Lent, 2008

I wanted to take a minute to wish each of you a blessed and holy Lent as we begin the Lenten season on Wednesday, February 6. I have decided to give up writing anything in this blog, at least during this Lenten season. It is a busy time for me with many things going on so I will just let this blog lie dormant for a while, at least during the Lenten season and perhaps somewhat beyond. Please go to the Conception Abbey web site and read the Prior's Journal and he will keep you up to date on what is happening here at Conception.

Blessings and peace.

Windmills All Set Up

The twenty four windmills for the Conception wind energy farm are now all set up but they are not yet turning and generating electricity. The picture included here shows the windmills that are just to the east of the Abbey and Seminary. The one in the foreground is on our property and was just completed over the weekend. You can see the crane is still there as it takes them a couple days to take the large crane apart so it can be transported.

The other picture is of a good friend of mine who visited last week, Father Marvin Reif, from the diocese of Dodge City. He graduated from our college seminary in 1985 and was ordained a priest in 1989. I was present for his ordination and first Mass.

Last Friday we had our annual SOS (Support Our Seminarians) dinner and auction at the downtown Mariott in Kansas City. Once again there were over 800 people in attendance and a lot of support was given to educate seminarians for the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas and the diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. After that, on Saturday morning, I again went to Brunswick to celebrate the four weekend Masses. The pastor there will return this week.

Today (Monday) is a warm but windy day. I think the temperature is up to about 70 degrees but tomorrow it is again supposed to start dropping so we will know winter is not over yet.

Windmills and Winter Weather

Last night we had about another five inches of snow. It seems we have had a lot more snow and cold weather this year than in the recent years. Of course we had the bad ice storm in December. There are still remnants of that around with tree limbs broken off etc. Today it is very cold, with the temperature in the teens and it is supposed to be even colder tomorrow. O for another visit to Arizona at this time of the year.

The other picture is of the windmills. These windmills are just to the east of the campus. The only windmill not completely set up yet is pictured on the right and is on our property. When that is set up all twenty six will be completed. They certainly change the landscape as they are so high. You can see them from miles away when approaching the Abbey or Seminary.

This weekend I will be going to the parish where I grew up at Brunswick, MO. The pastor is on vacation so I will go down to take the weekend Masses. Two Masses on Saturday evening and two on Sunday morning. It's about 150 mile drive from here.

Back to school

The picture on the left is of Betty Jo Simon who gave the accordion concert last Friday evening. (photo by Karen Ceckowski) I did not have a picture when I wrote my last entry so I am enclosing one this week. It was a very entertaining concert.

The students have returned and we are into the second semester. Also, our own monks who are in school other places have returned to their schools. Brothers Guerric and Macario returned to St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana last Saturday. Brother Anselm returned today to the Catholic University in Washington, DC. Brother Pachomius will be returning to Mount Angel Abbey in Oregon this Saturday.

Also, the students from other monasteries who are attending school here have returned -- Brother Gerard from Christ in the Desert Abbey in New Mexico and Brother Gabriel from Worth Abbey in England.

I have put some more pictures on my photo site of the ice storm we had here in December. Those I have added were taken by Karen Ceckowski. http://kennethosb.smugmug.com/gallery/4002919

Today we are receiving more snow. It's not a big storm but enough to make the roads a little slick.

Accordion concert

On Friday evening we enjoyed a delightful accordion concert by Betty Jo Simon. She is a professional on the accordion and has performed world wide. She and her husband live in the Kansas City area. Our own Prior, Father Daniel, also plays the accordion and he became acquainted with Betty Jo through their mutual interest. A number of the monks, a number of the Sisters from Clyde and many from the local community attended the concert.

This past weekend I celebrated the Masses at St. Ann Church, Plattsburg, MO. The pastor Father Jeff Stephan was gone for the weekend. After the Sunday Masses I went on to Kansas City to spend the afternoon and night with my brother and sister in law. Today I returned to Conception.

The students arrived back at the seminary yesterday and today classes began for the second semester. While a few students dropped out at the conclusion of the first semester, we also had some new students come so the number of seminarians remains about the same.

We have enjoyed some spring like weather the last two or three days but it is supposed to turn colder tonight with some light snow expected.