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