CULLMAN – St. Bernard Abbey and School continued the celebration of their 125th anniversary Sunday with a rededication, blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated library. Abbot Cletus Meagher O.S.B. lead the ceremony, and a light reception followed.
“This is a great day for St. Bernard, it’s a great day for Cullman, Cullman County and the surrounding area that the beauty of this building be restored,” stated Meagher as he began the ceremony, the purposed of which, he said, was to, “dedicate this library to its essential purpose.”
Meagher continued to speak about the purpose of the library, saying, “The community will thrive and grow… we will also extend the use of the library to those who come to us be they students, be they other people who may want to study, scholars of this library… we welcome them all.”
Cullman Mayor Max Townson was on-hand, and he recalled the time he spent in the library as a student at St. Bernard College. “I enrolled in St. Bernard’s College in 1966 and I graduated in 1970.” He continued, “The city of Cullman and Cullman County are blessed to have such Catholic interest in our community.”
Near the end of the ceremony, Meagher shared with those in attendance what he thinks the next 125 years will bring for the building and school. “St. Bernard has 125 years of history, but in monastic terms, that’s maybe just the beginning; and if we can build on those 125 years… the next 125 years will be nothing but God’s grace and growth of learning and understanding.”
Anniversary celebrations continue on Monday, Sept. 26 with Mass at 11:30 a.m., followed by the Benefactors’ Day Luncheon at 1 p.m. For more details, visit www.stbernardabbey.com/125th-anniversary/.
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