June, 2026
Dear Friends,
Soon we will celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, often called the birthday of the Church. We ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten the Church and to help each one of us be bold in professing our faith as we work, enjoy our families, and look forward to a productive summer.
The Centenary of Opus Dei
The Centenary of the founding of Opus Dei is just two years away, on October 2, 2028. On that first October 2nd, St. Josemaría Escrivá heard the call from God to transmit the ideal of seeking holiness in everyday life. Many people continue to benefit from his zeal to spread this message.
The Prelate of Opus Dei, Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz, has asked us to reflect on the charism of Opus Dei over the next three years, culminating on February 14, 2030, the anniversary of the women’s apostolate. In a letter written this past March, Msgr. Ocáriz invited “members of the Work, Cooperators, friends, and many persons who were part of Opus Dei at some point in their lives, to consider how to embody today, with dynamic fidelity, the spirit that Saint Josemaría received from God to serve the Church.”
For the first year of preparation (October 2, 2026, to October 2, 2027), he suggested “delving deeper into the idea of being contemplatives in the middle of the world, by which our Father encapsulated many elements of the spirit of Opus Dei: divine filiation, the Mass as the center and root of our existence, the value of ordinary life, and the beauty of discovering that ‘divine something’ hidden in the most common realities of work, family, and civic life.” Please visit www.opusdei.org for more insights regarding the Centenary.
Arnold Hall Conference Center
Retreats and workshops continue to attract many people to Arnold Hall Conference Center in Pembroke, MA. To accommodate our growing number of visitors, Arnold Hall will embark on a fundraising campaign to build a new residence structure, which is needed following the removal of the old Courthouse building. You can go to www.arnoldhall.org to register for an upcoming retreat. Please note that the men’s workshop this year will take place from October 23–25.
Sparhawk Academy
Sparhawk Academy in Millis initiated an exciting new chapter in its history this year by adding a high school for young men, expanding upon its current grades 3 through 8. Many of the high school boys who attend activities at Chestnut Hill Center visit Sparhawk for weekly study nights. During these evenings, the boys spend time doing homework, attend a meditation in the chapel, enjoy a pizza dinner, and play sports. Sparhawk also offers summer camps for younger boys. Visit www.sparhawkacademy.org to view summer offerings and learn more about the school.
Sebago Leadership Camp
The Sebago Leadership Camp is primed for another fun and enriching week from June 21–27 at Camp Moses in Russell, MA (western Massachusetts). Sebago is open to boys entering grades 5 through 8. Many of our camp counselors frequent Chestnut Hill’s high school programs. To learn more about the camp and to register, please visit www.sebagoleadershipcamp.com.
Chestnut Hill Center Resident Updates
All of the residents at Chestnut Hill Center help run our programs. To highlight a few milestones:
- Dwight Duncan became a Professor Emeritus at UMass Law School this spring. Dwight will teach European History, Latin, and Religion at Sparhawk Academy in the fall.
- Hank Smith, a former Professor of Physics at Northeastern University, turned 91 this month.
- Luan Minh Doan, 32, finished teaching Mathematics at UConn this year and now will teach part-time at Sparhawk Academy next year.
Annual Mass of St. Josemaría Escrivá
Our annual Mass will be held on Tuesday, June 16, at 7:00 PM at St. Mary of the Assumption Church (420 High Street, Dedham, MA). The Most Reverend Richard G. Henning, Archbishop of Boston, will be the Main Celebrant. A reception will follow the Mass, and all are warmly invited to attend.
Have a wonderful summer!
Sincerely,
Joe Billmeier
Director, Chestnut Hill Center