What Is St. Benedict's Farm?

St. Benedict's Farm is a lay Catholic, Christian community of men and women, in northeastern Gonzales County, near Waelder, Texas. Our community is one among countless responses to God's love and Jesus' invitation to walk the high road.

Where did you come from?

George Gannon (died, 12-10-96) founded our community in 1956, after a year as a Trappist novice at Our Lady of the Holy Ghost Abbey in Conyers, Georgia. A few months later, he was joined by John Kelly, a native of Illinois, and in 1968, LaClaire Hermann, a former Sister, joined the community; then, Henry Studer, a former Benedictine brother (died April 1998). In 1988, Rosalba Aguayo, a young woman from our parish, entered our household. In 2000, she became our Associate, and now lives here with her husband and daughter.

Why do you call it "St. Benedict's" Farm?

In the sixth century, St. Benedict wrote a Rule for monks. This Rule forms the basis of our life, requiring us to remain celibate, so as to be completely free for prayer, study, discipleship and service, to the Body of Christ. Likewise each of us renounces private ownership of personal property and all right of directing our own lives or pursuing our own interests. We set ourselves to always be completely open to the word of God and at the disposal of our community. A certain simplicity of lifestyle in keeping with monastic tradition is carefully and deliberately cultivated.

What is a "monk"?

A monk is someone who owns nothing in order to seek God without reserve. Cenobites, (whom Benedict calls the strongest kind of monks), live in a community under a rule and an abbot. A Christian monk follows first and foremost the rule of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Next in line, we reverence the Rule of St. Benedict. Our spirituality is formed by constant contact with the Sacred Scriptures and the Fathers and Doctors of the Church.

How do you make decisions in your community?

Consultation for consensus is a way of life at St. Benedict's Farm. But we do have an abbot, teacher, anchor, and primary decision maker, who "is looked upon as holding the place of Christ in the monastery." (Rule, Ch2) We are also a family, brothers and sisters, "member for member...the body of Christ," (1Cor12:27) seeking daily to fulfill Benedict's counsel, "obey one another," and the Lord's injunction, "Love one another as I have loved you." (Jn13:34)

How do you `seek God' at St. Benedict's Farm?

By constant attention to what the Lord is saying to us and by striving with all our hearts to carry out His word. We believe God speaks to us in every circumstance of life, and in a special way, He speaks His word to us through the faith, heart and mind of our own monastic family. We also cultivate and attempt to master the wisdom of our Christian tradition. In this endeavor -- as noted above -- we give pride of place, first to the divine Scriptures and secondly to the Fathers of the Church, who never tire of examining the word of God.

Why do you all dress alike?

We wear our simple uniforms (or habits) in order to signify our dedication. Besides simplifying the question, "What will I wear today?" the habit reminds ourselves, as well as our neighbors that we have a job to do. It consists, for the men, in long-sleeve coveralls with a black belt, and for the women, a simple blue dress with a black belt. The belt is a traditional prophetic and monastic mark. For the rest, our clothing reflects Benedict's counsel to buy "whatever is cheapest in the local area."