Br. Joseph Heath

WHAT LED YOU TO BECOME A MONK AT SUBIACO?

I grew up in a Roman Catholic family in Neptune Township, NJ. I have two sisters and a brother. As a child, I became a sports enthusiast as well as a history buff. At church, I served as an altar boy, lector, and Eucharistic Minister. My education began at Holy Innocents Catholic School. For my high school education, I attended St. Joseph’s Prep, a minor Seminary, where I was educated by the Vincentian Fathers and Brothers. For my junior and senior year, I attended Red Bank Catholic. The education I received from the Filippini Sisters and the Vincentian Fathers and Brothers left a lasting impression on me. They were outstanding role models.

I first considered pursuing a religious vocation in seventh grade. I had learned about religious brothers from a Franciscan brother who gave a talk at my school about religious life. I was attracted to teaching, ministry, and community life, and I thought to myself, “I could do this.” I learned that religious men and women are ordinary people.

After high school, I attended Mount Saint Mary’s College for a year. Then I worked several odd jobs. I worked as a dishwasher, a factory worker, and I was an assistant production manager at a bakery. Then I became a Revenue Billing Clerk at Chase Manhattan Bank. Lastly, just before coming to Subiaco, I was working for Covenant House, caring for youth at a Crisis Center.

On January fourth, 1989, I saw an ad for Subiaco Abbey in Our Sunday Visitor. I wrote to the vocations director and received a prompt reply inviting me to make a visit. One reason I was attracted to Subiaco was that I didn’t need a college degree to join. I was interested in living in community as well as teaching at the Academy. During my first visit, Subiaco felt like home. The monks were hospitable, and I loved the surroundings.

Currently, I provide transportation to monks to appointments or airports. I’m also assistant refectorian and work part-time in the health center. I work on necrologies for the monks, and I’m on the strategic planning committee. Previously, I worked in the Academy as a teacher and a dean.

I enjoy the solitude, peace, and order of monastic life. I have learned acceptance and can be at harmony with the community. Also, the Rule of St. Benedict begins with an important word: Listen. As a monk, I hear the Word several times a day, and I am given spiritual nourishment every day. Subiaco has a true community spirit. Our brothers are here to share our burden and have our backs.