By Herald Staff

Zink

Morris

ST. MEINRAD — In a brief ceremony, Novices Connor Zink and Matthew Morris were clothed in the Benedictine habit at Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad on Jan. 19. They now begin a year of monastic formation, including study of the Rule of St. Benedict and monastic history.

Novice Connor, 24, is from West Chester, Ohio. He was homeschooled and then earned a bachelor of arts degree in Catholic studies from Marian University in 2018.

He previously worked in retail for Meijer and did volunteer work at his parish, St. Maximilian Kolbe in Liberty, Ohio.

Novice Matthew, 33, is a native of Ft. Thomas, Kentucky. After graduation from Newport Central Catholic High School, he earned a bachelor of arts in history and theology from Bellarmine University.

He has worked for The Kroger Co. for 18 years in a variety of positions. His home parish was St. Catherine of Siena in Ft. Thomas.

Novices take a year off from formal studies and trades. The novitiate is a time of prayer and learning intended to help a novice discern his vocation as a monk. At the end of this year, a novice may be permitted to profess temporary vows of obedience, fidelity to the monastic way of life and stability in the community of Saint Meinrad.