March
The monastic community has disignated Shannon Summerlin, a senior at Benedictine Military School in Savannah, GA, as the next recipient of the Crescat Scholarship. This scholarship is offerd by the monastic community to a graduate of a Benedictine Preparatory School, and covers tuition, room & board and books, and includes a stipend for study abroad following the student's junior year. Father John, Father Christopher and Father Kieran are the members of the monastery's scholarship committee.
Abbot Placid represented the college at Saint Mary's Parish, Georgetown, SC, the weekend of March 1-2, and at a gathering of area alumni at Pawley's Island, SC, on the 2nd. Abbot Placid also attended the meeting of the Board of Benedictine Military School, Savannah, GA, on Monday evening, March 3.
Father Kieran presented a reflection on Pope Benedict's Encyclical "Spe salvi" in South Carolina to priests and laity of the Charleston Diocese on March 4.
Father David Brown is one of the speakers for a Lenten Reflection, sponsored by Belmont Abbey College, the morning of Saturday, March 8. His talk is entitled "I was blind, but now I see". Sister Jane Russell, O.S.F., from the college's Theology Department, will also give a presentation.
Belmont Abbey and Belmont Abbey College will host the annual Youth Eucharistic Day for the Diocese of Charlotte on Sunday, March 9. Bishop Peter Jugis will preside at the liturgy and lead the Eucharistic procession.
February
On Saturday, February 2, the Belmont Abbey Community rejoiced to celebrate the Solemn Monastic Profession of Brother Edward Mancuso and Brother Anthony Swofford. On a beautiful winter day, in a church filled with family, friends and members of the college community, the two monks expressed their intentions to live the rest of their lives as monks of Belmont Abbey. A reception for the newly professed and their guests followed in the Abbot Walter Student Commons.
Following his profession and admission to the monastic chapter, Brother Anthony Swofford was named Procurator for the monastic communtiy. In this capacity, he is responsible for the supervision of monastery employees and the upkeep of the monastery's physical plant. Brother Anthony succeeds Father Francis, who served as Procurator for several years.
Abbot Placid was away from February 13-27 in Europe. He was invited by the Abbot Primate, Notker Wolf, O.S.B., to assist with the canonical visitation at the international Benedictine college, Sant'Anselmo, in Rome. On the way to Rome, Abbot Placid had the opportunity to meet with a former confrere, Matthew Hamilton, who is currently serving with the Peace Corps in Armenia.
The Monastic Chapter elected Father John, Father Francis, and Brother Anthony to the monastery's Senior Council for 2008. The appointed members of the Council are Father David Brown, Brother Paul, and Father Agostino.
Father David Kessinger is spending the year in Roanoke to assist with the care of his sister. He is a solicitous and attentive caregiver, but is sorely missed by his conferes and many friends at Belmont. Several of his confreres have been to visit Father David.
Our archives houses the documentary history of our monastery, college, diocesan jurisdiction, and the Belmont Abbey National Historic District. At present, the archives is closed pending staffing revisions.
A free-standing Perpetual Adoration chapel named for Saint Joseph is planned for the abbey campus. Construction is now underway. This chapel will replace the current Perpetual Adoration behind the monastery.
Except during the summer, the Abbey's Oblates ordinarily meet here on the third Sunday of each month. Following their meeting, the Oblates joing the monastic community for Vespers. Mr. George Cobb, one of the Oblates, is the coordinator of the Oblate Program. Their most recent gathering took place on Sunday, 18 February. Members of the laity who want to learn more about Benedictine spirituality and to affiliate with the Benedictine mission should contact George Cobb through the abbey for details on the Oblates.
In the monastery we have a book collection for the monks’ use, augmenting the resources of our college’s library. The monastery’s library is overseen by Father Kenneth Geyer. Father Kenneth has amassed valuable reference materials and volumes appropriate for the spiritual reading, and religious, scriptural, and theological studies of the monks. Among recently accessioned volumes are James L. May, Preaching and Teaching the Psalms, Maraco Bardazzi, In the Vineyard of the Lord: The Life, Faith and Teachings of Joseph Ratzinger, Alphonse P. Spilly, ed., The Selected Works of Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, Gabriel Flynn, ed, Yves Congar Theologian of the Church, and Francis Kline O.C.S.O., Four Ways of Holiness for the Universal Church.
The Diocese of Richmond is conducting preliminary investigations concerning the sanctity of Francis J. Parater [ [LINK] ]. Parater was a student at our college from 1917 to 1919, then studied in Rome. He died there of rheumatic fever at age 22 in 1920. Frank Parater was known to be a man of exceptional spiritual character and exemplary virtue.
Each night, at the evening meal, any significant anniversaries from the abbey's history are noted. These are some of the commemorations that will be included during October: 12 October 1991 Blessing of the Abbot Walter Coggin Students' Commons on campus. 18 October 1975 Award of the papal medal "Bene Merenti" by Pope Paul VI to Father Cuthbert Allen, O.S.B., a monk and priest of Belmont Abbey. 18 October 1910 On this date, the 'diocesan' jurisdiction of Belmont Abbey was formally erected. It had been authorized by Rome four months earlier. 16 October 1893 Financial donation by Saint Katharine Drexel that allowed completion of the Abbey Basilica.
Tours of the basilica and other monastic sites on campus are available on request. Contact the Guestmaster to make arrangements. Tours of the college can be arranged through the Admissions Office.
Students at the college as well as outside guests are welcome at all of the monks’ liturgies. During the school year, daily Mass is held in the late afternoon to accommodate their schedule.
Information on Benedictine monastic life at Belmont Abbey is available on request. The monks pray daily that each person will discover and follow God’s will, wherever it leads. If you are interested in learning more about the monastic vocation as lived at Belmont Abbey, please contact us online or
Abbot Placid Solari, O.S.B.
Belmont Abbey
100 Belmont-Mount Holly Road
Belmont, North Carolina
28012-1802 U.S.A.
(704) 461-6675
