The Right Reverend Philip J. Lawrence, OSB, the Abbot of the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, recently announced in the summer newsletter that given the required retirement of an abbot at age seventy-five coming in 2019, he has decided that he will retire on December 12, 2018, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, because there are a number of important decisions that are to be made in connection with our rapid growth in monastic vocations and those will best be made by his successor.

In answer to questions from a sizeable number of well-wishers, Abbot Philip has explained that the actual retirement event is done privately at the Monastery.  The Abbot President of our Subiaco-Cassinese Congregation, Abbot Guillermo, OSB, will oversee the subsequent election process and the public will be advised of the results on the news page of the Monastery’s website.

If you wish to read the summer newsletter which is dedicated to honoring the accomplishments of Abbot Philip’s 41 years as the superior of the Monastery, please click HERE.

Finally, we ask you to each day join us in this prayer for our Community:  Lord God, You are our Eternal Shepherd and Guide.  In your mercy grant this Monastery a shepherd who will walk in Your ways, and whose watchful care will bring us Your blessings. Amen.