Jericho Benedictines
Encyclopedia
The Jericho Benedictines are a Society of Apostolic Life
which is one of the forms of religious community
within the Latin
branch of the Catholic Church.
, Scotland
, during the 1970s, when a group of men found themselves deeply moved by the plight of those who lived rough, and were marginalised by society because of their struggle with alcohol. Father James Ferguson, a priest of the Diocese of Paisley
, gathered these men together and they chose the name 'Jericho Benedictines', a name which is highly significant. Jericho was the town which had its walls crumble before the power of God; the Jericho Benedictines hope that the walls between society and those suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction will also crumble. The Rule of the Order of St. Benedict stresses that everyone is to be welcomed with true hospitality as though that person were Christ
Himself.
The Jericho Benedictine website states that its members have the ministry of... "welcoming, supporting, and caring for those being “passed by on the other side” irrespective of colour, class, creed, sex or sexual orientation"
is not a religious order
, Jericho Benedictines do not take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. However, they embrace these same charisms so that they may: live simply, devote themselves totally to the ministry and be willing to go where they are most needed, even when this is inconvenient.
The journey officially begins with postulancy which lasts from 6 to 9 months. After this there is a two-year novitiate
in the Society's motherhouse, the Monastery
of Jesus
at Kilbarchan
, near the town of Johnstone
in Renfrewshire
. At the end of the novitiate the novice
is received as an Oblate
of Saint Benedict at Prinknash Abbey
, Gloucestershire
, with which the Jericho Benedictines have been granted an informal association. Thereafter he returns to the motherhouse where he makes a temporary profession for three years, during which time both spiritual and secular development continue in order for the member to begin ministering at one of the Jericho inns. After the three year period, he is received as a permanent member of the Community.
To ensure that a professional presence is maintained at all times, a staff of some 70 people work alongside the Jericho Benedictines.
s of the Middle Ages
, the Jericho Benedictines are assisted by an army of volunteers. Apart from their regular prayers, these men and women raise money for the work of the Society as well as help out, whenever possible, at one of the Jericho Inns.
Society of Apostolic Life
A society of apostolic life is a group of men or women within the Catholic Church who have come together for a specific purpose. Unlike members of an institute of consecrated life , members of apostolic societies do not make religious vows...
which is one of the forms of religious community
Religious community
A religious community is a community who practice the same religion.In the wider sense it may describe members of one religion who live near or intermingled with members of other religions, who may often mix together in everyday life but worship separately. One might speak of the Catholic...
within the Latin
Latin Church
The Latin Church is the largest particular church within the Catholic Church. It is a particular church not on the level of the local particular churches known as dioceses or eparchies, but on the level of autonomous ritual churches, of which there are 23, the remaining 22 of which are Eastern...
branch of the Catholic Church.
History
The Jericho Benedictines began in PaisleyPaisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, during the 1970s, when a group of men found themselves deeply moved by the plight of those who lived rough, and were marginalised by society because of their struggle with alcohol. Father James Ferguson, a priest of the Diocese of Paisley
Diocese of Paisley
The Diocese of Paisley is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church in Scotland. Erected on 25 May 1947 from the Archdiocese of Glasgow the diocese covers the historic county of Renfrewshire and is in area making it the smallest diocese by area in Scotland...
, gathered these men together and they chose the name 'Jericho Benedictines', a name which is highly significant. Jericho was the town which had its walls crumble before the power of God; the Jericho Benedictines hope that the walls between society and those suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction will also crumble. The Rule of the Order of St. Benedict stresses that everyone is to be welcomed with true hospitality as though that person were Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
Himself.
The Jericho Benedictine website states that its members have the ministry of... "welcoming, supporting, and caring for those being “passed by on the other side” irrespective of colour, class, creed, sex or sexual orientation"
Life
As a Society of Apostolic LifeSociety of Apostolic Life
A society of apostolic life is a group of men or women within the Catholic Church who have come together for a specific purpose. Unlike members of an institute of consecrated life , members of apostolic societies do not make religious vows...
is not a religious order
Religious order
A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practice. The order is composed of initiates and, in some...
, Jericho Benedictines do not take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. However, they embrace these same charisms so that they may: live simply, devote themselves totally to the ministry and be willing to go where they are most needed, even when this is inconvenient.
The journey officially begins with postulancy which lasts from 6 to 9 months. After this there is a two-year novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
in the Society's motherhouse, the Monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
at Kilbarchan
Kilbarchan
Kilbarchan is a village and civil parish in central Renfrewshire, in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. The village's name means "cell of St. Barchan". It is known for its former weaving industry.- History :...
, near the town of Johnstone
Johnstone
Johnstone is a town in the council area of Renfrewshire and larger historic county of the same name in the west central Lowlands of Scotland.The town lies three miles west of neighbouring Paisley and twelve miles west of the centre of the city of Glasgow...
in Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east...
. At the end of the novitiate the novice
Novice
A novice is a person or creature who is new to a field or activity. The term is most commonly applied in religion and sports.-Buddhism:In many Buddhist orders, a man or woman who intends to take ordination must first become a novice, adopting part of the monastic code indicated in the vinaya and...
is received as an Oblate
Oblate
An oblate spheroid is a rotationally symmetric ellipsoid having a polar axis shorter than the diameter of the equatorial circle whose plane bisects it. Oblate spheroids stand in contrast to prolate spheroids....
of Saint Benedict at Prinknash Abbey
Prinknash Abbey
Prinknash Abbey is a Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery situated in the Vale of Gloucester in the Diocese of Clifton, near the village of Cranham....
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, with which the Jericho Benedictines have been granted an informal association. Thereafter he returns to the motherhouse where he makes a temporary profession for three years, during which time both spiritual and secular development continue in order for the member to begin ministering at one of the Jericho inns. After the three year period, he is received as a permanent member of the Community.
Jericho Inns
The Society's houses are called 'Jericho Inns' in order to emphasise the element of hospitality. Since their foundation, the Jericho Benedictines have expanded their ministry beyond the care of those recovering from alcohol addiction.To ensure that a professional presence is maintained at all times, a staff of some 70 people work alongside the Jericho Benedictines.
- DerbyDerbyDerby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
: (1996) Recovering drug users. - DundeeDundeeDundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
: (1996) Recovering alcoholics in a purpose built facility with 12 flats. - EdinburghEdinburghEdinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
: (1988) Registered Residential Care Home, a half-way house, free food and clothing for the homeless. - GirvanGirvanGirvan is a burgh in Carrick, South Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of about 8000 people. Originally a fishing port, it is now also a seaside resort with beaches and cliffs. Girvan dates back to 1668 when is became a municipal burgh incorporated by by charter...
: (1993) Place where people who are cared for can experience a week's holiday. - GreenockGreenockGreenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
: (1980) Support for 18 men recovering from alcohol and/or drug abuse. - ManchesterManchesterManchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
: (2005) The Morning Star Hostel provides support for 15 homeless men. - Port GlasgowPort GlasgowPort Glasgow is the second largest town in the Inverclyde council area of Scotland. The population according to the 1991 census for Port Glasgow was 19426 persons and in the 2001 census was 16617 persons...
: (1976) Provides supported housing for 18 men recovering from drug abuse. - Tamil NaduTamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
: (1990) This group of 25 family homes is supported by the Jericho Benedictines. - WolverhamptonWolverhamptonWolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
: (1985) There are two short and long term support units: one in Albert Road (1985) for 9 women and their children and one in Tetenhall Road (1992) for 11 women and their children in self-contained bed sits.
Jericho Neighbours
Like the religious orderReligious order
A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practice. The order is composed of initiates and, in some...
s of the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, the Jericho Benedictines are assisted by an army of volunteers. Apart from their regular prayers, these men and women raise money for the work of the Society as well as help out, whenever possible, at one of the Jericho Inns.