In the midst of all the changes at Life Together, we have also been affected by a little-known transition that has evoked Halloween-level frights at the Diocese of Massachusetts' headquarters: office renovations. My diocesan colleagues have been abuzz since the summer about renovations to the fourth and fifth floors of the diocesan offices, including the cozy office and cubicle Life Together has called home since our move out of 40 Prescott in 2020. Shortly after Orientation, I finally got the word I had been dreading: we needed to pack up our spaces by the end of the week. So I wrapped my portrait-sized Mary Magdalene and Christ icons in strips of bubble wrap, where they will eventually return from the storage tomb to resurrected office glory. We don't know exactly what to expect when the renovations are over, though we are trusting that the freshly painted walls, gender-neutral restrooms, and reconfigured office spaces will ultimately make the building more comfortable and values-aligned.
Preparing for a sabbath year is a bit like office packing. Since Orientation, we have been standing in the metaphorical office, looking around at our stuff and figuring out where to start. In the case of the Discernment Team, this means defining the process for the next several months, as the necessary precursor to forming a team. Though that takes time-- sometimes more time than I would like-- failing to get that clarity at the outset will ultimately make the work ahead even more difficult. Our fellows just completed their Transformative Teams workshop, postponed after a fellow and trainer came down with COVID during Orientation. And as all our alumni who have been through that workshop know, taking the time to define shared purpose, norms, and roles can mean the difference between a strong team and a waste of everyone's time.
We are busy packing and preparing for the new thing, laying the groundwork for an unknown future. Life Together isn't alone in this, of course. The Diocese is renovating its offices in the midst of a bishop transition. The Episcopal Service Corps program directors met earlier this month and spent time talking about new ways of doing this work on a broader level. Some days, it is hard not to feel a little overwhelmed by all the transitions and unanswered questions. But I am energized by the notes of encouragement and excitement about what is next that I have received from so many of you. I am hopeful when I read reflections like the one offered in this newsletter by Emmaus fellow Margaret Walker, sharing their own energy for this discernment. And I am grateful for those who have come alongside us in this year, especially new Prayer and Wellness Partner Lydia Strand ('13-'15), who bring so much insight and care to this community. We are in this together, finding the path forward together, and that gives me hope.
Being in this together also gives me a measure of hope in light of war and the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Israel. Last night I joined the Diocese of Massachusetts' online prayer vigil, responding to a call from Archbishop Hosam Naoum of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem for fasting and prayer by all in the Episcopal community. In the Zoom room, I saw Life Together fellows. I saw diocesan colleagues I had worked with over the years. I even saw quite a few parishioners from my site placement when I was a fellow back in 2009-2010. And even as we prayed and lamented together, it reminded me that we aren't alone. That in the stillness of prayer together, we can discern our collective call to work toward a just peace in the land of the Holy One. In this season of lament, transition, and fear, I pray that we find those spaces to discern together, to act together, to love together. And at Life Together, we will continue forming young leaders for such a time as this.
Fellow Reflection: Andrea Albamonte
Greetings friends,
I was accepted to Life Together in February of 2020. I planned to build a network in Boston and within the Episcopal Church. I planned to get some great experience, start the process to the priesthood my second year in the program, and then settle in Boston while being sponsored for the priesthood by my site placement, Grace Episcopal Church. I imagined all the cool things I would get to do and try, the people I would get to meet, the places I would get to explore in Boston.
As you can imagine, I could not have imagined that a month after being accepted into the program, the COVID-19 pandemic would dash my plans. I still learned a lot, built a network, got a lot of great experience, and grew deeply into my faith. But my network was mostly virtual, and many of the chances that I expected to have to make friends and meet new people couldn’t happen because of COVID safety reasons. I still had a lot of great experiences, but there were a lot of tears and grief over the fact that much of that experience occurred online.
I also couldn’t have anticipated the direction that my faith journey would take.
I entered with questions about what kind of ordained vocation I would explore. I spoke with Death Doulas and military chaplains. I spoke with young priests who had come through Life Together. I spoke with older priests who had been in this Diocese for decades. I got involved in the Young Adult Advisory Committee. I taught classes, preached, and started a new ministry at my site placement.
Upon reaching the deadline to sign the papers to commit to starting the process to the priesthood in the Diocese of Massachusetts, I realized that I needed to put this on hold so that I could explore whether I had a monastic vocation first. I never would have anticipated that this would be my path when I began this program. It used to be that I didn’t fully believe in the power of prayer. I was embarrassed about being a person who prayed. Turning to God in the hardest, most uncertain times has deepened my prayer life to an extent that dedicating my life to prayer is a lifestyle that now makes more sense. After getting in contact with a few different monastic communities and planning visits (two of which had to be rescheduled because of COVID sickness), I finally visited my first community this past weekend.
I’m so grateful for everything that I have learned since I joined this program, vocationally, personally, spiritually. It’s been an incredibly difficult and fulfilling journey.