January 30, 2009

Saint Meinrad Archabbey welcomes two novices

On Jan. 19, in a brief ceremony at the monastery entrance, Gary Edwards and Joseph Waugh were clothed in the Benedictine habit as novices of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad.

They now begin a year of monastic formation, including study of the Rule of St. Benedict and monastic history.

Novice Gary, 29, was born in Norwich, Conn. He was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Norwich, Conn. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from The Catholic University of America. Since graduating, he has worked as a paralegal, a high school teacher and a dean of students.

Novice Joseph, 44, was born in Weston, W.Va. He was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Salem, Va. He attended Radford University in Radford, Va., and most recently worked in information technology for a company in Roanoke, Va.

As novices, the men take a year off from formal studies and/or trades. The novitiate is a time of prayer and learning intended to help a novice discern his vocation as a monk. At the end of this year, a novice may be permitted to profess temporary vows of obedience, fidelity to the monastic way of life and stability in the community of Saint Meinrad. †

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