it was given to them.
this says that the property was placed in a trust to be used for religious purposes.
https://ct.dio.org/bishops-column/messages.html