The Altar of the Former Abbey Church Decorated ... - St. John's Abbey

L. to r.: Manuel Cely, OSB; James Harmon,
OCSO; John Mary Lugemwa, OSB;
Benedict Fischer, OSB; Matthew Rios, OSB;
Robert Sum, OSB; Austin Cadiz, OSB
Visiting Student
Monks Enrich
the Abbey
by Doug Mullin, OSB
For many decades Saint John’s
Abbey has been enriched by
visiting student monks from
around the world. They share in
our prayer and common life as they
pursue study programs at Saint
John’s University and the School of
Theology•Seminary. Many of them
are able to come to Saint John’s in
part because of the forty percent tuition
scholarship they receive from the
abbey. This year our visiting student
monks are:
• Austin Cadiz, OSB, 30, Our Lady
of Montserrat Abbey in Manila,
Philippines. He is pursuing the MA
in monastic studies. After completing
his studies this spring he will
return to his community to work in
formation.
• Manuel Cely, OSB, 33, Monasterio
Benedictino de Tibati in Bogota,
Colombia. Now in his fourth
year of studies towards the MDiv
degree, Manuel was ordained a
deacon this past June and will complete
his studies this December and
be ordained to the priesthood. He
hopes to work in his community’s
They are monks of promise for the church and their home communities.
schools and possibly in the formation
program.
• Benedict Fischer, OSB, 31, Assumption
Abbey, Richardton, North
Dakota, is pursuing the MA in
theology with the intention of being
ordained to the priesthood and
teaching or working in a parish.
• James Harmon, OCSO, 52, Holy
Cross Abbey, Berryville, Virginia,
since 1999, where he worked with
fruitcake production and sales
in this Trappist community. He
is studying for ordination to the
priesthood.
• John Mary Lugemwa, OSB, 25,
Mary Mother of the Church Abbey,
Richmond, Virginia. Originally
from Masaka, Uganda, John
Mary is working towards the BA
with majors in computer science
and philosophy. He plans to study
theology and canon law in Rome to
prepare himself to serve as a priest
and teacher.
• Matthew Rios, OSB, 41, Saint
Andrew’s Abbey, Valyermo, Cali-
STRENGTHENING FOUNDATIONS
fornia, is originally from Manila,
Philippines. Matthew completed the
MA degree in theology and was ordained
to the diaconate last August.
He will finish his studies for the
priesthood in December and return
to Valyermo to work in formation
and liturgy.
• Robert Sum, OSB, 43, is from Saint
Procopius Abbey, Lisle, Illinois.
He began graduate theological
studies in 2001 and was ordained to
the diaconate early this year. After
his ordination to the priesthood
next summer Robert hopes to work
in liturgy and music within his
community and its schools.
Doug Mullin, OSB, is associate professor
of education and a student in Saint John’s
School of Theology•Seminary.
The Abbey Banner Winter 2004 page 25