During my visit with Br. Matt at St. Vincent Archabbey over Spring Break, a conversation took place that I feel is worth sharing.
We were sitting on the porch of Leander Hall, the visitors’ quarter where my room was, watching the snow fall while we rocked on the rocking chairs.
“So I heard from a friend that apparently the Pittsburgh Steelers do their summer training here!” I said at some point. “Is that true?” St. Vincent’s College is attached to the monastery, and there is a relatively sizable football stadium on the grounds. Matt had just given me an unofficial walking tour of the college campus. When I saw the stadium I was reminded of what my friend said and I had to ask.
“Yep. That’s true,” he said. “They come here every year, actually. And have for a long time.”
“That’s so crazy!” I exclaimed. “Do you ever get to see them?”
“I’ve seen them from a distance. It’s pretty cool.”
I paused and thought about how much my mom would flip if she knew. She is a big Steelers fan. “Ha, you know what just occurred to me?” I looked at Matt with a playful grin.
“What?”
“Every year when they come here you all probably stand around saying to each other, ‘Dude! I totally just saw one of the Steelers!’ Meanwhile they come here every year, and while they’re standing around at practice they’re saying to each other, ‘Dude! I totally just saw a monk!’”
