World Youth Day in FULL SWING!!!

Brothers visit with Francis Cardinal Arinze!!!

Br. Elijah and Nathanael are all ears as the Cardinal speaks about the Catholic Family.

Myself (Br. Gabriel Myriam, O.S.B., Br. Elijah, O.S.B., Br. Nathanael, O.S.B. and Br. Maximilan, O.S.B. pose for a picture)

Br. Elijah, O.S.B. and Br. Nathanael, O.S.B. on beautiful Mt. Washington overlooking the city of Pittsburgh.

Four of the junior monks (Br. Nathanael, Br. Elijah, Br. Maximilan, and myself - Br. Gabriel Myriam) had the opportunity to attend the Catholic Family Apostolate's 2008 dinner which honored the 50th priestly jubilee of Francis Cardinal Arinze. The event was held in Pittsburgh and the brothers were extremely excited to have the opportunity to speak with and receive the blessing of the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. The Cardinal is good friends with our Archabbot and has been a visitor to the Archabbey on a number of occasions. Congratulations Your Eminence.

Father Archabbot and the Cardinal during one of his visits to the Archabbey

The Cardinal celebrating Mass at the Archabbey Basilica

Investiture 2008 - New Novices!!!

We intend to establish a school for the Lord's service (RB Prologue)

The same set of scissors Archabbot Boniface Wimmer used to tonsure the first American Benedictine Novices in 1846.

New habits waiting for new brothers to wear them!!!

The new habits and the Holy Rule of our Holy Father St. Benedict prior to investiture

(L-R)Peter (now Brother Pio), Scott (now Br. Albert), and Ryan (now Br. John Paul) prayerfully wait for vigils

We also accept them...Thanks be to God.

Father Archabbot instructing the new Novices and giving them their monastic names: Br. John Paul, Br. Isidore, Br. Albert, Fr. Jean Luc, Br. Pio

Br. Albert receives the Monastic Tonsure which reminds him of his consecration to God Almighty and his renunciation of worldly ways
(L-R) Br. John Paul, Br. Albert, and Br. Pio receive the holy habit of our order.

Br. Albert is invested in the cincture and scapular. The Brothers will not receive the monastic cowl until first profession - the cowl signifies that the monk is completely covered and consecrated, by his vows, to Jesus Christ

Br. John Paul is invested in the Scapular

Father Sebastian Samay, O.S.B. (Novice Master) presents the new brothers with a copy of the Holy Rule which they will study for a year in preparation for first profession.

Pax et Gaudium!!! Fr. Jean Luc receives the Benedictine Pax from Br. Sub-prior Anthony

First day on the job...the novices serve the community breakfast following their investiture.

The 2008-09 St. Vincent Archabbey Novitiate Class (L-R) Br. Albert, n.O.S.B., Br. Pio, n.O.S.B., Br. Isidore, n.O.S.B., Br. John Paul, n.O.S.B., Fr. Jean Luc, n.O.S.B....please pray for these brothers that they will persevere in their prayer and truly find be attentive to the Lord's voice.

World Youth Day 2008 is here!!!

 
Please pray for all the pilgrims who are in Sydney, Australia for the 2008 World Youth Day events. Our own Fr. Boniface Hicks, O.S.B. will be representing St. Vincent and we hope he will take some nice photos that we can share with you all upon his arrival back to the states. We are also proud to note that our neighbor diocese (Pittsburgh) has sent over 700 young people to this years world youth day making them the largest group of young people in the world to attend the events excluding the Australians...Way to go Pittsburgh!!! Please check out EWTN's full coverage of WYD '08 by clicking here. Also, please check out the blog of Jamey Stewart, a Duquense University Grad student and faculty member (as well as a good friend of our Br. Gabriel Myriam who is in Sydney covering the events for Youthtown)

This is the official World Youth Day 2008 Song and Video

A Brief Refelection the Night Before Investiture

 
The following was written on July 9th, 2008 by one of our new Novices as he prepared to receive the holy habit of our order and enter the Benedictine novitiate.

"One can prepare, and prepare, and prepare all he wants to, but one is never quite ready for some events" This piece of wisdom used to annoy me greatly. I thought it was false in most, if not all, instances; however, as I sit here about to be invested in my habit and truly begin my novitiate at Saint Vincent Archabbey, I think, for the big moments in life, we are never quite ready. It seems there is always a little discomfort and a little doubt - and this is intentional. God keeps us little and humble by reminding us how dependent we are upon Him.

My vocation has been confirmed through signs and wonders. I have been abundantly blessed in my preparation for this moment. Yet, despite all of this, I feel unready; but i don't think anything could make me ready. Everything I have endured and experienced in twenty years of living have prepared me for this moment and I simply trust that Our Lady, who holds my poor and miserable heart in her own, will act powerfully through me in my new life as a Benedictine monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey. Totus Tuus Maria!!!