News

Each year in September, the monks of Mount Angel Abbey celebrate milestones in the vocational journey. This year was cause for extraordinary joy as two men joined the community as novices, four men made their first, or "simple" vows, and three men professed their final, "solemn" vows for life. In addition, Abbot Gregory Duerr renewed his vows as he celebrated his 60th anniversary of monastic commitment.

In our monastic community of Mount Angel, we are blessed with so many friends and benefactors. Through their constant spiritual and financial support, we are able to live as we do, stopping to pray in the Abbey church five times a day, taking time to welcome and visit all who come to enjoy the peace of our hilltop home, and devoting ourselves to preparing the next generation of priests at Mount Angel Seminary. Twice a year we publish a simple newsletter, Legacy,in which we remember those who have left (or plan to leave) a legacy gift to the Abbey and Seminary. In the fall newsletter, we highlight two of these people—one is still quite active and doing wonderful work with the elderly. The other was the mother of one of our monks, Fr. William Hammelman. We invite you to read their stories, and offer with us a prayer of gratitude for all who have helped us along the way.

"There were Jesus Caritas groups already active at Mount Angel when I got here in 1991," noted Fr. Richard Keolker. "I worked with them, and in 2004 they became a part of the program for theology and pre-theology students." The groups meet once a month to share dinner, Scripture reflection, a review of life, and evening prayer. The Jesus Caritas program is just one part of the spiritual formation program at Mount Angel Seminary, but it's one that carries over and continues long after the day of priestly ordination.

With sadness, mixed with the joy of our faith in the Resurrection, we share news of the death of our brother, Br. Francis Weigand, O.S.B. The funeral for Br. Francis will be at 10 a.m. in the Abbey church on Saturday, October 27.

Let us draw near to Christ The Church has been much in the news in recent weeks, in ways that simply break our hearts. It is important to acknowledge that we are in the midst of a terrible crisis. Innocent victims have suffered the abuse of clergy, and some have suffered again when bishops failed to act. Such evil must be named, investigated, and brought to light. As our Lord promised, the truth will set us free.

The monastic community of Mount Angel Abbey rejoiced to receive three new members as monks with Solemn Vows in a liturgy on September 12. The men had each completed the stages of postulancy, novitiate, and at least three years of simple vows before committing themselves forever as full members of the Abbey.