WELCOMING VISITORS FROM FAR AND NEAR

FRIENDS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD

Few things have changed my life more than the following four things:

1. Going backpacking to Taize, France, five times between 1971-1976 and meeting hundreds of youth from all over the world.
2. Teaching at Saint Meinrad Seminary which has many nationalities, especially creating and running the World Priest Program that welcomed and trained priests from all over the world who would be working in the US.
3. Leading 170 priest retreats in 10 countries - something I continue to do.
4. Volunteering in the Caribbean islands - something I am still doing. 

A TEACHER AND HIS STUDENT RE-UNITE

Abbot Romain of Incarnation Abbey in Togo, Africa, came to visit on July 10 after all these years while on a visit to Saint Meinrad.  As a seminarian, he studied at Saint Meinrad when I was working and teaching there. I had him in my "Transition Out of Seminary and Into Ministry Class."

Left to right: Constantine Taulobo-Durand (Abbot Romain's sister from Chicago). Father Harry Hagan (monk of Saint Meinrad), Brother Justin (monk from another Togo abbey, Ascension, studying at Saint Meinrad) and Abbot Romain.



The pectoral cross he is wearing was a gift I sent to his Priory for the day when they would become a full independent abbey. He took it with him when he left Saint Meinrad and gave it to the Prior.  Neither of us knew at that time that he would be elected its first Abbot!

Abbott Romain on the day of his abbatial blessing.



Some of the monks of his monastery processing into their monastery church. They have a little over 30 monks. They run schools and support themselves by raising chickens and hogs. 

When Brother Romain left Saint Meinrad to be ordained a priest, I gave him some money so that the monastery could have a welcome home party. The Prior thought that was a waste they could not afford so he took the money and bought chicken coups to expand their egg business! 
Little did I know how smart that was! The egg business is booming and keeps growing! When the hens quit laying eggs, they sell them as meat. 




LAST MONTH, A FRIEND FROM IRELAND VISITED

NEXT MONTH, TWO FRIENDS FROM GERMANY WILL VISIT