“There are no birds!” was the constant mantra of Fr. Victor Lakatek to students in his ornithology classes and to his confreres. He was well aware that the Lisle countryside was giving way to suburban sprawl and habitat loss. Global change was also on his mind as well as the bird populations that were being altered. Fr. Victor was an expert on birds, especially in the field, knowing volumes on bird habitat, migration, behavior, and had been involved for decades with the Lisle

For nearly 1500 years, Benedictine monasteries have been places of prayer, community, and welcome. In 2029, the global Benedictine family comes together to celebrate this living tradition, to reflect honestly on where we stand, and to look with hope toward the future. The Jubilee can be celebrated wherever you are and in whatever way suits you. Visit a monastery, join an event, go deeper into the tradition, or share your own story. Click here for ideas on where to start. Visi

Members of Abbot Hugh's Garden (AHG) will meet each Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. to work in the garden, plant, weed, plus prune grave vines and apple trees. Take what you can eat and the rest gets shared out to the abbey and members of the community in need. AHG packs up around 6:40 p.m. to head to Vespers (evening prayer) in the Mary Chapel to give thanks for our time with the abbey monks. ALL ARE WELCOME! For more information contact Venus Wozniak Email: venus@nativity-house.org Te