Young monks profess sacred vows

By Jeff Graham

Monastic life is alive and well at Westminster Abbey in Mission. Frater Leo Barker, Brother Joseph Bruneau, and Frater Thomas Blanchette recently made their Benedictine professions. Brother Joseph and Frater Thomas made temporary professions, while Frater Leo made his solemn profession.

"For a monk a solemn profession means I've made a permanent commitment to God and to the community. I will live with the community for the rest of my life, and live the monastic life for the rest of my life," he said. "During the profession I was very much at peace with this, and very happy."

Frater Leo first came to the Seminary of Christ the King at Westminster Abbey in 1999 as a Grade 9 student, and subsequently joined the monastery in 2003. Born in Oregon, Frater Leo's parents, Dale and Susan, live in Puyallup, Wash. Frater Leo also has two older brothers, Ryan and Aaron.

"I'm continuing my studies for the priesthood, so, God willing, I have five years left before ordination. In our community that is what frater means, as opposed to brother: it means you are going on to the priesthood."

Frater Leo is just one of a number of young men who have discovered monastic life at Westminster Abbey.

"There are about seven below me in seniority," he said. "There are two who are 19, two who are 20, and another who is 21. There are also four who are in their temporary vows, and three who are novices."

Frater Leo said making his solemn profession went well.

"It went very well, because it's a solemn profession, and so the emphasis was put on that. There was also a very good turnout of people. There were a lot of local people, a lot of people from the seminary, and a lot of people who just heard that it was going to happen."

Frater Leo said the adjustment to monastic life was easy because he had become so accustomed to the rule of life during his high school days in the junior seminary. Mass and the Divine Office, he said, are the highlights of his day.

Despite how well he's taken to monastic life, Frater Leo said he didn't really expect to become a monk when he first came to the seminary.

"From an early age I felt a call to the priesthood," he said. "I didn't want to be one of these guys who prayed all day and had no fun, but after my first year of seminary I felt a great attraction to their lifestyle. They were so happy, and they enjoyed what they were doing, living for God and living their lives."