Our longtime friend and Oblate Robert Kirkley is retiring from his teaching career and moving to Minnesota. We thank him for his friendship and support for the last seven years and the whole community prays for him in his new life up north.

Br. John Vianney Rentmeister OSB from Schuyler, Nebraska came for a short visit, since he is on sabbatical in Houston presently. Soon he will return to his mother house, Abtei Münsterschwarzach in Bavaria, after 27 years in the US. We saw him last year in August in Nebraska at a Benedictine conference, and two years before he was here in Beaumont. We wish him well on his return to Germany.

We celebrated the Easter Vigil on the evening of April 3rd with beautiful weather to start outdoors with the new fire and then move indoors for the singing of the Easter Proclamation (Exsultet). After the festive celebration we had refreshments for all who attended. We wish you all a blessed Easter and Easter season full of the joy and hope that Christ risen brings to all of us.

On Saturday, January 16th, Georgia McAlpin (right) of Beaumont became an Oblate Novice of the Monastery. She is pictured receiving the Rule of St. Benedict from Fr. Peter. Deacon Larry Terrell from Cleveland assisted at the celebration. We are happy to have her in the community after a long association with her and her family. Please pray for her discernment as she studies the Benedictine way of life in the coming year.

If you have any questions or are interested in the Oblate program, click here for a brochure of the Oblate program or write to us. Our next Oblate meeting is May 15th. Oblate Spring is a website of resources designed by a married Oblate in Florida to "answer your initial questions about oblate monasticism." A helpful feature is the page devoted to Benedictine Oblate Newsletters & Programs. The Oblate Spring website also includes The Oblate Blog.

Our Christmas card this year (left) is a new statue of the Holy Family here on the Retreat House grounds. We thank everyone for being a part of our mission here, to provide a place and opportunity for people to deepen their faith, and also to help others in their search for God and for finding purpose and meaning in their lives. Our monastic and Oblate community wish you all a most blessed Christmas and peace-filled New Year.

On November 21st during our Oblate retreat, Melanie Espinosa of Beaumont made her final Oblation and became a member of the community after long association with the Monastery. We are pleased and honored to have her as one of us.

Carrie Watson and Cynthia Drake (left) of Wimberley began their Oblate Novitiate on October 17. We are glad of their presence in our community and ask you to pray for their discernment in the coming year.

On Saturday, August 15, Chris Reed began his Oblate novitiate. He is pictured here receiving a copy of the Rule of St. Benedict from Fr. Peter. He is headed off to Dallas to studies. We wish him well and ask you to keep him in your prayers.