CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS WEEK

Monks in choir

First vespers of Christmas on December 24, 2010

The sanctuary in the basilica for midnight Mass

Preparing for midnight Mass on Christmas

This year was quite different from last year at Christmas. Last year we had a blizzard on Christmas eve and most of Christmas day. Only a few people were able to come to midnight Mass. This year the church was fairly well filled for the midnight Mass. We had first vespers of Christmas at 4:45 PM on Christmas eve. The monastic community then enjoyed a nice Christmas meal at 6:00 PM. At 7:45 PM we prayed vigils and then at midnight celebrated Mass.

On Christmas day we rise and have breakfast anytime before 9:00 AM. At nine we pray Lauds and then all gather in the St. Stephen Health Center as the residents there open their gifts. Then at 11:00 AM we celebrate the third Mass of Christmas.

This year I had to go to the doctor on the morning of December 24. My right foot was swollen and was very sore, for no apparent reason. The first thing the doctor did was check to make sure I did not have a blood clot. Thank God I did not. They told me I would have to be admitted to the hospital if they found a blood clot. So the doctor concluded it was gout, which I have had before, but never like this. He gave me medicine and I was able to concelebrate at the midnight Mass and then on Christmas afternoon to travel to Kansas City. I was assigned to celebrate two Masses at St. Patrick's Parish in Kansas City, North on Sunday morning.

I spent Christmas evening with my brother and his wife and their entire family which was gathered at my nephew and his wife's house -- Steve and Mary Reichert. It was so enjoyable to be able to see the entire family of this brother. Those grandnephews and nieces just grow up so fast. Those who were just kids, are now young ladies and young men.

It has been a custom to have a New Year's retreat here at the Abbey for people who want to get away at this time of year. The retreat this year will be on "Mary, Woman of Faith." Conferences are being given by Brother Placid, Karen Ceckowski and myself. My conference will be based upon the wedding feast at Cana and especially on Mary's words: "Do whatever he tells you." The retreat begins Thursday evening and will conclude Saturday morning on New Year's day.

I want to wish each of you a very Happy and Blessed New Year. May God continue to bless you and your family.

Fr. Kenneth

All the pictures used in this blog were taken by Brother Paul, O.S.B. To see more pictures from Christmas time go to the Conception Abbey web site. Simply click on it up above this blog and then click on "picture gallery" posted at the top of the web page.

A BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO ALL

May God's presence shine upon you this Christmas and bless you throughout the New Year

"All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph
also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to
Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because
he was descended from the house and family of David.
He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was
engaged and who was expecting a child. While they
were there the time came for her to deliver her child.
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped
him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger,
because there was no place for them in the inn.
(Luke 2:3-7)

To all of you faithful readers of this blog and others, I wish you a blessed and holy Christmas. I will definitely be remembering you in prayer and also in my Christmas Masses. I encourage you especially to take time to go to Mass on this special holy day and try to spend some little time at least in reflecting on that great mystery of God becoming man. St. John tells us: "that God so loved the world that he sent his only Son..."

Without Jesus Christ there is no salvation.

And thank you to each of you who read this blog and who are such good friends. May God bless you and grant you many blessings on this feast and throughout the New Year, 2011,

In the love of Christ,
Fr. Kenneth Reichert, O.S.B.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION: VISIT OF ARCHBISHOP CARLSON

Archbishop Robert Carlson, Archbishop of St. Louis

Tomorrow, December 8, is the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, our patronal feast. We actually honor the Angels as well as the Immaculate Conception as our patrons. When the abbey was first founded in 1873, they began to call it New Engelberg Abbey or New Mount Angel. We were of course founded from Engelberg Abbey in Switzerland. However, gradually we came to be called Conception Abbey. The town was already here and was called Conception. At any rate this feast is our patronal feast so a big day for all of us here.

This year Archbishop Robert Carlson, archbishop of St. Louis and so our metropolitan archbishop will be here for the Mass and the main celebrant of the Mass. This is Archbishop's Carlson's first visit here since he came to St. Louis a year or so ago. He was here some years ago to give our community retreat but at that time was an auxiliary bishop in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

This past weekend I was at Brunswick MO to help celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the parish. It was a wonderful celebration with Bishop Gaydos, the bishop of Jefferson City as the main celebrant. A nice dinner was served at the Knights of Columbus Hall after the Mass.

A week from this Friday the students finish the semester and will be heading for home and a Christmas break. They all look forward to that of course.

I pray you all continue to have a Blessed Advent season and are preparing for Christ's coming on Christmas.

Many blessings.
Fr. Kenneth