Fall is just around the corner

Yesterday evening we had a beautiful sunset so I took a couple pictures. In case you live someplace where you never see the sunset you can look at these to cheer you up. In the meantime it feels like fall is coming. We have had some cool days and cool nights. Last night I think it got down in the 40's so it was a little cool this morning. It is only in the 60's this afternoon but at least the sun is shining so it feels good. I just came back from a nice walk. Walking outdoors is so much more interesting than walking on the treadmill.

Monday morning Abbot Gregory left for Rome. Every four years all the Benedictine abbots of the world have a meeting in Rome. This is the year for such a meeting. They usually meet for about ten days or two weeks. The meetings are held at Sant' Anselmo in Rome, the International Benedictine College.

This week we have the Episcopalian priests from the diocese of West Missouri meeting here at Conception. They come every fall for such a meeting. I believe they are here until Thursday. This coming weekend we have a number of seminarians from other seminaries coming here for a soccer and volleyball tournament. I believe there will be over a hundred here for that.

Otherwise there is not much new to report on.

Let us pray for one another.

Labor Day Weekend

On Monday afternoon, Labor Day, I went for a good walk. I was out in the area of the orchard and took a picture of a couple of pear trees we have there. You can see there are a good number of pears on the trees this year. Then also, the apple trees seem to have a pretty good crop this year. Last year we had no fruit at all on any of our trees as we had such cold weather in the latter part of the spring and everything got frozen.

Also, on Labor Day the students had a Day of Recollection. It began Sunday evening with a Holy Hour and concluded with vespers yesterday evening. The day was conducted by Bishop Robert Finn, our own bishop of the diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. After the day of recollection the students and monks had a picnic together on the plaza area between St. Joseph and St. Michael Hall. I did not get any pictures of the picnic.

This past weekend we had very few guests here and no retreats. From now on every weekend is pretty well filled with retreatants and even during the week we have some groups coming to use our facilities. Both the priests of the Kansas City-St. Joseph diocese and the priests of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas will each be here for three or four days for continuing education.

The weather has continued to be very comfortable and we have had a couple of small rains so the grass is staying green.

Wednesday of this week, September 3, is Abbot Gregory's nameday. So keep him in prayer, especially that day.

Let us all keep one another in prayer.

Solemn Vows for two monks

On Sunday, August 24, two of our young monks professed their solemn vows for life. The picture shows them singing the Suscipe... after they read their profession formula. On the left is Brother David Wilding and on the right is Brother Victor Schinstock. The Basilica was filled to capacity for the event. Abbot Gregory was celebrant for the Mass and presided at their profession ceremony. In the evening they were honored at a special banquet in the monastic refectory and after the meal were officially received as members of the monastic chapter.

Early Monday morning four of the young monks left for school in various places. Brothers Anselm and Victor left for Washington, DC where both will be students a the Catholic University of America and Brothers Guerric and Macario left for St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana to continue studies at St. Meinrad Seminary school of theology. Later this week Brother Pachomius will leave for Mount Angel Abbey in Oregon where he will complete his last year of theology studies in preparation for ordination to the priesthood.

Today is registration day for the seminarians here at Conception and tomorrow is the first day of classes. The official opening of school Mass was celebrated today by Father Samuel, President-Rector of the seminary.

The photo used in this blog is courtesy of Jarrod Thome, director of communications.

Novitiate and Vows

On Thursday, August 14, Postulant Adam Burkhart was received as a novice in the community. He has been a Postulant for the past year and now begins his official period of the novitiate for one year. Novice Adam is from Kansas City, MO. He along with Abbot Gregory and Brother Bernard, the novice master, are pictured after the ceremony.

Then on Friday, August 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption, Novice Isaac Dale made his temporary vows for three years. Novice Isaac was given the name Placid so is now known among us at Brother Placid. St. Placid was one of the first disciples of St. Benedict. Brother Placid is pictured professing his vows before Abbot Gregory. Brother Placid's parents and a number of family members and friends were here for the occasion. The day after his profession he left for a one week vacation and time to visit with his family and others.

Now this week the students arrive. The new students are due to arrive on campus today (Wednesday) for some days of orientation and then the returning students will arrive on Saturday. The enrollment this year will be about 108 students.

On this coming Sunday we have two of our monks, Brother David and Brother Victor, making their solemn vows. This will take place at the regular 10:30 AM conventual Mass.

(Both photos in this blog are courtesy of Jarrod Thome, director of communications)

Back home after a week of vacation

I returned home yesterday, August 7, after spending a week relaxing and resting on the farm near where I grew up in Brunswick, Missouri. Our old farm house is no longer standing. That is the house where all five of us boys were born. There were no girls in the family. My poor mother had her hands full. In those days the doctor came to the house to deliver babies. My only living brother, who lives in Kansas City, owns a neighboring farm and keeps a trailer home on it so I use that when I am home but of course go around to visit relatives -- one sister in law still lives in the area, plus a number of nephews and nieces and grand nephews and nieces, as well as a number of cousins. It was a good week.

As usual when you arrive home there is a lot of work piled up for you as I check my e-mails, my regular mail etc. I have a good staff in the infimary so things went smoothly there while I was away.

This weekend I go to Cameron and Maysville, MO for three Masses. Father Paul Turner is pastor there but he is gone so I will go down to take the Masses for him.

The picture I posted above was taken at Qumram in the desert of Israel when I was there over two years ago. Qumram of course is where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.

Hope you are all enjoying the summer and keeping cool. In the past week we had some really hot and humid weather.