August 21, 2026

Novice professes vows at Saint Meinrad

Benedictine Brother Colm PorterBenedictine Novice Keegan Porter professed temporary vows as a Benedictine monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad on Aug. 6 during an Evening Prayer liturgy in the Archabbey Church of Our Lady of Einsiedeln.

His profession of vows came at the end of his novitiate year dedicated to prayer and study of the Benedictine way of life. As is the custom during the profession of vows, he was given a religious name. Novice Keegan is now Brother Colm.

Colm is a traditional Irish name pronounced as “Collum.” It is a variation on Columba, the name of a sixth-century Irish saint who was an abbot and missionary.

Brother Colm, 36, is from San Diego where he was a member of St. Thérèse of Carmel Parish.

He attended Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Ariz., graduating in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in social work.

Before joining the monastery, Brother Colm worked in a variety of positions within the field of senior living and care home facilities. Those positions included caregiving, activities, dining, facilities, and training.

Temporary vows are typically professed for a three-year period. This time offers a continuing opportunity for the monk and the monastic community to determine whether monastic life is, indeed, the right vocation for this individual. †

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