Author, Benedictine Oblate Kathleen Norris to Speak at 'Faith and Work Breakfast' Dec. 9 at St. Olaf Catholic Church

Kathleen Norris, a Benedictine oblate and the author of several New York Times bestsellers, will give the third breakfast talk in an annual series co-sponsored by St. Olaf Catholic Church and the John A. Ryan Institute for Catholic Social Thought at the University of St. Thomas.

Kathleen Norris

Kathleen Norris

The ecumenical “Faith and Work Breakfast” will be held from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, in Fleming Hall of St. Olaf Catholic Church, 215 S. Eighth St. in downtown Minneapolis.

Norris is the author of the 2008 Acedia and me: A Marriage, Monks and a Writer’s Life and will discuss “Seeking Fidelity in Everyday Life: Acedia and Beyond.” “Acedia” is an ancient term for listlessness, sloth and the inability to care. Norris will talk about the difficulty of maintaining meaningful relationships, including a relationship with God, in the face of the daily demands on our time and energy.

Once a Presbyterian, she became an oblate, or lay associate, of a Benedictine monastery in North Dakota in 1986. She later spent two years in residence at the Ecumenical Institute at St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville. A widow since 2003, she spends her time speaking throughout the United States and volunteering at a homeless shelter in Hawaii.

Now in their 16th year, the Faith and Work Breakfasts deal with the personal challenges of faith-and-work integration and are designed for professionals from all faiths. The theme of this year’s series is “A Divided Life.” Each of the series’ six speakers will speak on how to find balance when there are so many commitments to be met.

The cost of each Faith and Work Breakfast is $20, which includes a continental breakfast or a box lunch. Pre-registration is encouraged. To make a reservation or for more information, call St. Olaf Catholic Church, (612) 332-7471, Ext. 255, or e-mail cbishop@saintolaf.org.

Information also is available on the St. Olaf Web site.