Spring flowers

Spring is definitely arriving as you can see from the picture of the flowers and flowering tree, but winter does not give up easily. While it was up in the 70's many days last week, on Friday afternoon it started turning colder and on Friday night it got down to about 31 or 32 degrees. I don't think it got cold enough to hurt any of the plants but it definitely felt a little like winter again. The entire weekend has been cool.

Last week on Thursday I had an appointment with a dermatologist in St. Joseph. I have had to see him before to remove little growths from my face and bald head. I also two this time on my arms. So now I look like I have been in a fight but they will heal in a few more days.

This past Friday was supposed to be May Day but the weather was so cold and wet that it was canceled. Now they are hoping to have it sometime this week. Two weeks from today is graduation so there is not much time left for this school year.

We had a large crowd here for Mass today. I was the celebrant and there were about 80 people here who have recently entered the Catholic Church. Most of them were baptized or made their profession of faith this past Easter.

Annual Abbey Trails

This morning we held our 13th annual Abbey Trails 5k run and 2 mile walk. Despite the fact that the weather was cloudy and a little cool, there was a good crowd. In one of the pictures shown the runners are just lining up for the 5k run, while in the other picture the walkers are on their way. The run takes place on highway 136 so it is necessary to control the traffic. Two Missouri State Highway Patrol cars were here for that, as well as one deputy sheriff from this county.

This weekend we are again filled to capacity in the guest department as a number of groups are here for retreats or other events. We have had more rain the last few days so the grass is green and the trees are trying to bud forth with leaves.

Yesterday (Friday) I attended a tree planting ceremony at Mozingo Lake and Park at Maryville in observance of National Crime Victims Rights Week. I gave the invocation and the benediction. This is the 12th year this event has been held and it is sponsored by the Maryville Treatment Center.

Oblate retreat

The weekend of April 11-13, we had about forty oblates here for a retreat. The retreat was given by Brother Thomas Sullivan, O.S.B., a monk of Conception Abbey. The weather was damp, windy and quite cool but this did not dampen the enthusiasm of the oblates who were present for the retreat. Three new members entered the oblate novitiate on Saturday after daytime prayer and one made her final oblation at that time. A picture of most of the group is shown although not all who were attending were able to be present for picture. For more photos of the retreat go to:
http://kennethosb.smugmug.com/gallery/4728968_kPd9C

This past weekend was also the "Encounter With God's Call" weekend for young men to become acquainted with the seminary. There were about 90 young men here for this event and also a number of vocation directors from various dioceses who brought them to the seminary. They arrived on Saturday afternoon and left on Monday at about noon.

Spring is coming

It seems that spring is finally starting to arrive. While the temperatures get down in the 30's at night, the days are warmer with temperatures in the 50's and 60's. We have had a cold winter with lots of snow and ice. I think it has been a winter we will remember for a while, especially the bad ice storm in December when we were without electricity for five days.

We have continued to have many retreatants here at the Abbey, both during the week and especially on weekends. This coming weekend the seminary will be holding it's "Encounter With God's Call" weekend. This is a weekend for young men, who are giving some thought to coming to the seminary, to come and visit and hear talks by other seminarians and even attend some classes.

This next weekend will also be our first oblate retreat for this year. This retreat will be given by Brother Thomas Sullivan, O.S.B. and is entitled: "The Patriarchs from the Genesis narratives: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph." We are expecting between 40 and 50 oblates for the retreat.

The picture I am including with this blog was just taken yesterday afternoon when I was out walking. I was out in the apple orchard area to the east of the campus and took this picture of the back of the buildings. You can enlarge the picture by simply clicking on it.

Solemnity of St. Benedict

Today is the Solemnity of St. Benedict for those of us who are Benedictines. Usually this feast is on March 21 but since that date this year came during Holy Week and so could not be celebrated, it was moved to this Tuesday after the Octave of Easter, April 1. We are following our Sunday schedule today and so had a beautiful Mass at 10:30 AM and that was followed by a banquet dinner at noon. So all of you who are Benedictine Oblates of Conception Abbey, I wish you a Happy Feastday.

Yesterday and today is also Pastor's Day for the pastors of our seminarians. They joined the monastic community for vespers yesterday evening then had a banquet in the student dining room. Today many of them joined us for Mass and concelebrated.

The picture above is just one I took a few weeks ago when out walking. It's an old barn on our farm and just behind it are some of the wind turbines that are part of the local windmill farm. The windmills are still not in operation but are all set up and they are working to prepare them to start generating electricity.