Thanksgiving, Advent and other things

Last week most of the monks who are assigned to parishes or as chaplains were home for the week.  We had our usual community meetings.  On Thanksgiving day itself we honor all those who celebrate jubilees during the year.  This year we honored and celebrated with:  Fr. Richard Cleary and Fr. Hugh Tasch: 60 years professed, Archbishop Jerome Hanus, 50 years professed, Fr. Francis Stuart and Fr. Rene Guesnier, 50 years ordained, Br. Jude Person, 25 years professed.  It was a delightful week and good to see our confreres.  Those who are away at school were not able to come back but they will be home for Christmas.  


Today, Sunday, November 27, and the first Sunday of Advent, we began using the New Roman Missal.  I had the Mass for the residents in the Health Care Center and all went well there.  Abbot Gregory was the principal celebrant for the Community Mass and I understand all went well there also. You do have to keep your eyes on the book but in time we will learn the words more from memory.  


The students left for Thanksgiving vacation last Tuesday. Today they will be returning and in just a few weeks will be leaving again for a longer Christmas break.  


JOSEPH GLAUS:  Some of you who are older alumni should remember this name.  Just a few days ago someone asked me about him.  I found the article written about him in the Tower Topics issue of December, 1955.  He had died in October of that year.  He left his home in Switzerland in 1913 and came to Conception.  He worked here then as a layman for 42 years.  In 1935 he was assigned as janitor in St. Maur Hall and continued in that work until his death.  As a janitor he endeared himself in the hearts of those for whom he toiled.  He was a very charitable person.  It seems his whole life was spent in serving others.  Just thought some alumni who were in school here in those year and remember "Joe" would like to hear a little about him.  Below is a picture of Joe Glaus, smoking a cigar.  Picture was taken from the 1955 Tower Topics.

Work on the new guest house continues at a good pace.  It is now all enclosed so work can continue even in cold or wet weather.   They still have to lay brick on a big part of the front (south) side but they hope to get that done soon. The roof is all covered but the final roof will not be put on until next spring.  

West end of the building.

North or back side of the building

As we conclude this Thanksgiving week, I hope we all remembered to thank God for his love and goodness.  We all have much to be grateful for in our lives.  


God bless you.
Fr. Kenneth