Conception Abbey hosts Benedictine monks congress

Monks of the Swiss-American Benedictine Congregation gather at Conception Abbey

Representatives of the monasteries of the Swiss-American Benedictine Congregation held their triennial meetings at Conception Abbey June 22-25, 2017.

The Forty-Sixth General Chapter of the Swiss-American Benedictine Congregation was held at Conception Abbey this year. The triennial meeting, attended by thirty-two abbots and delegates from the thirteen monasteries forming the congregation, began on Thursday, June 22, and concluded on Sunday, June 25. The Swiss-American Benedictine Congregation was established in 1881 by Pope Leo XIII with St. Meinrad Abbey and Conception Abbey as its founding members. The monasteries of the Congregation can be found in Canada (1), the United States (10), Mexico (1), and Central America (1).

The General Chapter was pleased to welcome Abbot Gregory Polan, OSB, Abbot-Primate of the Benedictine Order, as well as three speakers—Fr Michael Casey, OCSO, Br John-Mark Falkenhain, OSB, and Fr David Couturier, OFMCap—who addressed the General Chapter concerning the formation of newly professed monks. The official business of the congregation concluded with the re-election of Abbot Vincent Bataille, OSB, as abbot-president of the Swiss-American Benedictine Congregation, and the elections of Abbot Benedict Neenan, OSB, and Fr Patrick Caveglia, OSB, both members of Conception Abbey, to the Abbot-President’s Council, as well as Abbot Justin Brown, OSB, of St. Joseph Abbey in Louisiana.

The members of the General Chapter attended the Eucharist and Liturgy of the Hours with the Conception community and joined the monks of Conception at a gaudeamus held in the monastery recreation rooms and refectory.

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