A Spiritual Union

As companions to Newark Abbey, Oblates participate in the life and mission of The Rule of St. Benedict and deepen their personal faith journeys. 

The St. Benedict’s Prep community is well acquainted with the Benedictine Monks of Newark Abbey who are omnipresent on the Property and at School events. But did you know there are 30 active Oblates of Newark Abbey who serve as companions in our Benedictine mission? Oblates are laypeople who associate with a Benedictine monastic community and commit themselves to living a life of prayer, work and community, guided by the spiritual principles of The Rule of St. Benedict. 

“Oblates rose as a possibility for lay people to get involved and connected with monasteries,” explained Rev. Maximilian Buonocore, O.S.B. H’15, who has served as Oblate Director since 2023. Canonical status was granted to Oblates in 1898 by Pope Leo XIII and structured programs in the U.S. grew in the 20th century. In 1997, The Cloister Walk, a New York Times bestselling memoir recounting Kathleen Norris’s spiritual journey as an Oblate at St. John’s Abbey, Minnesota, brought renewed interest in the movement. 

The Oblates of Newark Abbey are a diverse group that includes novices and full Oblates. Some are parishioners of St. Mary’s Church; others are St. Benedict’s alumni or men and women who’ve learned about Newark Abbey by word-of-mouth or through social media. Most live in northern New Jersey, while others participate from Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut and Illinois. Oblates are primarily Catholic but not exclusively so. According to Fr. Max, the spiritual program is open to laypeople of any Christian denomination. Much of the formation happens in weekly evening meetings. Sessions are held online for prayer, Bible study and discussion of The Rule of St. Benedict, as well as monthly conferences. “When the pandemic happened, we had to do everything in Zoom meetings, which turned out to be Divine Providence,” said Fr. Max. “If you live close to Newark Abbey or in another state, it makes formation very doable.” 

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“Oblates rose as a possibility for lay people to get involved and connected with monasteries.”

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Oblates assist with ministries including the Urban Farm on the Property, the Pierre Toussaint Food Pantry, preparing St. Mary’s Church for Christmas and Easter, and Monkfest hosted by Newark Abbey in August. Since some Oblates live some distance from Newark, “They’re encouraged to be involved in their parish and to volunteer because that’s part of their spirituality formation,” said Fr. Max. “Learning how to apply The Rule of St. Benedict to your life is a commitment to prayer and service. Many people find it’s a wonderful thing to do, and they don’t have to be right here to do it.” 

The weekly online meetings are open to anyone interested in Oblate formation or deepening their spirituality. Contact Fr. Max at mbuonocore@sbp.org.