Our Ministry
The Benedictine Way works with a variety of churches and community partners in our ministry in North Omaha and the greater Omaha area. Together, we work to do God’s healing work in the world and care for the poor and forgotten. To learn more about each of our ministries and get involved, continue reading below:
The Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska
The Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska is a community of Episcopal congregations located across the state of Nebraska. The Benedictine Way is a ministry of the Diocese, and we serve in a variety of ways. Brother James Dowd travels across the Diocese to preach, and to offer workshops like Centering Prayer, Social Justice and Contemplative Prayer, and The Jesus Prayer.
Want to learn more? Contact Brother James at jdowd@episcopal-ne.org
St. Benedict’s Pantry
St. Benedict’s Pantry is our North Omaha feeding ministry. Open every Tuesday evening and Saturday morning (except the 3rd Saturday of the month), the pantry is run by the community of The Benedictine Way using space at Church of the Resurrection (3004 Belvedere Blvd.).
Tuesday hours are 4-6 PM, and guests may come inside Church of the Resurrection and select what they need from what’s in our stock. The main church doors will be unlocked, and the pantry is in the basement immediately down the stairs on the left. There is also direct entry into the basement from the alleyway directly connected to 30th street.
The Saturday pantry operates on the 1st, 2nd, 4th, (and 5th) Saturdays of the month from 10 AM-12 PM. The Saturday panty is a drive-thru format. Patrons remain in their cars in front of the church and volunteers will load bags of food into their vehicle. To coordinate a food donation drop-off, sign up to volunteer on a Saturday morning, or learn more about the pantry, please email Gage Woodyard at gage_woodyard@yahoo.com. Want to donate financially to support St. Benedict’s Pantry? Click here
The Rainbow Initiative
The Benedictine Way is proud to be a partner in Episcopal Migration Ministries’ Rainbow Initiative. The Rainbow Initiative promotes support for people who have fled their countries because of persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and/or sex characteristics.
You can learn more about our work with the initiative here.
Church of the Resurrection
Church of the Resurrection (COR) is a culturally diverse parish located on 30th and Belvedere, right next door to The Benedictine Way. Our partnership with COR is wide-reaching, and we work together to minister to our neighborhood in North Omaha. Community members are active in the parish, singing in the choir, working at the quarterly food pantry, helping with the yearly Street Fair, and the church is one of our placement sites for The Benedictine Service Corps.
Visit their website here: www.coromaha.episcopal-ne.org
Or send an email: cor.omaha@gmail.com
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is a thriving downtown parish in Omaha, and is a partner in ministry and placement site for The Benedictine Service Corps. Community members assist Trinity with their feeding ministry, Downtown Episcopal Outreach (DEO), serving the hungry and homeless in the Omaha area, along with serving the parish community according to their passions and skills.
Visit their website at: www.trinityepiscopal.org
St. James, Fremont
St. James is an Episcopal parish in Fremont, NE, committed to welcoming all people as Christ. Brother Jerry Thompson, monk at The Benedictine Way, serves the parish as priest-in-charge.
Visit their website: www.stjamesfremont.org.
Magdalene Omaha / Thistle Lights
Magdalene Omaha is a survivor-led program of healing, recovery, and empowerment for women who have experienced sex trafficking, violence, and addiction. Thistle Lights is their survivor-led small business, and is one of our placement sites for The Benedictine Service Corps. Service corps members work with the women of the Magdalene program on career development skills and assist with various projects at Thistle Lights.
Visit their website: www.magdaleneomaha.org
Balancing the Scales of Justice Task Force
The Diocese of Nebraska Balancing the Scales of Justice Task Force works for prison reform and the abolition of the death penalty in Nebraska. The community of The Benedictine Way supports the Task Force in this mission, co-sponsoring a prayer vigil at Grace Episcopal in Tecumseh, NE to begin their work and ministry.
Want to get involved? Contact Kaitlin Reece at kaitlinreece@gmail.com