Saint Meinrad's monks represent a wide range of ages, cultural backgrounds, educational histories and life experiences.

Those contemplating a monastic profession often come to Saint Meinrad for a candidacy of four to six months. During that time, they live in the monastery and learn about our way of life before becoming novices. Novices are individuals who are members of the community and are in the process of formation in becoming monks. The novitiate lasts one year and a day.

At the end of the novitiate year, the novices become junior monks by making vows for three years. Although a person may extend the time of temporary vows, junior monks often make solemn vows at the end of three years and so become full-fledged monks of the monastery.

Following are brief profiles of each of the candidates, novices and junior monks currently in various stages of becoming monks of Saint Meinrad Archabbey. We hope their stories will paint a picture of the rich diversity that makes up Saint Meinrad's monastic community.