COVID-19 Campus Closure

March 14 2020 - Message to Saint Anselm College Community regarding COVID-19 campus closure.

March 14, 2020

Dear Members of the Saint Anselm College Community,

Nearly 3 weeks ago, we took up the three-fold Lenten observance of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.  During this season of grace, we take on these penances so that we may “look forward to holy Easter with joy and spiritual longing” (Rule of Saint Benedict, 49:7).  With the recent announcement from our College leadership, our community will take on an additional penance, the unanticipated and unparalleled penance of disruption.  This disruption, while a necessary precaution, will be difficult, but will also be endured in faith by our community in the days and weeks to come.

At Saint Anselm Abbey, our life of prayer and work continues albeit absent so many familiar faces.  We proceed with the prayer and work inherent in our monastic vocation, as monks of this community have done for the past 131 years.  When we gather for prayer in the Abbey Church, we will especially be praying for the world, for an end to disease, for an end to suffering, for our governmental leaders, and most especially for all of you, our beloved students, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, and friends.  The heart of the Saint Anselm campus, our Abbey Church, will continue to beat during this time of disruption and uncertainty.

We are grateful to our faculty and staff who carry on our work of Catholic education throughout this difficult time. We are especially grateful to all of our College employees who are working tirelessly to keep our community healthy.  We wish all our students safe travels to their respective homes, and pray for their well-being and their expeditious return.

PAX

Abbot Mark Cooper, O.S.B. and the Monks of Saint Anselm Abbey

P.S. For those who still remain on campus, we will continue our normal prayer schedule tomorrow with Mass at 11 AM.  There will be no 7 PM Mass.  Beginning Monday, March 16, we will adopt our Out of Session Schedule with Mass at 8:30 AM.  If you are feeling well, please consider joining us.