August 21, 2009

Benedictine monk professes solemn vows

Benedictine Brother Thomas Gricoski professed solemn vows as a monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey on Aug. 15 during a Mass celebrated at the Archabbey Church of Our Lady of Einsiedeln in St. Meinrad.

He entered the novitiate at Saint Meinrad in 2005. In professing solemn vows of obedience, fidelity to the monastic way of life and stability in the community at Saint Meinrad, he becomes a full and permanent member of the Benedictine community.

Brother Thomas, 28, is a native of Hyattsville, Md. He grew up in Frackville, Pa., where he was a member of St. Ann Parish.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Scranton in 2002, and a master’s degree in philosophy from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium in 2004. He served a pastoral intern year at Immaculate Conception Parish in Scranton, Pa.

Brother Thomas is currently a seminary student at Saint Meinrad School of Theology in his last year of studies. He also assists in Saint Meinrad’s Office of Benedictine Oblates.

(For more about Saint Meinrad Archabbey, log on to www.saintmeinrad.edu.) †

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