Details

16 November 2021

Our St. Gregory's Abbey Christmas ornament has arrived and is available in the Monks' Marketplace!

The Monks' Marketplace has extended hours through the Christmas Season. Starting November 17th, the Marketplace will also be open Wednesday afternoons. The store hours are Wednesday-Friday from 1:30-4:30 p.m.  and Saturdays 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Details

15 November 2021

Partner with us in sustaining the "precious service" of monastic life to the Church by contributing to the 2021 St. Gregory's Abbey Annual Appeal.  Appeal packets have been mailed or you can donate by simply clinking the "donate" button! 

Details

15 November 2021

Register for our Winter Days of Reflection. "Mercy Without Measure: The Language of Abundance in the Letter to the Ephesians" will be presented by Br. Damian Whalen on Saturday, January 28, 2022.  

In the Letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul reflects on God’s saving work in Jesus who reigns in heaven and renews the world through his Church. Rather than taking his usual approach of correcting error in his letters, St. Paul leads us to a deeper appreciation of God’s extravagant blessings to us in Jesus so that we might commit ourselves more deeply to the Christian life. Participants will be guided through Ephesians by means of an examination of its major themes.

Days of Reflection are held in the Conference Center at St. Gregory’s Abbey. The day begins with Mass at 8:30 a.m. and ends after adoration at 3:00 p.m. Cost (if prepaid) is $30 per person ($35 at the door). Lunch is included. Preregistration is required.

Click Here to register and pay.  Or you can register by e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling (405) 878-5656.

Details

23 August 2021

The Shawnee Fall Oblate Sunday will be held on Sunday, October 3rd. California Oblates will be receiving more information in the mail about their November 21st Oblate Sunday. Mark your calendars!

Details

17 September 2021

The Benedictine monks of St. Gregory’s Abbey welcomed a new member to their community on September 14, 2021, the Feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross.  Brother John Michael (Ford) Nguyen, O.S.B., made his profession of temporary vows as a monk of St. Gregory’s Abbey.  Rt. Rev. Lawrence Stasyszen, O.S.B., Abbot of St. Gregory’s, stated: “We as a community are grateful to God for leading Br. John Michael to this important day in his life, in the life of our monastery and in the lives of those whom we serve.  We are enriched by Br. John Michael’s sincere desire to become more closely united to Jesus Christ and the Church.  We also are enriched by the great Vietnamese heritage of faith and culture that he brings to the monastery.”

Br. John Michael was born in Biên Hòa, Vietnam, and immigrated to the United States with his parents when he was five years old.  He is the son of Hao Nguyen and Ngan Le. His family settled in Oklahoma City and became members of St. Andrew Dung-Lac Catholic Church.  He says that his parents named him “Ford” because it “sounded very American.”  After high school, Ford completed a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at the University of Oklahoma.

At the recommendation of his pastor, Fr. Gregory Nguyen, Ford attended a “Come and See Weekend” at St. Gregory’s Abbey in 2019.  During the visit he discovered at the Abbey something that resonated with what he was seeking in life.  Eventually he applied for admission and entered the novitiate on September 13, 2020.  During the year-long novitiate he experienced the life first-hand and participated in courses in the teachings of the Church, Sacred Scripture, liturgy, spirituality, human development, the Rule of St. Benedict and the history of the Abbey.

On September 14^th he professed the Benedictine vows of obedience, stability and conversion of life.   Even though the vows are valid for only three years, he is a Benedictine monk and will receive work assignments within the monastery as well as continue in a period of initial formation.  At the end of three years, Br. John Michael will be able to apply for a life-long commitment through solemn vows.

Details

03 May 2021

Summer means bar-b-ques, cookouts and outings. With the rising price of beef in the grocery stores, buy in bulk and save! Mission Monks sells high-quality, grass-raised, grain finished, pasture-raised cattle right here in Oklahoma. Purchase 1/4, 1/2 or whole processed cows. Contact Fr. Simeon at (405) 878-5427 for pricing information.  Need a smaller quantity? The Monks' Marketplace at St. Gregory's Abbey sells beef by the cut, Mission Monks raw wildflower honey and items produced by the Abbey and other religious communities!  Support the Monks of St. Gregory's Abbey!

Store hours are Thursday and Friday from 1:30-4:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  The Marketplace is located at 1900 W. MacArthur in Shawnee, north of the church under the clock tower.

At Mission Monks Farm, we are feeding the body and feeding the soul.

Details

20 November 2020

Brother Andrew Raple, O.S.B. 
Monk of St. Gregory’s Abbey 
November 5, 1930 – November 17, 2020 

Brother Andrew Raple, O.S.B., entered eternal life on Tuesday, November 17, 2020. He was 90 years old and had completed 69 years of monastic profession. At the time of his death, he was the most senior and eldest member of the monastic community.

Br. Andrew was one of eight children born to George and Barbara (Plutz) Raple of Andale, Kansas. Born on November 5, 1930, he was baptized at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Andale on November 30, 1930.  He attended St. Joseph Grade School and graduated from Andale High School in 1949. He began studies at St. Gregory’s College in 1949, where he discerned his vocation as a Benedictine Brother, consecrating his life to serve God through prayer and manual labor. He  entered the novitiate at St. Gregory’s Abbey in 1950, professed first vows as a monk on July 2, 1951, and professed perpetual vows on July 2, 1954. 

Br. Andrew developed many talents and interests as a monk. At various times he served on the Abbey farm, in the Abbey print shop, and as a bookbinder,  beekeeper, butcher and baker. In 1957, Br. Andrew became Shawnee’s first official weatherman, monitoring a small weather station sponsored by the 
Shawnee Chamber of Commerce and installed on the Abbey grounds. He faithfully reported to authorities and news outlets the local daily weather conditions of temperature, wind velocity, precipitation and barometric pressure, until automated equipment was installed in the 1990s.

Br. Andrew began his long tenure of service in the kitchen at St. Gregory’s the year he arrived at the Abbey. In 1963 he enrolled at Oklahoma State Technical College, working toward a degree in bakery, hotel and restaurant management. Eventually he became manager for the food service program for St. Gregory’s Abbey, High School, College and University, serving until his retirement in 1999. Generations of students at St. Gregory’s looked forward to the fresh loaves of bread and dinner rolls that he baked, and many other treats that he prepared on special occasions and for students returning late at night from off-campus events. He served as a mentor for many, especially for students who worked under his direction in the cafeteria. He received the St. Gregory’s University Legacy Award in recognition for his positive impact on generations of students.

Brother Andrew was a master cultivator of orchids, long-stem roses, poinsettias, Easter lilies and many other plants. He began working in the Abbey greenhouse in 1968, and it became his special domain. He enjoyed sharing the beauty of its many plants with others. A member of the American Orchid Society, he cultivated over 300 varieties of orchids, while at the same time caring for over 200 rose plants. Each year he grew hundreds of poinsettias and lilies that decorated the Abbey Church and other area churches at Christmas and Easter. He often prepared bouquets of roses, gardenias, and orchids for special events at the abbey, school and museum.

Among his other interests were camping, raising whitetail deer rescued by the Oklahoma Wildlife Department, and caring for a variety of other animals. He developed considerable woodworking skills, making items as varied as mosaics of wood known as “intarsia,” wooden jigsaw puzzles for children, and
highly intricate wooden crosses, clocks and wall ornaments crafted with a scroll saw. 

Br. Andrew died peacefully on Tuesday, November 17, strengthened by the sacraments of the Church, the presence of members of the monastic community, and greetings from many friends and alumni. Public viewing will be available at The Conference Center at St. Gregory’s Abbey in Shawnee on Saturday, November 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Sunday, November 22 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Due to the high risk of COVID-19 infection, regretfully the monastery will only be able to accommodate visitors during these times. Visitors are asked to wear face coverings and maintain appropriate social distancing.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Gregory’s Abbey at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, November 23, with interment following in the Abbey Cemetery. To maintain safety protocols, attendance at the Funeral Mass will be limited to family members and members of the clergy. 

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be contributed to the Brother Andrew Raple, OSB, Memorial Fund at St. Gregory’s Abbey, 1900 W. MacArthur, Shawnee OK 74804, and online at www.monksok.org.

Details

04 December 2020

Advent is the Christian season of expectant waiting for the coming of Jesus Christ. St. Bernard of Clairvaux famously wrote of three different ways Jesus comes into our world. Firstly, Jesus comes to us in time when by the power of the Holy Spirit he became flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary and was born to be our Savior. Secondly, he will come again in glory at the end of all time to judge the living and the dead. Thirdly, he comes to us in our daily lives with grace to give us rest and consolation. Along with these three ways, we also should remember that Jesus will come to call us from this life at the hour of our death. In faith, we as Christians should look forward with eagerness to all of these comings of Jesus, for in each case he comes to save us.

Keeping the tradition of an Advent wreath in our churches and homes is a way of being mindful of these comings of Christ. With each Sunday of Advent, light from the candles of the wreath increases and helps us to be mindful of the light of Jesus Christ who comes to dispel the darkness of sin and death in our world.

This year, in anticipation of Advent, several of us monks helped to make special Advent wreaths that can be kept in places where it is not safe or possible to light candles – such as in classrooms, offices or around small children. A friend of the monastery gave us a basic pattern for the wreaths and suggested we make them to sell in our Monks’ Marketplace. The design is pretty simple. Instead of wax candles, the four candles of these wreaths are made of dowel pins painted purple and rose. Instead of live fire, the “flames” are made of wood shaped and painted to look like flames. They can be placed atop the wooden “candles” on each Sunday of Advent.

It was a fun project and several members of the community made suggestions to improve the original design. Different monks helped with cutting, sanding, painting and assembling the various pieces. Among those who helped was Br. Andrew, who was very skilled at woodcrafts. He suggested a better way of mounting the candles to the base of the wreaths and then used a scroll saw to cut some 200 small flames for the project. In fact, this was his last significant woodworking project before Jesus came to call him from this life.

Br. Andrew was hospitalized on his 90th birthday and remained in the hospital for a full week. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, he could have only one visitor accompany him during his stay. As Abbot, it was my privilege to do this and to spend several hours each day with him in the hospital. As his condition worsened, he became increasingly eager for eternal life. After we decided that he would leave the hospital under the care of hospice, he thanked the staff for what they had done for him and told them that he was ready for the Lord to call him from this life. He assured us all that he was not afraid and that he was eager to see Jesus and to experience heaven. In other words, Br. Andrew was living in the true Christian spirit of Advent – waiting in eager expectation for the coming of the Lord.

In his final days, “Br. Andy” received cards, letters, emails and videos from dozens of family members, former students and friends who wanted to tell him how much he meant to them in their lives. Hearing from so many folks brought Br. Andrew great joy, and moved him to share many good stories and happy memories. It is clear that he had been a mentor, friend and positive influence on countless persons.

One of the reasons why he was able to have such a positive impact is that he was attentive to others, anticipating their needs rather than focusing on his own desires. Br. Andrew could sense when someone needed a good laugh, a word of encouragement, some form of correction, or a kind gesture that made him or her feel special. He wanted to treat others with kindness and hospitality while not trying to draw attention to himself.

In his final days Br. Andrew continued to provide a positive example to mentor others in how to trust in the Lord Jesus and in how to approach illness and death with peace of heart and eagerness of faith. Like the flames of an Advent wreath, he made the world a brighter place and reminded those around him to do the same.

The poinsettia plants that Br. Andrew had potted several weeks ago in anticipation of Christmas are now maturing and beginning to take on the glory of their bright red color. Because he anticipated the coming of Christmas long before the beginning of Advent, those who visit the Abbey Church during the Christmas season will enjoy the blessing of these beautiful plants that he cultivated so carefully.

Even though Jesus has called to Br. Andrew from this life, his legacy will live on not only in the beauty of Christmas flowers, but also and more importantly in the lives he influenced through his consecration to God in prayer, work and service to others. May all who hold his memory dear follow his example and share with others the light, beauty, love and joy of Jesus Christ who comes to save us!

Details

25 September 2020

Abbot Lawrence and the Monks of St. Gregory’s Abbey invested Br. John Michael (Ford) Nguyen as a Novice in the community on Sunday, September 13. Brother Novice John Michael is from St. Andrew Dung Lac Parish in Oklahoma City. Following the ancient tradition established in Sacred Scripture, the Abbot assigns the novice with a new name to signify the change in life that he is undertaking. The names of saints are chosen to provide the novice with a role model and a spiritual companion for his life in the monastery. Br. Nov. John Michael in under the special patronage of two saints. St. John of the Cross was a Carmelite Friar in Spain during the 16th century. He led a reform of the order, founding the Discalced Carmelite Order. He endured great suffering during his life as a result of physical illness and resistance to his reforms. He is a Doctor of the Church, known for his mystical poetry and other writings that describe union with God. St. Michael Ho Dinh Ly lived in the 19th century, largely in Vietnam. He was a Catholic husband and father, and a successful silk merchant and high ranking Mandarin. He used his wealth and influence to support the French Missionary Society, and to assist the poor and Vietnamese Catholics who were under persecution. He eventually was arrested during a violent persecution of the Catholic Church in Vietnam and was beheaded because of his promotion of the faith. He is known as the “Protector and Martyr of the Church” in Vietnam.

The novitiate of St. Gregory’s Abbey is a one-year period in which novices live the monastic life intensely and are formed in monastic spirituality. It is not a period of vowed commitment, but rather a period of discernment that can lead to the profession of vows at the end of one year.

Details

20 June 2020

Growing up in grade school at St. Patrick's in Oklahoma City, one of the roles I could envision my life was as a priest . . .along with being a cowboy.  I was fortunate to have had a real life model, my uncle Fr. Charles Connors, in the Holy Ghost order. His order was one of the world-wide missionaries, but also served in the United States, especially in parishes for African American Catholics. However, he was trained in Canon Law and taught in their seminary. But me as a missionary? I didn’t sense that heroism.

As I was graduating from St. Gregory’s High School, I recognized my admiration for the men who taught and guided me. While, I really didn’t know much about their life, I remember thinking “If they can be the kind of people they are living that life, then I’m interested.” Four years later I stepped from my college graduation into the door of St. Gregory’s Abbey, in the “track” at that time leading to the priesthood.

If I could describe my life as a priest, it would be as a “utility infielder.” My main activities after ordination were first as a graduate student and then as a mathematics teacher/chaplain/administrator in St. Gregory’s College,  later University.  I always served in some concentrated way as a priest, not as administrator of a parish, but truly as a minister.

During my three years of graduate school, I spent weekends helping out at a parish in Bricktown, New Jersey, mutually adopting the young families. Later, back at St. Gregory’s I was a weekend fill-in priest at Fort Sill or for priests of Oklahoma City or Tulsa who were ill, on vacation or were on special ministries. I got to most parishes in the state and grew to recognize many Oklahoma Catholics.

I especially enjoyed some regular continuing assignments in McLoud, Midwest City, St. Patrick’s, and Mustang. I am pleased to assist at the seasonal penance rites. People often come to these for the anonymity if they are returning after years away, hesitant and fearful, and I do my best to model the God who welcomes and forgives.

What I have learned in the encounter over the years is the art of respectful listening, with insight into others, and the ability to ask the questions that open up the other. This has been valuable in other settings, too, including as a math teacher or dean of students, because those encounters are never simply about solving math problems.

Over the years I have loved my ministry as homilist and retreat presenter. I think most often I am saying things that mainly address my own spiritual situations, and others are welcome to listen in.  

These last two years have been “interesting” as I serve the Catholics in service at Tinker AFB and military retirees at the base chapel.  I have learned a military vocabulary as arcane as mathematics and am learning to operate in a system as intricate as the Catholic Church.

As in all the settings I have mentioned, I have had moving experiences. I was called to the hospital room of a man near death, a man raised in a fundamentalist Christian tradition but who had been attending Mass with his wife and daughters for decades. And he asked to be received as a Catholic, and I was privileged to make that happen and to see the joy in his and his family’ faces. There are indeed rewards in this life God has given me.

Details

19 June 2020

Rev. Eugene (Casimir) Marshall, O.S.B.

Monk of St. Gregory’s Abbey
December 23, 1922 – June 18, 2020

Rev. Eugene Marshall, O.S.B., entered eternal life on Thursday, June 18, 2020. He was 97, and had completed 76 years of monastic profession and 70 years of priestly ministry.  At the time of his death, he was the most senior and eldest member of the monastic community and the oldest Catholic priest in Oklahoma.

Father Eugene was born on December 23, 1922, in Harrah, OK, to Walter and Catherine (Scybiak) Marshall. He was baptized two days later on Christmas Day and raised in St. Teresa Parish in Harrah, OK.  After completing high school in Harrah, he enrolled at nearby St. Gregory’s College in 1941, coming to the place that would be his permanent residence for the rest of his life.

Fr. Eugene professed vows as a monk of St. Gregory’s Abbey on July 11, 1944.  He earned a BA in Philosophy at St. Gregory’s College and completed theological studies at St. Gregory’s Abbey.  He was ordained to the priesthood on February 25, 1950. He completed a BS in Library Science from the University of Oklahoma in 1953, and a MSEd in educational technology from the University of Southern California in 1971.

With the exception of one year when he was assigned to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Los Angeles while completing studies at USC Los Angeles, Fr. Eugene faithfully lived his monastic commitment at St. Gregory’s Abbey. In the monastery he served at various times as Prior, Subprior, Novice Master, Sacristan and as a member of the Senior Council.  He was the long-time head librarian for St. Gregory’s High School and College, serving in that capacity from 1949 until his retirement in 1992.  Without any previous experience he quickly adapted to the role, organizing, promoting and expanding the library collections and services to serve a growing academic institution.  He also taught English and mathematics at St. Gregory’s High School. He served as Associate Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in East Los Angeles (1970-71), administrator of St. Wenceslaus Parish in Prague, OK, (1976), and as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish, in McLoud, OK (1994-2006). When not otherwise assigned, he provided weekend ministry at parishes throughout Oklahoma.  

Fr. Eugene exhibited the “good zeal that monks ought to foster with fervent love.” He was devoted to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and was known to pray at the tabernacle in the Abbey Church each time he began and ended his daily work periods.  He likewise had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Never one to remain idle, he spent “free” time working in the Abbey vegetable garden, grafting pecan trees, operating the Abbey’s antique printing press, tending bees and extracting honey.

Fr. Eugene died peacefully, strengthened by the sacraments of the Church.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers George Marshall, Marion Marshall, Carl Marshall, and Bennie Marshall, his brother-in-law Vincent Marino and sister-in-law Earlene Marshall.  He is survived by the monks of St. Gregory’s Abbey, siblings Rosalie Marino of Harrah, OK, Helen Jean and Leonard Schmitt of Garland, TX, John and Harriet Marshall of Harrah, OK, sisters-in-law Mary Marshall of Coppell, TX, and Mary Marshall of Conroe, TX, numerous nieces and nephews, and many friends.   The monastic community expresses gratitude to the staff of the Abbey Healthcare and of Golden Rule Nursing Home who lovingly cared for him during the last seven months of his life.

Public viewing will be available at The Conference Center at St. Gregory’s Abbey in Shawnee from 1:30 to 4:30 on Saturday, June 20, and at St. Teresa Catholic Church in Harrah from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 21.  Visitors are asked to wear face coverings.  A Vigil Service will be held at St. Teresa Catholic Church, Harrah, at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 21.  Mass for Christian Burial will be at St. Gregory’s Abbey at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 22.  In keeping with safety protocols, attendance at the Funeral Mass is limited to family members and members of the clergy.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in honor of Fr. Eugene can be contributed to: The St. Gregory’s Abbey Benefit Trust, 1900 W. MacArthur, Shawnee OK 74804, and online at www.monksok.org.

Details

20 March 2020

We are witnesses to rapidly changing conditions and extreme measures taken to curb the tide of a new global pandemic.  It seems that each hour brings new developments and restrictions on group gatherings and travel.  Along with states of emergency declared by President Trump and Governor Stitt, the Most Rev. Paul Coakley, Archbishop of the Oklahoma City, has issued several directives for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  Among these directives is the suspension of all public celebrations of the liturgy, including Mass, through Easter.

The monks of St. Gregory's Abbey express our concern for the well-being of the public at large.  As Abbot, I also must be concerned for the health and well-being of the elderly and infirm members of our community.  We wish to balance our Benedictine value of hospitality with doing what we can to cooperate with the efforts of the leaders of the Church and society outside the monastery.

In light of this, we are implementing the following measures at St. Gregory's Abbey:

1.  While the national state of emergency is in effect, the Monks will intensify our prayer for and end to the pandemic and for those who are negatively impacted by the spread of COVID-19.  At Mass we will pray for those who are infected, for those who are care providers and healthcare workers, for those who are anxious about employment and loss of wages, for those who have died from the disease, for those who mourn for those who have died, and for those who are unable to attend Mass and other public prayer.

We invite people to submit the names of those who need our prayers and we will read the names during our intercessory prayers at Mass.  Names can be submitted by mail, through the Abbey website (www.monksok.org) by selecting “Pray With Us” and then “Prayer Requests”, by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or by calling the Abbey Office at 405-878-5656.

2.  Public attendance at Mass in the Abbey Church will be suspended until after Easter, or for the period of time determined by Archbishop Paul Coakley.

3.  The Abbey Church will be open to the public for private prayer between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

4.  The Monks' Marketplace will suspend operations until after Easter, including the sale of Abbey eggs.

5.  The Abbey guest rooms will be closed to reservations until May 1.

We live in solidarity with those whose lives are being disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  We will continue to offer the full Liturgy of the Hours for the intentions of our living and deceased oblates, family members, friends, alumni, benefactors and of all those who have requested or who need our prayers.  In your charity, please pray for us as well.

In all this, we find courage and consolation in the knowledge that God is with us, and that "nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:39)  To God be glory, now and forever!  Amen!

Peace,

Rt. Rev. Lawrence Stasyszen, O.S.B.

Abbot