Echoes from the Bell Tower

2024 has been an eye-opening experience for me. I have nearly completed my first year working here at Saint Meinrad, and I have learned and experienced so many things. Saint Meinrad has a way of showing people the beauty of God, and I am lucky enough to see this beauty through the photos that the communications team and I capture of life on the Hill.

It is amazing to see a monk or an oblate take their vows, seminarians celebrating God during Mass, ministry, or fellowship, students learning in the classroom, or the youth finding God through friends and worship during “One Bread, One Cup.”

This year in the monastery, Fr. Aurelius Boberek passed away on May 27; Fr. Bede Cisco, Fr. Jonathan Fassero, Fr. Pius Klein, and Fr. Raymond Studzinski celebrated jubilees in July; Fr. Colman Grabert passed away on August 4; Novice Owen Meredith joined the monastery on August 5; and Br. Isaac Levering made his first profession on August 6.

In the Seminary and School of Theology, 55 students received their degrees during graduation commencement on May 11 and in December, the first seminary class graduated following the new Program for Priestly Formation. Deacon Christopher Malone was named “Distinguished Alumnus” at the Alumni Reunion on July 30. The Center for Youth and Young Adult Evangelization hosted several retreats as well as three “One Bread, One Cup” conferences in the summer and 13 parishes were chosen to participate in The Children’s Revival of Participation at Sunday Mass.

In addition, Saint Meinrad’s Cultural Events hosted several concerts and movie nights for the public, including Jacqueline Piccolino, Woodwind Serenades, the Romm Trio, and Violin Sketches. In April, Saint Meinrad was in the line of totality during the solar eclipse and the northern lights became visible in southern Indiana a few times in 2024, which is very rare for the area.

These are just a few highlights, but life on the Hill has so much to offer in a year. From daily Mass to retreats and events, there is always something to get involved in.

Thank you to all our photographers who helped capture life at Saint Meinrad in 2024, especially our student photographers, Fr. Rolando Perez, Khaing Thu, and Francisco Rodriquez.

To view all of the photos in our Year in Pictures 2024 gallery, visit our SmugMug page.