Religious leaders to gather March 23 in Rehoboth

The Rev. Carlyle Gill, Beth Cohen, Sister Maryanne Zakreski and the Rev. Keith Goheen will speak at a Merton100 event Monday, March 23. The event is being presented by the local chapter of the 28-year-old International Thomas Merton Society.

Merton100 will start at 6:15 p.m., at St Edmond Catholic Church’s Education Hall, Lower Level, 407 King Charles Ave., Rehoboth Beach.

The event observes the centenary year of Thomas Merton’s birth. Merton, author of the best selling "Seven Storey Mountain," dozens of other books, hundreds of poems, and more, was a Trappist monk with an extraordinarily broad range of interests. Also known as Father Louis, he lived in the Abbey of Gethsemani in central Kentucky until his death in 1968.

The speakers will discuss four of Merton’s many interests:

• Goheen, chaplain at Beebe Healthcare in Lewes, will discuss “Merton and the Journey of Spiritual Development.”

• Zakreski, SSJ, director of religious education at St. Edmond Catholic Church, will discuss “Merton and Social Justice.”

• Cohen, religious director of Seaside Jewish Community, will discuss “Merton and Interfaith Dialogue.”

• Gill, priest associate at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, will discuss “Merton and the Discipline of Silent Contemplation.”

After their presentations, each speaker will facilitate a simultaneous small group discussion of attendees about Merton’s enduring contributions to the lives of people today.

Following the formal program, refreshments will be available and the trailer will be shown for "The Many Storeys and Last Days of Thomas Merton," a new documentary firm. There is no charge for this event. The International Thomas Merton Society’s Interfaith Chapter of Southern Delaware, founded in 2013, serves a community of interest of more than 175 people.

For information about the Merton Interfaith Chapter and this Merton100 event, contact co-founders Mary Helms and George Beckerman at george.beckerman@gmail.com.