A MERRY AND BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO ALL

CHRISTMAS, 2009.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” John 3:16

This has long been a favorite passage of mine. It seems to express what Christmas is all about. God sent the Son, Jesus Christ, to bring salvation and eternal life to all the world, to all people. The love God has for us is overwhelming. It is more than we can fully understand. We think we have to earn love from others. God is love. He loves us even as sinners. But, of course we try to return his love by our love for God and our love for our brothers and sisters. As Jesus makes clear what we do to others we do to Him.

With that spirit of love then I wish all readers of this blog a very blessed and happy Christmas. You know you will be in my prayers and remembered in my Masses on Christmas day, as well as in the prayers and Masses of all the monks.

Merry Christmas.

With love and prayers.

Father Kenneth, O.S.B.

St. Stephen Health Care Center

Nurses station on left. Hall leads to monastery................. Lounge and t.v. room

Short video of one of the rooms in renovated
Health Care Center ......................................................................Nurses station up above

Last Friday on December 18, we moved the residents back to the regular Health Care Center (infirmary). They are still doing some work in the building, primarily on the bottom floor. Since the residents live on the 2nd floor we could move back in. It seems to please every one and certainly is more pleasant than the old facility. All the rooms are larger and have full baths in each room. The windows are also larger and all have a good view. Tomorrow we are going to Hannibal, MO to pick up Monsignor Louis McCorkle. He is an alumnus and friend of the Abbey and is now in his 80's. We will take care of him in our Health Care Center.

The students left last Friday also and will be gone for about three weeks for Christmas vacation. Those of our own monks who are away at school are arriving to be home for Christmas. Brother Paul arrived last Thursday, and Brothers Anselm and Victor are due to arrive tomorrow. Father Frowin, who is studying in Rome, will of course not come home for Christmas.

While stores and many public places have had Christmas decorations up for weeks and even months, we so far have no decorations up. They will, however, be put up this coming week and by Christmas it will be well decorated.

I hope you have a blessed last week of Advent. I plan to post a new blog on Thursday to wish each of you a Merry Christmas.

To go to the Conception Abbey web site and the Oblate blog. click here

Brother Mark Kosiba enters eternal life

Brother Mark Kosiba, a monk of Conception Abbey, died on Monday evening, November 30, at North Kansas City Hospital. About a month ago he had open heart surgery and just never did come out of that. He was in a rehab center for a while but then they had to send him back to the hospital. Brother Mark was 74 years old and through the years did a lot of development work here at the Abbey, as well as at the Indian Mission at Fort Yates, North Dakota. For a number of years he had not been in good health but he was always active and always had a smile on his face. His funeral was Friday, December 4, with a wake service the night before. He will be missed in the community for sure.

Work on the St. Stephen Health Care Center continues. The top floor is pretty well completed but there is still some work to do on the bottom floor so we'll have to see when we will be able to move. Work is also continuing on the new elevator.

Winter weather has hit us. The last few nights it has gotten down to about 14-15 degrees. Today it is a little warmer but only about 40 degrees.

I hope you are all having a blessed Advent season.

To go to the Conception Abbey web site or to read the recent oblate blog click here.

Blessing of St. Stephen Health Care Center

The new name given to the renovated infirmary is now: St. Stephen Health Care Center. We had the blessing of the building last Tuesday, November 24, while all the monks were here at home for Thanksgiving week. It will be a couple weeks before we can begin moving in but things are coming along great and we are all looking forward to moving back over there.

Photos were taken by Novice Eric.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

LET US GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD OUR GOD

The pictures above were all taken this morning, Tuesday, November 24, in the renovated Health Care Center here at Conception. They are all taken on the 2nd floor. The top left is the chapel in the center of the 2nd floor. The top right is one of the resident rooms. The bottom left is the hallway on the 2nd floor. The bottom left is the lounge and T.V. room on the 2nd floor. That is the only room that will have carpet. We have of course not yet moved in and the work is not all completed. We are planning and hoping to move in before Christmas. Today at 2:30 PM we are planning to have the blessing of the building. All the monks should be home by that time from their various assignments and so the Abbot wants to have the blessing when they are all home.

During this Thanksgiving week, as is traditional here at Conception, most of the monks try to come home. During the week we have meetings and also time for socializing and enjoying one another's company. We also celebrate our jubilarians for the year 2009. This year, Father Joachim Schieber celebrates 70 years of monastic profession and 65 years as a priest. Father Donald Grabner celebrates 60 years of monastic profession. Father Kenneth Reichert and Father Paschal Thomas celebrate 50 years of ordination to the priesthood. Father Karl Barmann celebrates 50 years of monastic profession. The Mass on Thanksgiving day honors the jubilarians and then a banquet follows.

The seminarians all attended the National Catholic Youth Convention this past weekend. This year this event was held in Kansas City at Bartle Convention Hall and also at the Sprint Center. About 25,000 youth and adults attended. Many pictures were posted on the Kansas City Star web site of this event. Today the students leave for their Thanksgiving break. They will return on Sunday evening.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week with our families, friends, community etc., let us not forget to take time to thank God for his many blessings. I ask you to join with me in thanking God for my fifty years in the priesthood and fifty five years as a professed monk. I am also grateful to my family and all of you who read this blog for your support during these years.

God Bless you.

If you would like to go to the Conception Abbey web site or read the oblate blog, click here.

What's going on?

Here it is already November 10 and in just a couple weeks we will be giving thanks at Thanksgiving and then we begin the Advent season in preparation for the feast of Christmas. Of course we all know that many of the stores already have their decorations up for Christmas. I hope that most of us can wait a while longer. Advent is a time to prepare and then we celebrate on Christmas.A week or so ago one of our infirmary employees retired after working here for about eight years. Juanita Middleton was a faithful worker for us for those years. We are grateful for her service. On her last day of work we had a little social gathering for monks and infirmary employees to honor her.

Shown above are on the left Ronda Noble R.N. our present

head nurse, Juanita seated, Fr. Kenneth behind her
and Carol Madden, R.N. who retired as head nurse
at the end of June, 2009

This past week the weather has been beautiful with warm days and nights. I'm sure the farmers are happy about that as they have had a chance to get at least most of their grain out of the fields.

Last weekend the seniors were in Kansas City for their experience of the "inner city." They spend time helping at "First Harvest" and then with a group that takes food and clothing to those who live on the street and under bridges.

Brother Mark had heart surgery at North Kansas City Hospital last week. He was just released from intensive care a day or two ago and should be coming home within the next few days.

So far the flu has not really hit us here at the monastery or in the seminary. A few students have been ill for a day or two but seem to get back to normal fairly soon. It will be great if we can avoid an outbreak of that H1N1 flu.

That's about it for now.

If you want to read the oblate blog for this week go to http://www.conceptionabbey.org and then click on "oblates" on the left side of your screen. To go to my photo site click here.

Remembering the Faithful Departed

Procession to cemetery November 2, 2009

Yesterday on November 1, we celebrated the feast of All Saints. Remembering all those who have gone before us and are now enjoying eternal life and happiness in heaven. Not only those saints who are canonized by the Church but no doubt many of our relatives and friends who are now in heaven. Today we remember those who have gone before us but who are still awaiting the full happiness of heaven. We pray for them and remember them in prayer in a special way today. Here at Conception we will have a procession to the cemetery after lunch and pray especially for those who are buried in our cemetery.

Many times on November 2 it is very cold for these processions but today is sunny and relatively warm so it should be comfortable for the procession.

The infirmary continues to move along although I think it will be after Thanksgiving before we can move in. Hopefully we will be back there before Christmas so we can celebrate the feast in our new surrondings. I am including a couple of pictures here to try to give you some idea of how it is looking. These pictures were just taken today.

2nd floor hallway

A shower in one of the rooms.
Each room will have a complete
bathroom with walk-in shower.

To go to Fr. Kenneth Smugmug photo site: click here
To go to Conception Abbey web site and oblate blog: click here

FALL IS HERE, WINTER TO FOLLOW

Brief video of fall colors at Conception.

I am writing this blog on Thursday afternoon, October 22, and it is quite a day. We have had close to two inches of rain, the wind is blowing and it is getting colder. It is still raining right now so it will again be a while before farmers can get back in the field. I myself grew up on a farm near Brunswick, MO, so I guess I still have a little bit of the farmer in me. I had one brother who farmed, and although he is deceased, his son Kenny still farms. Last weekend it was nice with the sun shining and on Monday the sun was shining and it got up to 70 degrees or so. This week I'm attaching some pictures of the leaves turning so I guess fall is definitely here. Unfortunately we know that winter will follow. But, then there is beauty about the winter also. I always say I like the winter as long as I don't have to drive.

We had an electrical outage last night. It was not any of the new work we have had done but an older cable that was put underground some years ago already and was thought to be in good shape but it shorted out and so there was no electricity in St. Michael Hall. The electricians came immediately and got the lights back on in St. Michael's about 12:30 AM. They will in the next few days or so have to replace that underground cable.

Last weekend I was at St. Mary's Parish in St. Joseph for the Sunday Masses. Then I came back home and left soon after for Des Moines. Karen Ceckowski and I went up to meet with the oblates in that area on Sunday evening. We returned to Conception about noon on Monday.

God bless all of you and take care.

To go to Father Kenneth's photo site click here.
To go to Conception Abbey's web site and then to the oblate site click here.

CONCEPTION GOES UNDERGROUND

---with electric lines now underground on campus ---

Tuesday, October 6, 2009, was they day they began transferring all our buildings over to the underground cables. Yesterday the electricians changed to the new lines for the monastery, basilica, St. Joseph Hall, St. Michael Hall, St. Maur Hall and St. Raphael Hall. The other buildings will be changed over within the next couple of weeks. And then all the above ground lines on campus will be removed. They have been working on this project for the past couple of months. The work was done by RS Electric from St. Joseph. They are also doing the electrical work on the renovated infirmary. During the bad ice storm in December, 2007, two or three electric poles on our own property broke off so we will at least not have that happening anymore. Of course we hope we do not get anymore ice storms like that one.

Taking out the old transformers near St. Michael Hall

Preparing to install the new transformer
(click on pictures to enlarge them)

Workers are also preparing to change our water system. Our water which comes from the Maryville and Nodaway County rural water district, was coming to our propery and buildings from the south part of campus. With new pumps etc. the new system will come through St. Michael Hall and then to the other buildings.

Work on the infirmary continues to make good progress. We are hoping to be able to move in sometime shortly after Thanksgiving.

Heat is now on in the buildings. While I don't think we have as yet had our first frost the temperature has been getting down into the 30's at night. Frost and snow will come soon.

That's about it for this week.

To read the oblate blog or other oblate information click here.

Alumni Reunion and other news

The annual Conception alumni reunion was held this past Friday and Saturday. My understanding is that about 90 alumni attended. The college class of forty years ago in 1969 had a very good turnout for their reunion. I had been the prefect for most of them at some time while they were here. It was good to see them again. I always refer to those 1960's as turbulent years in the Church and also in our society. I always say that during those years everyone seemed to want something different, everyone wanted change, but not many of us knew exactly what we wanted. A number left the monastery in those years and the same thing happened in most religious communities and in the diocesan priesthood.

The Eucharist was celebrated at 4:30 PM on Friday with Bishop Anthony Milone, an alumnus and retired bishop of Great Falls-Billings in Montana as celebrant and homilist. He now lives in Omaha which is where he served as priest before being appointed bishop. At the conclusion of Mass Mr. Fred Meyer was given the alumni award for distinguished service. Fred went to school here from 1934-36. He lives in the state of Washington and was not able to be here because of his age and health. His younger brother, who lives in Iowa, accepted the award in his name.

Last weekend when I was filling in for the pastor at Brunswick, MO where I was born and raised, I got to see my great great nephew and nieces who were born on my birthday on July 7. There were originally quadruplets but one of the boys died the second day after they were born. The other three just recently were released from the hospital and are now at home. Each of them now weighs 5-6 pounds. I am putting a photo of them here on my blog with their great-great uncle. I have to admit I was a little nervous holding three babies at once but very proud of them.

Brody, the boy, is in the center with
his sisters Emery and Gracie on the
left and right.

Next weekend, October 2-4, we have an oblate retreat here. It is being given by Karen Ceckowski, pastoral associate for our Prayer and Ministry Center.

Especially if you are an oblate be sure to always check out our web site and oblate site located on our Conception Abbey web site. Click here

Progress on Renovation of Infirmary

Renovation on the 2nd floor of the infirmary.
On the left side is the nurses station.

2nd floor renovation

This very brief movie shows the renovation of
the sun porch. Primarily larger windows.

The infirmary renovation continues to go forward. We still hope to be able to move back there before Christmas. It will be a big change. The entire building will be central air-conditioned and heated. Each room with have available computer connection, antenna for T.V. and telephone availability. Maybe I will be able to move in when it is completed. I doubt that time has come yet.

This very brief movie shows the new main
entrance on the south side of the infirmary

We have continued to have very nice weather for this time of the year. Nights have been cool and daytime highs about 80 degrees. Farmers have not been harvesting yet as the crops were planted late and they are just not dry enough yet to havest.

We have this summer and fall almost completed putting all our electrical lines on campus under ground. An electrical company from St. Joseph has been doing that and I think they are planning on the switch over now in early October. It will be great to get all those overhead lines down and not have poles breaking on campus when there is a wind or ice storm.

Want to get this on line. God bless each of you and enjoy the nice fall weather.

Don't forget to check out the Conception Abbey web site -- click here and for the oblate blog, then click on "oblates' on the left side of your screen.

NEW MEMBERS IN COMMUNITY

Brother Paul signs his profession document on the Gospel book
after he made solemn vows on August 23, 2009

Brother Maximilan with Abbot Gregory and Brother Bernard
after taking simple vows on August 15, 2009

Abbot Gregory and Brother Bernard with the
four new novices who entered the novitiate
on August 14, 2009. Left to right: Novice
Craig Thomas, Novice Eric Huard, Br. Bernard,
Abbot Gregory, Novice John Bosco and Novice Samuel Backus/

The past couple of weeks have been a time of special blessings for the Conception Abbey community. Four new novices entered the novitiate and one made simple vows and one made solemn vows. Continue to pray for vocations and for the perseverance of those who have been sent to us by God. For more about vocations at Conception Abbey click here.

School has started and we have an enrollment of 116 diocesan students. This is up again from last year so that is encouraging. They too of course need your prayers so they will persevere.

Work on our renovation of the infirmary continues to make good progress. We hope to be back there by about Christmas time. A company is also working to put all our electric lines on campus underground. At least the ice storms won't be able to break the lines on campus when this work is completed.

Oblates reminder: The next oblate retreat is the weekend of October 2-4, 2009. It is on the spirituality of icons and will be given by Karen Ceckowski. Be sure to make your reservation.

Many blessings to each of you.

Death of Abbot James

Abbot James and Fr. Regis (pushing wheelchair)
Taken a few years ago.

When I returned from Washington, D.C. on August 3, I was informed already at the airport that Abbot James had been taken to the hospital in St. Joseph that morning by ambulance. We stopped to see him and he was still in the emergency room. After staying at the hospital for about an hour we came on home as the nurse said they would probably keep him overnight. Later in the afternoon the hospital called and told us he had a perforated bowel and probably a tumor. The surgeon called me a little later and asked me to come down since I was designated as his agent on his living will and durable power of attorney. Both the surgeon and his regular doctor suggested that we not do surgery as they thought he might not even make it through surgery. So on Tuesday we brought him home, again by ambulance, and put him on hospice care. On Wednesday morning about 4:10 AM when the nurse went in his room to give him some medicine for pain, he was dead. We are thankful he did not have to suffer for a long time

The funeral for Abbot James was on Saturday morning at 10:30 AM. The church was pretty well filled and a number of priests were here for the funeral, including Archbishop Jerome Hanus, O.S.B., our former abbot and now Archbishop of Dubuque, Iowa, Bishop Rober Finn, our own bishop, Abbot Bonaventure retired Archabbot of St. Meinrad Archabbey, Abbot Gabriel from St. Benedict Abbey in Massachusetts, Abbot Barnabas and Abbot Owen (retired) from St. Benedict Abbey, Atchison, KS. Abbot James was a good friend of many people and greatly loved by those of us in the monastic community. If you would like to read the eulogy given by Father Daniel at the wake service on Friday evening, or the homily given by Abbot Gregory at the funeral Mass or the obituary notice, please go to the Conception Abbey web site:
www.conceptionabbey.org and then click on "news" on the left side of the screen.

Fr. Kenneth in front of George Washington's home at Mount Vernon

For more pictures of this visit go to: http://kennethosb.smugmug.com/gallery/9222100_3dxSs

As I mentioned I returned last Monday from visiting good friends in the Washington, DC area. It was a delightful trip and I had a wonderful visit with Mike and Angie Ryan. Mike was a classmate of mine in the seminary and we spent the novitiate together and three years of temporary vows. So we have been friends for 55 years or more. I always enjoy Washington and we were also able to visit the home of Thomas Jefferson and the home of the fourth president, James Madison. I enjoy history and especially American history so all this was very interesting. On this trip I was able to visit the home of three of our first four presidents -- George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. I missed the second president, John Adams, who was from Massachusetts.

Our four postulants are on retreat this week as they prepare to enter the novitiate on Friday, August 14. Also, on retreat are Novice Adam, who will make first profession of vows on August 15, and Brother Paul, who will make solemn vows on Sunday, August 23.

Until the next time be assured of my prayers.

What's going on?

Infirmary renovation as walls start to go up.
Taken July 25, 2009

It has indeed been a while since I last wrote on this blog. Summer seems to be a more difficult time to do such things so today, on Saturday, I thought it was time to say "hello" again. This weekend I am not out in a parish. Last weekend I went to Marceline and Brookfield, MO to celebrate four Masses. Both of these towns used to have their own pastor but due to the shortage of priests they are now united, although Brookfield does have a Sister as pastoral administrator of the parish.

In the last couple of weeks I have spent a lot of time working on pictures from my 50th anniversary celebration. I put together a couple of DVD's that I could send to family. I enjoy doing these sort of things but it does take time.

My cousin who was a priest, died a few weeks ago. He was 71 years old but died after having a massive stroke. His name was Father Henry Reichert, a priest of the diocese of Jefferson City, MO. Brother Blaise and I went to his funeral at Tipton, MO where he was pastor. He also was taking care of two parishes -- the one at Tipton and also the one at California, MO. He was from a family 16 children and he is the first one to die. He grew up in the Brunswick area just a couple miles from where I grew up.

This coming week on Thursday, July 30, I will fly to Washington, DC. I have a good friend there and he and his wife did not come to my 50th celebration but wanted to send me money to fly out to see them for a few days. So I am looking forward to that. I have been to Washington, DC before but always enjoy it as there is so much to see there.

Right now I am also going through a lot of dental work on my teeth. I have neglected seeing a dentist for a number of years and now I guess I have to make up for that. As you get older you wonder if you are going to get your money's worth out of the work they do on those teeth.

Work on the infirmary continues as you can see on the picture up above. There are also a number of other projects going on this summer which we hope to complete before school begins again.

For those who are interested in seeing more photos of my jubilee celebration or of the oblate "pray and work" weekend, go to my photo site: http://kennethosb.smugmug.com/

Until the next time God bless all of you.

Fr. Kenneth

What a blessing!

Gift I received from some of my family on my 50th anniversary.

The big news this week for me is that yesterday one of my grandnephews and his wife gave birth to quadruplets. Obviously they have known for some time that she was pregnant with four babies. They were born yesterday, July 7, in Boone Hospital at Columbia. All four seem to be doing o.k. They are very small -- only about two pounds each but seem to be doing well so far. I was especially excited as they were born on my birthday. There were two boys and two girls and these are their first children. My grand nephew's last name is Reichert. So it seems the Reicherts will be around for a while yet. Say a little prayer for them that they will continue to grow and be in good health.

I am still working to get the photos together from my 50th anniversary of ordination. It takes a while to get all that done and then I would like to make a DVD for some of the family.

We have had some good rains in the past week and the heat and humidity have decreased so the weather is more bearable.

This weekend, July 10-12 is the oblate "Pray and Work" weekend. We are expecting about 35 oblates here for the weekend. We will spend a big part of the time on Saturday doing work.

That's it for this week. Prayers and blessings to all of you.

Hot and humid week

Cactus blooming on south side of the monastery

The past week has been very hot and humid. Most days this past week the heat index was well up over 100 degrees. We got a shower just about everyday and that only made the heat and humidity worse.

I had a priest cousin die last week. His name was Father Henry Reichert and he was a priest of the diocese of Jefferson City. He was only 71 years old but had a massive stroke at the rectory. They flew him to Columbia, MO and the doctors put him on life support but told the family he would be pretty much a vegetable if he survived at all. So the decision was made to remove the life support. He died a few hours later. The funeral was on Friday at Tipton, Missouri where he was pastor. He was much loved as a pastor and the church was packed for the funeral as well as most of the priests of the diocese were there for it. Since Tipton is about 200 miles from here, Brother Blaise accompanied me to the funeral and helped with the driving.

About a year ago there were four priests still living who grew up in my home parish: Monsignor Victor Moser, also a cousin of mine, died in May 2008. Monsignor Lawrence Speichinger died a few months ago. And now Father Henry Reichert who also grew up in the Brunswick area has died. So I am the last remaining priest who grew up in that little rural community at Brunswick. So life goes on. We are only in this world for a short time.

I have also been busy trying to send out thank you notes to so many people who remembered my 50th anniversary of ordination. By the way some of the pictures of the anniversary are now available on my Smugmug photo site. Go to: http://kennethosb.smugmug.com/ and then click on the album: "50th Anniversary of Ordination."

We now have four postulants here in the monastery. They hope to enter the novitiate in August. It is good to see young men coming to the monastery and considering a monastic vocation.

Below is a brief video of the conclusion of my Mass of Thanksgiving on June 7, 2009.

Thanks be to God for fifty years of priesthood

At the Mass: left to right - Deacon Michael Smith,
Fr. Kenneth and Fr. Leonard Misey (pastor)

At the dinner following the Mass - left to right at
the head table -- Fr. Misey, Deacon Michael Smith, Fr. Kenneth,
my brother Harold and his wife Dee, my sister in
law Vera and my Aunt Mercedes Gladbach.

What a wonderful celebration I had for my Golden Jubilee of ordination to the priesthood. On Saturday evening, June 6, we had a family gathering at the farm of my nephew and his wife, Kenny and Julie Reichert. Many relatives were there and also some of the out of town guests. Then on Sunday morning I celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving. The church was full and overflowing as chairs had to be set up. That was followed by a dinner served by the Knights of Columbus at the Knights Hall. It was certainly a day I will remember for the rest of my life. I am certainly grateful to God for being able to celebrate this occasion and also to all my family and many others who helped to make it a wonderful day.

My good friends Ben and Alicia Darnell were there and spent a few days. They now live in Dayton, Ohio where Ben is youth director at one of the large parishes. They are expecting their first child in August. Also, his parents Rick and Sandy Darnell were there. They came all the way from Phoenix, Arizona for the occasion. The deacon for the Mass was a former seminarian who served at my first solemn Mass at Brunswick in 1959. He is now married and is a permanent deacon. He now lives in the Detroit area. I was also very happy to have the brother of Father Alexis there. Father Alexis was ordained with me and we were good friends. He died after heart surgery in 1998. His brother Bill and his wife Shirley and one of their daughters came from Peoria, Illinois to be present for the day.

I have been busy since I returned to the Abbey last week on Thursday. I now have many thank you notes to write but I'll get to them in good time.

The temporary infirmary seems to be working out well. The main problem is that we do not have any extra rooms available.

Thank you to the many of you who sent a card or an e-mail for my jubilee. Thank you especially for the prayers.

Until the next time, God bless you.

Temporary Infirmary

This is the nurses station for the temporary infirmary
located on the first floor of the monastery.

This used to be the oblate office only. Now it is the
oblate office, my infirmary office and the office
for the head nurse in the infirmary.

This picture is looking back to the infirmary resident
rooms in their temporary quarters. Taken from the
nurses station area.

This has been a rather busy week as we moved everything from our infirmary into temporary quarters located on the first floor of the monastery. There was a lot of furniture and other things to be either moved or stored someplace until after we finish the renovation of the infirmary. The walls will be taken out, the rooms made larger, the bathrooms made larger and central air conditioning put in. On Friday of this week we moved the residents over to the new temporary quarters and now we are trying to get thing located and in some kind of order so we can find things.

Last weekend I was home to preside at the wedding of my grand niece Jamie and her husband John. It was a beautiful wedding and a very large crowd was present for the wedding. After the wedding there was a reception, dinner and dance. Since I was very tired I left before the dancing began.

Today, May 30, is my 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood. I along with four other monks were ordained by Bishop John Cody on May 30, 1959. I am the only one of the five still living. Next Sunday, June 7, I will go to my hometown, Brunswick, Missouri to celebrate a Mass and dinner at St. Boniface Church. I was baptized there as well as made my first communion, was confirmed, celebrated my first solemn Mass there, went to eight years of grade school there, have buried my parents and three of my brothers from that parish and served numerous Masses there as a young person. So I have many ties to that parish and still have many relatives living there. I am grateful for all I have received from this parish as well as from the monastic community here at Conception and many relatives and friends. Please keep me in prayer as I will you.

Many monks are coming and going these days as is usual once school is out and we have made our annual retreat.

Busy Week

A picture taken at Pella, Iowa

This past week has been somewhat a busy week or at least it seems that way. On Sunday, May 3, Karen Ceckowski and I drove to Des Moines to attend an oblate meeting for the oblates in that area. We had about 50 or more oblates come to the meeting. At 5:30 PM we prayed vespers (evening prayer) in the Basilica of St. John. Then we went to the parish hall downstairs where we enjoyed a pot luck dinner together. We had so much delicious food and we enjoyed and gave thanks for all of it. Then we had a more or less informal meeting. We primarily wanted the oblates who have for many years been affiliated with Conception Abbey to get acquainted with 60 or so oblates who have transferred to Conception Abbey from St. Gabriel Priory in Des Moines. Father Aquinas, who was Prior of the Priory and also pastor of the parish, St. John's Basilica hosted the meeting. I stayed overnight at the rectory there at the Basilica and Karen stayed with some of our oblates there in Des Moines.

About mid-morning on Monday we left for Pella, Iowa. Marilyn Mutti, an oblate from Pella invited us to stop by for lunch. She served us a delicious lunch and then we went out to see some of the tulips for which Pella is famous. They were in full bloom and really beautiful. I have put some of the pictures that were taken by Karen on my smugmug photo site. To see them go to: http://kennethosb.smugmug.com/gallery/8161318_HNkDz/1 There are also a few pictures there of the oblates praying vespers together.

We returned home Monday evening and May Day was in full swing here at Conception. It was a beautiful day and the first nice day to have May Day. That is an old tradition at Conception. It was going on way back when I first entered Conception as a student in the 1940's.

A couple days last week I had to go to Maryville for physical therapy. Then on Thursday evening I went to the diocesan jubilee celebration in Kansas City. They always honor all the priest jubilarians at a special dinner at Hillcrest Country Club in Kansas City. Bishop Finn is kind and also invites the religious priests who are in the diocese to this celebration. Father Aidan (40 years ordained) and myself (50 years ordained) went and Father Frowin went along to drive.

This week is the last week of the school year. Next Sunday is graduation and then the students will be leaving.

I hope all of you will eventually have a chance to see a very good movie made about Conception Abbey entitled "The Rule of St. Benedict." It was made by an Episcopal priest from St. Louis. He does this as a hobby and is quite professional in his work. He has made a number of documentary films and has won a number of awards at film festivals. Eventually the Printery House is going to sell the film through the internet. At present it is available only in the Abbey gift shop. Keep checking the Printery House web site. www.printeryhouse.org

God bless you all.

Warm weather and spring

First of all I just want to show you two or three pictures I took while out walking a couple days ago. It's a beautiful time of the year with trees and flowers blooming. Nice days to go out for a walk.A beautiful crabapple tree blooming between

the monastery and infirmary.

Tulips blooming on the south side of monastery.

Trees and bushes blooming in the courtyard of the monastery.

We have had some warm temperatures this past week as it got up into the lower 80's a day or two. Farmers have been out working hard trying to get crops in for the growing season.

We are getting ready to renovate our infirmary building. So that means we have to provide temporary living quarters for the monks who live in the infirmary. We are fixing some rooms on the first floor of the monastery for this purpose. Fortunately at the present time we only have four residents in the infirmary. They will completely gut the inside of the infirmary and then re-do all the rooms, making the rooms larger and putting complete bathrooms in each of the rooms. They will also install central air-conditioning. The present infirmary building was built in the early 1960's. I have had to move my oblate office, which was located on the first floor of the monastery, so they could use that room for a computer room.

The constuction company thinks it will take them about six month to complete the infirmary work but we'll see once they get into the work. Hopefully we can be back over there by Christmas.

This is a busy time of the year for weddings, graduations etc. I will be going to Brunswick on May 23, to preside at the wedding of my grandniece Jamie to John Case. Then the first Sunday of June I'll be there again to celebrate my own golden jubilee of ordination to the priesthood.

Easter Octave

Blessing of the Easter fire in front of basilica
at beginning of Easter Vigil

Now that we have completed the eight days of celebrating Easter with the conclusion of the Octave days of the feast, we begin the Easter season which will last up until Pentecost. So the Church does not want us to just stop celebrating this important feast but to continue reflecting and rejoicing in it for these fifty days.

During the Easter Octave we had a different schedule on Monday and Tuesday. Monday we did not begin our morning Vigils until 7:00 AM and then Morning Prayer at 8:15 AM. On Monday evening about 25-30 Sisters from Clyde came over to join us for vespers and then for dinner. It is always a joy to have them join us. They invite us over for vespers and dinner on the feast of St. Scholastica, February 10, and we invite them over usually for vespers and dinner on Easter Monday.

On Tuesday we had our regular morning schedule but did not have reading at meals.

Everyday during the Easter Octave the community had a social gathering at 3:00 PM in the afternoon with refreshments being served. On Monday afternoon we saw the final edition of the documentary film done on Conception Abbey by Jay Kanzler from St. Louis. He is an Episcopal priest but does documentary films as a hobby. It is very well done and will soon be available for others who may want to purchase a copy.

This past weekend we had just about a full house in our guest and retreat facilities. The largest group was for an oblate retreat given by Father Daniel Petsche, O.S.B. There were fifty one oblates present for the retreat. This is, I believe, the largest group of oblates we have had for these retreats which are held twice a year. There were also three other smaller groups here. For some pictures of the oblate retreat go to: http://kennethosb.smugmug.com/gallery/7948933_ewR3N#516005119_5fU5C

The students returned on Sunday evening to begin the last four weeks of the school year. Soon it will be May and time for school graduations and other events.

BLESSED AND HAPPY EASTER

CHRIST IS RISEN, ALLELUIA

And the angel said to her (Mary Magdalene): "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken my Lord, and I don't know where they laid him." When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" She thought it was the gardener and said to him, "Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni," which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, "Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Mary went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and then reported what he had told her. (John 20)

LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD ON THIS EASTER DAY.

BLESSED AND HAPPY EASTER!

Father Kenneth

Abbot James celebrates 85th birthday

Abbot James Jones, O.S.B., who was Abbot of Conception Abbey from 1987-93, celebrated his 85th birthday on Monday, March 30. The picture below was taken on the day of his birthday. He is still able to do some walking with the help of a walker and a nurse, but otherwise moves about in a wheel chair. The day before, on Sunday, March 29, he celebrated his 61st anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. An interesting note is that he was ordained in March, 1948. In September, 1948, I first came to school at Conception as a sophomore in high school. Father James taught me Latin that first year I was here. So that means in September it will be 61 years since I first came to Conception. Time keeps moving doesn't it and the years keep counting up.

Abbot James March 30, 2009 in the lounge of
St. Stephen infirmary

The picture below is of Sister Bernadine from the Clyde Sisters and myself just before celebrating Mass for the older Sisters at Our Lady of Rickenbach at Clyde. I am holding a "flat Stanley" photo of one of her grand nieces who sent it to her to help her with a school assignment. Sister Bernadine is almost 90 years old and is still quite active, loves to play cards (10 point pitch) and visit with people.

Sister Bernadine and Fr. Kenneth in March, 2009

This past weekend the seminary sponsored an Encounter With God's Call Weekend. It was well attended by young men from various dioceses who are interested in looking at the seminary. I believe they had about 120 registered but due to the very heavy snow in parts of Oklahoma and Kansas, I believe there were about 80 able to attend. They arrived on Saturday and stayed until noon on Monday, March 30.

Brother Macario arrived home from St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana last Saturday and will be here through Easter. He is studying theology at St. Meinrad. I believe Brother Guerri, who is also in school at St. Meinrad, is also coming soon for these days. Brother Pachomius, who is a deacon and in his last year of theology at Mount Angel Abbey in Oregon, will also arrive later this week. He will serve as deacon for all the Holy Week and Triduum ceremonies.

There are many penance services being held in the local parishes at this time of the year. Last evening, Father Prior Daniel, Father Joel, Father Timothy and myself went to Maryville to help with confessions. Father Peter, Father Xavier and Father Patrick went to Savannah, MO for confessions. There are more services tomorrow evening and later in the week.

Next week is Holy Week and the Triduum. I will probably be kind of busy so may not get a blog written. So if not, have a blessed Holy Week and a blessed and Happy Easter.

New flowers and spring

Magnolia or tulip tree blooming early between
monastery and infirmary.

More flowers blooming on south side of monastery

This past week and weekend we had temperatures even up to 80 degrees. Last night, however, it got down to the lower 30's after 1.65 inches of rain yesterday morning. We needed the rain as it has been a dry winter.

They are today working again on the windmill located on our property just to the east of the monastery. For the last 3-4 months it has been turned off because they found the blades were deficient. So all three blades are being replaced. I think the factory that made them is responsible for this as there seems to have been some problem when they were made.

This past Monday was pastors' day here at the seminary. The pastors of all the students are invited for the day to get acquainted with the seminary, see their seminarians etc.

This coming weekend will be the spring "Encounter With God's Call" weekend. The rooms are all reserved for them so it sounds like it will be well attended. It gives these young men the opportunity to visit and experience the seminary first hand.

This week I again have the community Mass at Clyde for the Sisters each day at 7:30 A.M.

I have been working on my invitations for my 50th anniversary of ordination. I was ordained on May 30, 1959 but will have a Mass of Thanksgiving in my home parish at Brunswick, MO on June 7.

Hope these last weeks of Lent will bring many blessings to you.

TEN YEARS AGO TODAY

The high altar in the basilica before 1965

The main altar in the basilica from about 1965
until the renovation completed in 1999

Ten years ago today we completed the renovation of the Basilica here at Conception Abbey. It was a great day and one we all certainly remember. We had been out of the basilica for four years during the renovation so it was exciting to be able to start using it again and praying there. I thought I would put a few pictures on my blog here from that day.

Interior of the basilica after the
renovation completed in March, 1999

Tower Topics heading for spring, 1999 and at the
bottom a picture of the Abbots and Bishops present
for that day (about 50 of them) and of Bishop
Boland celebrating the Mass after the dedication
of the altar.