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.