Conception Abbey |
Tower Topics ~ Fall 2007 |
|
HOME What's New at Conception Abbey? Conception Abbey Conception Seminary College Location Giving Gateway Abbey Guest Center Printery House Events Prayer Schedule Oblates Spiritual Reading Links |
Opportunities to serve
Greetings of peace from Conception Abbey. In the Scriptures, texts will sometimes speak of the Lord’s bounty by three images brought together: "the grain, the wine, and the oil" (Jeremiah 31:12). That was their way of saying "a full and abundant harvest" with a good crop coming in the spring (the grain), the early summer (the wine), and the late summer (the oil). God had blessed their efforts, and the people were seeing the fruit of their labors. At Conception, we too sing of God’s bounty at this harvest time of year. For the monastic community, God’s richest blessing has come to us in the solemn profession of our two confreres, Brother Macario and Brother Anselm. The other harvest comes from the diligent efforts of our Abbey vocation director, Father Albert, with the entrance of two candidates to the novitiate and one in the postulancy. In total, we have ten young men in various stages of formation to the monastic life and priesthood. Four of our young monks are away from Conception during the academic year involved in various programs of study and formation. Brother Pachomius begins Third Theology at Mount Angel Seminary. Brother Guerric and Brother Macario start First Theology this fall at St. Meinrad School of Theology. And Brother Anselm begins a program of graduate studies in philosophy at The Catholic University of America, with residence at St. Anselm Abbey in Washington, D.C. As another academic year begins, the seminary college welcomes 100 young men from 22 dioceses and 5 religious communities who are discerning their vocation to the priesthood and applying themselves to the tasks of serious study and formation. Our seminary college brings together young men of various cultural backgrounds who are discerning God’s call in their lives. In this student body of 100, 29 were born outside the United States. Our Language, Culture, and Church Program provides a wonderful opportunity for these international students to learn about the Church in the United States where they hope to serve, and also serves to educate students from our own country in the riches of the religious and native cultures of these international seminarians, which are blending into the melting pot of American life. Our Abbey Guest Department also is gearing up for another busy season in which we will welcome guests from church communities, parish staffs, and the many individuals who wish to step aside from their busy schedules to spend time with us in prayer and reflection. It is a special joy to see the many youth who come to our campus to see both the monastery and the seminary college; we hope it might be the planting of seeds of vocations to the priesthood and monastic life. The Printery House of Conception begins its busiest times of the year as the catalogs for the Christmas season are dropped into the mail. Much of the time during the summer months is spent preparing for this time of year when our customers choose their Christmas greetings and gifts for family and friends. You can see that the expression "harvest season" characterizes well this time of year at Conception Abbey. We invite you to join with us in thanking God for the abundant blessings upon our many endeavors, as we join in lifting up grateful hearts for the blessings that have come to you and your family. In all things, may God be glorified for the divine blessings that are ours. Sincerely in Christ, We welcome your comments: |
© 2000 by Conception Abbey, Inc. All rights reserved. Site last revised 22 October, 2007. |
Dear Friends,