Abbot Gregory Polan
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…
Retreat Week
Each year the monastic community retreat is normally scheduled during the week after Seminary Graduation. This year, because of the move and renovation, we moved it back a couple weeks so that we could get settled. This year, our Retreat Master is Msgr. Kevin Irwin. Msgr. Irwin is a priest of the Archdiocese of New York…
Construction Preparations
Last week, construction crews turned up the soil and added a few access roads to the monastery in preparation for the major renovation. The roads will serve for areas to store dumpsters and have easier paths to drive machinery to the monastery. Demolition inside begins on June 2. The monks will have a special blessing…
Alumni Ordinations
May and June are busy times for alumni of Conception Seminary College to be ordained to the diaconate and priesthood in their respective dioceses. It is obviously a joy and blessing to the Church to see men who studied at our seminary come to this great moment in their life. During the year 2014, Conception…
Moved out of the Monastery
The monks are getting settled in their temporary residence in St. Joseph Hall. I wanted to get more pictures posted of us moving out of the monastery last week, a historical event that will now be known simply as, “The Move.” Again, it was the efforts of seminarians and monks to help the move goes…
Celebrating the Sacrament of Baptism
As you can tell, it was a beautiful day at the Abbey. The weather was warm, sunny, and in the 70’s. But, the real joy came from being able to baptize Dominic Anselm Pawlowski, the third son of Max and Laura. Max works at the Newman Center at Northwest Missouri State. During the school year…