Volume one
P
eople come to Conception Abbey to encounter Christ. It is this quiet, rural environment in Northwest Missouri where people come to listen to God’s voice and conform their lives more closely to Christ. Some are guests, seeking spiritual renewal for a weekend or an extended stay. Others are seminarians who are studying for a time at Conception Seminary College, preparing for the priesthood and experiencing the wisdom of the Benedictine tradition. And there are those members of the monastic community, who have committed themselves to Christ and live the rhythm of prayer and work on a daily basis. No matter what brings a person to this special place, it is an environment that many people are able to call home. Some young men discover that their hearts are longing for more than what the world has to offer. They have pursued what our culture claims would make them happy, but they have only found that they are not completely satisfied. They experience God’s call in their lives, a voice that is gentle, but persistent. It is a voice that echoes the words Jesus once spoke to the Apostles, “Come, Follow me.” While responding to this call can initially fill many young men with fear, it is an invitation to encounter Christ in a more profound way, in a way that brings deep abiding peace. This publication, Listen, my Son, takes its title from the first words of the Prologue to the Rule of St. Benedict. The most important thing for a monk, a man discerning his vocation, or for any Christian, is listening to and following Christ’s commands. We can only do this if we cultivate room for silence in our heart so as to listen to Christ’s voice amid the many voices and distractions we encounter each day. Within this publication are the stories of several professed monks of Conception Abbey who have heard the voice of God in the midst of ordinary life and have chosen to follow Christ. Some of the monks have significantly altered their plans, aspirations, and career path, simply because they heard the Lord’s invitation. No two vocation stories are alike. The monks come from different educational and family backgrounds and have varying interests, but each one chose to follow Christ in this unique way of life, seeking Him in a structure of prayer and work, with the support of brothers in community. In the Peace of Christ,
Fr. Paul Sheller, O.S.B. Vocation Director
3
I
n 1873, Conception Abbey was founded by the Swiss Abbey of Engelberg when Bishop John Hogan invited Fr. Frowin Conrad and the founding monks to establish a monastic community in the northwest corner of Missouri. Fr. Frowin desired to establish a monastery focused on personal holiness and the celebration of the sacred liturgy. Over the course of time and at the invitation of the local bishop, the priests of the monastery were called upon to assist with the spiritual and pastoral care with those in the local area, ministering in particular to the Irish and German immigrants. Throughout the years, the reach of pastoral ministry has included chaplaincies in hospitals and for religious women, work on the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota, and numerous parish commitments in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and beyond. The monastery still provides full and part-time pastoral care on a regular basis. Almost as soon as Conception was founded, Bishop Hogan turned to Abbot Frowin about the possibility of starting a seminary for the training of diocesan priests. A newly established Benedictine monastery was an obvious choice as a place for educating future priests. In 1886, the community built a special college building to house seminary and other students. For more than 130 years Conception Seminary College has been educating and forming men for the priesthood, and it remains the monastery’s primary apostolate. Conception Seminary College is one of the largest free-standing seminary colleges in the United States with many of the monks serving as professors, spiritual directors, chaplains, and in various administrative roles. The Rule of St. Benedict instructs that all guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ. To carry out this directive more fully, in 1957 the monks broke ground for the Holy Family Retreat House which allowed the monks to offer simple accommodations to those seeking an extended period of retreat. The program has expanded to the present day, and the Abbey Guest Center utilizes three guest houses and welcomes 7,000-8,000 guests each year. The decades of the 1930s and 1940s marked the beginning of the apostolate of the printing press at Conception. What began with the printing of liturgical instructions and booklets for the laity developed into an apostolate of producing Christian greeting cards and gifts. In the 1950’s, with rapid growth and increasing demand for its products, the Abbey Press developed into the apostolic mission now called The Printery House. This outreach of Conception Abbey now has twenty-five employees and continues its mission of proclaiming the Gospel message through the creation and distribution of printed products and religious art.
Becoming a Monk
A
monk is someone who seeks God. Benedictine monks seek God in community, sharing individual gifts and resources as brothers united in a common endeavor. Our life of prayer and work is guided by the Rule of St. Benedict, which outlines the structures and principles of monasteries that now bear his name throughout the world. Benedictine prayer comprises both Mass and the Divine Office, or Liturgy of the Hours—the daily round of praise and thanks we offer to God for his countless gifts to us. Our common prayer is augmented by sacred reading and a spirit of contemplative silence. We offer witness to a frantic and fastpaced society: the peace we all hunger for is ours in Christ our Savior. In seeking God over the centuries, monks have gained special insights into the spiritual life that can be of benefit to others. Our works grow from our prayer life; cultivating a Benedictine spirituality in our own new members, we offer that wisdom to others. As brothers, we recreate together—conversations, games, sporting activities—all with the intent of building up our life together in Christ, united with Him in doing the Father’s will. Postulant: After a candidate applies and is accepted to enter the monastery, the period of postulancy may last between one month and one year, depending upon one’s background and how well the individual is acquainted with the community. The postulancy is a time of becoming accustomed to the monastic way of life primarily by living it. It is a period for discerning whether one should proceed to the novitiate. Novice: After living as a postulant, the candidate may petition the community to enter the novitiate. The novitiate lasts exactly one year, and is an intensified period of discernment of one’s vocation. During this year, the novice studies the Rule of St. Benedict, Sacred Scripture, Monastic History, is introduced to the practice of lectio divina, and is engaged in a variety of work around the monastery. Junior Monk: Towards the end of the novitiate, the novice may choose to petition the community to make his first profession of vows, which are for three years. It is during the profession ceremony that the Abbot bestows on the newly professed brother a new name. During these three years, the monk is given a permanent work assignment and greater responsibility in the community as he continues his monastic formation. The professed monk is addressed by “Brother” followed by his monastic name. Solemn Vows: After three years, and the approval of the community, the brother is eligible to make solemn vows, a lifetime commitment, which is the total gift of self in consecration to God. In the final profession ceremony, the monk receives the cuculla, the long pleaded robe with wide sleeves which the monks wear during liturgies on special feast days. It is typically after solemn vows that the Abbot would send a monk on for further studies or, if he feels called, for theological studies in preparation for the priesthood. Monastic Vows Obedience means “to listen intently,” and this vow is undertaken in a spirit of faith and love in following Christ who was obedient to the will of the Father. It requires that a monk listen intently to the voice of God as it is manifested in the Sacred Scriptures and in the teaching of his superiors. Stability binds the monk in both body and spirit to the community of his profession for the rest of his life, where he serves under both a Rule and an Abbot. Conversatio Morum (or Fidelity to the monastic way of life) encompasses all aspects of the total self-offering of the monk to God. Under this vow are included the evangelical counsels: poverty and chastity, which commit the monk to renunciation of personal possessions and embracing celibacy for the sake of the kingdom.
A
MONK’S
DAY
The house bell rings, but by this point many of the monks have already been awake. Some monks get a cup of coffee, and some spend time in meditation or adoration before the first communal prayer of the day.
“O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise,” chants the monastic community as the first spoken words of the day. The Office of Vigils compares to the Office of Readings found in the Roman Breviary.
The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life” for the Church, and in the monastery, it is no different. The monks gather daily to celebrate the Eucharist. The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is the beautiful place of worship where the monks are privileged to pray together six times a day.
All gather in the monastic dining room and stand in seniority. The superior begins the meal prayer and the monk assigned as the reader for the week receives a blessing. During the week the lunch period is buffet style and accompanied with reading.
The last hour of the Divine Office has themes of reconciliation and vigilance. After the usual invocation, the monks kneel for an examination of conscience. This brief time of prayer concludes with a traditional Marian Antiphon.
6
The shortest hour of the Divine Office is immediately preceded by a brief recreation period. The short time in prayer is an opportunity to ask God’s blessing on the work begun and to finish the work in a way that is pleasing to God.
Community life is an important and key component of life in a monastery. The monks have quality time to spend with one another, and recreation takes on many forms. During nicer weather, the monks walk outside in groups, while during inclimate weather recreation can involve playing cards, assembling a puzzle, or enjoying a board game.
The heart of Benedictine spirituality is lectio divina, or the prayerful reading of Sacred Scripture. This thirtyminute period is an opportunity for the monk to foster his personal relationship with Christ through the Scriptures, coming to understand how God is speaking to him.`
The work in the monastery is diverse and varied. The Abbot assigns each monk his job assignment. Monks teach in the seminary, work on music and the liturgy, mow lawns, clean buildings, welcome guests, offer spiritual direction, or work in the monastery, library, or Printery House.
The first meal of the day is taken in silence as the monks continue to reflect on God’s Word which they have just prayed. Grand silence concludes after breakfast, and some monks appreciate visiting with one another in the coffee room before getting ready for the morning work period.
Afternoon work mirrors the morning period. Some monks work outside and do gardening, while others work in the office. Later in the afternoon a few of the monks might make time for exercise—going for a walk, a jog, or a bike ride.
The most formal meal of the day is a served, sit-down meal. Three monks are assigned as table waiters for the week and, as instructed in the Rule of St. Benedict, “The brothers should serve one another” (35:1). At the superior’s signal, a portion of the Rule of St. Benedict is read, and the community stands for a post-meal prayer.
The monks chant Lauds while standing in choir. Lauds as morning prayer and Vespers as evening prayer are the two hinges on which the daily office turns, and are considered as the “chief hours.” At Lauds, the Psalms focus on the theme of “praise.”
Before prayer the monks line up in order of seniority in the monastery glass hallway. The Abbot, Prior, and Subprior are at the head of the line, followed by those who professed vows earliest, with the newest members of the community taking the final place at the end of the line. This time in statio and in silence is intended to allow the monk to recollect before prayer.
The evening lectio period provides another time for a prayerful reading of the Scriptures. This practice is similarly done individually and in the quiet of one’s room. The house bell rings to signal the monks to proceed to supper.
7
Fr. Albert 8
I
grew up in Des Moines, the oldest of five children. From our home I walked three blocks to our parish school daily for eight years, then attended Dowling Catholic High School for four more years, graduating in 1968. Fascinated with the way mathematics was able to describe laws of physical science, I wanted to study physics, get a degree, get a job, marry, and settle down to have a family. That was Plan A. Toward the end of my senior year I began questioning my faith in God, what the Catholic Church taught, and if I believed or even understood that faith. Faced with such questions, I decided not to go to St. Louis University but rather to Conception Seminary College. I knew about CSC because the summer after eighth grade I had gone to Conception Abbey for a “Sem-week” with a few of my friends. We met monks, prayed with them, and imitated them. Above all, I came away with a sense of peace. During high school I returned once a year for a retreat for the Paschal Triduum – an awesome experience! So I came up with Plan B: go to the seminary for a year, take some general education courses, and figure out a few things about my relationship to God, and then go back to catch
up with science and mathematics. My parents were skeptical, but in the end they reluctantly let me make the decision. At CSC I struggled with the silent time to think and pray, wrestled with questions I had been avoiding in high school, learned a lot about Catholicism and its rich tradition, got excited about theology and spirituality, and in the process discovered a deeper peace than anything I had known previously. It was challenging, difficult, frustrating, and most of all fruitful. At the end of the year, I had made progress, but I also saw that there was so much more to do. Most of all, I was happy, so I had to come back for more. So I did. It was another year of growth—so much so that I felt called to try monastic life. I had to find out if community life and regular prayer in the monastery suited me or not, and the best way to find out is to try it. So I entered the novitiate. There I found new challenges, but also a community I could pray with. It has been a life in service of the Lord as a monk and priest teaching mathematics and science, doing spiritual direction, providing hospitality and retreats to guests, and helping out with parish ministry. It has been, and continues to be, a life full of service, blessings, and surprises.
I was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. What attracted me to the monastery was community, structure, beauty of sung prayer, and the desire to serve God. I professed vows on August 28, 1971. My favorite hour of the Divine Office is Vigils. My hobbies and interests include star gazing, biking, golf, and watching other sports that I can now no longer play. A good spiritual book that I would recommend is Jesus of Nazareth by Pope Benedict XVI. One of my favorite movies is The Godfather. My first car was a 1965 Studebaker Commander. My favorite sports team is the Iowa State Cyclones. The best place I’ve visited is Jerusalem, because of how it affected the way I read the Scriptures. Three words that describe me are bright, good-natured, social. The best way to discern your vocation is try things out, pray, pay attention to your deepest desires.
9
Br. Anselm 10
I
attended public schools, which were
Conception Seminary College had only one hun-
large because I lived in the suburbs of
dred students, whereas my high school had more
Houston, Texas. While my parents were
than three thousand. I was interested in something
practicing Catholics and ensured I went
very different from my life in the suburbs. Con-
to Mass, I never considered a religious
ception Seminary College wasn’t the Peace Corps,
vocation as a young child like some oth-
but it was run by monks and was in the middle of
ers seem to do. But at some point in high school,
nowhere, so it was certainly different from what I
I stumbled upon several works by Thomas Mer-
was used to.
ton sitting on my father’s bookshelf. These books
When it came to my vocation, my college years
introduced me to monastic life and led me to ask
weren’t very different from my high school years—
myself what I wanted to be when I grew up. For
I continued to be unsure about what to do. But a
whatever reason, Merton helped me see the im-
year after graduating college, I finally entered Con-
portance of this question more than high school
ception Abbey for primarily one reason: my desire
counselors.
to live as a monk never went away. There are days
So a few books on spirituality were in the back
when I don’t want to be in a monastery, of course.
of my head as I considered what I should do af-
And there are days when I want to live in a dif-
ter high school. As graduation approached, I de-
ferent monastery. But I continue to live with these
liberated whether it was best to go to a Catholic
distractions and temptations for the same reason
or public college and continue to discern on my
that I never managed to leave the idea of joining
own, or to attend Conception Seminary College,
a monastery behind and seek married life: I desire
where discernment was part of the program. I
to live as a monk, and I find life most meaningful
decided to go to CSC, judging that it was best to
when I actually manage to order everything else
think seriously about the matter rather than pre-
according to this desire. That’s why I entered and
tending it wasn’t in the back of my head. Besides,
remain.
I was born in Houston, Texas. Before I entered the monastery I was studying at Conception Seminary College. I professed vows on October 16, 2004. The reason for taking my monastic name was it was easier to spell than “Irenaeus.” My favorite hour of the Divine Office is Vigils. My favorite book of the Bible is James. My hobbies and interests include beekeeping and playing the guitar. A good spiritual book that I would recommend is anything by Andre Louf. One of my favorite movies is Moneyball. My favorite sport is basketball. My favorite sports team is whoever Gregg Popovich is coaching. The best place I’ve visited is France. Something I use everyday is a pen. The best way to discern your vocation is to get over the denial.
11
Fr. Benedict 12
M
y first attraction to religious life and priesthood began in childhood, growing up in a strong Catholic family of twelve children and educated in Catholic schools in Kansas City, Missouri. From my family I learned give and take, the value of community and the importance of faith. The example of our parish priests and the way they related to the community impressed me and drew me to enter the seminary, first at St. John’s High School Seminary and then one year at Conception Seminary College, where I received an excellent education and made life-long friends. For a time I considered various religious orders as I felt attracted to community life and other types of ministry besides parish work. But near the end of the 1960s, with many changes occurring in society, in the Church and in me, I became uncertain of my calling and left the seminary to explore other possibilities. After completing a college degree in history at Colorado State University, I moved to Germany for five years, working for a time in a tree nursery and completing an apprenticeship in wood carving. In Germany my religious vocation was re-awakened. I came to admire the Benedictines who had evangelized and deeply influenced European culture and recognized a need in me for regular prayer and daily Mass. When I visited an abbey several times, I was attracted by the great diversity of work the monks did and the community life.
The Benedictine life seemed a perfect fit for me. I looked at several Benedictine Abbeys, including one in Bavaria and one in upstate New York but in the end, God drew me back to Conception Abbey, much closer to home. In 1979, I began my novitiate at the age of thirty and have never regretted the decision. My initial assignments were consistent with the practical training I had, but soon Abbot Jerome invited me to consider both priesthood and teaching in the seminary. I was hesitant in both regards because I doubted my ability to preach or teach very well, but I agreed to get the needed training for both at Catholic University in Washington D.C. My ordination to the priesthood followed in 1988, when I began teaching theology and church history and working as a spiritual director in the seminary. Abbots eventually asked me to help in the administration of the Abbey and Seminary, appointing me Prior from 1990-1993, President-Rector of the seminary from 1996-2007 and Business Manager since 2007. The pastoral opportunities presented by these assignments were welcome and fulfilling. I have grown tremendously as a person, as a priest and as a monk through them all. What I love most about this way of life is that the possibilities are endless for growing closer to Christ through daily prayer, through meaningful work and through the daily give and take with my confreres. I believe that God is drawing me through this life to holiness—slowly but surely.
I was born in Kansas City, Missouri. I professed vows on October 18, 1980. The reason for taking my monastic name was to honor St. Benedict who was born 1,500 years before my profession year. My favorite hour of the Divine Office is Vigils. My hobbies and interests include walking and reading. A good spiritual book that I would recommend is Fully Human, Fully Divine by Michael Casey. One of my favorite movies is The Mission. My first car was a 1970 Chevy Nova. The best place I’ve visited is Bavaria. Three words that describe me are persistent, loyal, unfinished. The best way to discern your vocation is to pray for God’s guidance, talk about it with someone you respect who has experience in the vocation you are interested in, and visit the community or communities that attract you.
13
Br. Cyprian 14
I
was a cradle Catholic, born into a solid Catholic family of French Canadian ancestry. I sensed some type of vocational call from God at the time of my Confirmation in 6th grade of elementary school. During my later elementary school years, I was exposed to two religious communities: the Carmelites and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. I did a vocation week with the Carmelites in 7th grade and a vocation retreat with the Oblates in 8th grade. I discerned at the time to enter the Oblate high school seminary in Bucksport, Maine. I was there from 1967 to 1971. I happened to be in the last graduating class of that seminary in 1971. After graduation, I took some time to move in other directions, but never stopped being a strong Catholic. I became involved with the Charismatic Renewal and worked in a textile mill for a couple of years. I then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. I was in the Air Force from January 1973 until June of 1976 stationed in Cheyenne, Wyoming. During those years, I was involved with both the Charismatic Renewal and the Cursillo Movement in Cheyenne. My involvement in these movements was crucial in my discerning that I wanted to return to seminary when I departed the Air Force. I ended up studying for the Diocese of Cheyenne,
and they sent me to Conception Seminary College. I graduated from CSC in May 1980 with a B.A. in Philosophy. During my time at CSC, I sensed once again the tug of wanting to be in a religious community. I did one year of theology in Denver when the seminary was still called St. Thomas. During that year, I discerned a stronger desire to pursue a religious life vocation and applied to the monastery. I entered the Novitiate of Conception Abbey in July of 1981. I truly felt as if I was coming home. I professed vows on July 31, 1982 and received the name Cyprian. What attracted me most to this community was its liturgical and prayer life and living in community. For most of my years in the monastery, I have been teaching communication studies and speech communication, doing theater productions, teaching ESL, as well as service to our many guests. The biggest challenge for me is to keep monastic life fresh every day. It is so easy to become complacent and dull of heart and mind. This takes a great deal of effort and work—it does not just come down from heaven. Faithfulness to stopping, looking, and listening each day are the keys to a spiritual mindfulness and awareness of God’s presence moment to moment that make monastic living possible.
I was born in Southbridge, Massachusetts. Before I entered the monastery I was in the U.S. Air Force. I professed vows on July 31, 1982. The reason for taking my monastic name was that I liked St. Cyprian and his writings on the unity of the Church and on the Our Father. My favorite hour of the Divine Office is Vigils. My hobbies and interests include all things about the British Royals, and theater. A good spiritual book that I would recommend is Contemplation in a World of Action by Thomas Merton. One of my favorite movies is The King’s Speech. My first car was a 1972 Dodge Colt. My favorite sports team is the New England Patriots. The best place I’ve visited is London, England. Three words that describe me are fun-loving, joyful, genuine.
15
Br. David 16
I
grew up in Union, Missouri, where I at-
good opportunity for some quiet discernment. My
tended Catholic grade school and high
initial visit sparked an interest in learning more,
school. I started thinking I had a reli-
and I continued to correspond with Fr. Albert,
gious vocation around the sixth grade. I
the Vocation Director, over the course of several
had always enjoyed going to daily Mass
months and more visits. I prayed and argued with
in school and serving at the altar. In high
God, started praying parts of the Divine Office,
school I played the piano for school Masses, then
and grew to love the Psalms. I saw that my tal-
became an organist for my parish. In college I con-
ents could fit into the community’s apostolates in
sidered a career in church music, but also won-
several ways. Plus, I had begun to feel “at home”
dered about a priestly vocation.
there. Still, the thought of letting God plan my life
After college I applied to the diocesan seminary in St. Louis, but they did not admit me, saying that
was scary, but I found myself more at peace when I thought positively about the possibility.
some other form of religious life might suit me bet-
I like to say that I found something at Conception
ter. Looking to combine my interests in computers
that I didn’t know I was looking for. My monas-
and music, I found a job with a nearby music pub-
tic vows of stability, fidelity to the monastic life,
lisher, where I worked until I entered the monas-
and obedience provide a structure on which I can
tery. Meanwhile, I started playing the organ again
build a strong relationship with Christ through
for my parish and got involved in the Knights of
faithful service to God and to my confreres. One
Columbus and RCIA. Around this same time, I
of the benefits of living in community is that I live
also enrolled in the Lay Ministry Formation pro-
with others who have trod this road before me,
gram offered by the Archdiocese.
and they can help me. I feel that committing my
A few months after finishing the Lay Ministry
life to this place, these people, this life and the Rule
program, a friend from the program suggested
of St. Benedict is a fulfillment of everything that has
that I visit Conception Abbey. It seemed like a
come before it in my life.
I was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Before I entered the monastery I was working as an editor and webmaster for Mel Bay Publications. I professed vows on August 15, 2005. The reason for taking my monastic name was I found in the Psalms direction for living well, and I also appreciated King David’s example of repentance. My favorite hour of the Divine Office is Daytime Prayer. My hobbies and interests include liturgical music, learning to play the harp, games and puzzles. A good spiritual book that I would recommend is The Imitation of Christ. One of my favorite movies is Up. My favorite sport is Pickleball. The best place I’ve visited is Pike’s Peak. Three words that describe me are quiet, analytical, thinker. The best way to discern your vocation is let your life speak to you. God puts people and experiences into your life to lead you to and prepare you for what He wants you to do.
17
Br. Jacob 18
A
lthough I was born in Missouri, I grew up in northern Illinois. Most of those years were spent in Hampton-on-the-Mississippi (as Dad called it). I was more bookish than athletic. Even so, pickup basketball games in neighborhood driveways were fun, as were “bike hikes” with a couple of my friends. Mom’s family farmed, and I enjoyed being around cattle—so much so that I eventually earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science. During college I worked on a farm and loved every minute of it. Afterward I completed a graduate degree in reproductive physiology. I was a research specialist in a science lab for a couple of years. During this time two things happened: First, I realized that scientific research was not for me, and second, nurturing my Catholic faith became more important. As a kid, I was more interested in biology, but the notion of a religious vocation was not inconceivable. Catholic Mass was always a part of my life. I also witnessed the ministry of priests and religious brothers and sisters while in high school. God blessed me with several gifts as I considered a vocation. My parents and close friends were very supportive of this “sudden” change in
my life. My pastor listened to my ramblings and helped make sense of it all. He suggested I focus on monastic communities. Conception Abbey was not the first monastery I visited, but it was the last. The humanity of the monks, the beauty of the liturgy, and the varied ministries of the community drew me here. Additionally I came to realize that I needed a Benedictine environment to help me thrive. The daily rounds of communal and private prayer have provided much nourishment. And there are ample opportunities for charity. No vocation will be easy. My married friends share their struggles with me, and I can attest to challenges in the monastic life. However, all vocations are meant to lead one to a closer relationship with God. Through the witness (and foibles) of my brothers, I have caught glimpses of our Lord. While my work as treasurer is mostly behind-thescenes, it helps the Abbey realize its overall mission to draw all persons to God through the common life as given in the Rule of St. Benedict. If you are truly seeking God, then you need a vocation that will engender that search. Speak with someone you trust about your search. Be open to where your search might lead. Conception Abbey may be what you’re looking for.
I was born in Appleton City, Missouri. What attracted me to the monastery was the humanity of the monks and the Divine Office. I professed vows on August 6, 1988. The reason for taking my monastic name was Jacob’s struggle with, and ultimate trust in God. The people who had the greatest impact on my vocation were my parents and my pastor. My favorite hour of the Divine Office is Vespers. A good spiritual book that I would recommend is Jesus: A Pilgrimage by James Martin. One of my favorite movies is The Kid (Charlie Chaplin). My first car was a 1976 Ford Granada. My interests include biology/animal science, Civil War history, and permaculture. My favorite sport is basketball. The best place I’ve visited is anywhere I’m with family or friends. Three words that describe me are quiet, dedicated, sinner. The best way to discern your vocation is pray; talk with trustworthy persons; test the Spirit.
19
Fr. Joel 20
I
was born in a time of “Catholic Cul-
him I would keep in mind the possibility of going
ture.” The average boy and girl grew up
to the seminary college. I ended up taking Latin
in an atmosphere where being Catholic
my Senior year at Jefferson High School.
was something a person felt and knew.
At first, my parents did not seem very support-
They talked very little about it. They
ive of me going to the seminary college, but even-
simply went about trying to live a good
tually, I came to know that they were very happy
life, trying to avoid sin, attending Mass regularly,
about me going to the seminary college. I’m sure
and praying with the family.
Fr. Andrew had talked with my parents about my
My pastor at St. Benedict’s Parish in Clyde, Missouri (only 2 miles from Conception Abbey) talk-
possible college path. I later knew I could rely on my parents for support.
ed with me about priesthood at the beginning of
My brother Cletus had been in the high school
my junior year at Jefferson Public High School.
seminary, but he withdrew after two years. The
His name was Fr. Andrew Kunkle, and he was a
adjustment to seminary life was rather difficult
monk of Conception Abbey. I greatly respected
and challenging for me, but after a few months
and loved Fr. Andrew. He was kind, firm, ener-
I noticed the good spirit of the monks who had
getic and cared very much for his parishioners. He
administrative roles and taught in the seminary.
was also the superintendent of St. Benedict’s Pub-
It was then, when reflecting on my future, that I
lic Grade and High School.
could see the possibility of being a monk of the
Fr. Andrew visited with me at the beginning of
Abbey.
my junior year, and he suggested I think about go-
After two years in the seminary, I applied and
ing to Conception Seminary College. He encour-
was accepted as a member of the Abbey. I made
aged me to take Latin at Jefferson since I would
profession to this community, and was later or-
need Latin if I were to become a priest. Fr. An-
dained a priest. I have experienced many blessings
drew’s ideas were highly respected because he
throughout my life as a monk.
was loved and respected by his parishioners. I told
I was born in Clyde, Missouri. What attracted me to the monastery was the prayerful example and good spirit of the monks who worked in the seminary. I professed vows on September 12, 1958. A person who had the greatest impact on my vocation was my pastor, Fr. Andrew Kunkle, O.S.B. The reason for taking my monastic name was that many of the saints names were already taken by other monks of the community and I wanted a short name that matched my last name. My favorite hour of the Divine Office is Lauds. A good spiritual book that I would recommend is The Bible. My hobbies and interests include hunting, farming, and cars. My favorite sports team is the Kansas City Royals. The best place I’ve visited is Rome, Italy. Something I use everyday is my prayer book. The best way to discern your vocation is looking to your pastor for good advice.
21
Abbot Gregory 22
W
hen inquiring about my vocational journey to Conception Abbey, people often ask, “With four Benedictine monasteries within a hundred miles of your home, why did you choose a monastery 450 miles away?” Two considerations were foremost: the monks of Conception themselves, and my love of liturgy. As Benedictines, the monastery is our home; our life is centered on its particular rhythm of prayer and work. My first experience of the liturgy at Conception sparked a sense of faith that has never left me. It gave expression to inner joy, reverence, and peace that still echoes in my soul. Growing up in Riverside, Illinois, I attended St. Mary’s Grade School, before continuing on to minor seminary at Quigley South in the Archdiocese of Chicago. During my four years there I was deeply involved in studies, sports, and extracurricular activities—all focused on building community. Entering college seminary for Chicago, I found considerably less emphasis on community. I began to feel drawn towards a common life, where the liturgy would be central and where some of my musical talents might be put to good use. Two classmates had been sent to Conception Seminary College; in letters to them I wrote of my discernment. They responded, “You should visit Conception Abbey.” So I did, and it was, as they say “love at first sight.” I knew I would spend the rest of my life here.
Conception’s monastic life was a perfect fit: the rhythm of liturgical prayer, the practice of lectio divina, and many varied tasks, all contributing to the shared life of the community. What attracted me to Conception Abbey was the way the liturgy was celebrated: both reverently and joyfully. Also, the community was welcoming and kind. After professing solemn vows I was sent off to St. John’s Abbey for priesthood studies. Abbot Kevin, seeing my good grades in Greek and Hebrew, asked if I might consider further studies in Sacred Scripture, and eventually teaching in our seminary. Though it surprised me, it was an invitation to obedience that has had a profound impact on my life, and has been a source of abundant blessings. Returning to Conception Abbey in the summer of 1984, I began teaching courses in Old Testament and music. But within a year I was moved into administration in the seminary college. In November of 1996, in the midst of making arrangements for a sabbatical and teaching in our Benedictine university in Rome, the Holy Spirit intervened to reorder my life: the monks of Conception elected me their abbot. I remain utterly grateful for this call, for God’s grace, and for the goodness of my brothers in community who continue to call me to serve as their spiritual father in Christ. Whatever your vocation, whatever you may be discerning, “listen with the ear of your heart,” for you will hear the quiet and gentle voice of God calling you to experience the blessings of his peace and goodness.
I was born in Berwyn, Illinois. Before I entered the monastery I was a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Chicago. I professed vows on August 28, 1971. The reason for taking my monastic name was Gregory was a good monk, a man who loved the Scriptures, and worked to reform the liturgy. My favorite hour of the Divine Office is Vigils, but I really love every hour of the Office. My hobbies and interests include daily exercise, reading, music (listening, playing, and composing). A good spiritual book that I would recommend is The Coming of God by Dame Maria Boulding. One of my favorite movies is Chariots of Fire. My first car was a Cutlass Oldsmobile. The best places I’ve visited are Italy and Israel. Three words that describe me are hard working, compassionate, dedicated. The best way to discern your vocation is understanding that Christ’s call is real. Follow Him and you will find God everywhere.
23
Fr. Macario 24
B
orn and raised in Garden City,
direction, I started my seminary studies for the
Kansas, I had three brothers
priesthood. I finally made the big jump! All was
and three sisters, and we were
fine now. So I thought.
brought up with Mexican par-
I did my priestly studies at a seminary run by
ents. This meant there was lots
Benedictine monks. This was only my second in-
of love, fiestas, and food! It was
teraction with male religious. My first was with
great!
Capuchins. The monks’ life and prayer was very
I went to Catholic school, and we had daily Mass
attractive to me. I loved how throughout the day
every Wednesday and Friday. I got to serve a lot
they would stop what they were doing, and pro-
of these Masses, and this is where my vocation be-
ceed to the beautiful Abbey Basilica to chant the
gins. I loved being in the sanctuary with the priest
Psalms. I also liked the idea of a group of men liv-
as a server. Serving Mass gave me a glimpse at a
ing in community, living as a family. It’s exactly
very young age of what ministering means.
what I grew up with; a big family! That’s what I
The idea of being a priest fell by the wayside
wanted my life to be. Not one of a priest living
during my middle school and high school years. I
alone in a rectory, but living in a community with
became one of those “C.E.O. Catholics” (only go-
other men, all seeking one goal, God.
ing to Mass Christmas, Easter, and one other time
I made another big jump! It was into the monas-
of the year). It wasn’t until my college years, that I
tery! And on this journey, there have many chal-
got more active in the Church. I got involved with
lenges, but nothing greater than the love that I
the Catholic Center by my college campus. I got
have for this place—Conception. There are many
confirmed, helped with retreats, and became a
sacrifices that a monk makes, but in making those
Knight of Columbus. And this is when the idea of
sacrifices, we grow closer and closer to God. He is
priesthood came back to me.
the One that we all seek. And we help each other
After a lot of prayer and with some spiritual
get to Him.
I was born in Garden City, Kansas. Before I entered the monastery I was a student at Conception Seminary College studying for the Diocese of Dodge City. What attracted me to the monastery was the monastic choir prayer. I professed vows on August 15, 2004. Someone who had a significant impact on my vocation was Fr. Fred Gatschet. My favorite book of the Bible is the Gospel of John. My interests include soccer and music. A good spiritual book that I would recommend is An Infinity of Little Hours by Nancy Klein Maguire. One of my favorite movies is My Cousin Vinny. My first car was a Datsun 280ZX. My favorite sport to play is badminton. Three words that describe me are funny, orderly, determined. The best way to discern your vocation is to listen.
25
Br. Maximilian 26
O
ne evening, as we were preparing for our family rosary, my Dad asked us if we wanted to make a visit to Conception Abbey. Dad had met a Benedictine priest, Fr. Regis Probstfield, at the doctor’s office, and Fr. Regis invited the family for a visit. Conception Abbey is only a ninety-mile drive from our home in Kansas City, Missouri, so we all thought, “Why not?” When we arrived at Conception Abbey the following Sunday, we carefully opened the doors to the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, and we were awestruck. The beautiful Beuronese Murals on the walls and the ceiling were breathtaking, especially the mural of the Immaculate Conception in the apse of the church. I thought to myself, “This is a beautiful place, but I would not want to live here.” Being from Missouri my heart was set on attending the University of Missouri, starting a career, and having a family. However, this first visit was not my last. When the family kept visiting the Abbey I had a sense of Jesus’ invitation, “Come, and follow me.” But I was too scared to say yes, until my Dad told me, “You should go on a weekend discernment retreat held at the Abbey.” So I attended Encounter with God’s Call Weekend, a retreat hosted by Conception Seminary College for young men discerning a call to the priesthood. When I returned home after the discernment weekend, I told my parents that Conception Abbey felt like home and that I wanted to be a monk.
What influenced me to enter monastic life was how prayerfully the monks chanted the Divine Office, and also experiencing the bonds of fraternity. I entered the monastery on August 5, 2007, the feast of Our Lady of the Snows. My first job assignment was working at the Printery House, which produces Christian greeting cards and gifts. I worked there for five years. On August 15, 2009, I professed simple vows, and was given the name “Maximilian” after St. Maximilian Kolbe. In February 2012, I received my Certified Nurse’s Assistant certificate, and I began work in the monastery’s infirmary. It is an honor to care for the older brethren in the monastery, monks who have served the Church for fifty, sixty, or seventy years. An important aspect of my spiritual journey has been my devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Since I am consecrated to Our Lady through the Militia of the Immaculata movement, founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe, I realize that Our Lady has truly led me where I am today. Without her intercession, I do not know where I would be. When I first entered the community, I remember Br. Bernard Montgomery, my novicemaster, telling me, “If you come for Christ you will not be disappointed.” Those words resonated in my heart and have remained with me. Do I experience ups and downs? Of course. The cross comes before the glory. Following Christ is something that is challenging, but it is very exciting. If you promise Jesus your whole life and pray, “Lord, I leave it in your hands, and in your Immaculate Mother’s hands,” they will not lead you astray.
I was born in Kansas City, Missouri. Before I entered the monastery I was a clerk at I. Donnelly’s religious goods store. What attracted me to the monastery was the prayer life, community life, and the way the monks prayed the Divine Office. I professed vows on August 15, 2009. My favorite hour of the Divine Office is Compline. My hobbies include ancestry research, Lego building, sports, astronomy, and taking pictures. A good spiritual book that I would recommend is The Consoling Heart of Jesus by Fr. Michael Gaitley. One of my favorite movies is Ghostbusters. My first car was a 1994 Dodge Caravan. My favorite sports is football. My favorite sports teams are the Missouri Tigers, Kansas City Royals, and Kansas City Chiefs. The best place I’ve visited is Marytown (Libertyville, Illinois). Three words that describe me are joyful, fun, friendly.
27
Br. Michael 28
W
hat am I going to do with my life? The question became a preoccupation in my teenage years. And the answer came in a very unexpected way. I was attending my parish’s Catholic High, Notre Dame. I was muddling my way along through my Junior year, really unsure (actually “afraid,” if the truth be told) about making any decision of what to do beyond high school. Then one day it happened. Ka-boom! Two weeks after we received our class rings, the floor fell out from under us. Our class was told that the parish couldn’t afford to keep the school open and that it would be closed at the end of the school year. No one expected anything like that to happen! It meant making a choice…to go on to the public high school with the rest of my classmates…or maybe to try something different. I had been thinking about the possibility of becoming a priest, but really wasn’t ready to listen to that beyond just thinking of it as some nice thing for someone else to do. This sudden fork in the road shook me up enough to entertain the possibility. I stopped to see the associate pastor one day to talk it over. He encouraged me to go for it. Since the prospect of going to the public school was every bit as scary as going off to the seminary I decided that I didn’t have much to lose! Either way it was going to be new and different. It proved to be the adventure of my life. The next fall, I packed my bags and went off to a high school Seminary in Kansas City. Small town
kid hits the big city at age sixteen! I loved it from the start. For the first time in my life I had an experience of real community life. We had a small senior class of eighteen guys and I found myself fitting right in. When graduation time came (all too quickly), I wanted to go on to Atchison with three of my classmates to start a house of studies on the campus of Benedictine College. But again, God had a different plan. This time the message came in the form of a letter from the bishop informing me that I would be attending college at Conception Seminary in Missouri rather than going to Atchison. I was heartbroken. I wanted to go on with my classmates from Kansas City, Kansas. But in the end, it proved to be the best thing. The house of studies folded up within a year and the three classmates withdrew from the seminary program. When I arrived at Conception, disappointment was again changed into a wonderful surprise. Again, I loved the place. And again, it was community life that caught my attention. By the end of four years of college, I knew that this is where I wanted to stay. God often reveals plans for our future in unexpected and yet very natural ways. It might be just a gnawing feeling or an inkling. Or it might be as dramatic as having a school close down and finding yourself forced to make a choice you never thought you could make. What does God want you to do with your life? The answer to that question is probably already in your heart. It is a matter of tuning in and listening.
I was born in Topeka, Kansas. Before I entered the monastery I was a student at Savior of the World Seminary in Bonner Springs. I professed vows on August 6, 1975. I studied music theory. My favorite hour of the Divine Office is Sunday Vespers. My hobbies and interests include calligraphy, genealogy, art, and music. A good spiritual book that I would recommend is Sacred Reading by Michael Casey. One of my favorite movies is Bleak House. When I have free time I enjoy lettering, painting, listening to audio books. My favorite type of exercise is walking and using the elliptical machine. Something I use everyday is a computer. The people who had the greatest impact on my vocation were my assistant pastor and my grandmother. The best way to discern your vocation is prayer, silence, and listening.
29
Fr. Paul 30
M
y most formative years were spent under the same roof with two wonderful parents, one older brother, and one younger brother. My brothers and I played every sport and game imaginable, and our relationships centered on healthy competition and a sense of humor. My father’s work in sales required us to move four different times before I began my freshman year in high school. I often joke that moving so often was the reason I later took a vow of stability in a monastery. We attended Mass on Sundays, but it was primarily due to my mother’s initiative, and she had to put up with the complaints and objections of my brothers and me. Fortunately, she remained firm in getting us to Mass. As a junior in high school, I asked my parish priest to be my sponsor as I prepared for the Sacrament of Confirmation. This choice was not because of a mature decision, but rather as the result of my indifference in obtaining a sponsor on the day that our CCD teacher clearly insisted we were to have chosen one. As I knocked on the rectory door and asked Fr. Bob to be my sponsor, I remember him gladly accepting, then adding, “…but, we are going to have a few chats.” The Spirit worked in my life despite my lack of seriousness and preparation for Confirmation. It was the summer after my freshman year at Oklahoma State University when I met another
student my age who was on fire with his Catholic faith. I was inspired and intrigued. He seemed to have all of the answers and could defend the faith well. Though I was living in a fraternity house on campus at the time, God gave me the desire to attend Mass more frequently. After morning Mass, I would have breakfast with Fr. Bob and discuss matters regarding life and the Catholic faith. It was during this time that I first thought about the priesthood. At the conclusion of my sophomore year at Oklahoma State, I applied and was accepted as a seminarian for the Diocese of Tulsa. I was sent to study at Conception Seminary College, and it was there that I first encountered the monastic community. My years in seminary were among the best, for it was a time of personal growth and making great friends. I could have seen myself ministering as a diocesan priest, but God urged me to consider monastic life. I remember being drawn to the structured schedule, the strong emphasis placed on prayer, and the simplicity of life. The decision to enter the monastery was not easy, nor did my parents understand it at first, nor did I have one hundred percent certainty, but after praying a novena to St. Joseph, God’s peace led me to make the decision to enter. Following Christ as a Benedictine monk and priest has opened numerous doors to understanding God’s love, developing my gifts, and experiencing the blessing of so many friendships in ministry.
I was born in Elyria, Ohio. I professed vows on August 15, 2006. The reason for taking my monastic name was due to my growing appreciation for St. Paul’s letters and his conviction and boldness in preaching the Gospel. My favorite hour of the Divine Office is Vespers. My hobbies and interests include wood work, photography, and stained glass. A good spiritual book that I would recommend is Interior Freedom by Jacques Phillipe. One of my favorite movies is The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. My first car was a 1996 Ford Mustang. My favorite sports are tennis, racquetball, and triathlons. The best place I’ve visited is Engelberg, Switzerland. Three words that describe me are persistent, disciplined, practical. The best way to discern your vocation is listening to the many ways God speaks to you, especially through other people.
31