Newark Abbey
40°44′08″N 74°10′48″W / 40.735509°N 74.180007°W 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]
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,[3] broadcast nationally on PBS,[4][5] and was screened by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans at the U.S. Department of Education.[6]
References
- ^ McPadden, Malachy M., ed. (1992) The Benedictines in Newark [Newark Abbey Press, Newark], p. 5-6
- ^ Curley, Augustine J. (2006) "Monks and the City: A Unique New Experience" https://www.shu.edu/theology/upload/monks-in-the-city.pdf
- ^ "The Rule': Film Review". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
- ^ "The Rule - PBS film website".
- ^ "PBS Pressroom - THE RULE". Pressroom.pbs.org. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
- ^ "U.S. Department of Education - ed blog".
- 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.
External links
- Newark Abbey - official site