St benedict center erie pa: St. Benedict Education Center |
St. Benedict Education Center |
The announcement read: “St Benedict Education Center Fall Open House! See what’s going on at SBEC and discover opportunities!” The invitation was offered to all current clients – and many responded.
Tuesday, October 18th, was the day. Not since before the restrictions required by Covid have the halls of SBEC and Treasures & Such, the incentive store, contained such energy and activity — plus the presence of so many people interacting with each other. One of the staff planners, Shari Riley, shared: “Covid 19 has changed so much in the world…for all of us. It was uplifting to see everyone! All the participants seemed excited and interested. Laughter and good cheer filled our halls once again!”
Why an Open House for participants who have already been associated with SBEC?
This is a time of transition for many families, businesses, institutions, and agencies: A move from remote connections to in-person presence and interaction. SBEC has been working on successfully making this transition as well. Interactions between participants and staff and awareness of and involvement with program offerings have been encouraged.
Case Manager and planner Ebony Lindemann offered her vision for the day: “The purpose of the open house was to showcase the trainings, activities, and supports we have available for participants. The open house was also intended to motivate and encourage participants to come into this space. We wanted to relieve any fears or reservations participants may have by welcoming them into a caring, energetic, and motivated environment.”
Walking in the front door of SBEC offered quick evidence of the great amount of planning and work that went into making this special event so successful. A theme was chosen for the day: FALL. Ebony shares, “We decorated the halls with Fall cheer so that we could encourage participants to take part in this new season of opportunities. We had them tour the building, collecting information and resources along the way.
Participants were awarded a leaf for each department they visited. Those leaves then went into a drawing for a chance to win a gift basket.”
Various rooms throughout the building provided different types of information, resources, or services helpful to the clients. Staff were able to introduce the new curriculums they have been developing to aid in practical job readiness skills. Print resources and information was available to be taken. Store information was explained, and available items were on display. (See article on Treasures & Such page.) Sign-ups for the annual coat/boots, blankets/comforters, and holiday toys giveaways took place. Representatives from Dress for Success (clothing), Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC–child care), and Journey to a Trauma Informed Life (counseling service) were present to provide information.
Diane Catrabone, Support Person/Case Manager at SBEC reflects on the event: “I was hoping to promote the benefits of physically coming to SBEC for diverse scheduled activities, learn about community resources and feel individualized support.
More specifically, I aimed to highlight parenting support and get names of individuals interested in making the commitment to attend a 5-week parenting group. I also wanted to inform clients that Journey to a Trauma Informed Life will have a regular presence in our building and get a feel for who can benefit from this upcoming connection.”
Judged by the interest and general good spirit exhibited by participants, the Open House was a success. It seems accurate to say, without the support and help of the entire staff this could not have happened. It was an “SBEC team” effort. It offered an opportunity in this new season for the staff, as Program Director Stephanie Krauza said, “to come together and make an idea a fun day at SBEC! – something we all needed more than I think we realized.”
It does seem that “a new season of opportunities” could well have begun. May it continue.
| St. Benedict Education Center
“St. Benedict Education Center Fall Open House!” included tours of Treasures & Such, the incentive store, and an opportunity to shop with earned “Benny Bucks”.
Most participants knew of the store. The opportunity to tour it – and gain another “raffle leaf” for the gift basket – gave them a chance to hear about and see changes and additions that have enhanced it.
What did they experience? What did they learn?
For many the make-over of the space that happened a couple years ago was new: Fresh paint and new carpet; new tables and colorfully painted shelves; new window treatments; and a more spacious arrangement of items. Admiring comments were offered by those who hadn’t been in the store for a while.
A regular shopping day with designated times was established several months ago. Treasures & Such is open for shoppers most Tuesdays each month, 11:30-1:00 p.m. A monthly schedule is provided to all staff members. It will also be posted in the participant break room and on the outside door to the store. This has offered stability to the store routine, enabling staff and participants to plan their shopping days.
The store now purchases a limited number of items which cannot be bought through SNAP (food stamps): Cleaning supplies; paper products; and personal care items. This supplements the large selection of donations which are always available, thanks to the generosity of our staff, volunteers, friends, and families.
Treasures & Such has shifted its focus on the types of items offered in the store. Due to the changing needs and interests of recent shoppers, adult clothing and miscellaneous odds-and-ends are no longer accepted for donations. The present focus is on items for infants and children; basic, small appliances; pots and pans; sets of dishes, glasses, and mugs/cups. New books for children are also popular.
Open just in time for the Open House was a small “Show Room” set up in the warehouse immediately behind the store. This provides a space for larger items for children to be displayed and sold. On this first day several things were purchased, including an infant swing, a large easel with both chalk and white boards, and a kitchen play area.
This new addition will most likely continue to be very popular. It will remain open as long as donations of larger items for children continue to be made.
What has remained the same with Treasures & Such? The purpose: To offer some incentive to be an active participant at SBEC, meeting goals and expectations. This is the way to earn the Benny Bucks used in the store to purchase such attractive and needed items.
What is the same? The presence and care of volunteers who tend to the maintenance of the store and, more importantly, who attend to the needs of the shoppers.
One other thing perceptive participants would notice: The generosity of so many donors that is evident throughout the entire store. The variety and quality of the inventory is a clear indicator of this.
What’s going on in Treasures & Such? Plenty. The Fall Open House was an effective way to showcase it.
Cross and medallion of St. Benedict
Benedict of Nursia was born c.
480 in Nursia (modern Norcia), Italy. Died March 21, 547 in Monte Cassino, Italy. He is the founder of the Western monastic movement. Holy catholic and orthodox churches. In the Orthodox tradition, he is considered a reverend. The author of the “statute of St. Benedict” – the most important of the monastic charters of the Latin tradition.
St. Benedict, also called the Cross of St. Benedict, is one of the most ancient objects of private veneration in the Catholic Church. St. Benedict loved to pray in a special way to the Cross of Christ. He often blessed with the holy Cross, while doing many miracles.
In 1647, a manuscript depicting St. Benedict. In his right hand, the saint holds a staff with a cross, on the staff is visible the inscription: “Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti. Crux Sancta Sit Mihi Lux.” In the left hand of the saint is a scroll with the inscription: „Vade Retro Satana, Non Suade Mihi Vana. Non Draco Sit Mixi Dux.”
Since then the medallions of St.
Benedict acquired the following appearance: on the front side is depicted the holy patriarch Benedict, holding a cross in his right hand, and in his left hand a book, the Holy Rule, leading all who observe it through the Cross to the Eternal Light.
Let him taste the cup of poison.
On the reverse side of the medallion is placed a large Cross, and on it are letters arranged accordingly: the initial letters of Latin words that reveal the meaning of the medallion itself.
So, in four fields, separated by the sign of the Cross, the following letters are placed:
C S P B (Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti – Cross of the Holy Father Benedict)
On the vertical base of the Cross, from top to bottom, are the letters:
C S S M L (Crux Sancta Sit Mihi Lux – Let the Holy Cross shine on me).
On a crossbar perpendicular to the base:
N D S M D (Non Draco Sit Mixi Dux – May the ancient serpent perish).
Around the Cross are the letters:
V R S N S M V (Vade Retro Satana, Non Suade Mihi Vana – let Satan depart, vanity will not enter me).
S M Q L I V B (Sunt Mala Quae Libas Ipse Venena Bibas – May he not tempt me with evil, may he taste the cup of poison himself).
In 1747, Pope Benedict XIV approved the type of medallion described above and composed a special prayer of dedication especially for this occasion, and also associated numerous indulgences with the wearing of the medallion.
An Act of the Church issued in Rome in 1857 stated: “It is certain that through this medallion many of the graces of God are obtained.”
In 1880, a commemorative medallion was minted on the occasion of the 1400th anniversary of the birth of St. Benedict. Additional symbols were placed on it. If earlier the inscription IHS (name of Jesus) was placed above the sign of the Holy Cross, then since that time it has been replaced by the word PAX (peace), serving as a Benedictine motto and, at the same time, one of the first monograms of the name of Christ.
XP are the first letters of the Greek word XPICTOC (Christ), the Anointed One. The jubilee medallion was supplemented with an inscription above the image of the saint: EX S.M. Casino 1880 (From the holy mountain of Casino 1880) and the words around: EIUS IN OBITU NRO PRAESENTIA MUNIAMUR (“Let us be strengthened by his presence at our death”).
Through the pious use of the medallion of St. Benedict, over the many centuries of his existence, a considerable number of the faithful received the gifts of grace necessary for soul and body. In particular, he helped to protect himself from diseases, poisoning, and kept him in all dangers.
In order to gain many graces and indulgences through the medallion, it must be consecrated and carried with you. However, it can also be strengthened where we are most afraid of the forces of darkness, for example, on the doors of our houses, in rooms, in cars. These medallions have a special power, they resist unclean spirits.
By itself, the kissing of the medallion, the corresponding attitude towards it and the invocation of the help of St.
Benedict are sufficient to obtain various graces. At the same time, one should from time to time make a prayer from protecting us from the temptations of the evil one.
The effectiveness of the medallion of St. Benedict has been repeatedly confirmed in the history of the Church by miracles and grace-filled gifts obtained through the intercession of the saint. Summing up, it can be stated that the faithful usually received these gifts of grace in those cases when required:
- Crush superstition and the works of the devil.
- Protect yourself from temptations, cast out an unclean spirit.
- Protect yourself from the poison supplied by human malice.
- Save yourself from all kinds of epidemics.
- Find help in various ailments.
- Avoid being struck by lightning during a thunderstorm.
- Maintain chastity and overcome temptations.
- Find comfort in suffering, and especially in the hour of death.
Medallion of St.
Benedict should be carried around, preferably around the neck. During epidemics, it is strengthened on the walls and doors of houses. When livestock die, it is placed on the walls of barns, stables and cattle sheds, which contain domestic animals. During the construction of houses, churches, etc., the medallion is placed at the base of the building. To resist theft or damage to the crop, the medallion is buried in the field. In those households where there is a well, the medallion is thrown into the water.
Prayer of St. Benedict on the sending of a good end.
God, who sent many gifts to St. Benedict at his glorious death, vouchsafe us, sinners, these graces, so that he himself is present at our death and delivers us from the wiles of the devil. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Buy a key chain, a car cross and a cross around the neck of St. Benedict can be found at catholicshop.by.
Based on materials from birgitt.