New Postulants, Unusual January weather etc.

About two weeks ago two new postulants arrived at the monastery.  A third one is expected in the next couple of weeks.  The two presently here and living in the monastery with the community are:  Postulant Jonathan Pund, from New Florence, MO and a recent graduate of Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, MO and Postulant Benigno DeLoera, orginally from Mexico, but his family now resides in Wichita.  

Postulant Jonathan on the left and 

Postulant Benigno on the right

Also, among our young monks, Brother Maximilian Burkhart, has been taking classes since last fall at Maryville and is now finishing his clinicals for his CNA -- Certified Nursing Assistant.  He will then be available to help with our work in the St. Stephen Health Care Center.  Brother Maximilian is now on his third year of temporary vows.  

Brother Maximilian in scrubs as he prepares

to go to work at Pineview Nursing Home in

Stanberry as part of his clinical training.

We are grateful to God for all the young men He has sent to us in recent years.  It gives those of us who are older a lot of encouragement as well as a lot of responsibility to give good example.  Continue to pray for vocations both to the monastic life and to the diocesan priesthood.

The weather this winter has really been unusual.  We have had practically no snow and very little cold weather.  Last week on Wednesday it was very windy and the temperature did not go above about ten degrees but then in a day or two it was again like spring.  It is expected to turn colder again tonight but then warmer again in just a couple of days.  

The students are now all back from Christmas break.  We had a few drop out at the end of the first semester but we also picked up five or six new students at the semester so the enrollment holds about the same.

I have personally been going out to help in parishes many weekends.  This past weekend I celebrated the Masses at St. Mary Parish, St. Joseph and also one Mass at Hirlingen, a parish located out in the country east of St. Joseph.  The next two weekends I am scheduled to go to Plattsburg, MO and Easton, MO for two Masses at each place.  

God bless you and all the good work all of you are doing.

THE CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS CONTINUES

Today, Sunday, January 1, is the Octave Day of Christmas and the feast of Mary, the Mother of God.  One week ago today was Christmas day and I'm sure if you went into stores on Monday or Tuesday of last week many, if not all, the Christmas decorations were taken down as well as the Christmas music put back into storage.  But, that is not how the Catholic Church or Conception Abbey celebrates Christmas.  The feast does not really begin until Christmas eve.  All of our Christmas decorations here are put up the last two or three days before Christmas.  Now they will remain up until the Christmas season is over which, this year, will be on January 9, the feast of the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan river.  So we continue to hear Christmas music and enjoy our Christmas decorations for almost two more weeks.  


As many of you know I was sent out to a parish to help for Christmas.  I celebrated all three Christmas Masses at Immaculate Conception Church at Brookfield, MO.  Those Masses were celebrated at 5:30 PM and the church was packed for that Mass and many, many children were present.  Then we celebrated another Mass at 10:00 PM and the church was again full for that but not as packed as for the 5:30 Mass.  Finally we celebrated a Mass on Christmas morning at 9:15 AM and for that there were only about 45-50 people present.  


Here at the monastery we had first vespers of Christmas at 5:00 PM, a special Christmas meal at 6:00 PM, Vigils at 7:45 PM and midnight Mass.  While I was not here I am told that the church was full for the midnight Mass. We have another Mass on Christmas morning at 11:00 AM.  


I wanted to show you some pictures of our decorations so I am including some in this blog.

Top photo the Basilica sanctuary

Bottom photo the crib scene in Basilica

   The Health Care Center 

 

 Monastery coffee and mail room

This week a couple young men will be entering the monastery as postulants.  One more should be arriving in a couple of weeks.  Keep these young men in your prayers as they take a serious look at the monastic life.

Yesterday, on New Year's eve, we had a day of recollection and silence for the monastic community.  Abbot Gregory gave a conference and we spent the day then in silence and prayer.  There was a community Holy Hour from 3:30-4:30 PM.  The day of recollection ended with vespers at 5:00 PM


So to all of you who read this I wish you a very blessed and happy New Year.  May God continue to bless you and us as we begin the year 2012.


Finally one recent picture of the new guest house so you can see how things are progressing.

 Taken December 28, 2011.  Note that the windows

are now  installed.