Br. Bernard joins Vocation Team

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:08:23 Z

 

 

(From left to right: Br. N. Bernard Denson, Br. N. Martin Weidner, Br. N. Josemaria Balderas)

 

One the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15th, three Novices will profess their vows at St. Bernard Abbey: Br. N. Bernard Denson, Br. N. Martin Weidner, and Br. N. Josemaria Balderas.

 

Br. Bernard will be joining Br. Jacob Amos, O.S.B. (Vocation Director) and Br. Benedict Dyar, O.S.B. (Associate Vocation Director).  Br. Bernard's duties include coordinating our MIB program, introducing the concept of religious life to high-school aged men.  He will also give talks to grade-schools and high schools introducing young men to Benedictine traditions.

 

The community of St. Bernard is looking forward to another year of meeting new vocation prospects and helping men in their discernment process.

Updates on Formation

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 01:42:45 Z

 

(From left to right: Novice Br. Martin Weidner, Nov. Br. Josemaria Balderas, Nov. Br. Bernard Denson, Br. Benedict Dyar, O.S.B., Br. Joshua Vrooman, O.S.B., Br. Anselm Kuehler, O.S.B., Postulant Wesley Jones, Postulant David Piondexter, Postulant Phillip Pattarozzi)

 

The formation class of 2010 is completing the Postulancy stage of monastic formation.  Postulants Wesley Jones Phillip Pattarozzi, and David Piondexter will enjoy a home visit and return to the Abbey on August 14th to enter the next stage of formation, the Novitiate.

 

Monastic formation consists of three major stages: The Postulancy, the Novitiate, and the Juniorate.  The Postulancy and the Novitiate make up a year and six weeks.  The Juniorate is a stage in which one in formation makes temporary monastic vows valid for three years.  Our Holy Father St. Benedict wanted monastic formation to be a gradual process with each individual.  In Chapter 58 of the Holy Rule, we read about one in formation perservering in trials and obedience.  Most importantly, they truly and sincerely seek God: "The concern must be whether the novice truly seeks God and whether he shows eagerness for the Work of God, of obedience and for trials." (Rule of St. Benedict 58:7).  This formation is not a "boot camp" but a time to help the aspiring monk break with the ways of the world he left and enter into the world and needs of his community.  Formation aims at instilling in one the values of the monastic vows: Obedience, Stability, and Conversion of Life.  With God's grace active in the novice's life, he will be able to make these vows at his profession.

 

Novices Bernard Denson, Martin Weidner, and Josemaria Balderas will make first profession of monastic vows on the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary 2010.

 

Junior monks Brs. Joshua Vrooman, Benedict Dyar, and Anselm Kuehler are continuing to perservere in the Juniorate in preparation for final profession of vows.

Work that Monks Do

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:14:09 Z

 

(Br. David Bryant at work at St. Bernard Monastery Candle Shop.  Photo by Anne Stephens, Oblate of St. Bernard)

 

Monks do a variety of things.  None are restricted to learning only one job or skill.  Odds are we will learn many skills during our monastic vocation.  One of the first things most people think of, when they think of a monk, is a man at prayer.  Most people ask the question, "What do you do?"

 

The life of a monk is centered around the prayer life, but our prayer and work are not viewed as separate camps occupying our lives.  Our prayer complements our work.  Monks, throughout the centuries, have contributed to many occupational fields including agriculture, education, craftsmanship, and even the hotel business!  Yes, if you lived in the early middle-ages and were traveling, most of the time you would spend the night in a monastery.

 

St. Bernard is engaged in many "apostolates" or missions.  We primarily serve the needs of our students at St. Bernard Preparatory School/Middle School and our visitors who come to our Retreat and Conference Center.  Many jobs go into this though.  Monks can be priests, administrators, cooks, bakers, electricians, candle-makers, teachers, grounds-keepers, farmers and more.  Often they learn many of the mentioned skills.  Often monks at our Abbey are involved with the public to some extent.  One of the latest interactions with the public is selling our monastery bread and candles at the Farmer's Market here in Cullman.

Our Recent Visitors

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:30:10 Z

 

 

 

It is always a delight to see the Lord working in a young person’s life.  We had one such young man come to us from Mississippi this past weekend.  His name is Matthew Louis.  Matthew came with his father, Mr. Dennis Louis to see what monastic life was all about.  During the weekend, Matthew and his father participated in the daily horarium of the monastery and got a chance to visit with some of the monks.  Mr. Louis said he and his son came primarily to grow more in knowledge and understanding of their Catholic faith. 
Matthew is very active in his parish, is a talented musician, participates in drama at the Corinth Civic Theatre, is in the Boy Scouts with the rank of First Class, and is a fine young man.  It is our prayer that all young men like Matthew truly experience the Lord during their stay at St. Bernard.

A Brief Look at Formation

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:29:56 Z

 

When one enters the monastery and undergoes the process of formation, it is sometimes a difficult break with the world that is left behind.  The Postulant enters into a world that is much smaller and simpler.  That is why our Holy Father St. Benedict commands in his Rule that those in formation be under the wise guidance of superiors.

 

The typical formation of Postulants and Novices has several parts.  They are under a Novice Master, who is ultimately in charge of their formation.  He is assisted by a Socius.  The Socius is responsible for assisting the Novice Master, making work assignments, and taking care of any personal needs those in formation might have.  While in the Postulancy and Novitiate, the aspiring monk owes his obedience to these men.  If he is obedient and has trust in them, his formation should go smoothly and he will grow unto maturity for preparation for vows.

 

The typical day of a Postulant or Novice consists in their formation.  They pray and eat with the monks.  They do house chores in the morning and a work assignment in the afternoon.  They also attend classes in such subjects as: Liturgy, Monastic Life, Monastic History, Psalms, Music, Spirituality, and Sacred Scripture.  These classes usually take place in the morning hours.  All of this goes into shaping the Postulant and Novice into one who is slowly converting his life over to a monastic way of living.

Alumni Weekend

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:44:01 Z

 

(Nov. Br. JoseMaria and Nov. Br. Bernard enjoy an evening with St. Bernard's alumni and benefactors)

 

The annual alumni reunion was held this past weekend.  Classes from 1960-2005 joined the celebration.  Alumni and benefactors that come to this event look forward to meeting our new Postulants and Novices.  Our Abbey has been blessed with new vocations; a future blessing for the Postulants of St. Bernard Abbey.

 

Alumni weekend provides an opportunity for our alumni and their families to get re-acquainted with their friends and to help future generations of Benedictines.  They always remember the monks that have gone before us that have helped them in so many ways.  We appreciate all their prayers and support for vocations to the monastic life at St. Bernard.

Our New Postulants

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:29:57 Z

 

(From left to right: Postulant Phillip Pattarozzi, Abbot Cletus Meagher, O.S.B., Postulant Wesley Jones, Postulant David Poindexter, Br. Jacob Amos, O.S.B.)

 

Three candidates arrived at our Abbey and have entered the Postulancy.  The community welcomes these young men with us to further discern the vocation to the monastic life.

 

Our new Postulants are: Wesley Jones, from Fayette, AL; Phillip Pattarozzi, from Nakomis, IL; and David Poindexter, of Miami, FL.  All participated in our Vocation Retreats.  We ask that you keep Postulants Wesley, Phillip, and David in you prayers as they continue to discover the Lord's will and seek their monastic vocation.

Plans for this Summer

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:31:39 Z

The Vocation Team has some exiting new plans for the summer of 2010.  We already have men that are planning to come to our Monastic Observership Program.  The program is designed to help men who wish to discern monastic life in a more thorough manner.   They participate in a prolonged stay at St. Bernard living the monastic life while participating in classes and gaining advice on monastic vocations.  Young people hearing the call is especially important.  This summer, we are introducing programs designed to help middle-school aged students discern the call to religious life or priesthood. 
We are exited about a new Men in Black event scheduled for June 23rd-27th.  It’s called “Ora et Labora” and it will be an event open to all men who have participated in an MIB retreat.  The event will further focus on the prayer life of the monks, which is so essential, as well as engaging in a work project for the Abbey.  We hope our MIB men will grow in faith, hope, and love this summer as well as learning more about where God is calling them in life.
We will be sure and try to bring you pictures of our new events to the Blog.

Town Hall Meeting

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 19:19:03 Z

On the evening of Thursday April 8th, St. Bernard Abbey hosted a Town Hall Meeting to discuss our Strategic Plan.   Abbot Cletus Meagher, O.S.B.,  presented the plan to those in attendance: monks, faculty, alumni, benefactors and friends of the Abbey.
Abbot Cletus said “Primary to all objectives is the strength and growth of the monastic community.”  He also spoke about how important our monastic witness is.  St. Bernard Abbey is committed to supporting vocations, specifically Vocations to the Monastic Life of the Abbey.  The Abbot and community supports viable and able novices.  We are a monastic community culture nurtured on accountability, training, and ministry. 

 
 

Fr. Abbot encouraged those in attendance,  reminding us that we all have an important role in the future of St. Bernard Abbey; the St. Bernard Prep Schools, our Parishes, and other apostolic ministries.   We were reminded of those monks, teachers, and lay men and women who have gone before us to help make St. Bernard what it is today.  Through God’s grace and our commitment to the Strategic Plan, we continue our treasured past and future legacy.

 

New Website Additions for Vocations

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:07:50 Z

 

Recently, our Vocation Director, Br. Jacob Amos, O.S.B., has been working on new additions for Vocations on the main website.  There will now be monthly newsletters from our Vocation Director as well as some tips for vocation discernment.  Please look forward to these new additions as we are working on them now.  We hope that you find these helpful.