Father Albert OSB

[FatherAlbert]

Hello brothers and sisters,

My name is Father Albert. I am a priest of the United Catholic Church and a professed monks in the ecumenical religious order of the Grey Robed Monks of St. Benedict. You have access to additional information about my post-denominational fellowship and my religious order on the Web.

I cam to priesthood after a long career in public education. Although I have felt called to serve since I was a small child, many obstacles stood in my way, the major one being the Roman Catholic Church of which I was a very devout member. I became a teacher, married, and continue to practice my faith as a Roman Catholic until I was well into my forties. At that time, I became very disillusioned and turned to my mentors, Henri Nouwen, Joan Chittester, and Thomas Merton, to sustain me spiritually.

A near death experience after surgery was the catalyst for me to find a Catholic fellowship which was open and accepting and truly Catholic in all other respects. My apostolic succession as a priest is insured through the Union of Utrecht (the Old Catholic Church.)

I serve the unchurched, the marginalized, the alienated.

[Daniel]

I have, myself, found much in the writings of Thomas Merton, who the monks of Tibet called the Jesus Lama, a phrase which has always made me smile: I joke that I am openly gay but a closet Buddhist. You are talking to a former Pentecostal here. :) After I left the AG church (or rather found that there was no room for me) in the middle 80's, I investigated other faiths. And have been richly rewarded in the journey.

You are most welcome here and will find others who share your concern and passion for the marginalized and the alienated.

As such- this is a place of sancturary for gay persons who are coming to terms with themselves and their faith. I hope to see you in the discussions and extend to you the warm friendship that abounds on these threads.

Pax,

Daniel

[Zerbie]

Welcome. :)

[nmwolfboy]

Welcome, Fr. Albert! :wave:

i'd love to hear more about the Grey Robed Monks of St. Benedict. There's a Benedictine Order (Christ in the Desert Monastery (http://www.christdesert.org/)) a short drive away from where i live. i've often considered going on a retreat there, but since it's an RC order, a liberal Episcopalian like me wouldn't be allowed to share in the Eucharist. :(

Again, well met and welcome!

Pax, :dove:
scott

[BenL]

Welcome, Father Albert,

I was a Dominican (think, Albertus Magnus) for a while, until it was time to take solemn vows. My religious name was Benedict, and Ben remains my nickname with almost everyone. Why did I leave? Because I'm gay, and I did not find I could live out a vocation in religious life as it was constituted then. I wandered into the Episcopal Church more than three decades ago, and while the ECUSA is not immune from homophobia -- witness the current controversies -- I have been able to live peacefully as a gay Christian man within its spacious nave.

Welcome to Soulforce. We're looking forward to your insights.

[tymejumper]

Hello and welcome Father. You have quite a story! I have a Social Worker at my job whom decided to not become a Preist because he wanted to marry. He actually got into seminary school(or whatever that's called). He has pics of him as a novice priest but did not take his vows.

Many years later, after he became a Social worker, he still felt the calling so now he is to be ordained a minister but I think he is Lutheran or something.

[Gennee]

Hi Fr. Albert and welcome to the site. I have read Thomas Merton's writings and find them much help.

Gennee

:love::pray::wave:

[antiochian]

Hello, Father. I wanted to be a priest/monastic from the time I was young. Had planned to enter the novitiate at an Eastern Orthodox monastery a few years back, but it didn't work out. And I have since changed my mind, for now anyway. Monasticism is truly a unique calling, not for the vast human majority. Do stick around. I definitely plan to check out your website when I get a chance. Pray for me a sinner. Jeffery.