Abbot Gregory Polan
Companion Camp Kicks Off
The Companion Camp High School Staff arrived this morning. Let the games begin. It is my 10th year being involved in our annual Companion Camp. Many of those years I have served as the Camp Director, which is where I find myself again this year. It is an exhausting and time consuming weekend, but very…
Demolition: Part Two
The demolition work inside the monastery is progressing quickly. Br. Maximilian braved the dust and took these pictures of the working being done during the past week. For the monks, who would see these rooms and hallways on a daily basis, it is quite a surprise to see the extent of the demolition work. It…
Demolition: Part One
The past two days have been really windy, but this is nothing special around the Abbey, where 24 wind turbines turn daily. But, there has been a lot of dust blowing in the air from the demolition work done inside the monastery and near a surrounding building. Crews continue to remove old walls and flooring…
Happy Father’s Day
Happy Father’s Day! A special word of thanks goes out to all fathers. Our fathers have a strong and formative role in our lives from an early age. We also recognize others who have had a paternal influence and formed us into the people we are today. As the foster father of Jesus Christ, St. Joseph…
Honey from the Comb
Br. Anselm is the monastery’s bee keeper. It was not something he ever thought he would do, but it is just something that he got into a few years ago. He appreciates the work outside, which is a pleasant break from his usual assignment of teaching philosophy. He now has five beehives. I suited up alongside…
Photo of the Day: 1 Year Anniversary
The monks of Conception Abbey started posting a “Photo of the Day” beginning on June 4, 2013. A year has past, and the photos have become very popular on our Facebook page, where they are featured. Here are some from the past year.
In Bloom
Many vibrant colors around campus of the flowers in our gardens. “We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We…
Br. Macario Ordained to the Priesthood
On Thursday evening, our confrere, Br. Macario, was ordained to the priesthood. Br. Macario spent four years preparing for the priesthood at St. Meinrad Seminary. It was a joyous occasion for our monastic community to gather in celebration and in thanksgiving to God as Br. Macario was consecrated to the Lord as a priest. He was…
When Brothers Live in Unity
After our 4 o’clock retreat conference, the monks processed to the monastery for the last time before the renovation and demolition begins. Gathering around the wooden center stairwell, well worn from years of feet descending the steps to chant the Divine Office in the Basilica, the monastic community sang Psalm 133. “How góod and how pléasant it…