January 29, 2010

Monks profess temporary vows at Saint Meinrad Archabbey

Benedictine Novice Gary Edwards and Benedictine Novice Joseph Waugh professed temporary vows as monks of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad during a Jan. 20 liturgy at the monastery’s Archabbey Church of Our Lady of Einsiedeln.

Novice Gary and Novice Joseph have 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 Gary will now be known as Brother Adam and Novice Joseph will be known as Brother Luke. Temporary vows are typically for three years.

Brother Adam, 30, was born in Norwich, Conn., where he attended St. Bernard High School and was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Parish.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy at The Catholic University of America. After graduating, he worked as a paralegal, high school teacher and dean of students.

Brother Luke, 45, was born in Weston, W.Va., where he attended Lewis County High School. He was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Salem, Va.

He attended Radford University in Radford, Va., and later worked in information technology for a company in Roanoke, Va.

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

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