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A NOTE OF THANKS: A college classmate of Br. Raban felt called to make a donation to us and we monks were happy to assist. Our monastery experienced two massive fires in our history that destroyed most of our libraries. Because we focused on the Academy library replenishment, our monastic library has only slowly rebounded. We have a little over 20,000 books at this point in time that are used not only by the monks and the students, but also the larger area where we regularly have Catholic and Protestant ministers use it as a valuable research resource. Thankfully, we have tried to set aside money for regular purchases of new books when possible. Large book series are rare for us to get, so we were deeply honored for the donation of the 29 volume Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. This commentary allows a person to pick any scripture verse and then find how and where the Church Fathers used that passage in their writings. We can then access those writings in our available books or our Patrologia series both in print and online. Practically, the fruit of this is used in our homilies, writings, and personal devotion. Our librarian Fr. Richard, the Abbot, and all the monks want to thank this anonymous donor that gifted us with this series. Your donation will prayerfully be used by a generation of monks to come. UIOGD!

The Catholic paper for the Diocese of Little Rock did a nice article on Br. Basil and the ongoing success of our Country Monks Brewing. Click on the title to access that article.

Novice Sam Jannise made profession as a Benedictine monk in the Subiaco Abbey Church February 2, 2020. During Vespers, Novice Sam 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. Gabriel comes from Groves, Texas, where he lived most of his life before coming to Subiaco in 2018.  He is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur, Texas.  He has worked in various aspects of the printing industry for nearly 20 years before coming to the Abbey. The profession ceremony had six parts. (1) The novice made his request to become a monk. (2) Abbot Leonard addressed him in the name of the community. (3) He showed him the Rule of St. Benedict and asked if he were willing to observe; he then asked the novice to express his commitment by answering questions. (4) Br. Gabriel then read the document of his profession, in which he revealed his new monastic name. Then he showed the document to Abbot Leonard, signed it and gave it to him. (5) The Abbot blessed the monastic habit and clothed him with it. (6) The newly professed returned to his place in the community and Vespers continued.

Brother Basil and Brother Raban have been chosen to by Abbot Leonard to attend a prestigious leadership training program in Rome. “Leadership and the Rule of Saint Benedict” is a joint educational project of the universities of St. Gallen in Switzerland and Sant’Anselmo in Rome. They have assembled a faculty of international experts and experienced leaders from the Benedictine family who will help monks to frame the challenges facing the monastery and show pragmatic ways to handle them. The University of St. Gallen is an internationally reputed business school. Its Institute of Management & Strategy is responsible for the LRB-course. The Financial Times has ranked the University of St. Gallen Number 5 among 70 other European business schools. The strategy master of the Institute of Management & Strategy is ranked Number 1 since nine years.

PROFESSION of Brother André: The simple profession of a Tupper Lake, NY, resident as a Benedictine monk took place in the Subiaco Abbey Church September 8, 2019. During Vespers on September 8, 2019, Novice Jesse Bedore 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: Br. André. After three years, he will be eligible to make his final, perpetual vows. The profession ceremony in our Swiss-American Benedictine tradition had six parts. (1) The novice made his request to become a monk. (2) Abbot Leonard addressed him in the name of the community. (3) He showed him the Rule of St. Benedict and asked if he were willing to observe; he then asked the novice to express his commitment by answering questions. (4) Novice Jesse then read the document of his profession, in which he revealed his new monastic name, Br. André. Then he showed the document to Abbot Leonard, signed it and gave it to him. (5) The Abbot blessed the monastic habit and clothed him with it. (6) The newly professed returned to his place in the community and Vespers continued. CONGRATULATIONS to Brother André! Please say a prayer for him. UIOGD!

Br. Irenaeus Petree, O.S.B made his solemn profession of vows as a monk of Subiaco Abbey at Mass on August 31, 2019, in the Abbey Church. Click on this link to learn more....

The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture is hosting a hops workshop Aug. 15 in Clarksville with a registration deadline of Aug. 12. Click on the title link to register and to listen to the interview with KUAF which also features Br. Basil.

Jerod Staudt compiled an excellent directory of the monastic brews found around the world. Click on the title and be taken to the "Building Catholic Culture" website to see the full list.

Country Monks Brewing was invited to the Tap Takeover at Prestonrose Farm and Brewing Co. It was a great experience sharing the monastic history and culture of our brewing heritage.

The Arkansas River Valley Tri-Peaks Tourism Association presented awards and accolades to six local agencies during their recent banquet. The Clarksville Aquatic Park won for Johnson County while Country Monks Brewing at the Subiaco Abbey was awarded in Logan County.

On February 24th, Br. Basil attended the first Fat Saturday Cook-Off at St. Michael's Parish in Van Buren, AR. He competed against 5 other breweries in the area and was voted by those attending as the best brew. He entered the Pale Ale and Stout into the competition. We want to thank St. Michael's for inviting us to the event and look forward to being back next year.

The Paris Chamber of Commerce named Subiaco Abbey and Academy the Business of the Month. Certificate, presented to Abbot Leonard at the Coffee and Donut gathering at the Methodist Church in Paris on February 14, is to be displayed in the the Administration Office area.

The profession of two young men as Benedictine monks took place in the Abbey Church February 2, 2019. During Vespers on February 2, 2019, Novice Casey Simpson and Novice John Fryer presented their written and signed petitions to Abbot Leonard who then received their public profession of monastic vows for three years. Reflecting this change in their state of life, the Abbot assigned each a new name. After three years from that time, they will be eligible to make their final, perpetual vows. Br. Thomas More (Casey) Simpson comes from Shreveport, but was born and reared in Many, Louisiana. He worked in political campaigns, took Liberal Arts degree from LSU and a Civil Law degree from Loyola New Orleans. He practiced law for twenty years before entering Subiaco Abbey. Br. Ambrose (John) Fryer comes from Alexandria, LA where he was a teacher in the Diocesan school. Teaching was not his first calling, priesthood was. However, upon completion of his seminary education (St. Joseph Seminary College in Covington, LA and The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC) he felt he wanted some "life" experience before being ordained. What was supposed to be a couple years sabbatical turned into twenty! He is always amazed at how God moves in his life. He still desires priesthood, however, as someone once stated to him, he has had the ability to influence more people's lives in the classroom than in the pulpit. Br. Ambrose is pleased to have a new way (with God's grace) to serve God, the Church and the world as a professed monk.

The Arkansas Catholic recently conducted an interview with Br. Raban about his recent Solemn Profession as a Benedictine monk of Subiaco. Click on the title to be taken to that article.

Br. Raban Heyer, OSB, made solemn profession of vows as a monk of Subiaco Abbey at Mass on December 22, 2018, in the Abbey Church. Having completed the period of triennial vows, he professed this life-long commitment as a Benedictine monk. Br. Raban, born in Rochester, NY, graduated from Waterford Union High School (WI) in 2007, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Benedictine College in Atchison, KS, in 2011. He also studied at Ohio Dominican University and the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, AR. At St. Joseph Catholic School in Pine Bluff, AR, he taught literature and composition and he also taught at Christ the King Catholic School in Little Rock. Br. Raban presently teaches English and coaches track and cross country at Subiaco Academy.

Br. Basil was recently interviewed about a new venture of brewing beer that the Abbey is about to undertake. Click on the title above for the link to view the article.

Thirty-four units were donated by Subiaco students and staff during the September 6 blood drive at Subiaco.

40+ alumni and friends enjoyed story-telling and craft beer at The Denton Country Brewing Company (TX) on Friday, August 24. Next door to this establishment is The Bearded Monk. Jason Priakos '90 couldn't resist snapping our two bearded monks--Fr. Reginald '78 and Br. Basil.

Fr. Patrick provides oak boards from huge logs. This work is a change of pace from his labors in Subiaco Academy.

DEATH OF FR. HUGH: Abbot Leonard informed our Subiaco community that our monastic brother, Fr. Hugh Assenmacher, OSB, has died. He had been making a valiant recovery after a serious fall had left bleeding on the brain. Yesterday (Monday) the hospital informed us that Fr. Hugh had contracted pneumonia and was administered oxygen and medication in the hope of overcoming this complication. Unfortunately, at 3:45 am on Tuesday Fr. Hugh died and the monastic bells chimed for him at our home of Subiaco. Funeral arrangements: The monastic community will meet the body at 5:00 pm on Thursday. A Vigil Service will be held at 7:00 pm the same evening in the Abbey Church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 am Friday morning in the Abbey Church with burial in our Abbey cemetery. Through our prayers for our brother, our monastic community now entrusts Fr. Hugh to the merciful judgement of our God to whom Fr. Hugh made his solemnly vowed commitment to seek Him and prefer nothing to Christ. Please join us in our prayers for the repose of the soul of our monastic brother. In the words of our Holy Father St. Benedict in his Prologue, "What, dear brothers, is more delightful than this voice of the Lord calling to us? See how the Lord in His love shows us the way of life. Clothed then with faith and the performance of good works, let us set out on this way, with the Gospel for our guide, that we may deserve to see Him who has called us to His kingdom (1 Thess 2:12)." Rest in peace, our dear brother, with our monastic brothers of old about whom you have written often. May choirs of angels welcome you and lead you to the bosom of Abraham; and where Lazarus is poor no longer may you find eternal rest. CLICK ON THE TITLE ABOVE for the full obituary.