God of Justice – Concert for Peace

With hopes of breaking ground in 2008, the Beit Benedict Peace Academy of the Dormtion Abbey, located on Mount Sion in Jerusalem, will hold its second musical fundraiser at St. Procopius Abbey in Lisle, IL on Friday, May 2nd at 7:30pm.

Beit Benedict (House of Benedict) Peace Academy, which the concert will benefit, is the natural expansion of the Benedictine prayer and work for peace of the monks at the Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem. Deeply rooted in the Benedictine virtues of hospitality, reverence, scholarship and contemplation, Beit Benedict welcomes people of all faiths to work together towards peace. In the tradition of "Pax Benedictina", Beit Benedict will provide peace education for youth, scholars and religious leaders; an auditorium and exhibition space will enable persons of various traditions to come together for cultural events; and as a Benedictine site, it will be, above all, a place for encounters with God and others. Father Johannes M. Oravecz, O.S.B. notes that the role of Beit Benedict is to echo the first word of the Risen Lord spoken on Mount Sion: Peace. "As Benedictines, we offer the peace the world cannot give: the peace of Christ."

The monks have purchased the last plot of land that can be developed on Mt. Sion and have the building permit to proceed; architectural plans are finalized and approved; and an endowment has been created for Beit Benedict. Three million dollars is needed – today – to break ground, hence the benefit concert.

Last year's concert marked the premier of composer Nancy Galbraith's Novena. Galbraith has been actively composing music since the late 1970's, creating instrumental and vocal sound known for its rich harmonic texture, rhythmic vitality, emotional and spiritual depth, and wide range of expression. In the Catholic Church, Novena is a nine-day devotion of prayers, often sorrowful or yearning in nature, asking for special graces. In keeping with Beit Benedict's mission in the Middle East, Galbraith's oratorio was a Novena for Peace reflecting chosen texts from the three Abrahamic traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

This year's program will feature the oratorio God of Justice, another Galbraith composition. Appropriately, the central work of the concert is a fresh and inspiring composition that includes the Beatitudes, the Yom Kippur Liturgy, and the US Bishops' Letter, "Economic Justice for All." Says composer Galbraith about her central theme, "Compassion is an idea universal to all religions." She searched poetry, theological writings and sacred texts, before deciding to frame the work with the beatitudes, inserting other prayers and readings into that central Gospel passage. The oratorio has been called "stunning," "fresh" and "deeply hopeful." The music features mezzo soprano soloist Xiu-ru Liu, the Benet Academy Choir, an orchestra and a children's chorus.

The Benedictine monks at Dormition Abbey, site of the Peace Academy, have an extraordinary American partner in the monastic community at St. Procopius Abbey. The monks of Saint Procopius have stepped forward to lead the effort in raising awareness and support for the Benedictine prayer and work for peace in the Holy Land. This commitment to Beit Benedict flows from the mission of the monks of St. Procopius.

Director of Fundraising for Beit Benedict, Mrs. Helene Paharik stated: "We simply would not be able to raise support for this noble and necessary work of the Church without the monastic community of St. Procopius. They are making Beit Benedict Peace Academy -- a dream of those yearning for peace -- a reality!"

Friends of the Abbey, Benet Academy, Benedictine University and Chicago community are invited to attend an evening of inspiring music, helping to provide resources for a visionary project for peace in the Holy Land.

A wine reception will follow where people will have the opportunity to visit with Composer Nancy Galbraith and learn more about the project. Suggested donation for the reception is $30.00.

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