April 11, 2021
Very Rev. Denis Robinson, OSB

This evening, I would like to take a slightly different approach to the rector’s conference. As we embrace the Easter season, we have four weeks left in this formation year. I would like to spend some time this evening reflecting upon what we can expect over the next four weeks. Of course, we can expect the usual staff changes, the new list of seminarian appointments, the room lottery, eating, saying goodbye, dreading finals, papers to finish, negotiating in vain over papers being finished. We can expect all of the usual, but as we know this has not been a usual year. Before the break, I challenged all of us to consider the importance of vaccinations. I mentioned at that time that I saw vaccinations as the key to our return to more normal activity. I had in my mind as I made that announcement an expectation of what percent of the community would rise to that challenge. As you know, we have been affected by COVID here. In my recent visits to bishops and vocation directors I learned however, that our outbreak was significantly less than was the case in many other seminaries. We had 8 cases here, in addition to one staff member and one visitor who worked in our kitchen. Ten cases during the formation term, in the seminary, that is all. Others of you, I know contracted the virus while at home either before arriving here or during the winter break. I learned over the Easter break that many other seminaries had anywhere from 50 to 70 percent of the seminary infected. Our low numbers are a tribute to each of you, of your willingness to follow the crazy rules that we placed for you, but placed, I hope you can see, for your own health and well-being. Now back to our numbers. As of this week 97 percent of the community has been vaccinated. I can count on less than one hand the people who have chosen not to be vaccinated. When I saw that number, it moved me to a great sense of awe, I will admit. That awe was that each of you who have been vaccinated have made a sacrifice for the Church, to protect those you will serve in parishes and hospitals this summer. One student said to me. I didn’t do this for me, I did this for them. That is a Saint Meinrad spirit.

As a man of my word, I will now announce the changes in practices for us in the coming days. Effective this coming Saturday, April 17 at 12:01 a.m.:

1. We will return to service in one dining room. We will all be able to eat in Newman dining room, together, for the first time this year.

2. We will not be required to wear masks, in the chapel, in the hallways or in the classroom, unless required by the professor. I say not required to wear masks. If you wish to wear a mask you may wear one.

3. Seminarians can continue to attend Mass in the archabbey church on Saturday morning, but other services in the church will remain closed.

4. We will allow for the distribution of communion on the tongue again in our chapel. For now we will not be returning to the sign of peace or communion under both species. I am asking for a review of these practices and for their reimplementation next semester.

5. As you see the Holy Water has already returned with the Easter season.

6. Faculty members and other staff members, having been vaccinated, may return to the chapel for prayer and Mass.

7. Guests may now visit with vaccinations. Vocation directors and bishops are already scheduled for the coming days and weeks.

8. You may go out for off-campus meals and shopping and for weekend home visits and excursions. I ask that when out you follow the mask rules imposed by the state or by individual businesses. You need not contact your deans for off-campus activities, unless you are leaving for the weekend, then the usual protocols apply.

9. Regular business can return for Jacks. I am asking that for the remainder of the year, it only be students and resident staff at the UnStable, however.

10. There may be some additional changes. I will ask Fr. Tobias to amplify some of the comments I have made.  I will ask Fr. Julian to distribute directives for liturgy that are more complete than these cursory comments.

Many of our brothers here have never known a normal year at Saint Meinrad. I am praying that at least for a few weeks we can offer them something of that. A normal three weeks at Saint Meinrad. I like the sound of that.  I am praying that next year we can return to implementing new programs and finding new ways to promote the work of formation. I am looking forward to this summer when One Bread, One Cup returns to Saint Meinrad and our graduate students return. Our programs in IPP will resume in earnest. Our retreats and continuing education programs will ramp up again. Mostly, however, I am anticipating with great joy looking at each of you face-to-face in times to come. I am so tired of masks. I hate masks. We are not by nature a masked people.

Once again, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the great work you have done this year. It has been a year that none of us will ever forget. As we begin to emerge, I can say this with no reservations: You are all heroes to me.