Monk Professes Vows
Release Date: July 1, 2004
COLLEGEVILLE, MINN. — On Sunday, 11 July 2004 a Benedictine Brothers will profess vows as a Benedictine monk of Saint John's Abbey. Brother Matthew Luft OSB will profess solemn, or final, monastic vows. Abbot John Klassen OSB will accept Brother Matthew's profession during the 10:30 a.m. Mass honoring Saint Benedict, the Patriarch of Western Monasticism. At the same ceremony 13 monks will be recognized on the anniversary of their becoming monks 25, 50 or 60 years ago.
Brother Matthew Luft, OSB
Brother Matthew Luft, 31, was born in Des Moines, Iowa. His father, Dennis, a permanent deacon, and his mother, Sarah, work together as Family Life Ministers for the Diocese of Des Moines. Brother Matthew has two older sisters and three younger brothers.
Brother Matthew graduated magna cum laude from Saint John's University in 1995 and enrolled at Saint John's School of Theology in 1996. Before entering the monastery he studied theology for two years at The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., as a candidate for ordination in the Des Moines diocese. During a two-year leave of absence from his theological studies he taught in an elementary school in Arizona living near his oldest sister. He then decided to return to Saint John's and entered the novitiate in September 2000.
As a junior monk he served at Saint John's Preparatory School as the assistant to the Dean of Students and a teacher of Spanish. He resumed theological studies at Saint John's and continues his preparation for ordination to the priesthood.
On Monday, 12 July, Most Rev. Alphonse Sowada OSC, Bishop Emeritus of Agats, Indonesia, and Minnesota native, will ordain Brother Matthew to the diaconate. The service begins at 10:30 a.m. in the abbey church.
Jubilarians
At the same ceremony on Sunday, 11 July, thirteen monks celebrate anniversaries of monastic profession. Brother Francis Peters OSB and Father Bartholomew Sayles OSB mark their 60th year as monks. Brother Andre Bennett OSB, Father Roger Botz OSB, Father Eugene McGlothlin OSB, Father Kieran Nolan OSB, Father Raymond Pedrizetti OSB and Father Chrysostom Kim OSB mark 50 years. Father Timothy Backous OSB, Brother Paul Richards OSB, Father Gregory Sebastian OSB, Brother Doug Mullin OSB and Father Luke Mancuso celebrate 25 years.
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Abbey Spokesmen
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