Saint Patrick Abbey and Abbey Church
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The American Congregation of Saint Benedict
The American Congregation of Saint Benedict was founded in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin by Episcopal Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Charles Grafton, who also served as the first Abbot. Father William Henry Francis Brothers, OSB served as the first prior and the Abbey was named for Saint Dunstan. In 1911, the Abbey was turned over to the care of the Polish Old Catholic Church and moved to Waukeegan, Illinois. Father Brothers, OSB was then elected Abbot. The Abbey continued on in Waukegan. Some of the early residents of the Abbey were, Archbishop Joseph Rene Vilatte, Bishop Rudolph delandas Berghes and Archbishop Walace David deOrtega Maxey (Maxey being ordained to the priesthood by Vilatte in 1921) In 1929, Father Maxey was consecrated bishop by the Rt. Rev. William Montgomery Brown, the retired Episcopal Bishop of Arkansas and then auxiliary bishop of the Old Catholic Church in America. Maxey was sent to his native Los Angeles, CA to establish the Old Catholic Church and the Benedictine Congregation. This he did, at Saint james Old Catholic Church in Santa Monica. The American Congregation of Saint Benedict remained a vital part of Old Catholic history in California unyil 1951, when Maxey retired from the episcopacy. In the January meeting of the 1999 Synod of the Apostolic Episcopal Church, Province of The West, united with the Old Catholic Church in America, the American Congregation of Saint Benedict was restored in California and Bishop Donald Pierce Weeks was elected Abbot. Father Abbot Weeks was blessed in Holy Angels Chapel, Sunday May 23, 1999 by Archbishop Bernard Dawe. There he made his solemn profession and was enthroned as Abbot of Saint Patrick Abbey, Oakland, CA.
Saint Patrick Abbey and Abbey Church
Saint Patrick Abbey and Abbey Church are located at 3700 East 12th Street Oakland, CA 94601. The Abbey is an Old Catholic Anglican-Rite congregation of the American Congregation of Saint Benedict. The Rt. Rev. Donald Pierce Weeks, OSB is our Abbot and Pastor of the Abbey Church. Saint Patrick Abbey is located in the Fruitvale District of Oakland, CA just off Highway 80 and one block from the Fruitvale BART station. We are an urban group of monks following the Rule of Saint Benedict. The Abbey is supported by the outreach ministries of the monks: Saint Joseph's Mission Church (San Francisco); La Mision Episcopal Guadalupe (Oakland); Saint Patrick Abbey Housing Program; The Abbey Deaf and Hard of Hearing Ministry; the HIV/AIDS Ministry; and the Abused Catholic ministry. Presently there are 6 active priests and one retired priest assisting at the Abbey. We are seeking vocations and we invite anyone interested in religious life as a monk, to work in an urban/inner-city ministry to contact our vocation director, Father Samuel Bassett, OblSB at samlb@best.com. May God Bless you and yours.
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