Benedyktyni Klasztor Zwiastowania

The History of the Community The history of this community began on September 15, 1986. Fr. Ludwik Mycielski arrived in Bielice, a small village in Opole Silesia, from Tyniec. He desired to experience the life of St. Benedict as it was during the years he spent in Subiaco. Before long, young enthusiasts of this particular lifestyle began arriving in Bielice. They were accompanied by a special divine grace; the first brothers – Antoni, Sławomir, and Justyn – describe it as the "grace of the beginning." They experienced extraordinary Providence: someone donated a car, another unexpectedly brought coal for the winter; every morning they found vegetables and potatoes. No one anticipated that less than a year later, the construction of a factory would begin right next door. However, at that very moment, God gifted the brothers a new location: also in Silesia, but forty kilometers further south. The Sisters of the Immaculate Conception from Leśnica were leaving Biskupów and decided to hand over their convent to the Benedictines. Simultaneously, the Bishop of Opole – Archbishop Alfons Nossol – donated the former rectory and farm buildings standing near the convent. From both donors, the brothers also received a large tract of land. This took place on August 25, 1987, the feast of St. Louis. The Sisters also set the date for the brothers to take over the convent for August 28. This was the feast of St. Augustine, the patron of the Abbot of Tyniec, Father Augustyn Jankowski. By his decree on October 24 – following a vote by the Tyniec Chapter – the Benedictine community in Biskupów was canonically erected. In these events, one can see the special intercession of the Blessed Mother. Her feast day – September 15 – marks the beginning of the Benedictine history in Opole Silesia. Furthermore, the church in Biskupów has been under her patronage since the 14th century: it is the Church of the Annunciation. This is the same title held by the Benedictine Congregation to which Polish Benedictines belong. One can also see the guiding hand of St. Benedict, who "loved the mountains": his new monastery is situated on a hill, with a wide panorama of the Sudetes massif stretching out before it. Benedictus amabat montes! Today, the spiritual profile of this monastery is becoming increasingly clear. As mentioned, its community strives to reference that tradition of Western monasticism presented by St. Gregory the Great in the opening pages of the Dialogues. In its poverty and simplicity of life, Biskupów resembles Subiaco more than Monte Cassino. Hospitality – taking on a wide variety of forms – is a special charism and a fundamental dimension of the apostolic work of this monastery. "I trust," writes Abbot Celestine Cullen, former Abbot President of the Annunciation Congregation, "that this will continue in the future; and that young monks will be specially prepared for this very work, for this immensely demanding task. Visiting guests will find in Biskupów one of the most pleasant and soothing places that exist in our Congregation." Our community of brothers – which currently numbers eleven – remains open to all visitors, humbly fulfilling the command of St. Benedict: "Let all guests who arrive be received as Christ."