For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. –ROMANS 8.37-39

Father Emmanuel entered the monastic community in 1983. And for over twenty years he worked at The Holy Rood Guild, our liturgical vestment industry. He presently serves as the Abbey’s guestmaster and music director. He is a gifted artist and photographer.

Devoted to the Rule of Saint Benedict, our Cistercian charism and our community, Emmanuel says that the contemplative life is part of his identity and what drew him to the monastery. He experiences the monastic day as sanctified with prayer and mindfulness of God and treasures the celebration of the liturgy, especially the Liturgy of the Hours.

Finally he says, “There has not been one day in over thirty years that I have not found the beauty of the place and the beauty of the buildings to be a source of consolation. For me the wonder of God is always found in beauty, no matter how simple.”