Reflections on 60 years as a Benedictine Monk of Conception Abbey

September 8, 2014, I celebrate being a professed monk of Conception Abbey for 60 years.  This is the feast of the Birth of Mary and it was on that day that seven of us made vows in 1954.

In September, 1948, I first came to Conception as a sophomore in high school, thinking I had a vocation to the priesthood and wanting to begin my studies for that goal.  I was 15 years old at that time and for the first couple months I was a very home sick boy.  Many times I wondered if this was the place for me.  When we came in September we did not go home again until Christmas vacation.  But, I stuck with it and then, after my 2nd year in college I petitioned to enter the novitiate of Conception Abbey.  Having been accepted I entered the novitiate on September 7, 1953.  At the end of the novitiate I petitioned to take vows for three years and, again being accepted, I took my vows along with six other young men on September 8, 1954.  Originally eight of us entered the novitiate but one left around Christmas time that year.

 My mother and Dad visited me for the first 

time in the novitiate at Easter, 1954.  My Dad is 

holding the first grandchild, Joe.

On Easter Sunday of 1954 my entire family 

came to see me.  My younger brother, Ed, who

died of cancer in May 1955, is holding our

first nephew.

The seven who made profession of vows on

September 8, 1954.  This is when I received

the name of Kenneth.  My baptismal and

birth name was Maurice Peter.  

Shown above from left to right (using their new

names and the title Frater which is what we

were called then -- simply is "Brother" in Latin.

Shawn Ryan, Alexis Saathoff, Damian Parker, Kenneth Reichert, Father Maur Burbach,

Novice Master, Virgil Mudd, Owen Moran and Paul Kelly.

On the day I took vows, September 8, 1954,

with my Dad and younger brother, Ed.

When I took vows the Mass and the entire profession rite was in Latin.  We wrote  our profession of vows and read it in Latin.  We were given our new name in Latin by the Abbot.  No one could figure out my name since the Latin for Kenneth is "Canicus."  Very few, if any, knew my name until after the ceremony.  The Mass at that time was celebrated with the celebrant having his back to the people.  The Prior was the celebrant for the Mass, but Abbot Stephen (our third Abbot) received our vows.

On September 8, 1957, four of us took our solemn and final vows.  Three left the monastery at that time.  Paul Kelly, Damian Parker, Alexis Saathoff and myself made our solemn and final vows that day, September 8, 1957.

Solemn profession, Setember 8, 1957

Left to right:  Paul Kelly, Damian Parker, Kenneth Reichert & Alexis Saathoff

Of the four of us who made solemn profession together, I am the only one still living.

And so as I reflect after sixty years as a Benedictine monk, I most of all feel a spirit of gratitude.  Obviously, there have been ups and downs in my life, as there are for most of us.  But, I have to say I have always felt a sense of peace in doing what the Abbot 
or other superior has asked me to do and persevering in what I promised on that day in 1954.  I have known many great men who have been members of Conception Abbey and are now in heaven.  Now that I have an assignment outside the monastery, I always try to make it a point to visit the cemetery when I go home.  Many, many of those buried there I knew in my life.  Some of them were very dear friends.  All of them were my brothers.  

I also think so frequently of my family and all they gave me.  I have come to realize that when a young son or daughter leave home, it is more difficult for our parents than it is for us.  But, my parents always encouraged me and helped me financially to go to the seminary and to go forward in the life God wanted me to follow.  

Living through the years in the 1960's and 1970's were sometimes difficult.  I remember at one time in those years thinking that I made a mistake and should have been a diocesan priest.  But, after prayer and reflection I stayed where I was.  God's grace, I know, helped me to continue to be faithful to the vows I made.  

The shooting event at Conception Abbey on June 10, 2002, was a major event in the life of the community and certainly in my own life.  I was critically injured and sometimes wonder why God left me here.  I'm sure God had a plan and I can only hope I am doing what he had in mind for me.  I am just grateful that I can continue to serve in some way even as I am now over 81 years of age.

At this time I can only hope that with God's help I can continue to serve the Church and my brothers and sisters as long as I am able to do so.  When my home parish at Brunswick, Missouri celebrated my 60th anniversary when i was home in June, I had a card printed and on it was this prayer:

"Lord, you have given me so much.  Please give me one thing more, A GRATEFUL HEART."

God bless you all.