Discernment leads to a new destination for former Omaha seminarian

Seminarian Paul Floersch was “shaking like a leaf.”

He was about to meet with then-Archbishop George J. Lucas to discuss a calling he sensed from God that was leading him away from ordination as a priest for the archdiocese.

Instead, he was drawn to a new road on his spiritual journey – to monastic life – which recently culminated in his profession of solemn (perpetual) vows Sept. 8 as a brother in the Solesmes Congregation of Benedictines at Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey in Hulbert, Oklahoma.

Looking back, he finds his apprehension was for naught, having been so affirmed by the archbishop’s response during that conversation five years ago.

“I was so overwhelmed by his mercy,” Brother Paul said. “He’s a man of the Church; he sees the monastic vocation as a good thing. He understood that and was very supportive.”

“As a good father would, he left me the freedom to follow where the Spirit was calling me. He gave me his blessing, which was much more than I was expecting.”

So, following their conversation, and before he would have been ordained a transitional deacon for the archdiocese with priestly ordination awaiting one year later, he left the seminary. He was accepted into the Clear Creek community in late 2020.

That community, founded in 1999 from the Abbey of Our Lady of Fontgombault in France, is a contemplative community of 55 monks devoted to constant prayer and penance in silence and solitude, practicing the Rule of St. Benedict, summarized in the motto “Ora et Labora” (Pray and Work), according to its website.

Brother Paul shows the document bearing his signature to Archbishop Emeritus George J. Lucas, who attended the ceremony in support of his former seminarian. COURTESY PHOTO

PRAYER AND LITURGY LIFE-CHANGING

An Omaha native, who grew up in St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Brother Paul first experienced Benedictine spirituality during college at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, where he felt the stirrings of a priestly vocation.

Then, as a seminarian, he studied philosophy at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis and theology at the North American College in Rome. Both seminary experiences enkindled in him a love for liturgy, prayer and community life.

“When I entered the seminary, it was an even deeper immersion into Catholic life,” Brother Paul said. “In particular, the seminary liturgies were beautiful, and at the very beginning were kind of a shock to my system.

“I was not used to such solemnity … but, over time, I learned to really love them, so much so that I realized that the solemnity of the liturgy, for me, is indispensable.”

Communal morning and evening prayer also became central to Brother Paul’s spiritual life.

“Both the fraternal aspect and the divine aspect of prayer became things that I longed for very much in a deeper way,” he said.

“In seminary, I learned how to have a conversation with God, and this really changed my life,” he said. “It’s like everything before my life in the seminary was black and white, then when I entered the seminary and learned how to pray … all of a sudden life was in color. That’s how dramatic the change was.”

FINDING PARALLELS

Brother Paul first encountered monastic life while attending a retreat at a Benedictine monastery in Italy, where he began to see parallels between his experience in the seminary and monastic life, including devotion to prayer and liturgy, and a fraternal way of life.

“That’s when I began to consider, concretely, leaving the seminary for the monastery,” he said.

Having heard about the Clear Creek Abbey, he began researching and praying for guidance. “It seemed to be the answer to a lot of my desires,” he said.

But, breaking the news to his family was another story.

“It was a total surprise,” said his mother, Stacey Floersch, a member of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish.

“It was definitely a curveball, but after the initial shock sunk in, I realized this was a really good path for Paul. It makes perfect sense to us now.”

Since the monks lead a semi-cloistered life, contact with the outside world, including family and friends, is limited, allowing only letter writing and three family visits per year. Obedience to the monastery’s abbot is also expected.

“It’s a sacrifice, but giving our child to God is a sacrifice worth making.”

AT PEACE WITH DECISION

“He’s a very social being and loves to be around people,” Stacey said, “and there is a peace around him now. We can tell he’s very much at peace with his decision to be at this particular monastery.

“It’s where God has called him, and it’s the perfect place for Paul,” she said.

“When I saw how happy he was at his final profession of vows, I have peace in my heart and such joy for him because he is so happy.”

Brother Paul is pictured with, from left, siblings Joseph, Noah, Zelie, Grace and Louis, and parents Stacey and Mark Floersch. COURTESY PHOTO

And, Brother Paul acknowledges the joy he finds in community life, pursuing the Benedictine motto – “Pray and Work” – with his fellow monks.

“I love living with them. It’s edifying that we all have our noses pointed in the same direction,” he said.

For example, on the abbey’s nearly 1,000 acres of land, the monks spend many of their work hours in outdoor manual labor. “There’s a common goal, this team aspect … when we are working on projects,” he said.

“The overarching project of our lives is to give glory to God, and we do that even by clearing the forest, doing things as simple as raking leaves and chopping down trees.”

And, with prayer as the primary focus of monastic life, Brother Paul said the prayer of the monks is primarily about just being with God. “It’s strikingly simple, and it’s both the most beautiful and the most difficult part about the life.”

Brother Paul signs his name to the document stating his vows. COURTESY PHOTO

Looking to the future, Brother Paul will be ordained a deacon on Nov. 8 and is continuing his theological studies. Whether that eventually leads to priesthood will be up to his abbot, Benedictine Father Philip Anderson.

“I wouldn’t say that I am set on it, because I don’t want to presume. I will be waiting for his decision,” Brother Paul said. “The union of the house is dependent on our obedience to the abbot.”

“I came here to be a monk, above all, and I’m happy to be in solemn vows now.”

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