Canon Tony Moon admitted as Benedictine Oblate Novices

With Bishop Poulson Reed’s approval and encouragement, Fr. Tony met with Abbot Lawrence Stasyszen, OSB, and Fr.  Peter Shults, OSB, Oblate Master, to learn about the oblate (say: ah-blate) program at St. Gregory’s Abbey in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Fr. Tony learned that first and foremost, this is a program for anyone seeking to deepen their relationship with Christ. Fr. Tony and eight others were admitted to the novitiate for a one-year discernment period on November 10, 2024. You may recall that Bishop Poulson is a member of the Order of the Ascension, a dispersed Benedictine community related to the Episcopal Church.

Oblates do not live in a monastery, but select and adapt certain aspects of a monk’s life to their own life in the world. The oblate program is non-denominational. As Abbot Lawrence says, “We have Free Methodists, Catholics, Episcopalians, and Lutherans, among many denominations.” Oblates consist of men and women, primarily lay, but also ordained, married, divorced, single, or widowed. 

To deepen one’s relationship with God, novice oblates study The Rule of St. Benedict as a way to discern what in the Rule one can adapt to their own rule of life. Allowances are made for one’s own unique freedoms and constraints in life. Oblates routinely pray the Daily Office, or a part of it, in a Lectio Divina style—again, as best fits one’s life. The Abbey monks pray seven times a day, fitting their work around their prayer life. “Ora et Labora” or “Word and work,” as the monks say. It is a given that the monk’s formal prayer life is unrealistic for most working people. So, oblates tailor their prayer time to fit their lives and their spiritual needs. Oblates meet together two times per year, and periodically as desired for brief spiritual programs offered by the Abbey to the public. For more information, please contact Canon Tony at tonymoon52@gmail.com or Fr. Peter Shults at frpeter@monksok.org.