General
Mardi Gras into Ash Wednesday
Tuesday evening, Mardi Gras, the monks had their usual evening haustus with appetizers, beverages, and some extra treats. It was an enjoyable festive meal before we begin Lent and take on special observances and penances. After haustus, the card players were at their usual table enjoy some fraternity and a competitive game of Bridge. Below:…
Library Book Sale
The Conception Abbey and Seminary Library had a book sale Monday and Tuesday afternoon from 1:00-4:00pm. All the books were received from donations from monks, employees, and other friends. Br. Thomas said the book sale has been a great success, raising money that will benefit future improvements in the library. Seminarians gathered on both afternoons,…
Good Works and Preparing for Lent
The Lenten seasons begins this week with Ash Wednesday. Each year, in preparation for Lent, each monk of the community meets with the Abbot to submit his “bona opera” (good works). The bona opera is a list of three things that the monk has prayerfully decided to do for Lent. Usually these works correspond to…
Receiving a New Postulant!
It is always a great joy to our community to receive a new postulant. On this cold morning on the first day of March, it was with warm and grateful hearts that Joseph Fussner of Brookville, Indiana, entered our community. The ceremony for entering the postulancy is fairly simple. As Abbey Vocation Director, I accompanied…
Seminarian Dodgeball Tournament
The seminarians showed up in droves for the Dodgeball Tournament. Organized by a group of seminarians, I had the privilege of reffing this tournament that involved high power competition and pleasant reprieve from the cold winter weather. I offered to referee and give direction on how to organize the tournament since I have had past…
Planned Giving Seminar
If blog activity seemed quiet these last few days, there is good reason for it. On Monday, I traveled to the National Catholic Planned Giving Seminar. I needed some more experience in my assignment as Director of Planned Giving and thought this would be a good opportunity for continuing education. Additionally, I was attracted to…
Taking the Polar Bear Plunge
It was 30 degrees outside and partly cloudy. What would possess otherwise rational and clear thinking men to break ice with an axe and plunge into freezing cold water? I’m not exactly sure why, but the Conception Seminary Polar Bear Club tradition lives on. As a seminarian, I recall participating in the event two out…
The Strange Weather Continues
The strange weather continues, varying from rather pleasant with a hint of spring, to rain, thunder, snow, sleet, and hail. I do not think the weather can make up its mind. However, like many things in life, it is something we certainly cannot control, so we make the best with what are given. The following…
Archbishop Rino Fisichella Visits Conception Abbey
Today Archbishop Fisichella, the President of the Pontifical Council on the New Evangelization visited Conception Abbey and presided at Eucharist. In his homily, Archbishop focused on Christ’s question from the Gospel reading: “But who do you say that I am?” He spoke of the importance of our total and complete proclamation that Jesus is “the…
Building Bonds through Teamwork and Faith
As mentioned about one week ago, KQ2 News did a three part segment on Conception Seminary’s basketball team. I enjoyed making videos and thought they did a very fine job putting it all together. You can view the third installment here, or see the previous blog post with the first two parts here.