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About 30 people joined monks and development staff at the Sam Houston Race Track for the second annual Subiaco Night at the Races in Houston, TX. We thank Mr. Paul Kubis '57 for his help in coordinating the event.

Four men were invested as novices during Vespers on February 1, 2018, by Abbot Wangler, OSB. The four had been at the Abbey for six months as candidates. A number of Academy students were present at the ceremony.

Abbot Leonard and the monastic community of Subiaco Abbey announce the death of our beloved confrere, Fr. Bruno Fuhrmann. Fr. Bruno was born on July 31, 1929, made his profession as a monk of our monastery on September 15, 1949, was ordained to the priesthood on May 16, 1954, and died on January 24, 2018. For funeral arrangements and the full obituary, click on the title of this article to be taken to the page providing the information.

On January 14, Br. Raban, Br. Anthony and Br. Basil joined the development team at Sacred Heart Church in Charleston for a Meet and Greet. The parishioners who attended the 10 am Mass with us enjoyed refreshments and fellowship afterwards in their parish hall. It was a great day and we were excited to see old friends and make new ones.

Brs. Irenaeus and John Paul manned a booth at "Mercy-Fest" the 25th anniversary celebration of Mercy Crest's retirement facility run by the Sisters of Mercy

The Angus Journal is a publication of the American Angus Association with over 13,000 subscribers. Their recent article told the history and work of our Angus operation, while also interviewing Fr. Patrick, Br. Joseph, and Butch Geels. Click on the title and read a fascinating article.

Replacement of the Abbey greenhouse was long overdue. As often the case, generous donations made this new construction possible. The wood and steel framing that supported the heavy glass panels was sagging, leaking and unsafe. We had to carefully disassemble and remove the wood, steel and glass piece by piece leaving only the masonry foundation which remained structurally sound. We pressure washed and resurfaced the old masonry work. installed new water supply lines, floor drains and added a cement floor throughout. Built new stud walls and installed a new truss system to support the high tech. polycarbonate roof panel system specifically designed for commercial green houses. Installed new steel framing and entry doors. The entire exterior received new masonry finish and paint. A new temperature controlled forced air ventilation system, electrical service and L.E.D. lighting has been installed. Several new steel work tables have been purchased and will be assembled and installed within.

Sam Little, Director of Maintenance for Subiaco Abbey and Academy provided the following information about the new water line from the abbey lakes to the abbey water plan. The original line extends approximately 1 mile from abbey lakes to the abbey water plant and it is about 70 years old. This project was engineered by Crafton-Tull of Russellville AR. The new line is 8” C-900 municipal water pipe. The project started July 10, 2017 and completion is expected within 90 days. The Contractor is M. Phillips Construction Co. from Magazine AR. The cost is approximately $300,000.

Br. Anthony and others from Arkansas in Orlando in early July. The theme of the convocation was "The Joy of the Gospel."

Students, faculty, monks and staff donated 25 units during the April 27, 2017, blood drive.

Twenty-one members the Department of Arkansas Parks and Tourism toured Abbey grounds and buildings on April 25, 2017.

2017 Palm Sunday procession (monks, parishoners, students) from Centenary Hall to Abbey Church

The trip to the Arkansas Made Arkansas Proud Craft Fair this weekend was a great success! Our booth made up part of the 100 different vendors that packed War Memorial Stadium. With a total of approximately 1,730 individuals in attendance, this was a great opportunity to share about Subiaco’s mission as well as presenting our products into a different market. Overall this venture brought $2,122.95 of revenue to the Abbey and generated much good will.

The profession of a Beaumont, TX, resident and 2011 graduate of Subiaco Academy as a Benedictine monk took place in the Subiaco Abbey Church February 2, 2017. During Vespers on February 2, 2017, Novice Zach Boyer presented his written and signed petition to Abbot Leonard who then welcomed his public profession of monastic vows for three years. Reflecting this change in his state of life, the Abbot assigned him a new name. After three years from that time, he will be eligible to make his final, perpetual vows. Br. John Paul (Zach) Boyer comes from Beaumont, Tx where he lived most of his life before coming to Subiaco in the 2007-2008 School year as a freshman in the Academy. He is a graduate of Port Neches Elementary, St. Anne’s Middle School, Subiaco Academy, and Benedictine College in Atchinson. Kansas.

Annual trip to Subiaco Academy art room for a calligraphy class. Br. Ephrem was pleased with progress made by the St. Joseph (Paris) students.

Br. Basil Taylor, O.S.B., made his solemn profession of vows as a monk of Subiaco Abbey at the 10:30 a.m. Mass on January 28, 2017, in the Abbey Church. Having completed the period of triennial vows, he professed this life-long commitment as a Benedictine monk. He has served at Subiaco Abbey as assistant librarian, assistant archivist, and in the Abbey vineyard. Br. Basil was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He graduated from Christ the King, then Trinity Jr. High and Southside High School all in Fort Smith. For a while he studied forestry at the University of Arkansas Monticello, after which he worked in information technology for a couple of years. For a time he worked in a number of bars, owning one himself for a while. Following this he worked at Trane AireSystems in Fort Smith in charge of the computer support there and a number of sales offices in the southern region. After 6 years there he decided to pursue the calling to religious life. Having to come to Subiaco Abbey for summer camp when he was younger, he decided with God’s help to make it his new home. After he made temporary vows, then Abbot Jerome Kodell, OSB, asked him to finish his bachelor’s degree at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, which he did in the spring of 2016, graduating Magna Cum Laude in Environmental Studies.

Br Reginald Udouj, OSB, and Br. Cassian Elkins, OSB, were ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Anthony Taylor of the Diocese of Little Rock at the 10:00 a.m., Mass on December 30, 2016, in the Abbey Church. Br.Reginald will complete his 3rd year of theology at St. John Seminary in Collegeville, Minnesota, in May 2017. He attended Christ the King Catholic School in Ft. Smith, Subiaco Academy (class of 1979) and High Point University in North Carolina before making profession as a monk of Subiaco Abbey in September 2012. Br. Reginald will complete his theology studies and be ordained to the priesthood in the spring of 2018. In May 2017 Br. Cassian will complete his 3rd year of theology at St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in Indiana. He attended Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic School in Church Point, LA, as well as Our Lady of the Lake University for his undergraduate degrees in philosophy and theology. He did graduate work in philosophy at the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC, before making profession as a monk of Subiaco Abbey in 2012. Br. Cassian will complete his theological studies and be ordained to the priesthood in the spring of 2018.

Subiaco's procurator Glenn Constantino '82 and I visited on December 1 with a number of alumni and friends of Subiaco. Ryan Gehrig, class of '91, is the CEO of Mercy Ft. Smith. He showed us the recently renovated St. Edward Chapel.

On the First Sunday of Advent, Subiaco's monks sang the Rorate and recited traditional Advent prayers at the evening meal in the Abbey refectory.  The Rorate comes from Isaiah 45:8 which gives exquisite poetical expression to the longings of Patriarchs and Prophets, and symbolically of the  Church, for the coming of the Messiah. "Rorate coeli desuper et nubes pluant justum" (Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just)."

Monks and friends processed to the monastic cemetery on November 2 to pray for all the deceased members of the monastic community.