St. Gregory's Abbey, Shawnee, Oklahoma

09/04/2026

Our monastic community continues to grow!

09/04/2026

After a year of preparation as novices, Br. Sebastian (Timothy) Kilburn, OSB, and Br. Isaac (Fernando) Acosta, OSB, professed temporary vows as monks of St. Gregory’s Abbey on September 3, 2026, the Solemnity of Pope St. Gregory the Great. The Rite of Monastic Profession was celebrated during Mass in the Abbey Church. Their vows of obedience, stability and conversion of life are valid for three years. Photography by Theresa Bragg/St. Gregory's Abbey.

09/04/2026

https://archokc.org/news/br-damian-celebrates-golden-jubilee-of-profession

The date Aug. 20, the Memorial of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, marked a milestone for Brother Damian Whalen, O.S.B. It was the 50th anniversary of his profession of vows as a monk of Saint Gregory’s Abbey.

09/03/2026

Solemnity of St. Gregory the Great- September 3, 2026
St. Gregory's Abbey

09/02/2026

Tomorrow, September 3rd, on the Solemnity of St. Gregory the Great, Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. in the Abbey Church. During the Mass, Br. Novice Sebastian and Br. Novice Isaac will be professing their Simple monastic vows. We invite you to this very special Mass!

The Monks' Marketplace will be closed tomorrow.

09/01/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grMeuDDD1Js

Congratulations Fr. Brendan Helbing, OSB! He was honored by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City at the Jubilarian dinner for 61 years of service as a priest!

Congratulations to the 2026 Jubilee Priests in the Archdiocese of O...

08/28/2026

The 2026 St. Kateri Tekakwitha Honor Dance will be on Sept. 12 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 47943 Abbey Rd. in Konawa. Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Gourd dance is from 3 to 5:30 p.m.; supper at 6 p.m. and grand entry at 7 p.m. Take a chair. Vendor spots available; contact Kendra Lowden at (580) 399-0442.

08/27/2026

08/26/2026

Dear Friends,
Stability is a fundamental aspect of monastic life. As Benedictine monks, we even profess a vow of stability – along with vows of obedience and ongoing conversion of life. Inspired and sustained by the grace of God, we make this vow which binds us to a particular community in our desire to become ever more conformed to Jesus Christ and one day to be united to God forever in the Kingdom of Heaven. It is an act of faith that God will manifest His providential and unfailing love throughout the course of our lives.

This summer we celebrate special anniversaries of monastic profession for five members of our community: Fr. Paul – 70 years, Fr. Charles – 60 years, Br. Damian – 50 years, Br. Benet – 40 years and Fr. Peter – 10 years. Along with these anniversaries, we continue to remember +Fr. Martin, who died peacefully within one month of his 70th anniversary of profession. Together they represent some 300 years in lives of service consecrated to God! Through their vocation they have offered countless prayers on behalf of others and have made a positive impact on unknown numbers of lives through the roles of ministry in which they have served.

None of us reaches such milestones on our own. We rely on many others for encouragement, friendship, prayers, assistance and support over the course of our lives. On this occasion, I wish to thank those who have helped these wonderful jubilarians along their pilgrim journey as monks.

I invite you to join the celebration of these significant anniversaries by making a financial contribution in honor of one or all of these jubilarians who have dedicated their lives to God and to others. Your gift will both affirm our jubilarians and assure those who now are joining the community that they also will have the opportunity to touch the lives of many in a positive way.

Thank you for your consideration and your prayers.
Rt. Rev. Lawrence Stasyszen, OSB
Abbot

Celebrate a Jubilarian member of our community by giving today at:
http://weblink.donorperfect.com/Jubilee2026
We also accept Pay Pal and Venmo (, please note it might say Benedictine Fathers of Sacred Heart Mission as the recipient), or mail a check to St. Gregory's Abbey, 1900 W. MacArthur Street, Shawnee OK 74804.

08/23/2026

112 years ago today, the body of Pope Pius X was laid in state in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican.

But did you know there is a fascinating connection between Pope Pius X and the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art?

Our museum’s founder, Fr. Gregory Gerrer, O.S.B., painted a portrait of Pope Pius X, and his work was chosen as the Pope’s official portrait.

And here’s the really interesting part—the original portrait is hanging right here in our museum in Shawnee! Fr. Gerrer later painted another version that was sent to the Vatican.

Pope Pius X reportedly appreciated Gerrer’s portrait because it showed him as he truly was—with his wrinkles, age, and imperfections. Fr. Gerrer wasn’t simply painting the office of the Pope; he wanted to capture the person behind it.

And there’s one more fascinating detail about this portrait… the way Fr. Gerrer painted the Pope’s eyes.

But we’re not going to tell you that story here.

Come visit the museum, stand in front of the original portrait, and see if you can discover its secret for yourself. 😉