Joining a Monastic Community–Testing a Vocation

These days numerous individuals seek information and knowledge of monastic life at our community here at Mount Michael. But perhaps more pressing is that they want the experience to live monastic life. They really want what might be called a "hands on" experience.

Two young men have begun to do just that this past week here at Mount Michael.

John Schaefer, who hails from the Sioux Falls area in South Dakota arrived this last Monday, May 26. John is the youngest child of four children, of Matthew and Patricia Schaefer. Formally, the Schaefer family owned and operated a diary farm in the area there in Sioux Falls. Having, myself, some experience of such a thing, I understood John's statement when he told me that his father used to say, "You can't take a vacation from milking cows". He was commenting on always needing to be regular and to follow a schedule when operating a diary farm.

Indeed, John, knows discipline and what it takes to live a structured monastic life and he is doing it now. John is a proud graduate of another Benedictine school, Mount Marty College in Yankton, South Dakota. John has a degree in English and Education. He has had some experience with Elementary Education and has held several jobs in the San Francisco area in California. He has felt unfulfilled in this world and has always felt drawn to religious life.

After a period of discernment and visits to Blue Cloud Abbey, New Mellary and of course Mount Michael, John chose to join our community here at Mount Michael.

Tomas Butvilas arrived at Mount Michael on the evening of May 28. In order to reach his destination at "Journey's End", Tomas was traveling for over twenty hours. Tomas hails from Siauliai, Lithuania. Tomas is the only son of Romualdas & Maria Butvilas. Having become acquainted with Mount Michael through our parish assistance at St. Anthony's (a Lithuanian parish) in Omaha while he was polishing his English and studying at the sister school of the University of Siauliai, the University of Nebraska in Omaha, Tomas was attracted to check out monastic life at Mount Michael.

Tomas is presently working on his Phd in Education, with a special emphasis on grieving children. Tomas has done considerable work with the Elizabeth Kuebler-Ross material. Tomas has also been involved in teaching on the elementary level in Lithuania – History.

Tomas is no stranger to religious life, for the Jesuits are his next door neighbors in Siauliai and he is well acquainted with the Benedictines in his country -- a foundation from French Solemes. For some reason, he seems to like the style of monastic life he has witnessed at MM. Tomas wants to take advantage of his summer break get in his feet wet, so to speak, in the waters of monastic life here at Mount Michael.

Both young men arrived during the time of our monastic retreat and have had the opportunity to meet the entire community of Mount Michael Abbey. They are being introduced to more elements of the life each day and thus far are finding it agreeable.

We ask your prayers for both of these young men, so that they persevere in this endeavor that they have begun so diligently and that God will bring it to completion. - Fr. John Hageman O.S.B.