The call came in for a medical emergency at a local farm. When firefighters arrived at the address, they found the house empty. After checking back with dispatch, they learned the patient was not in the house at all, but behind a nearby barn. There they discovered a farmer who had been mauled by a bull and knocked to the ground. His wife was tending to his injuries while his son stood guard with a pitchfork. With the bull staring straight at them, the firefighters quickly loaded the injured man onto a backboard and transported him by pickup truck to safety. For Br. Benjamin Brown, OSB, the call serves as a reminder that no two emergencies are alike. “You never know what we will be called for,” he said. “But we work together as a team.”
For nearly 140 years, members of the St. Meinrad Volunteer Fire Department have answered unexpected calls like these. It is a tradition of service that traces back to the Great Fire of 1887, which destroyed Saint Meinrad Archabbey and revealed a need for fire protection over the monastery and the surrounding community.
In the following years, monks and local residents stepped forward to meet that need, establishing a tradition of service that continues today. Generations of monks have taken on the great responsibility of answering emergencies alongside their neighbors and living out their vocation in a uniquely hands-on way.
Among those who have served, both living and deceased, are Br. Raban Bivins, Br. Ambrose Brahm, Br. Benjamin Brown, Br. Jerome Croteau, Br. Roger Dorcy, Br. Jesse Gunter, Br. Luke Hodde, Fr. Paul Keiner, Fr. Killian Kerwin, Br. Daniel Linskens, Br. Giles Mahieu, Br. Jason Pohwan, Br. Dominic Warnecke, Br. Damian Schepers, Br. Lawrence Shidler, Archabbot Kurt Stasiak, Archabbot Timothy Sweeney, and Br. Lambert Zink, along with those who served on the radio department: Br. Noah Casey, Br. Hugh Ernst, Br. Jacob Grisley, Br. Kim Malloy, Br. Guy Mansini, Br. Angelo Vitale, and Br. Maurus Zoeller.
Today, that legacy continues through Br. Benjamin and Br. Ambrose Brahm, OSB, whose dedication to both monastic life and emergency service reflects the enduring spirit of faith, compassion, and sacrifice that has defined Saint Meinrad for generations. Br. Benjamin has been a monk, firefighter, and first responder for 54 years. He took solemn vows in 1972 and joined the fire department that same year. Br. Ambrose, inspired by Br. Benjamin, decided to join the fire department soon after taking simple vows in January 2025.
Br. Benjamin attended Saint Meinrad College and was impressed by what he saw the brothers doing, the life they lived, and how they supported each other, so he decided to follow in their footsteps. Soon after taking his vows as a monk, he joined the fire department under Fr. Killian Kerwin, OSB, the fire chief at the time. Br. Benjamin is proud to work alongside a great group of volunteers, saying, “We work together well, we help each other, and we do good.” His other responsibilities include working in the infirmary and transporting elderly monks to the hospital and doctor appointments.
Br. Ambrose felt called to join the fire department and, after praying about it, he approached Br. Benjamin about becoming a firefighter. He said, “Once I joined and got through firefighting classes, started responding to runs, and getting to know the guys, I learned that on calls I would never really be on my own, and with the great guys we have as support, I’ve entered that path of first responder, and I am currently taking classes.” Br. Ambrose also takes on other responsibilities in the monastery, including serving as Business Office assistant, assistant sacristan, assistant house prefect, and beekeeper. He will soon start assisting in the infirmary as well.
Taking on the roles of firefighter and first responder has deepened their relationship with God and helped them connect with the people they serve. Br. Benjamin relates this role to the Gospel of Luke 10:25-37 and the story of the Good Samaritan—meeting people in moments of need and offering help, compassion, and hope. Br. Ambrose said, “I think we are called to pray constantly, so in responding, we are physically praying as we are serving, so that form of mercy and respect is kind of built into the job description. I have been on the department a year and have responded to three fatalities. I hold those people in my prayer along with my family and friends that I’ve lost as well.”
Support from the local community and the monastery creates an environment for the team to feel safe, loved, and taken care of. For Br. Benjamin and Br. Ambrose, the stability of monastic life provides a strong foundation for their service, allowing them to support people who may be facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives. “We meet people on the worst day of their lives, and we are able to work together as a team to help them,” said Br. Benjamin. “We look at our fellow firefighters as family and friends, and we place our lives in each other’s hands.”