St. Benedict (480-547), who was born at Nursia in Umbria in about 480 and was sent to Rome to be educated, but soon left the world to live a solitary life at Subiaco. After living in a cave in the mountains for two years as a hermit, he had acquired such a reputation that disciples came in numbers to join him and important Roman families entrusted him with the education of their children. He organized a form of monastic life in twelve small monasteries. Under his guidance, as abbot, the monks vowed to seek God and devoted themselves to work and prayer. A few years later St. Benedict left the district of Subiaco to found the great abbey of Monte Cassino on the heights of Campania. There he wrote his Rule in which are wonderfully combined the Roman genius and the monastic wisdom of the Christian East. St. Benedict died in 547.
On Monday, March 21st, the Feast of St. Benedict, Holy Face Monastery in Clifton, New Jersey celebrated a new page in its over 60 year history. During his visit to the monastery, a few days before the Feast, our Prior, Fr. Damien Gjonaj, appointed a "new" Superior of the community. Since 2019, the position was held by two monks, Fr. Louis Navaratne and Br. Antony Maldonado. Ideally, there should be only one superior of a religious house and the last 3 years served as a transition period toward having the community be led by one monk. After some deliberations with the monks of Holy Face and much thought and prayer, Fr. Damien chose Br. Antony for the position. Brother was humble and gracious in accepting the responsibility and Father praised him for his courage in taking on the role of leadership. The appointment became official at a ceremony during the morning Mass on the day of the Feast. Please pray for Br. Antony, that the Lord will support him in his role and that together the monks of Holy Face Monastery will continue to glorify the Lord through their monastic witness!.