Combing the historical significance of the Christmas Nativity with the diversity of cultures and artists that have interpreted it through the ages, "Finding Bethlehem" guides you thoughtful commentaries of theologians and collectors alike, to artist statements and the voices of "behind-thes-scenes" participants in the Festival, the book explores the spiritual and artistic meaning of the Nativity.
Columbarium Project Moves Forward
From L to R - Susan Conant (Columbarium Designer), Judith Kramer (Designer Assistant), Br. John Corrigan (Cellarer), Fr. Guerric Heckel (Committee Chair), Jim Rozier (Columbarium Manager), Fr. Stanislaus Gumula (Abbot), missing Robbie Metts (Assistant Manager), Dottie Roddy and Weldon Schenck
Mepkin Abbey’s Columbarium Committee met, July 14, 2011, and finalized its decision to begin construction. Within two weeks of completed “construction drawings” the committee will order the niches. Niches typically take from 18 to 20 weeks to construct. Site preparation will be determined by early August.
Read More »Volunteers Honored for 1000 Hours of Service
Jim Steedly, Patricia Ruddy, Liz Bruno and Carl Schmidt
At the annual picnic for volunteers on Saturday, July 23, 2011 Mepkin Abbey recognized 152 volunteers with a T Shirt and a pin for those who had achieved a certain number of hours. Those who had reached a thousand hours were presented with a special plaque.
Read More »Directors Meeting at Val Notre-Dame
Attendees to the Junior Directors Conference at Val Notre Dame
Fr. Guerric attends Junior Directors Meeting at Val Notre-Dame Monastery outside of Montreal, Canada.
Junior Directors are those who accompany monks and nuns from the time they make their initial vows to when they profess their final vows. Every two years they meet and the following is what happened at their meeting this year.
Read More »Fr. Gerard Austin teaches Course
Fr. Gerard Austin, OP Offers a Course on the Church to Those in Formation
From July 8-11, 2011 Fr. Jerry Austin began a lively course on Ecclesiology (The Study of the Church) with our brothers in formation. He will return from August 12-15 to complete the course. Aside from helping guide the brothers to a deeper understanding of the Church he also elucidated how different understandings of what it means “to be Church” and how that contributes to much of the tension felt by Church members today.
Fr. Jerry has been a frequent visitor to Mepkin Abbey for over fifty years, and has often shared with us the fruits of his teaching through courses on Liturgy and the Sacraments.
Presently, Fr. Jerry is on the faculty of the Blessed Edmund Rice School for Pastoral Ministry in Florida Diocese of Venice.
Read More »Piccolo Spoleto Concert at Mepkin 2011
The following is a commentary on the wonderful Piccolo Spoleto concert that was hosted in the Mepkin Abbey Church on Friday, June 10. It was written by Ralph Karow, who has been with us for over a year — looking at our life as a possible candidate and then trying to discern
Piccolo Spoleto Concert at Mepkin
What a way to celebrate Memorial Day than to listen to the transcendent music of Bach and Vivaldi played by the Ensemble of St Clare at Mepkin Abbey. Over 260 guests were treated to a 90 minute concert, featuring Michael Smith on the trumpet for Albinoni’s Concerto “San Marco”, Jessica Hull-Dambaugh on the flute,