St. Vincent Monks and Seminarians March For Life

On the Eve of the March for Life in Washington, the Monks and Seminarians from St. Vincent Archabbey joined Cardinal DiNardo and more than 20,000 pilgrims in celebrating the National Prayer Vigil for Life, held in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The Vigil included Mass, Confessions, the Rosary, Byzantine Rite Compline, and Adoration.

After spending the night in prayer, the St. Vincent Monks and Seminarians united with the thousands of pro-life activists on January 23 to participate in the 39th annual March for Life. Despite being one of the largest annual protests in Washington, it has largely been ignored by the mainstream media.

"A great prayer for life is urgently needed, a prayer which will rise up throughout the world. Through special initiatives and daily prayer, may an impassioned plea rise to God, the Creator and lover of life, from every Christian community, from every group and association, from every family and from the heart of every believer." - Pope John Paul II

For more information about the March for life visit: http://www.marchforlife.org

New Year's Message from Pope Benedict XVI

In the shadow of a year that has been marked with frustration and anxiety, Pope Benedict invites us to look to the New Year with an attitude of confident trust. In his 1 January 2012, World Day of Peace message, Pope Benedict emphasizes the importance of education: "Educating Young People in Justice and Peace, in the conviction that the young, with their enthusiasm and idealism, can offer new hope to the world". This is a primary duty of society as a whole, for the sake of building a future of justice and peace: "Peace is not a blessing already attained, but rather a goal to which each and all of us must aspire. Let us look with greater hope to the future; let us encourage one another on our journey; let us work together to give our world a more humane and fraternal face; and let us feel a common responsibility towards present and future generations, especially in the task of training them to be people of peace and builders of peace."

For the complete New Year's Message from Pope Benedict:

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/peace/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20111208_xlv-world-day-peace_en.html

Saint Vincent College Founders' Day

Vision for the Future

In celebrating the mission of Archabbot Boniface Wimmer and the founders of Saint Vincent, Archabbot Douglas noted: “Fidelity does not mean simply to repeat the past. While celebrating the past with gratitude, the primary focus of our celebration will be on the future. Our annual observance of the founding of Saint Vincent by Boniface Wimmer is an important milestone because of the creative and energetic community that makes Saint Vincent. It is a community which can join fidelity to our heritage and vision for the future to the reality of the present.”

From the Program for Founders’ Day Vespers – 11/17/2011

Vocation Awareness Day at St. Benedict's Prep

St. Benedict’s Prep School, established by the monks of Newark Abbey in 1868, a daughter house of St. Vincent Archabbey, recently hosted a Vocation Awareness Day. Click on the link below to view more pictures!

http://www.framingthelight.com/Vocation-Awareness-Day/2011-Vocation-Awareness-Day-at/19987387_JQqgsc#1574789329_hwsMX95

Remembering our deceased monks of 2011

Fr. Wilfred: Fr. Wilfred, who died on 23 September 2011, was unselfishly committed to his students at Saint Vincent Prep and then for several decades at the Benedictine Military School in Savannah. Although a Pennsylvanian, he easily became an exemplary embodiment of generous Southern hospitality.

Br. Fred: Br. Fred died on 17 April 2011. He was a gentle soul with a quiet humor marked by a sly twinkle in his eye and a soft chuckle. After helping in our priory in Brazil, he worked behind the scenes for many years as purchasing agent in the Facilities Management Office on campus and was always ready to assist monks with computer questions.

Fr. Omer: Fr. Omer died on 17 January 2011. He was Professor of Homiletics in the Seminary for decades as well as subprior and archivist in the monastery for over a quarter century. He was an historian and storyteller by nature who relished recounting the humorous dimension of common human foibles.

We pray today for our brothers who have passed from death to life in company with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,

and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in peace.

Amen.

Alumni Day at St. Vincent Seminary

Cardinal Wuerl speaks about St. Vincent Seminary and the unchanging nature of the priesthood.

Peace of Soul

The following selection comes from “Peace of Soul” by Fulton Sheen. This was the reading chosen by our own Br. Bruno as the second reading of our Morning Prayer Office on Monday, Oct. 3. It is a wonderful insight about why young men and women choose to serve God in a radical way through monastic lives and how their prayers and penance affects the world on an extremely profound level.

Why are there monasteries and convents? Why do so many young souls leave the lights and glamour of the world for the shades and shadows of the Cross where saints are made? The modern world so little understands their mission that, as soon as a newspaperman hears of a handsome young woman entering a cloister, he telephones the parents to ask, "Was she disappointed in love?" The answer, of course, is, "Yes, with the love of the world. She has fallen in love with God." These hidden dynamos of prayer, the cloistered men and women, are doing more for our country than all its politicians, its labor leaders, its army and navy put together; they are atoning for sins of us all. They are averting the just wrath of God, repairing the broken fences of those who sin and pray not, rebel and atone not. As ten just men would have saved Sodom and Gomorrah, so ten just saints can save a nation now. But so long as a citizenry is more impressed by what its cabinet does than by its chosen souls who are doing penance, the rebirth of the nation has not yet begun. The cloistered are the purest of patriots. They have not become less interested in the world since leaving it; indeed they have become more interested in the world than ever before. But they are not concerned with whether it will buy and sell more; they care-and desperately care-whether it will be more virtuous and love God more.

Fulton J. Sheen, Peace of Soul (New York: McGraw - Hill Book Co., 1949)

Saint Vincent Archabbey will host a "Come and See" discernment weekend for single Catholic men ages 21-40 on October 28-30, 2011. A "Come and See" weekend is a no-strings-attached chance to spend time learning about the life of Benedictine Monks of St. Vincent Archabbey. Come pray with us, talk with our junior monks, meet our older brethren, and most of all listen for the voice of Christ who continually calls men to a life of work and prayer in service to the Catholic Church. The next "Come and See" weekend is October 29 - October 31, 2011. For more information about the weekend, life as a Benedictine monk, or to schedule another time to visit the Abbey please contact Fr. Bonaventure Curtis, OSB at 724-532-6655

Cardinal Wuerl and John Marous to be honored at Seminary Alumni Day

Saint Vincent Seminary will honor two outstanding members of its Board of Regents at its forthcoming Alumni Day Mass and Banquet, scheduled for Monday September 19, 2011. Tribute will be paid to His Eminence Donald Cardinal Wuerl, a member of the Board of Regents for 24 years, and Dr. John C. Marous, Jr., retired chairman of the Seminary's Board of Regents and a member for 20 years. The Alumni Day Mass will begin at 4 p.m. in the Archabbey Basilica, with Cardinal Wuerl serving as Principal Celebrant and Homilist. The Mass is open to the general public.

From: http://www.saintvincentarchabbey.org

Br. Thomas Colucci's 9/11 Experience

From: cny.org

At about midnight on Sept. 12, 2001, an exhausted Lieutenant Thomas Colucci, FDNY Engine 3, found himself sitting on top of a colossal pile of smoldering rubble that had been, until about 14 hours earlier, one of the two twin towers of the World Trade Center.

Click here to read more: http://cny.org/stories/911-Experiences-Pointed-Three-Men-to-Priestly-Vocation-,6040

Saint Gregory the Great!

On September 3 we celebrated the feast of St. Gregory the Great, one of the greatest Fathers in the history of the Church, one of the four Doctors of the West who was an Benedictine monk and later Bishop of Rome from 590 to 604 and who earned the traditional title Magnus (the Great!).

St. Gregory was born in Rome around 540 into a wealthy family known for their adherence to the Christian faith. Gregory entered early into an administrative career which reached its climax in 572, when, during chaotic times, he became Prefect of the city. Yet this life could not satisfy him. He decided to leave every civil assignment in order to withdraw into monastic life and spend his time in dialogue with the Lord and listening to his Word.

Cloistered withdrawal did not last long, however. Gregory was universally respected for his civil administration, and his good reputation induced Pope Pelagius to ordain him and send him to Constantinople in order to help bring about a solution to the Lombard invasions. When the plague took the life of Pope Pelagius in 590, Gregory was the unanimous selection as his successor. He tried to resist, even attempting to flee, but to no avail. Recognizing the will of God, the new Pope immediately set to work, especially in regards to the Lombard invaders, dedicating all his energy to peaceful resolution. He saw the Lombard people with the eyes of a good pastor and was concerned with proclaiming the Word of salvation to them and establishing fraternal relationships based on mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.

St. Gregory’s desire for God was always alive in the depths of his soul, and precisely because of this he was always close to his neighbor, to the needy people of his time. Indeed, during a desperate period of havoc, he was able to create peace and give hope. This man of God shows us the true source of peace from which true hope comes. Thus, he becomes a guide also for us today.

From: Pope Benedict XVI General Audience on Wednesday, 28 May 2008

Fresh Campus Minister

Fr. Killian Loch, O.S.B. has been named director of campus ministry at Saint Vincent College, according to an announcement by Br. Norman W. Hipps, O.S.B., president.

Fr. Killian joins the Saint Vincent staff after making his first vows as a Benedictine monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey. A native of Wilkes-Barre, he previously served in the Diocese of Scranton.

“I look forward to this assignment since a significant part of my background has been involvement in Catholic schools,” Fr. Killian said. “My assignments involved full and part time teaching and administration in diocesan high schools, and my parish assignments included parish elementary schools. I was also involved in several diocesan commissions and studies of the Catholic school system. I look forward to interacting with the students as campus minister. Saint Vincent has an outstanding campus ministry program of spiritual activities, service opportunities and social and educational activities. These already involve a large number of the students so I don’t anticipate making any immediate changes. As I become more familiar with the spiritual needs of the students, I may explore new programs and activities in the future.”

“Relationships are very important to college students,” Fr. Killian said. “I want them to have a good relationship with God, in which they will view him not as a distant deity, but as someone who desires a close relationship with them.”

Fr. Killian is very interested in the various lay ecclesial movements in the Church today, one form of associations of the faithful of the Catholic church. “The late Blessed John Paul II recognized the importance of ecclesial activity in the new millennium and encouraged the development of various ecclesial movements including Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Cursillo Movement, L’Arche, Worldwide Marriage Encounter, and others. He believed that the new evangelization will come through these movements. I will look for opportunities to connect our students with these on campus. After students graduate, I think it is important for them to be ready to be active in the broader Church.”

Fr. Killian joins current campus ministry staff including assistant directors Fr. Anthony Grossi, O.S.B., Fr. Jean-Luc Zadroga, and Dr. John Aupperle, secretary Jody Marsh, and music coordinator Mary Ellen Lang.

“I am very happy to be part of the Saint Vincent Benedictine Community,” Fr. Killian concluded. “For me, the community aspect is very important,” Fr. Killian noted. “The monks have a wonderful sense of community and it’s impressive to see this diverse group of men gather for prayer, meals and other interaction. It’s part of the broader Saint Vincent community which includes the Parish, Seminary and College, all of which have a great commitment to Saint Vincent. I have been so impressed with what people are willing to do for Saint Vincent.”

Fr. Killian earned a bachelor of arts degree in English from the University of Scranton before completing a master of divinity degree at St. John School of Theology and a master of education degree at Boston College. He served in various pastoral assignments including director of religious formation and procurator at Bishop Neumann High School in Williamsport and later acting principal and principal of Bishop Hafey High School, Hazleton.

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