St. Bernard Postulants of 2013

CULLMAN – In 2013 God has abundantly blessed St. Bernard Abbey with six postulants. This is the largest class of postulants to enter the abbey in over fifty years. The postulancy is the first phase of monastic formation.

On Monday June 24, 2013 at Vespers these men entered the postulancy and received the monastic tunic from Abbot Cletus. While postulants they will live in the monastery, eat in the monastic refectory, attend the conventual mass and Divine Office, attend a variety of classes, and perform a variety of work around the campus. During this time they will discern whether this life is for them and the community discerns whether they are fit for monastic life. If all goes well they will enter the next stage of formation, the novitiate, this August.

These men exhibit a diverse range of ages, origins, education, talents, and interests. However, they are united in a desire to seek God in monastic manner of life. In order of monastic seniority, the new postulants of St. Bernard Abbey are Austin Steele, Edier Ceavallos, Ryan Bravata, Landon Poss, Philip Pattarozzi, and Kevin McBride. Monastic seniority is determined by date of entry.

Austin Steele is both the youngest and the most senior of the postulants. Austin is 19 years old and is a 2012 graduate of St. Bernard Prep School. After graduation he spent one semester at Bellarmine College in Louisville, KY and then entered the monastery. Musically gifted, Austin has a wonderful voice and while at school sang with the monastic schola occasionally.

Edier Ceavallos is 48 years old and a native of Buenos Aires, Columbia. He has lived in the U.S. for approximately 20 years. He is, of course, bilingual. At one time he was a seminarian for the Palm Beach diocese and has a BA in Philosophy from St. John Vianney College in Miami, FL. He also spent two and a half years at St. Leo Abbey.

Ryan Bravata is 29 years old and was born in Dothan, AL. He came to St. Bernard from Montgomery, AL where he was a youth minister. He also taught Theology at Montgomery Catholic Prep School for two years. Ryan studied at one time for the Archdiocese of Mobile and has a BA in Philosophy from St. Benedict College in Louisiana and a MA in Theology from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.

Landon Poss is 30 years old and was born in Sibley, Iowa. For the last 11 years he has lived in the Twin Cities. Landon has a BA in Political Science from St. Thomas University in St. Paul, MN. For the last seven years he has worked for the VA as a rating board specialist.

Philip Pattarozzi is 28 years old and grew up in the environs of Taylorsville, IL. Philip studied for several years at Ave Maria University in Naples, FL and definitely wishes to finish his undergraduate degree. He was a novice several years ago at St. Bernard and now wishes to return.

Kevin McBride is 55 years old and originally from Indiana. For the last thirty years he has lived in Montgomery and has been in retail sales for thirty years. He was a postulant at St. Bernard approximately ten years ago and now wishes to return to monastic life.