Abbot Gregory Polan
Morning Ministry
I had Mass at 7:30am for the Benedictine Sisters of Clyde all week long. Just about every day I had to scrape ice off of the car in the morning. It was a cold week! Below: The best thing about being out and about in the morning–Sunrise! Below: Clyde still has one of the…
Snow Again
While the temperatures fell on Tuesday of last week, the snow fell on Saturday morning. There is something magically and nostalgic about the first substantial snow, but the fairytale feelings quickly went away when I was brushing snow off of the car Sunday morning before Mass. I am assigned this week to have Mass for…
The Chill
The best way to stay warm these days is to stay busy. Everyone is still getting used to the cold weather, it came on rather quickly. Yesterday evening we had another beautiful sunset. I took the picture out of my window on the 5th floor of St. Joseph Hall. The other day I had finished…
First Snow?
Yesterday at 2:45pm it was 70 degrees outside. Later that night it was 31 degrees. No thank you. I was not ready for that. Knowing that it was going to get colder today, I went out yesterday for what might be my last bike ride outside for the season. It was comfortable, but a bit…
Encounter Weekend
This past weekend was our Encounter with God’s Call weekend. Conception Seminary College invited a record-breaking 115 young men to “come and see” the seminary, visit with the seminarians, and hear a series of talks. Never before have we had over 100 young men for an Encounter, which are held once in the fall and once in…
Fall Production
Every Fall semester, Br. Cyprian and the seminarians of Conception Seminary put on a play in St. Michael’s Gymnasium. This year Conception Seminary College presents, “Murder at the Goon Show,” by Douglas Winters. A most hilarious comedy-spoof-murder mystery in two acts. They work long hours in order for the show to come together. I watched…
1,500 Miles…and Counting
As the temperatures get cooler, I am happy to announce that this week I reached my 1,500 mile biking goal for the year. All of my bike rides for the year began at the Abbey. The outdoor biking season is not necessarily over, but I prefer not to bike in temperatures below 50 degrees, especially if…
I’m Digging it
The front of the monastery is not the most picturesque these days, as the construction and renovation project has turned to digging up the ground. This work has resulted in a couple of big mounds of dirt decorating the front yard. But, though unsightly, it must mean progress, and one step closer into moving into…
National Vocation Awareness Week
We celebrate National Vocation Awareness Week, November 2nd – 8th, an annual week-long celebration of the Catholic Church in the United States dedicated to promote vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life through prayer and education, and to renew our prayers and support for those who are considering one of these particular vocations. This…