Supporting the Monks

BR. PIUS ROMBACH

• Parents: Bill and Penny Rombach • Born: December 5, 1995

• Hometown: Washington, Missouri • Favorite Saint: Padre Pio; he is whom I am named after. I read a biography of him by C.

Bernard Ruffin early in my re-conversion to my faith, which was a big inspiration to me. Since then, Padre Pio has been a great help for me;

I especially admire his quote, “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.” • Favorite devotion: the Rosary • Reading now: The Diary of St. Faustina • Favorite food: Good polish sausage and sauerkraut

• Favorite childhood toy: Honestly it was one after the other.

• Favorite place: Germany, though I’ve never even been.

• Best job I’ve ever had: Bailing hay. The simplest job for good money. • Worst job I’ve ever had: Dishwasher duty back home. Something about being home makes you not want to work.

• If I weren’t a monk I would probably be: a fireman or an auto-mechanic.

• You didn’t know this but: I really do have the cutest baby nephews in the world. • The qualities I admire in the other monks: The constant mercy and patience they have for me (and their willingness to play board games). • Best advise received: “Don’t run around with roman candles!” why I joined the partners

in stabi lity

Steve McBride, BC `77

The monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey are an example of living Catholicism. The Rule of St. Benedict offers us principles of how we should live and treat one another. If everyone followed the examples of the monks – following Christ in the service of the Lord, prayer, work, restraint of speech and humility – the world would be a better place. For me the monks are the soul of my alma mater, Benedictine College. They help keep the compass pointed in the right direction, that of faithful service to God.

The Benedictine monks have impacted my life in so many ways. First, Father Nicholas recruited me to attend Benedictine College. It was there I met my lifelong mentor and friend, Father Bertrand LaNoue. Father Bertrand demanded that I always give my very best even when I wished to do less. He helped instill in me those Benedictine values of ora et labora, pray and work, that have helped me my entire life both at work and at home. Pray and work could not be stated more simply or more powerfully. Work hard, pray, serve God through his many ministries and be a supportive husband and father. Over time we have developed friendships with some of the other monks including Abbot James who celebrates Mass for our annual Class of 1977 golf outing.

Partners in Stability is just a small way that I can say thanks and give back for all the things the Abbey has given me. For me this goes to the essence of stewardship, the responsibly to ensure the continued success of something I consider important to the way we live and for our everlasting souls. My parents and then the monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey gave me great examples of being proper stewards to our faith. My model of stewardship includes giving 10 percent of my income to religious and charitable organizations. In deciding which organizations I will support every month, the Abbey is an easy choice.