![]() Favorite Bible translation: The Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition.Parents: Rick and Therese “Terri” Baker.It’s not perfect, but done well it’s the best of all worlds.” So for me, the monastery life is the best of all worlds. “ really hold tight to both the contemplative and active aspects of religious life,” said Brother Simon. There’s a lot to like about being a monk. He knew about monastery life long before he began to think about a vocation. So far there hasn’t been a lot of surprises. “The main thing that has kept me here is the beauty of the community and the life of prayer I’ve discovered here,” said Fr. He’d taken the first step, and became a postulant. Simon entered the monastery in August 2008. It was a complete surprise to him, and he said, ‘Oh, oh, OK, why don’t you come up for a vocation visit first?’ I said ‘OK,’ but in my mind I’m thinking, nope, I’m joining and going to make solemn vows and become a priest. “I called and said ‘I’d like to have an application to become a monk,’” said Fr. Simon. Naturally, when he told his parents, they were surprised but pleased.Ībbot James - then the prior and vocations director - didn’t see it coming, either. The vow of obedience, he said, is a guarantee he’s doing God’s will. Monks at the monastery do, or have done, all those things.” “I’m interested in doing all kinds of things - being a military chaplain, hospital chaplain, chaplain to sisters, campus minister. “What really attracted me was the vow of obedience,” said Fr. Luke gave him some good advice: If God is calling you to a particular place in life, he will do the groundwork for you to get you to that place. Quietly, without telling hardly anyone except Luke, he came to the realization that he had a vocation to religious life and the priesthood.īut there were many options: Diocesan or order priest? And which order? How would he choose? Simon began to discern that his vocation might be inside. So all of a sudden it was ‘Hey, I can really follow my desire of leaving everything and following Christ.’”Īs Luke discerned his true vocation was outside of the monastery in married life, Fr. “In the Eucharist Christ is no less present here today than he was 2,000 years ago,” he said. “As I was reading them Jesus became not just a concept or a historical figure way in the past, but a real person - someone I could really follow, especially in the Eucharist,” said Fr. He tore through that book and then several others. His mother also gave him a book about the life of Christ. I came up there to the monastery, and everyone was living good and holy lives. “When I came up to visit Luke I found a lot of peace and prayer in the monastery,” said Fr. Benedict’s Abbey became very special to him. “A light was shone on all of my studies and my life, and all of a sudden things began making sense.” “He and I would have long conversations about God and faith, and heaven,” said Fr. Simon. Benedict’s Abbey, sometimes staying for a couple of days. Simon began to visit his brother Luke at St. “More than anything I was caught up in that crowd.”įr. ![]() “I was playing college sports, and while I wasn’t crazy I was caught up in some of the things college athletics has a notorious reputation for,” said Fr. Now I see the whole picture and marvel at his artistry.” “In my early college years, I only had a little science and a little philosophy. "A lot of Science, however, makes one appreciate the incredible handiwork of our beautiful Creator,” he continued. A little science makes one think the material world is self-sufficient and that God is superfluous. “It is said about philosophy that a little philosophy makes a person an atheist, whereas a lot of philosophy makes a person a Christian,” said Brother Simon. The first was the idea that science can explain all things and denies God. Simon studied at Rockhurst University, he faced a couple of challenges. If I ever thought about it for any length of time, it was not a serious notion.” I liked helping people, and I thought, ‘Yeah, I think I can see myself doing that.’ And then a pretty girl would walk by and I’d get distracted. “I sang in the choir and served at Mass, so I was familiar enough with what I thought a priest was. ![]() “I had been asked by a couple of folks, maybe a teacher or coach, if I were interested in the priesthood,” said Fr. His thoughts about the priesthood while growing up were few and fleeting. ![]() “We all make a journey in our faith as individuals, and I can really see my family making a journey of faith as a family,” said Fr. Simon went to Catholic grade schools and graduated from Archbishop O’Hara High School in 2003. The Catholic faith is very important to Rick and Terri, so Fr. “If it was a ball and could be picked up, thrown or kicked - he picked it up, threw it and kicked it.” “He was just a fanatic about sports,” said Rick. ![]()
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