February 1, 2008

Novices profess vows at Saint Meinrad Archabbey

From left, Benedictine Brothers Francis Wagner and Karl Cothern hold their vow charts as they profess temporary vows as monks of Saint Meinrad Archabbey on Jan. 20 at the monastery’s church in St. Meinrad. (Submitted photo)

From left, Benedictine Brothers Francis Wagner and Karl Cothern hold their vow charts as they profess temporary vows as monks of Saint Meinrad Archabbey on Jan. 20 at the monastery’s church in St. Meinrad. (Submitted photo)

Benedictine Novices Kyle Cothern and Craig Wagner professed temporary vows as monks of Saint Meinrad Archabbey during a liturgy on Jan. 20 at the monastery’s church in St. Meinrad.

Novices Kyle and Craig completed their novitiate, a year of prayer and study of the Benedictine way of life.

As is the custom during the profession of vows, they were assigned a religious name. Novice Kyle will now be known as Brother Karl, and Novice Craig will be known as Brother Francis [de Sales]. Temporary vows are typically for three years.

Brother Karl, 24, was born in Kokomo, Ind., where he attended Kokomo High School and was a member of St. Joan of Arc Parish in the Lafayette Diocese.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in music theory and composition at Ball State University in Muncie in 2005. After ­graduating, he held several retail positions.

During the summer of 2006, he worked as a college intern for Saint Meinrad’s “One Bread, One Cup” youth liturgical leadership program.

Brother Francis, 42, was born in ­Findlay, Ohio, where he attended Liberty-Benton High School and was a member of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in the Toledo Diocese. He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, in 1988.

After earning his degree, he worked at The Galion Inquirer in Galion, Ohio, until 1999, where he worked his way up from staff writer to managing editor. From 1999 to 2006, he worked at The Blade in Toledo, Ohio, where he was a copy editor and wire editor.

The three-year period of temporary vows provides a continuing opportunity for the monk and the monastic community to determine whether monastic life is the right vocation for him. †

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