Altar and Home

From Above

The weather has been beautiful this week and the sun finally broke through the clouds today to unveil some vibrant colors. Just during this week we have seen a remarkable difference with the amount of foliage on the trees. We still have a ways to go, but spring is off to a great start. This…

In Color

Signs of spring are coming through all over campus while the trees are still looking to fill out with their leaves. I used my 50mm camera lens to capture these vibrant colors.                         

Feast of Saint Benedict

Happy Feast of St. Benedict! Normally the Feast of St. Benedict is on March 21, but due to Lent and Holy Week, and then the Octave Week of Easter, St. Benedict’s feast day (Transitus) was transferred to April 5. The seminarians returned from Easter vacation on Sunday evening. Since the monks celebrate this day as a…

Magnolias in Bloom

The magnolia trees between the monastery and St. Maur Hall are in full bloom. The opened up sometime early last week and were spared from the freezing temperatures. Currently they are clinging to the branches amid some fierce southern winds that we have been having these days. The rest of the trees are starting to…

Easter Monday Tradition 

The monks are happy to continue a tradition that has gone on for many years. On Easter Monday the monastic community welcomes the Benedictine sisters from Clyde for evening prayer and supper. It is always a fitting way to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord.                                        

Happy Easter

Dear Friends, Christ is Risen, Alleluia, Alleluia! Happy Easter to all of you! We had a beautiful celebration of the Easter Vigil, beginning in darkness at 4:30 a.m., but concluding in the light of a new day. May the Risen Christ fill your heart with joy and peace during this Easter season.

Triduum, Pt. II

The Good Friday celebration at the Abbey was beautiful and moving as always. Here are several pictures from the liturgy thanks to seminarian Dave Sotelo (Wichita).

Triduum 

These days of the Sacred Triduum at Conception are very beautiful and a powerful experience. It is good to have many guests with us for the liturgical celebrations. Yesterday we celebrated Holy Thursday, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. Abbot Gregory presided at the Eucharist and participated in the Washing of Feet. Below: Seminarian Dave…

Mid-Week Update

Some recent rain has brought the nice green color out in the grass and signs of spring are starting to bud everywhere. After yesterday’s rain, the sun came out later in the afternoon and campus looks beautiful at sunset. This aerial shot captures all of the buildings on campus. In the monastery chapter room, the…

Coffee Shop Night

The seminary talent show evening held every spring is called “Coffee Shop Night.” The evening event featured numerous musical acts, videos, and a lot of humor. The seminarians are a talented group, especially from a musical perspective, much of which was showcase in the night of entertainment.