Br. Etienne ordained to the Holy Priesthood at Conception Abbey

Joy overflowed from Conception Abbey’s Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on Thursday evening, May 18 as the monastic community, family, and friends of Fr. Etienne Huard, OSB celebrated his ordination to the priesthood.

Abbot Benedict Neenan, OSB, Abbot of Conception Abbey, presented Fr. Etienne for the rite of ordination which was administered by retired Archbishop Jerome Hanus, OSB, a monk of Conception Abbey and former archbishop of Dubuque, Ia.

A priest in the Roman Catholic Church can administer the sacraments to the faithful including the Eucharist, Baptism, and Penance.

Archbishop Jerome expounded on the role of a Benedictine priest as one of “servant leadership” in his homily; an excerpt follows.

“The Benedictine priest has, first of all, a shepherding role. He is a pastoral person and is to imitate Jesus as the Good Shepherd, even to the point of giving his life for the sheep. He must give his life for the members of the flock which is the Church and ultimately all humanity.”

Fr. Etienne, a native of Wichita Ks. and Christ the King Catholic Church is the son of Constance and the late Steven Huard and is a graduate of Bishop Carroll Catholic High School in Wichita. Fr. Etienne recently completed his MA in Systematic Theology and MDiv degrees at St. Vincent’s Seminary in Latrobe, Pa.

Fr. Etienne first professed vows as a monk of Conception Abbey on August 15, 2010, and until leaving for graduate studies served the community as Director of Admissions of Conception Seminary College and Assistant Vocations Director for Conception Abbey while also pursuing the art of photography with work featured by items sold by The Printery House.

This fall, Fr. Etienne will take on the roles of Kitchen Master for the Conception Abbey and Conception Seminary College campus and serve as Chaplain for the freshman of Conception Seminary, overseeing their initial stages of priestly formation.

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