Louisiana native makes final vows at Subiaco

Three men from Texas, one from Wisconsin invested as novices

Published: September 19, 2009

Father Richard Walz, OSB, (right) stands with novices Jay Magin, John Hagge, Josh Rojas and Ed Stocks during the investiture Sept. 7.

Father Richard Walz, OSB, (right) stands with novices Jay Magin, John Hagge, Josh Rojas and Ed Stocks during the investiture Sept. 7.

SUBIACO -- Five men at Subiaco Abbey took steps in their Benedictine vocations this month.

Brother Dominic Faciane, OSB, made solemn profession of monastic vows Sept. 8 in the presence of Bishop Anthony B. Taylor, the monastic community, student body, family and friends in the Abbey Church. Brother Dominic completed the period of triennial vows and professed his lifelong commitment as a Benedictine monk.

Brother Dominic was involved in his parish in Louisiana as an organist and music director before he became a candidate at the abbey in 2004. In 2006 he made temporary vows. A native of Slidell, La., he will continue his studies in music at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville.

The day before, four men -- John Hagge of Georgetown, Texas, Ed Stocks of Tyler, Texas, Jay Magin from Pleasant Prairie, Wis., and Josh Rojas of Bellare, Texas -- became novices during an investiture ceremony during vespers. Father Richard Walz, OSB, the master of novices, presented the candidates for acceptance into the community. Abbot Jerome Kodell, OSB, said the year of novitiate is a time of trials to see whether or not the novice is truly seeking God. Not hidden from them are the hardships and difficulties, which will lead to God, but they are assured of the prayers of the community and of the community's hopes that they persevere in their desire.

Abbot Kodell then clothed them with the monastic habit special to novices and gave them a copy of the Holy Rule of St. Benedict.

Novitiate is a year in which a person lives and studies the life of a monk as it is lived in the Subiaco monastery. Classes are conducted in the morning and work is assigned for the afternoon. The classes cover such topics as the Rule of St. Benedict, the history of Subiaco Abbey, Scripture, prayer, living the celibate life and a class called "varia" during which is covered whatever needs to be treated. The work periods in the afternoon are meant to give the novice a look at the various works at the abbey.

It is hoped that by the end of the year the novice will be prepared to take the next step and pronounce his first vows, which are taken for three years. Only at the end of the prolonged trial period is a person allowed to make a solemn and lifelong commitment to Benedictine religious life.