- Order of the Holy Cross
-
This article is about the Anglican Benedictine monastic community known as the Order of the Holy Cross. For other organizations with the same name, see Order of the Holy Cross (disambiguation).
The Order of the Holy Cross is an international Anglican monastic Order that follows the Rule of St. Benedict.
Contents
History
The Order was founded in 1884 by the Rev. James Otis Sargent Huntington, an Episcopal priest, in New York City. The Order moved to Maryland briefly before settling in West Park, New York, in 1902. Today the Order operates four houses: Holy Cross Monastery, West Park, New York; Mt. Calvary Retreat House and Monastery, Santa Barbara, California; Holy Cross Priory, Toronto, Ontario; and Mariya uMama weThemba Monastery, Grahamstown, South Africa. Mount Calvary House burned to the ground in a wildfire on the morning of November 14, 2008.
The Monastic Church of St. Augustine at Holy Cross Monastery, West Park, NY
Ministries
The monks of the Order engage in various ministries, the chief being that of prayer (including the Divine Office and daily Mass), as well as hosting guests for individual and group retreats. The Order estimates that more than 5,000 guests stay at Holy Cross Monastery, one of the largest monastic retreat centers in the Episcopal Church, each year. Holy Cross Monastery also makes and sells incense and religious literature. Mariya uMama weThemba Monastery operates a retreat house and is actively involved in the education of rural farm children through its scholarship programme. Holy Cross Priory, Toronto, is an urban expression of the Benedictine life where besides the Offices and Eucharist, monks are actively involved in the work of the local Church. Some members of the Order engage in occupations such as being therapists or parish priests. Mt. Calvary is primarily a retreat house. All monasteries of the Order offer spiritual direction and counsel.
Vows
Monks of the Order follow and threefold vow of obedience, stability, and conversion to the Monastic way of life. In general, monks of the Order are encouraged to develop their own ministries within their monastic vocation. They undergo periods of discernment and formation when entering the Order. The daily life of the monastery revolves around a balance of prayer, work, study, and rest.
Associates
Lay people and diocesan clergy (male and female) may join the Associates of Holy Cross. According to the Associates' web site, members "intend to love and serve God through a relationship with the Order of the Holy Cross (Anglican), adapting to their lives the Benedictine principles on which the monks base their common life." Associates live under a Rule of Life developed with the help of a Spiritual Director and have an ongoing relationship with the Order. Associates are entitled to use the post-nominal initials AHC. Notable Associates include The Bishop of Central Pennsylvania, the Rt. Rev. Nathan D. Baxter and The Bishop of Maryland, the Rt. Rev. Robert Ihloff.
Holy Cross Publishing
The Order is best known for its publishing of the Anglo-Catholic devotional guide Saint Augustine's Prayer Book, back in 1949. The Order also co-published, with the sisters of the Order of St. Helena, A Monastic Breviary, which succeeded A Four Office Breviary. In 1957 The Order published Within the Green Wall: The Story of Holy Cross Liberia Mission 1922-1957, by the Rt. Rev. Robert Erskine Campbell, O.H.C. This book provides a detailed account of the Order the Holy Cross's missionary efforts in Liberia.[1]
Personnel
Br. Robert Sevensky, OHC, is the current Superior of the Order. The Rt. Rev. Mark Sisk is Bishop Visitor and the Rt Rev. Ann Tottenham is Deputy Bishop Visitor.
External links
- The Order of the Holy Cross (Anglican) web site
- Holy Cross Monastery
- Mount Calvary: A Benedictine Retreat House and Monastery
- Holy Cross Priory - Toronto
- Mariya UMama weThemba Monastery
References
Active religious orders and communities of the Anglican Communion Brotherhood of the Ascended Christ • Brotherhood of the Epiphany • Brotherhood of St. Gregory • Chama Cha Mariamu Mtakatifu • Chita che Zita Rinoyera • Chita che Zvipo Zve Moto • Christa Sevika Sangha • Community of All Hallows • Community of Christ the King • Community of Jesus' Compassion • Community of Nazareth • Community of Our Lady & Saint John • Community of St. Andrew • Community of St. Clare • Community of St. Denys • Community of St. Francis • Community of St. John Baptist • Community of St. John the Divine • Community of St. John the Evangelist • Community of St. Laurence • Community of St. Mary • Community of St. Mary at the Cross • Community of St. Mary the Virgin • Community of St. Michael & All Angels • Community of St. Paul • Community of St. Peter • Community of the Blessed Lady Mary • Community of the Companions of Jesus the Good Shepherd • Community of the Divine Compassion • Community of the Glorious Ascension • Community of the Good Shepherd • Community of the Holy Cross • Community of the Holy Family • Community of the Holy Spirit • Community of the Holy Transfiguration • Community of the Reparation to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament • Community of the Resurrection • Community of the Sacred Name • Community of the Sacred Passion • Community of the Servants of the Cross • Community of the Servants of the Will of God • Community of the Sisters of Melanesia • Community of the Sisters of the Church • Community of the Sisters of the Love of God • Community of the Transfiguration • Company of Mission Priests • Congregation of the Sisters of the Visitation of our Lady • Daughters of St. Francis • Ewell Monastery • Fikambanan'ny Mpanompovavin l Jesoa Kristy • Korean Franciscan Brotherhood • Little Brothers of Francis • Melanesian Brotherhood • Oratory of the Good Shepherd • Order of Julian of Norwich • Order of St. Anne • Order of St. Anne at Bethany Convent • Order of St. Benedict • Order of St. Helena • Order of the Holy Cross • Order of the Holy Paraclete • Order of the Teachers of the Children of God • Sisterhood of St. John the Divine • Sisterhood of St. Mary, Bangladesh • Sisterhood of the Epiphany • Sisterhood of the Holy Nativity • Sisters of Charity • Sisters of the Good Shepherd • Sisters of the Incarnation • Society of All Saints Sisters of the Poor • Society of Our Lady of the Isles • Society of Our Lady St. Mary • Society of St. Francis • Society of St. John the Divine • Society of St. John the Evangelist • Society of St. Margaret • Society of St. Paul • Society of the Franciscan Servants of Jesus & Mary • Society of the Holy Cross • Society of the Holy Trinity • Society of the Precious Blood • Society of the Sacred Advent • Society of the Sacred Cross • Society of the Sacred Mission • Society of the Sisters of BethanyCategories:- Anglicanism
- Anglican orders and communities
- Religious organizations established in 1884
- Christian religious orders established in the 19th century
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
