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Coordinates: 40°44′08″N 74°10′48″W / 40.735509°N 74.180007°W / 40.735509; -74.180007
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==School==
==School==
The abbey operates a high school, Saint Benedict's Preparatory School that has been active since 1868, although it was briefly shut down in the 1960s due to disagreements between rival factions of monks about whether to continue serving the community, which had seen demographic changes after World War II. After a vote to close the school, Patrick Leahy, a graduate and monk, reestablished it with a group of other monks. The school provides temporary housing for students who have dysfunctional homes, or in the event of a crisis at home.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/26/nyregion/education-newark-school-to-offer-shelter-with-education.html|title=EDUCATION; Newark School To Offer Shelter With Education|last=Smothers|first=Ronald|date=26 March 2000|publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=13 May 2016}}</ref> This temporary housing is the formalization of an earlier system through which some students could live at the school.
The abbey operates a high school, Saint Benedict's Preparatory School that has been active since 1868, although it was briefly shut down in the 1960s due to disagreements between rival factions of monks about whether to continue serving the community, which had seen demographic changes after World War II. After a vote to close the school, Patrick Leahy, a graduate and monk, reestablished it with a group of other monks. The school provides temporary housing for students who have dysfunctional homes, or in the event of a crisis at home.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/26/nyregion/education-newark-school-to-offer-shelter-with-education.html|title=EDUCATION; Newark School To Offer Shelter With Education|last=Smothers|first=Ronald|date=26 March 2000|publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=13 May 2016}}</ref> This temporary housing is the formalization of an earlier system through which some students could live at the school. [[Robert E. Brennan]], a graduate of the school, has provided several large donations to keep the institution open, and to facilitate new construction.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1984/11/18/nyregion/school-s-alumnus-gives-it-5-million.html|title=SCHOOL'S ALUMNUS GIVES IT $5 MILLION|last=Narvaez|first=Alfonzo|date=18 November 1984|publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=13 May 2016}}</ref>


[[Robert E. Brennan]], a graduate of the school, has provided several large donations to keep the institution open, and to facilitate new construction.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1984/11/18/nyregion/school-s-alumnus-gives-it-5-million.html|title=SCHOOL'S ALUMNUS GIVES IT $5 MILLION|last=Narvaez|first=Alfonzo|date=18 November 1984|publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=13 May 2016}}</ref>
A charter school operates on the grounds of the abbey, in the facilities formerly used by an elementary school. The charter school generates annual income for the abbey.<ref>{{cite web|url=To Survive, a Catholic School at Newark Abbey Makes Way for a Rival|title=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/28/education/28newark.html?_r=0|last=Hu|first=Winnie|date=27 August 2009|publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=13 May 2016}}</ref>


===Documentary===
===Documentary===

Revision as of 16:00, 13 May 2016

40°44′08″N 74°10′48″W / 40.735509°N 74.180007°W / 40.735509; -74.180007 Newark Abbey, formally known as "The Benedictine Abbey of Newark", is a Benedictine monastery located in Newark, New Jersey. The monks serve the community through Saint Benedict's Preparatory School and St. Mary's Abbey Church, which are situated on the abbey's grounds.

As of April 2016, the community has twelve members in solemn vows, one in temporary vows, and two novices. Melvin J. Valvano, O.S.B., has been Abbot since 1973.

History

The monastery has its roots in a parish, St. Mary’s, that was founded in 1842 to serve the immigrant German Catholics. [1] By 1857, monks were sent from Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, to staff the parish and establish a monastic community. The newly-established community was known as Saint Mary’s Priory. In 1868, responding to the request of the local Bishop for a school for the children of the workers who would find it difficult to allow their sons to go to a boarding school, the monks founded St, Benedict’s College (later St. Benedict’s Prep). In 1884, the monastery became independent of Saint Vincent and became known as St. Mary’s Abbey. In 1924, land was bought in Morris County, and a daughter-house was established. The title “St. Mary’s Abbey” would be transferred to the daughter house in 1956, with the Newark community becoming known once again as St. Mary’s Priory. In 1968, the Newark community was granted independence from St. Mary’s Abbey, and took the legal name, the Benedictine Abbey of Newark, being known popularly as Newark Abbey.[2]

Monks of the school have a relationship with Nigerian bishop Francis Arinze, who has been a visitor to local churches.[3]

School

The abbey operates a high school, Saint Benedict's Preparatory School that has been active since 1868, although it was briefly shut down in the 1960s due to disagreements between rival factions of monks about whether to continue serving the community, which had seen demographic changes after World War II. After a vote to close the school, Patrick Leahy, a graduate and monk, reestablished it with a group of other monks. The school provides temporary housing for students who have dysfunctional homes, or in the event of a crisis at home.[4] This temporary housing is the formalization of an earlier system through which some students could live at the school. Robert E. Brennan, a graduate of the school, has provided several large donations to keep the institution open, and to facilitate new construction.[5]

A charter school operates on the grounds of the abbey, in the facilities formerly used by an elementary school. The charter school generates annual income for the abbey.[6]

Documentary

The critically acclaimed documentary about Newark Abbey and its school Saint Benedict's Preparatory School, The Rule (2014), by Emmy-nominated, Newark-based filmmakers Marylou and Jerome Bongiorno, was released theatrically,[7] broadcast nationally on PBS,[8][9] and was screened by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans at the U.S. Department of Education.[10]

References

  1. ^ McPadden, Malachy M., ed. (1992) The Benedictines in Newark [Newark Abbey Press, Newark], p. 5-6
  2. ^ Curley, Augustine J. (2006) "Monks and the City: A Unique New Experience" https://www.shu.edu/theology/upload/monks-in-the-city.pdf
  3. ^ Golway, Terry (10 April 2005). "UP FRONT: WORTH NOTING; Could Newark End Up With a Friend in the Vatican?". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  4. ^ Smothers, Ronald (26 March 2000). "EDUCATION; Newark School To Offer Shelter With Education". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  5. ^ Narvaez, Alfonzo (18 November 1984). "SCHOOL'S ALUMNUS GIVES IT $5 MILLION". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  6. ^ Hu, Winnie (27 August 2009). [To Survive, a Catholic School at Newark Abbey Makes Way for a Rival "http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/28/education/28newark.html?_r=0"]. The New York Times. Retrieved 13 May 2016. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); External link in |title= (help)
  7. ^ "The Rule': Film Review". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
  8. ^ "The Rule - PBS film website".
  9. ^ "PBS Pressroom - THE RULE". Pressroom.pbs.org. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
  10. ^ "U.S. Department of Education - ed blog".

Further reading

  • McPadden, Malachy M., ed. (1992) The Benedictines in Newark [Newark Abbey Press, Newark]
  • Holtz, Albert (2012) Downtown Monks: A Benedictine Journey in the City Morehouse Publishing, New York. ISBN 9780819227805.
  • Thornton, Paul E. (1980) "Ora et Labora." Metro-Newark!, 25:6 (December 1980), 16-19.
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