New members join Marmion Abbey
Novice Francisco Medrano, OSB of Aurora, 21, made his three-year profession of temporary vows as a Benedictine Monk of Marmion Abbey Oct. 3, during a Mass celebrating the Feast of Blessed Columba Marmion, the namesake of Marmion Abbey and Academy.
As part of the profession ceremony, he was given the new name of Brother Nicholas, signifying his new life as a Benedictine monk.
The son of Francisco and Soraya Medrano, he is the second oldest of five sons. His family members are active parishioners of St. Nicholas Parish, Aurora. He was educated in the East Aurora schools and entered Marmion Abbey as a postulant in July 2016. He is currently taking classes at Waubonsee Community College.
Postulant Henry DiCristofano of Chicago began his year as a Benedictine Novice of Marmion Abbey Oct. 2, during a community Vespers service. He is now known as Novice Henry. He was a member of St. Kevin's Parish, Chicago. His parents are deceased, and he has one brother and one sister. Novice Henry holds a B.A. in music from the University of Illinois-Chicago. He did graduate work in music at the American Conservatory of Music, Chicago, and received a M.A. in music from Northwestern University. He has worked most of his adult life as a music director for Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago. He is an accomplished organist.
Marmion Abbey was named in honor of Blessed Columba Marmion OSB (1858-1923) who was renowned for his heroic virtue, sanctity of life and spiritual writings.
The Benedictine monks of St. Meinrad Abbey in southern Indiana were invited to Aurora in 1933 by the Bishop of Rockford to conduct the former Fox Valley Catholic High School for Boys on Lake Street in Aurora, which became Marmion Academy. On March 21, 1947, Marmion was elevated from a dependent Priory of St. Meinrad to an independent Abbey.
Marmion Abbey continues to conduct Marmion Academy, a college preparatory high school for 532 young men. It also provides pastors for Annunciation Parish and St. George Byzantine Romanian Catholic Parish in Aurora, plus providing extensive pastoral assistance for parishes of the Rockford and Joliet dioceses. For more information, visit www.marmion.org.