Monk makes final vows at Subiaco

Published: August 22, 2014

Father Elijah Owens, OSB, made his solemn profession of vows as a monk of Subiaco Abbey Aug. 11 at St. Benedict Church. He made this lifelong commitment after completing a period of triennial vows. He has served at Subiaco Abbey and Subiaco Academy as assistant vocation director and a religious studies teacher.

Father Owens was born in Mt. Airy, N.C., and worked for the U.S. government before entering the seminary and being ordained a priest for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, W.V. There he served for 15 years in various assignments before being released to explore monastic life at Subiaco Abbey.

Following his solemn profession, Father Owens was assigned by Abbot Jerome Kodell, OSB, to pursue liturgical studies at St. John University in Minnesota and the Pontifical Institute of Liturgy at the Pontifical University of Sant'Anselmo in Rome. Today the abbey is comprised of 35 professed monks and eight men in formation.