Hey Guys,
I am new to this forum but I can see that the Lord is really uniting Catholics via the internet to discuss their faith, pray for each other, and encourage vocations to the holy priesthood and the consecrated way of life as well as vocations to marriage and the single life; which is awesome! Basically, I wanted to share with you a little bit about my community, we are the first and largest Benedictine Monastery in the United States with over 175 monks, we run a great seminary where Dr. Scott Hahn teaches and holds the inaugural Pope Benedict XVI Chair of Biblical Theology and Liturgical Proclamation. Fr. Jacques Daly, OSB whom many of you have seen on EWTN with his series on St. Catherine of Siena and St. Faustina is a monk of our house and also teaches in the seminary as well as Fr. Thomas Acklin, OSB (More on Fr. Tom) a very powerful author, spiritual director, and close friend and colleague of Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR. Recently our College (led by our phenomenal Archabbot Douglas Nowicki, OSB and President James Towey) hosted a International Conference on the life and works of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta which brought together Mothers closest family and friends to our campus to pray and reminisce about the blessing Mother was able to work by abandoning herself to Jesus her spouse. The event was highlighted by the presence and talk given by Sr. Nirmala, Mother Teresa's direct successor as Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity (hopefully some of you saw the event broadcasted world-wide on EWTN. Just a few weeks ago, our Vocation Office hosted the adore 2097 tour which featured Catholic artists Matt Maher (who recently performed at the Papal Youth Rally in NY), Kelly Pease, and Josh Josh Blakesley to celebrate the world day of pray for vocations. We currently have 4 young novices preparing to take vows in July and are expecting 6 young novices July 1st. So as you can see, the Lord truly blessing us here at the Abbey. All that being said, here is a link to our new vocation blog as well as to our vocation website. Please check the blog often as we are always updating it and please pray for our community as we try to radically give ourselves to the Lord through the monastic vocation. And please be assured our our prayers for all of you.

Hey Brother, welcome! I just wanted to say that it is awesome that St. Vincent's has a vocation blog now! I am a student at a Benedictine high-school and am seriously concidering a vocation to the Benedictines, so having that blog to read is going to help out a lot! Thank you very much!

May God bless and protect you always in all of your endeavors!

Sincerely in Christ,

Joe

Hey Joe,
Thank you for the kind words, I hope and pray that the blog will be a valuable tool in your discernment. If you have any questions please feel free to contact our vocation director Fr. Fred Byrne, O.S.B. His e-mail and contact info can be found on the blog and he is a great monk and priest. You will be in my prayers as you continue to Listen to the Lord's gentle voice.

Godspeed on your blog

if anyone is interested in a male Benedictine Community that is solidly orthodox, check out St.Benedict's Abbey in Atchison, KS. They are a habit wearing, growing community that is a beautiful example of living out the Rule of St.Ben. Check it, these monks are soooo nice.

-Lauren

Your right Lauren, the monks at St. Benedict's are great guys, in fact they are a daughter house of ours as St. Vincent Archabbey was the first Benedictine Monastery in the United States when our founder Archabbot Boniface Wimmer came here in the 1840's. Also, two great monks and friends Br. Jeremy and Br. Gregory (both monks of St. Benedict's are studying at our seminary now).

I used to live in Alabama & there is another great group of Monks at St.
Bernard Abbey in Cullman. They, too, use the full habit & their numbers
are growing. The hospitality there is fantastic. I always used to tell pilgrims
to the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville: Hey, go 15
minutes north & stop in and see the Monks, their Gift Shop & the Ave Maria
Grotto there....

St. Bernard is also a daughter house of ours and a couple of their monks are studying at our seminary now (Br. Patrick, who was just ordained a priest of Jesus Christ today, please pray for him) and Br. Jacob. They have a wonderful abbot and some really great monks. Indeed the spirit of Archabbot Boniface Wimmer, OSB founder of the Benedictines in America is alive and strong!!!
Br. Gabriel Myriam, OSB
www.svamonks.blogspot.com