Winter Comes to Collegeville - St. John's Abbey
Winter Comes to Collegeville - St. John's Abbey
Winter Comes to Collegeville - St. John's Abbey
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A Christmas Meditation:<br />
The Humanity and Divinity<br />
of Jesus and Us, 4<br />
Sisters and Mothers Help<br />
Brothers and Fathers, 5<br />
Saint John’s at 150:<br />
A portrait of this place called<br />
<strong>Collegeville</strong>, 8<br />
When OSB Meant “Order<br />
of Sacred Brewers,” 10<br />
First World Congress of<br />
Benedictine Oblates Meets<br />
in Rome: A Report, 12<br />
Faith on the Frontier:<br />
The Parish of Saints Peter<br />
and Paul, Richmond,<br />
Minnesota, 14<br />
Chris<strong>to</strong>pher Fair, OSB,<br />
brings fresh focus <strong>to</strong> <strong>Abbey</strong><br />
Woodworking, 20<br />
Classic Cars Cruise<br />
<strong>Collegeville</strong> Campus, 30<br />
<strong>Winter</strong> <strong>Comes</strong> <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>Collegeville</strong>
Contents<br />
Features<br />
5<br />
Sisters and Mothers Help<br />
Brothers and Fathers<br />
by Dolores Schuh, CHM<br />
8<br />
Saint John’s Sesquicentennial Book<br />
<strong>to</strong> be published soon<br />
9<br />
Peter Engel, OSB, Saint John’s First<br />
American-Born Abbot, 1894-1921<br />
by Jean Scoon<br />
Departments<br />
3 From Edi<strong>to</strong>r and Abbot<br />
16 The <strong>Abbey</strong> Chronicle<br />
The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner<br />
Magazine of<br />
Saint John’s <strong>Abbey</strong><br />
Volume 5, Issue 3<br />
<strong>Winter</strong> 2005<br />
Page 4<br />
Cover S<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
A Christmas Meditation:<br />
The Humanity and Divinity<br />
of Jesus and Us<br />
by Don Tauscher, OSB<br />
10<br />
When OSB Meant “Order of Sacred<br />
Brewers”<br />
by Andrew Coval, OSB<br />
12<br />
First World Congress of Benedictine<br />
Oblates Meets in Rome: A Report<br />
by Ford Royer, OblSB<br />
14<br />
Faith on the Frontier:<br />
The Parish of Saints Peter and Paul,<br />
Richmond, Minnesota<br />
by Eric Hollas, OSB<br />
22 <strong>Abbey</strong> Missions<br />
24 <strong>St</strong>rengthening Foundations<br />
Edi<strong>to</strong>r: Daniel Durken, OSB ddurken@csbsju.<br />
edu<br />
Copy Edi<strong>to</strong>r and Proofreader:<br />
Dolores Schuh, CHM<br />
Designer: Pam Rolfes<br />
Circulation: Ruth Athmann, Cathy Wieme,<br />
Mary Gouge<br />
Printer: Palmer Printing, <strong>St</strong>. Cloud, Minnesota<br />
Member Catholic Press Association<br />
19<br />
“Some seed fell on rich soil ...”<br />
by Bruce Wollmering, OSB<br />
20<br />
Chris<strong>to</strong>pher Fair, OSB, brings fresh<br />
focus <strong>to</strong> <strong>Abbey</strong> Woodworking<br />
by Daniel Durken, OSB<br />
29 Banner Bits<br />
32 Calendar of Major<br />
Sesquicentennial Events<br />
Please join us online. To access liturgical services visit the Saint John’s <strong>Abbey</strong> website at www.saintjohnsabbey.org.<br />
Click on “Welcome” <strong>to</strong> enter the site. Click on “Prayer” in the left-hand column and then click on “Broadcast Services.”<br />
On the Broadcast Services page you will find a variety of options <strong>to</strong> liturgies.<br />
NOTE: Please send your change of address <strong>to</strong>: Ruth Athmann at rathmann@csbsju.edu or P.O. Box 7222, <strong>Collegeville</strong>,<br />
Minnesota 56321-7222 or call 800-635-7303.<br />
Fran Hoefgen, OSB<br />
The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner is published three times<br />
annually by the Benedictine monks of Saint<br />
John’s <strong>Abbey</strong> for our relatives, friends and<br />
Oblates.<br />
The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner is online at<br />
www.sja.osb.org/<strong>Abbey</strong>Banner<br />
Saint John’s <strong>Abbey</strong>, Box 2015, <strong>Collegeville</strong>,<br />
Minnesota 56321.
Tsunamis,<br />
Hurricanes,<br />
Earthquakes,<br />
Mud Slides and<br />
Christmas<br />
by Daniel Durken, OSB<br />
ALetter <strong>to</strong> the Edi<strong>to</strong>r in<br />
a Catholic weekly reminded me that the cause of<br />
current natural disasters is not human neglect or<br />
environmental abuse but God’s dramatic way of telling<br />
us <strong>to</strong> change our sinful behavior. The writer appealed <strong>to</strong><br />
the Bible which is “loaded with examples of God sending<br />
disasters because they turned away from him.”<br />
If it is really the hand of a wrathful God that stirred up<br />
the tidal wave, whipped up Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and<br />
Wilma, shook the earth in Pakistan and buried Guatemalan<br />
villages in avalanches of mud, killing tens of thousands—<br />
then the ultimate terrorist of our time is not from Iraq or<br />
Iran or Saudi Arabia but from heaven above. The terrorist’s<br />
name is God.<br />
I do not believe the God we call Our Father planned and<br />
executed these catastrophes as a cosmic power-point presentation<br />
on repentance.<br />
I do believe in the God of Christmas. This is the God of<br />
whom it is written, “God so loved the world that he gave<br />
his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might<br />
not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send<br />
his Son in<strong>to</strong> the world <strong>to</strong> condemn the world, but that the<br />
world might be saved through him” (John 3:16-17).<br />
The Christ of Christmas came <strong>to</strong> save us, not shame and<br />
blame us. He rebuked the wind and calmed the sea when<br />
a violent squall threatened <strong>to</strong> perish his disciples (Mark 4:<br />
35-41). A Samaritan village snubbed Jesus by refusing <strong>to</strong><br />
welcome him and his disciples had the solution: “Lord,<br />
do you want us <strong>to</strong> call down fire from heaven <strong>to</strong> consume<br />
them?” But the Christ of Christmas “turned and rebuked<br />
them” (Luke 9:55).<br />
To a woman caught in adultery Jesus said, “Neither do I<br />
condemn you” (John 8:11). Of a man born blind Jesus said,<br />
“Neither he nor his parents sinned” (John 9:3). On the cross<br />
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they<br />
do” (Luke 23:34).<br />
Christmas comes at the beginning of the liturgical year<br />
and at the end of the calendar year. So whether we are<br />
coming from a year we would rather forget or going in<strong>to</strong> a<br />
year of unknown incidents and accidents, we can be sure<br />
that the Christ of Christmas remains with us. +<br />
Saint John’s<br />
Capital Campaign:<br />
One Generation<br />
<strong>to</strong> the Next<br />
by Abbot John Klassen, OSB<br />
FROM EDITOR AND ABBOT<br />
In Oc<strong>to</strong>ber Saint John’s <strong>Abbey</strong><br />
and University announced<br />
a joint Capital Campaign <strong>to</strong> raise $150 million <strong>to</strong> be<br />
used for educational and ministerial programs. Designated<br />
One Generation <strong>to</strong> the Next, the campaign is asking the<br />
current generation of alumni and friends <strong>to</strong> raise funds <strong>to</strong><br />
benefit the next generation. Of this goal, $92 million has<br />
already been raised. The abbey hopes <strong>to</strong> raise $15 million<br />
<strong>to</strong> support the following priorities:<br />
• <strong>Abbey</strong> Guest House: A Place of Spiritual Renewal –<br />
Scheduled <strong>to</strong> open next fall, this will be a place of spiritual<br />
renewal for retreatants and other guests. Monies are<br />
needed <strong>to</strong> endow the essential positions of guest master,<br />
Oblate direc<strong>to</strong>r and direc<strong>to</strong>r of spiritual life.<br />
• Breuer Church Pavilion – Includes renovation of the<br />
Blessed Sacrament chapel, installation of an eleva<strong>to</strong>r,<br />
construction of a pedestrian tunnel between the guest<br />
house and the church and renovation of the chapter house<br />
for a meeting space for retreatants and other guests.<br />
• Vocations – Increased efforts <strong>to</strong> cultivate monastic vocations<br />
through new and innovative programs <strong>to</strong> encourage<br />
young men <strong>to</strong> explore Benedictine life and <strong>to</strong> assist in<br />
ministry.<br />
• Entrepreneurial Enterprises – 1) Modernize <strong>Abbey</strong><br />
Woodworking which produces fine furniture for use<br />
at Saint John’s and for commercial sale; 2) develop a<br />
cemetery for alumni and friends; 3) begin other creative<br />
projects.<br />
• Care of Sick and Elderly Monks – Provide for health<br />
and retirement needs of monks who have dedicated their<br />
lives <strong>to</strong> the service of students and the Church.<br />
• Mission Outreach – Support ministerial outreach <strong>to</strong><br />
parishes, the poor, our mission in Japan and monasteries<br />
in developing countries.<br />
We are on the verge of celebrating the 150th year of our<br />
presence in central Minnesota. This Benedictine community<br />
is profoundly grateful for the ongoing support of<br />
men and women who have s<strong>to</strong>od with us and assisted us in<br />
every way <strong>to</strong> make exciting things happen.<br />
We trust in your generosity as we go forward <strong>to</strong> creatively<br />
meet the needs of the next generation. +<br />
The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005 page 3
SPIRITUAL LIFE<br />
A Christmas Meditation:<br />
The Humanity and Divinity of Jesus and Us<br />
by Don Tauscher, OSB<br />
“May we come <strong>to</strong> share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself <strong>to</strong> share in our humanity.”<br />
When we hear the words “humanity<br />
and divinity,” especially<br />
at Christmas time,<br />
we likely say, “That’s right! Jesus<br />
Christ is fully human and fully divine.<br />
He is the Son of God in the flesh.”<br />
But right now I want us <strong>to</strong> appreciate<br />
the truth that WE are also both human<br />
and divine. Not exactly the way<br />
Christ is, but nonetheless genuinely<br />
so. Combing through the works of<br />
the earliest Christian writers, we find<br />
numerous theological jewels including<br />
this one from Saint Athanasius: “God<br />
became human so that humans might<br />
become God.” Is this some heinous<br />
heresy? No, not at all.<br />
The reality Athanasius verbalizes<br />
finds its expression in the Second<br />
Letter of Peter: “God has bes<strong>to</strong>wed<br />
on us the precious and<br />
very great promises, so that<br />
through them you may become<br />
participants of the<br />
divine nature” (1:4). S<strong>to</strong>p!<br />
Take a deep breath for this<br />
is not fluff. It is one of the<br />
most profound truths about<br />
who we are and what we<br />
should do about it.<br />
Saint Paul puts it this way:<br />
“It is no longer I who live,<br />
but it is Christ who lives in<br />
me. And the life I now live<br />
in the flesh I live by faith in<br />
Artist unknown<br />
page 4 The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005<br />
the Son of God who loved me and<br />
gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).<br />
Here we have clearly commingled the<br />
human and the divine.<br />
When the gifts of bread and wine<br />
are prepared for the Eucharist, while<br />
adding a little water <strong>to</strong> the wine the<br />
presider prays silently, “Through the<br />
mystery of this water and wine, may<br />
we come <strong>to</strong> share in the divinity of<br />
Christ who humbled himself <strong>to</strong> share<br />
in our humanity.” This is so tremendously<br />
beautiful and powerful that I<br />
wish we could always say these words<br />
aloud.<br />
The Adoration of the Magi<br />
If we could actually believe that all<br />
of us do indeed already participate<br />
in the divine nature, might we see<br />
less apathy, less fraudulent disenfranchising<br />
of others, less gossip,<br />
war and road rage? Might we spend<br />
less money on making professional<br />
entertainers exorbitantly, scandalously<br />
wealthy and spend more on providing<br />
good education, health care, housing<br />
and formation in interpersonal relations?<br />
Is this a fantasy world? Or is this a<br />
sample of why God went <strong>to</strong> a lot of<br />
trouble <strong>to</strong> become human?<br />
Years ago a child could hear a<br />
Christmas song declare, “All I want<br />
for Kwithmuth is my two fwont<br />
teeth.” Well, all I want for<br />
Christmas is an elevated<br />
consciousness of and a<br />
deeper appreciation of my<br />
humanity and my honest<strong>to</strong>-God<br />
participation in the<br />
divine nature, along with<br />
the grace <strong>to</strong> treat others<br />
the way I would like <strong>to</strong><br />
treat Jesus Christ himself.<br />
I want that for all of you,<br />
<strong>to</strong>o. +<br />
<strong>Abbey</strong>.<br />
Don Tauscher, OSB, is the<br />
direc<strong>to</strong>r of the Spiritual Life<br />
Program at Saint John’s.
The Franciscan Sisters at Saint<br />
John’s pose for a community<br />
pho<strong>to</strong>. The former greenhouse is<br />
in the background.<br />
Sisters and<br />
Mothers<br />
Help<br />
Brothers and<br />
Fathers<br />
by Dolores Schuh, CHM<br />
The s<strong>to</strong>ry not <strong>to</strong>ld in Worship and Work, Saint John’s centennial his<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
every great man<br />
there’s a great woman.”<br />
“Behind<br />
This old adage may read<br />
a bit differently at Saint John’s <strong>Abbey</strong>,<br />
but the message is the same: “In<br />
the shadows of all the good monks are<br />
found good women who provide valuable<br />
services.”<br />
Early in the twentieth century women<br />
religious worked for the monks.<br />
From 1904 <strong>to</strong> 1913 a small community<br />
of French Presentation Sisters<br />
cooked the meals at the abbey. Their<br />
role was so important that a convent<br />
(now student housing called Frank<br />
House) was built for them.<br />
When the Presentations left, 24<br />
Sisters of the Third Order of Saint<br />
Francis from Dillingen, Bavaria,<br />
arrived <strong>to</strong> manage the dining service.<br />
Frank House was enlarged <strong>to</strong> accommodate<br />
these nuns who worked for 45<br />
years before moving <strong>to</strong> their motherhouse<br />
in Hankinson, North Dakota.<br />
A smaller group of Mexican-born<br />
Benedictine nuns staffed the kitchen<br />
from 1958 until 1964 when the service<br />
was operated thereafter by lay women<br />
and men.<br />
The monks remember the hardy<br />
German meals provided by the “good<br />
Sisters.” Every supper included fried<br />
A Franciscan Sister (in white) shows several Mexican Benedictine<br />
Sisters the fine art of preparing pastry.<br />
<strong>Abbey</strong> Archives<br />
FEATURE<br />
pota<strong>to</strong>es. One evening when this staple<br />
was omitted, a monk eating with<br />
students omitted the prayers before<br />
and after meals with the comment,<br />
“This isn’t a meal!” Another monk<br />
recalls that he liked the food except<br />
for liver dumpling soup. That stuff, he<br />
says, was bad news!<br />
A single woman monastic who<br />
made a major academic contribution<br />
<strong>to</strong> Saint John’s was Mary Anthony<br />
Wagner, OSB. Her leadership led <strong>to</strong><br />
the formation of the unique Benedictine<br />
Institute of Sacred Theology that<br />
later became Saint John’s School<br />
of Theology. She served as its dean,<br />
(continued next page)<br />
Saint Benedict’s Monastery<br />
Mary Anthony Wagner, OSB, leading<br />
founder of the Benedictine Institute<br />
of Sacred Theology, dean of Saint<br />
John’s School of Theology, edi<strong>to</strong>r of<br />
Sisters Today<br />
<strong>Abbey</strong> Archives<br />
The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005 page 5
FEATURE<br />
taught for many years and for over<br />
two decades was the edi<strong>to</strong>r of Sisters<br />
Today, the periodical published by<br />
Liturgical Press. Mary Anthony died<br />
September 19, 2002.<br />
<strong>Abbey</strong> Archives<br />
Sabina Dietrichs, resident nurse<br />
and first laywoman employed at<br />
Saint John’s<br />
Women religious did not have a<br />
monopoly on providing services at<br />
Saint John’s. This article highlights<br />
just a few of the many laywomen who<br />
made significant contributions <strong>to</strong> Saint<br />
John’s and are now deceased. Sabina<br />
Diederichs, the first laywoman<br />
employed by the monks, served as the<br />
resident nurse in the campus infirmary<br />
from 1920 <strong>to</strong> 1945. The monks recall<br />
Sabina’s cheerfulness, keen intelligence<br />
and no-nonsense approach <strong>to</strong><br />
monk and student infirmities.<br />
page 6 The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005<br />
<strong>Abbey</strong> Archives<br />
Agnes Ramler, seminary<br />
housekeeper and hostess of<br />
monk friends<br />
Who can forget Agnes Ramler, the<br />
spunky little German lady who lived<br />
in a tiny white house in Flynn<strong>to</strong>wn<br />
(where the Se<strong>to</strong>n Apartments stand<br />
<strong>to</strong>day) and worked as a housekeeper<br />
in the seminary (now Emmaus Hall)?<br />
She often entertained the monks in<br />
her home and it was rumored that she<br />
served “ordinary wine” <strong>to</strong> the “ordinary<br />
monks,” while the good stuff<br />
was reserved for the abbot when he<br />
s<strong>to</strong>pped for a visit.<br />
Agnes generally consulted her German-English<br />
dictionary <strong>to</strong> verify the<br />
meaning of a word. On one occasion<br />
she heard the word “virgin” and found<br />
it translated as “young girl.” Shortly<br />
thereafter, in a visit with one of the<br />
monks, Agnes said, “When I was a<br />
virgin, I could have had any man I<br />
wanted!” Agnes’ interpretation of the<br />
tall, gaunt statue of Saint John the<br />
Baptist in the baptistery of the abbey<br />
church is legendary. When asked<br />
about the seven-foot height of the<br />
tarnished statue, she explained, “Yah,<br />
dat’s vare da art comes in!”<br />
The Hueschle sisters, Catherine<br />
and Marie, lived in a house across<br />
the road from the apple orchard and<br />
made and mended monastic habits.<br />
Catherine and Mary (as Marie was affectionately<br />
known) kept their sewing<br />
machines stitching in one large room<br />
of their home. Mid-morning they<br />
walked <strong>to</strong> the Great Hall <strong>to</strong> get their<br />
newspaper and exchange cheery greetings<br />
with monks, students and staff,<br />
always with a twinkle in their eyes.<br />
Alcuin Eich<br />
Bertha Eich, Saint John’s<br />
laundress for 41 years<br />
While the Hueschles kept the<br />
monks clad, Bertha Eich kept the<br />
monks’ clothes clean. Week after<br />
week Bertha laundered, mangled,<br />
ironed and folded the monks’ personal<br />
clothing. If all the t-shirts and socks<br />
Bertha washed in her 41 years of service<br />
were laid out side by side, they’d<br />
cover a myriad of football fields. Bertha<br />
lived her whole life in <strong>Collegeville</strong>,<br />
daily walked the mile <strong>to</strong> work and died<br />
January 31, 2005.<br />
Idell Gasperlin, secretary <strong>to</strong><br />
many monks<br />
Somewhat more visible on campus<br />
because of her position was Idell<br />
Gasperlin. She provided secretarial<br />
services <strong>to</strong> many of the monks in the<br />
’60s and ’70s, including Fathers Don<br />
LeMay, Gordon Tavis, Florian Muggli<br />
and Don Talafous. Idell considered<br />
her years at Saint John’s the best years<br />
of her life. After work one day she<br />
went <strong>to</strong> the hospital for tests and died a<br />
month later, in the spring of 1978.<br />
Saint John’s University Archives<br />
Nancy D’Heilly<br />
Marilyn Douvier, manager of<br />
Saint John’s phone system<br />
Another familiar face on campus<br />
was that of Marilyn Douvier, hired as<br />
a switchboard opera<strong>to</strong>r in 1967. Over
the next 27 years she was a key figure<br />
in the development of the telecommunications<br />
systems at Saint John’s.<br />
For many years she could be seen at<br />
the information desk in the Great Hall<br />
where she sold Greyhound bus tickets<br />
and managed the student workers.<br />
Early in her tenure, when she sold a<br />
bus ticket <strong>to</strong> a somewhat senile monk<br />
who managed <strong>to</strong> escape the notice of<br />
the retirement center staff, she was<br />
advised not <strong>to</strong> sell any more bus tickets<br />
<strong>to</strong> “kooky” monks. “And how am<br />
I <strong>to</strong> know which ones are ‘kooky’?”<br />
she asked. She succumbed <strong>to</strong> cancer<br />
in 2004.<br />
Frances Pond was the first paid<br />
secretary at Saint John’s. She worked<br />
for Fathers Godfrey Diekmann and<br />
Walter Reger, and served as Abbot<br />
John Eidenschink’s secretary for<br />
several years. Along with clicking the<br />
typewriter keys with great alacrity,<br />
Frances was known <strong>to</strong> click her knitting<br />
needles with the same rapidity<br />
and made many beautiful afghans for<br />
friends and family.<br />
Frances Pond, the first paid secretary<br />
at Saint John’s<br />
<strong>Abbey</strong> Archives<br />
Eila Perlmutter, professor of English<br />
<strong>Abbey</strong> Archives<br />
An early and memorable woman<br />
faculty member of Saint John’s University<br />
was Eila Perlmutter. When<br />
her husband was hired as Vice President<br />
of Academic Affairs in 1972, Eila<br />
was soon hired <strong>to</strong> teach in the English<br />
department. She quickly earned<br />
the reputation of being a passionate<br />
teacher. A colleague described her<br />
as “demanding, stylistically quirky,<br />
stunningly effective, an acknowledged<br />
tyrant from whom there was no stylistic<br />
appeal.” After the 1980s fall of<br />
Aya<strong>to</strong>llah Khomeini, the Shah of Iran,<br />
FEATURE<br />
a <strong>to</strong>o-clever student dubbed her “Eila<strong>to</strong>llah<br />
Perlmutter,” a nickname that<br />
stuck for years. Her relentlessness in<br />
exacting excellence was an expression<br />
of her love and most students thanked<br />
her for it. Twelve times she <strong>to</strong>ok<br />
students <strong>to</strong> London during the January<br />
Term <strong>to</strong> see live theatre.<br />
Emigrating from Finland with her<br />
parents at age five, her early years<br />
gave her the background for her<br />
novel, Sirkka, a s<strong>to</strong>ry of 200 Finnish<br />
immigrants struggling <strong>to</strong> survive the<br />
Great Depression of 1934-41. Eila<br />
died in June 2000.<br />
In reading Colman Barry’s Worship<br />
and Work (the centennial his<strong>to</strong>ry of<br />
Saint John’s), I found a real dearth<br />
of information about women’s role<br />
in this illustrious chronicle. It would<br />
require a not-so-small volume <strong>to</strong><br />
acknowledge all the female employees<br />
who have dedicated many years in the<br />
service of the abbey. Maybe I’ll write<br />
a book! +<br />
Dolores Schuh, CHM, is the copy<br />
edi<strong>to</strong>r of The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner. She lives<br />
and works at the Humility of Mary<br />
Center in Davenport, Iowa.<br />
The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005 page 7
SESQUICENTENNIAL<br />
Saint John’s at 150. A portrait<br />
of this place called <strong>Collegeville</strong><br />
is the title of the sesquicentennial<br />
book due <strong>to</strong> appear in April 2006.<br />
Edited by Hilary Thimmesh, OSB,<br />
Saint John’s University president<br />
emeritus and professor of English, and<br />
designed by Ann Blattner, edi<strong>to</strong>rial<br />
art manager of Liturgical Press, the<br />
book has a foreword by chancellor<br />
and abbot John Klassen, OSB, and<br />
an afterword by university president<br />
Dietrich Reinhart, OSB. An introduction<br />
by Annette Atkins, professor<br />
of his<strong>to</strong>ry at Saint John’s, provides a<br />
quick survey of Minnesota his<strong>to</strong>ry and<br />
American life outside the Pine Curtain<br />
as background for the Saint John’s<br />
s<strong>to</strong>ry.<br />
Twelve chapters by a dozen writers—from<br />
the monastery, the faculty,<br />
the rest of the world—present personal<br />
essays on <strong>to</strong>pics in Saint John’s first<br />
150 years that the writers find interesting,<br />
from the missionary lifestyle<br />
page 8 The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005<br />
The cover of the Sesquicentennial Book—pho<strong>to</strong> by Lee Hanley,<br />
design by Ann Blattner and Joachim Rhoades, OSB<br />
Saint John’s<br />
Sesquicentennial Book <strong>to</strong><br />
be published soon<br />
Celebrating 150 years of Benedictine life and education<br />
in central Minnesota<br />
of the first monks <strong>to</strong> cameo images<br />
of a few current college profs in the<br />
classroom.<br />
Sidebars and special features add<br />
thirty more writers <strong>to</strong> the mix for short<br />
pieces that are appealing because of<br />
the authors as well as the <strong>to</strong>pics. For<br />
example, Katherine Powers on her<br />
father, J.F. Powers; Bill Kling on the<br />
founding of Minnesota Public Radio;<br />
Jon Hassler on <strong>St</strong>eve Humphrey,<br />
his prof as a college student; Thomas<br />
Mer<strong>to</strong>n on the beauty of a summer<br />
afternoon at the chapel across Lake<br />
Sagatagan.<br />
And there are numerous pictures,<br />
some of them his<strong>to</strong>ric black and white<br />
pho<strong>to</strong>s by Peter Engel, OSB, before<br />
he was elected abbot in 1894, others<br />
more recent in full color.<br />
The book is not a comprehensive<br />
his<strong>to</strong>ry. Only a couple chapters have<br />
endnotes—in small print. But the<br />
contents are his<strong>to</strong>rical and the index<br />
references the surprising number of<br />
people and places and events that<br />
finally get mentioned in this 160-page,<br />
9 x 12 book celebrating 150 years<br />
of Benedictine life and education in<br />
central Minnesota.<br />
The price of this hardbound edition<br />
is $39.95 and will be available at the<br />
Liturgical Press (www.litpress.org<br />
or 1-800-858-5450 or 320-363-<br />
2213) and Saint John’s Books<strong>to</strong>re<br />
(www.csbsju.edu/books<strong>to</strong>re/<br />
default.htm or 1-800-420-4509 or<br />
320-363-2405). +
Peter Engel, OSB, Saint John’s<br />
First American-Born Abbot,<br />
1894-1921<br />
Edi<strong>to</strong>r’s Note: As we approach our<br />
Sesquicentennial Celebration, a<br />
cause for gratitude is the quality of the<br />
abbey’s leadership these 150 years.<br />
Ten abbots were chosen <strong>to</strong> “hold<br />
the place of Christ in the monastery”<br />
(Rule, chapter 2). To single out one of<br />
them for a special tribute was no easy<br />
task. This brief essay is proof that<br />
the choice of Abbot Peter was not an<br />
arbitrary one.<br />
The eldest son of German immigrant<br />
farmers, Peter Engel<br />
admits in his memoirs that he<br />
didn’t like farming but credits himself<br />
with “some aptitude for study.” Born<br />
in Wisconsin two months before the<br />
1856 arrival of the Benedictines in<br />
Minnesota, Peter came <strong>to</strong> <strong>Collegeville</strong><br />
in 1869. He made his first profession<br />
of vows in 1875, was ordained<br />
in 1878 and elected the community’s<br />
first American-born abbot in 1894.<br />
He is described by abbey his<strong>to</strong>rians<br />
as the “most beloved of the abbots<br />
who served during Saint John’s first<br />
century.”<br />
Peter did indeed have an aptitude<br />
for study. By the time he became abbot,<br />
he had studied and taught natural<br />
philosophy, physics and chemistry;<br />
by Jean Scoon<br />
developed a physics labora<strong>to</strong>ry;<br />
opened a meteorological station;<br />
installed a wireless telegraph station;<br />
and begun an astronomy observa<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
on the water <strong>to</strong>wer.<br />
His favorite words were crescat,<br />
crescant (“may it grow”) and the<br />
27 years of his leadership saw Saint<br />
John’s bloom academically. He became<br />
the first abbot <strong>to</strong> send monks for<br />
graduate studies, staffing Saint John’s<br />
classrooms and labs with PhD and<br />
Master’s-level teachers.<br />
Both the science curriculum and<br />
scientific research flourished with<br />
Peter’s encouragement. Labs were<br />
added, monks published textbooks in<br />
chemistry and astronomy, and James<br />
Hansen, OSB, established the third<br />
largest plant collection in Minnesota.<br />
The community beyond the classroom<br />
benefited as well. Research in<strong>to</strong><br />
locally hardy fruits yielded grapes<br />
and pears grown throughout the<br />
region. Systematic reforestation was<br />
introduced, beginning the practice of<br />
environmental stewardship so fundamental<br />
<strong>to</strong> Saint John’s. As the monks<br />
traveled <strong>to</strong> parish assignments, they<br />
often advised farmers on seeds and<br />
rotation of crops.<br />
SESQUICENTENNIAL<br />
It is fitting that the science center,<br />
renovated in 2000, was named for<br />
Abbot Peter. But science was not<br />
his only domain. He also oversaw<br />
the formation of the first organized<br />
extramural athletic program in 1901,<br />
saying <strong>to</strong> one objec<strong>to</strong>r, “We have <strong>to</strong> be<br />
up <strong>to</strong> the times, Father.” It was Peter<br />
who ensured that electric lights lit<br />
Saint John’s in 1899. His passion for<br />
pho<strong>to</strong>graphy left the abbey a valuable<br />
pic<strong>to</strong>rial his<strong>to</strong>ry of <strong>Collegeville</strong> at the<br />
turn of the century.<br />
From the day of his election as<br />
abbot and president of the university<br />
in 1894 until his death in 1921, Peter<br />
protested that he wasn’t the right man<br />
for the job. He wept at his election and<br />
recognized that “God likes <strong>to</strong> choose<br />
the weak.” But his<strong>to</strong>ry teaches us otherwise:<br />
Combining his commitment <strong>to</strong><br />
modernism with a deep Benedictine<br />
spirituality, this humble man guided<br />
Saint John’s in<strong>to</strong> the twentieth century<br />
with a sure and steady hand. +<br />
Jean Scoon is the direc<strong>to</strong>r of advancement<br />
publications and communications at Saint<br />
John’s University.<br />
<strong>Abbey</strong> Archives<br />
The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005 page 9
FEATURE<br />
At his 104th birthday last April<br />
19, Angelo Zankl, OSB,<br />
made an unexpected request.<br />
Asked if he would like anything special,<br />
he looked up, surrounded by his<br />
confreres in the monastic refec<strong>to</strong>ry,<br />
and answered with a glint in his eye,<br />
“A BEER.”<br />
Another s<strong>to</strong>ry is <strong>to</strong>ld of Rembert<br />
Bularzik, OSB, who, after his last<br />
anointing, was asked by the abbot,<br />
“Is there anything else we can do for<br />
you?” Father Rembert’s eyes opened<br />
and he sat up, “Y-e-a-h,” he managed<br />
<strong>to</strong> rasp, “Let’s share a beer <strong>to</strong>gether.”<br />
Amid dumbfounded looks, the abbot<br />
sent for beer, and Rembert died<br />
peacefully within the hour.<br />
More than a millennium’s worth<br />
of such tales testify <strong>to</strong> one indisputable<br />
point: beer and monks go <strong>to</strong>gether<br />
like blue lakes and Minnesota.<br />
Monks, it could be argued, are the<br />
fathers of beer. Like many father-son<br />
relationships, however, there have<br />
been bumps along the way, and the<br />
saga of American Benedictines is no<br />
exception.<br />
page 10 The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005<br />
Daniel Durken, OSB<br />
Angelo Zankl, OSB, enjoys a beer on his 104th birthday.<br />
When OSB Meant<br />
“Order of Sacred Brewers”<br />
by Andrew Coval, OSB<br />
“Let us at least agree <strong>to</strong> drink moderately, and not <strong>to</strong><br />
the point of excess” (Rule, 40).<br />
Soon after Boniface Wimmer, OSB,<br />
founded America’s first Benedictine<br />
abbey (Saint Vincent) in 1846 in<br />
Latrobe, Pennsylvania, he acquired<br />
a brewery. In America this created a<br />
wave of controversy among temperance<br />
advocates and the local Irish<br />
bishop. While Archabbot Boniface<br />
soon closed the brewery, the debate<br />
went all the way <strong>to</strong> Rome where it<br />
was decided by none other than Pope<br />
Pius IX, who concluded, “<strong>St</strong>. Paul<br />
Homegrown hops in the abbey garden<br />
wrote <strong>to</strong> <strong>St</strong>. Timothy he should take a<br />
little wine for his weak s<strong>to</strong>mach, and<br />
so you must have something.”<br />
But even the pope could not keep temperance<br />
activists from condemning the<br />
Benedictines and ridiculing their OSB<br />
initials as the “Order of Sacred Brewers.”<br />
Finally, the abbey brewery approved<br />
by papal decree closed its doors<br />
in 1898, while the other <strong>to</strong>wn brewery<br />
grew in<strong>to</strong> the seventh largest brewery<br />
Simon-Hoà Phan, OSB
Novice Peter Sullivan, OSB<br />
in the U.S. with its now world-famous<br />
Rolling Rock beer.<br />
When the Benedictines came <strong>to</strong><br />
Minnesota in 1856, they nobly gave<br />
up brewing for the sake of peace.<br />
In1878 they tried <strong>to</strong> “Americanize” by<br />
discontinuing the cus<strong>to</strong>m of serving<br />
beer in the abbey school on special<br />
occasions. But even this could not<br />
prevent another clash with temperance<br />
advocates and another powerful<br />
Irish bishop, John Ireland. Prohibition<br />
temporarily solved the dilemma,<br />
but rumors persisted of underground<br />
monastic stills, some even claiming<br />
that monks were behind Holdingford’s<br />
infamous bootleg “Minnesota 13.”<br />
Alexius Hoffmann, OSB, Saint<br />
John’s first his<strong>to</strong>rian, tried <strong>to</strong> set the<br />
record straight in 1934: “Some of our<br />
enemies, even priests in the diocese of<br />
<strong>St</strong>. Paul, said that we used <strong>to</strong> have a<br />
brewery. We never did . . . We never<br />
brewed beer and we never made wine.<br />
“Black Monks Ale” label and a promotional<br />
bottle draped with a monk’s robe made by<br />
Novice Peregrine Rinderknecht, OSB<br />
Only an old gardener (An<strong>to</strong>n<br />
Schaefer) used <strong>to</strong> make a cask of<br />
wine for himself and that cask<br />
remained dry when he passed<br />
away in 1898.” But not for long.<br />
Shortly after Father Alexius’<br />
defense, Saint John’s began producing<br />
its famous “<strong>Abbey</strong> Gas,”<br />
a punchy red wine concocted in<br />
the old butcher shop. Besides<br />
being used for the celebration<br />
of the Eucharist, it was served<br />
at table every Tuesday, Thursday<br />
and Sunday as well as on<br />
special feast days. After almost<br />
fifty years, “<strong>Abbey</strong> Gas” presses<br />
ceased production in the early<br />
1980s.<br />
But with the end of one era<br />
comes the dawn of another: On<br />
February 6, 2005 (Super Bowl<br />
Sunday) Prior Raymond Pedrizetti,<br />
OSB, prayed the official beer blessing<br />
from the Roman Ritual over the his<strong>to</strong>ric<br />
first batch of (licit) beer brewed<br />
at the abbey. One hundred fifty years<br />
in the making, its commemorative<br />
first label was masterfully designed<br />
by Joachim Rhoades, OSB, with the<br />
proud name, “Black Monks Ale.”<br />
Since then, the fledgling brewery<br />
has fermented Irish S<strong>to</strong>ut (in honor<br />
of the Irish bishops), Bavarian Hefeweizen,<br />
English Pale Ale, Chocolate<br />
Cream Ale, and a golden Kölsch. The<br />
monastic garden has seen the addition<br />
of three hops varieties—German Hallertau,<br />
English Fuggle, and American<br />
Cascade.<br />
The oft-disputed relationship of<br />
monks and beer is still open <strong>to</strong> debate.<br />
After a millennium and a half, we<br />
can do no better than Saint Benedict<br />
himself, who “with some uneasi-<br />
FEATURE<br />
Brewmaster Andrew Coval, OSB, pours a<br />
bottle of homemade “Black Monks Ale.”<br />
ness” permits each monk a hemina of<br />
wine per day (an amount still undetermined).<br />
In the Rule’s chapter “On<br />
the proper amount of drink,” he also<br />
warns against excess and drunkenness<br />
and above all—as is his constant<br />
refrain---murmuring.<br />
As for what the future of abbey<br />
brewing will bring, the s<strong>to</strong>ry is ongoing.<br />
We can say that the hops have<br />
blossomed, a barley crop is planned,<br />
and Angelo has his 105th birthday<br />
coming up. Just as Minnesota means<br />
“sky colored lakes,” perhaps those<br />
early temperance advocates had it<br />
right: OSB does mean “Order of Sacred<br />
Brewers.” +<br />
Andrew Coval, OSB, teaches Spanish at<br />
Saint John’s Prepara<strong>to</strong>ry School.<br />
Daniel Durken, OSB<br />
The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005 page 11
FEATURE<br />
Several years ago Abbot Primate<br />
Notker Wolf, OSB, of the <strong>Abbey</strong><br />
and International College<br />
of Saint Anselm in Rome, suggested<br />
<strong>to</strong> the Council of Italian Benedictine<br />
Oblates that they organize a World<br />
Congress of Benedictine Oblates. A<br />
committee headed by Luigi Ber<strong>to</strong>cchi,<br />
OSB, of Saint John’s <strong>Abbey</strong><br />
brought the suggestion <strong>to</strong> reality September<br />
19-25.<br />
Three hundred Benedictine Oblates<br />
from over 35 countries converged<br />
on Rome for this first ever gathering.<br />
Three delegates from Minnesota<br />
represented their respective communities:<br />
Anne Pierskalla, Saint Benedict’s<br />
Monastery, <strong>St</strong>. Joseph; Mike Lawson,<br />
Saint Brigid of Kildaire Monastery,<br />
<strong>St</strong>. Joseph; myself from Saint John’s<br />
<strong>Abbey</strong>, <strong>Collegeville</strong>.<br />
The Congress began with Monday<br />
evening Vespers and introductions by<br />
Angela Fiorillo, national coordina<strong>to</strong>r<br />
of Italian Oblates, and the Abbot<br />
Primate. Since these presentations<br />
were given in Italian, participants<br />
were provided with wireless headsets<br />
page 12 The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005<br />
Participants of the First World Congress of Oblates,<br />
September 2005<br />
First World<br />
Congress of<br />
Benedictine Oblates<br />
Meets in Rome:<br />
A Report<br />
by Ford Royer, OblSB<br />
“There is a tremendous thirst among Christian laity for affiliation<br />
with Benedictine monasteries.”<br />
programmed for live translation in<strong>to</strong><br />
their respective native languages. It<br />
gave one the feeling of being at the<br />
United Nations.<br />
The theme of the Congress, “Communion<br />
with God, Communion with<br />
the World,” was divided in<strong>to</strong> three<br />
<strong>to</strong>pics: Communion with Monks<br />
and Oblates; Communion with God<br />
(contemplation); and Communion<br />
with the World (mission). These <strong>to</strong>pics<br />
were the subjects of presentations<br />
Pope Benedict XVI addresses his “Benedictine family” at<br />
Castel Gandolfo.<br />
given over the first three days of the<br />
Congress.<br />
Each day began with Lauds in a<br />
different language, followed by the<br />
morning presentation. Later we gathered<br />
for the celebration of the Eucharist<br />
(again in different languages) and<br />
then lunch. There was an afternoon<br />
presentation, a question and answer<br />
session and group meetings organized<br />
by language. The groups were given<br />
discussion questions pertaining <strong>to</strong> the
L. <strong>to</strong> r.: German Oblate, Paschal Morlino, OSB<br />
(Saint Vincent Archabbey, national coordina<strong>to</strong>r<br />
of USA Oblates), Luigi Ber<strong>to</strong>cchi, OSB (Saint<br />
John’s <strong>Abbey</strong>, chair of organizing committee);<br />
German Oblate, Ford Royer, author of report<br />
day’s presentations. The day concluded<br />
with Vespers and dinner.<br />
On Friday we met for a concluding<br />
presentation at which time summaries<br />
of the individual group sessions were<br />
given and proposals for future Congresses<br />
were discussed. The Abbot<br />
Primate gave the concluding remarks<br />
and presided at the noonday Eucharist.<br />
Delegates were free in the afternoon<br />
<strong>to</strong> do some sightseeing in down<strong>to</strong>wn<br />
Rome.<br />
Early Saturday morning we boarded<br />
buses for the ninety-mile trip <strong>to</strong> the<br />
venerable <strong>Abbey</strong> of Monte Cassino,<br />
founded in 529 by <strong>St</strong>. Benedict.<br />
Archabbot Bernardo D’Onorio, OSB,<br />
superior of the twenty-plus member<br />
community, presided at the Eucharist<br />
in the magnificently res<strong>to</strong>red abbey<br />
basilica. We <strong>to</strong>ured the abbey with<br />
s<strong>to</strong>ps in the museum and gift shop,<br />
followed by a box lunch in the monastic<br />
refec<strong>to</strong>ry. After Vespers (in Latin)<br />
we returned <strong>to</strong> Rome for dinner and<br />
farewells by Angela Fiorillo and the<br />
Abbot Primate.<br />
The final day began with Lauds<br />
and Mass and then a trip <strong>to</strong> Castel<br />
Gandolfo for an audience with Pope<br />
Benedict XVI. His Holiness prayed<br />
the Angelus with us, recognized our<br />
delegation with “Welcome <strong>to</strong> my<br />
Benedictine family” and gave us his<br />
blessing. This was a very <strong>to</strong>uching<br />
and spiritual moment, knowing that<br />
the Pope himself is also a Benedictine<br />
Oblate.<br />
Thus the Congress concluded and<br />
we returned <strong>to</strong> our respective countries,<br />
renewed in our vocation as<br />
Oblates—not as monks living in community<br />
but as followers of the Rule<br />
of Saint Benedict, carrying his message<br />
and spirit in<strong>to</strong> the world through<br />
our daily lives. We are inspired by<br />
the remarks of Norvene Vest, author<br />
of books on Benedictine spirituality<br />
and herself an Oblate. She comments<br />
that the growth of Oblate programs<br />
demonstrates “a tremendous hunger<br />
and thirst among Christian laity<br />
throughout the world for affiliation<br />
with Benedictine monasteries.”<br />
FEATURE<br />
This author continues, “It is a<br />
perplexing trend, for it suggests<br />
that while traditional forms of monasticism<br />
are not growing in most<br />
places—though they remain a stable<br />
center—something about the Benedictine<br />
charism is very important in this<br />
time. A powerful reason for growth<br />
in the Benedictine Oblate movement<br />
is not just the hunger for more meaningful<br />
spiritual practice, but is also<br />
because of the thirst <strong>to</strong> understand<br />
more clearly what is going on in this<br />
bewilderingly complex world and how<br />
<strong>to</strong> respond <strong>to</strong> it as Christians.”<br />
This is what being a Benedictine<br />
Oblate is all about: bringing Benedictine<br />
spirituality, hospitality, balance,<br />
respect for human dignity, manual<br />
labor and the beauty of creation in<strong>to</strong><br />
the world of business, politics, family<br />
life and work. And above all “that in<br />
all things God may be glorified.” +<br />
Ford M. Royer has been an Oblate of<br />
Saint John’s <strong>Abbey</strong> since 1999 and is a<br />
member of Saint James Episcopal Church<br />
in Minneapolis.<br />
The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005 page 13
FEATURE<br />
the greatest<br />
ministry one can give <strong>to</strong><br />
“Probably<br />
these people is simply <strong>to</strong><br />
be present <strong>to</strong> them,” says <strong>St</strong>ephen<br />
Beauclair, OSB, pas<strong>to</strong>r of Saints<br />
Peter and Paul Parish in Richmond.<br />
The varied faces of the monks who<br />
preceded Father <strong>St</strong>ephen as pas<strong>to</strong>r tell<br />
the s<strong>to</strong>ry of Benedictine presence in<br />
this community founded nearly 150<br />
years ago in the Sauk River Valley of<br />
central Minnesota.<br />
The rutted road east of <strong>to</strong>wn on the<br />
farm of Edwin and Margaret Torborg<br />
is the last local remnant of the Central<br />
Minnesota Ox-cart Trail that connected<br />
Winnipeg <strong>to</strong> <strong>St</strong>. Paul, and it’s<br />
a reminder of commerce here in the<br />
1830s and 40s. But the real s<strong>to</strong>ry of<br />
Richmond began in 1855 when the<br />
first German-Catholics arrived. The<br />
missionary priest Francis X. Pierz had<br />
tantalized settlers with the promise of<br />
rich farmland, a benign climate, and<br />
the opportunity <strong>to</strong> re-create the cul-<br />
page 14 The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005<br />
Bill Harvey<br />
Lee Hanley<br />
The church of Saints Peter and Paul, Richmond, Minnesota,<br />
built in 1885<br />
Faith on the Frontier:<br />
The Parish of Saints Peter<br />
and Paul, Richmond,<br />
Minnesota<br />
by Eric Hollas, OSB<br />
tural heritage they left behind. What<br />
they found was challenge.<br />
Although life was not easy, a strong<br />
faith and hard work combined <strong>to</strong><br />
quickly make Richmond a viable<br />
<strong>to</strong>wn. Father Pierz celebrated the first<br />
Mass in 1855, and following a parish<br />
mission on August 15, 1856, Benedictine<br />
Bruno Riss became the first pas<strong>to</strong>r.<br />
A log cabin church was replaced<br />
by a frame building with a steeple<br />
in 1860. A larger church was erected<br />
in 1866. Only in 1885 did the present<br />
church appear with its impressive<br />
brick exterior and an expansive interior<br />
noted for the absence of a center<br />
aisle. School buildings and rec<strong>to</strong>ries<br />
paralleled church construction.<br />
But it was challenge that distinguished<br />
the lot of the early residents<br />
who were ill-prepared for the severity<br />
of the winter. Grasshopper plagues in<br />
<strong>St</strong>ephen Beauclair, OSB, 27th pas<strong>to</strong>r<br />
of Saints Peter and Paul Parish<br />
A Benedictine, sesquicentennial parish<br />
of the Sauk River Valley<br />
1856-57 threatened their very existence.<br />
Another complaint was the<br />
absence of brides for the lonely male<br />
settlers. Finally, the Sioux Indian<br />
uprising of 1862 posed an unexpected<br />
scare when a war party rode <strong>to</strong> the<br />
outskirts of Richmond. There they<br />
encountered frightened <strong>to</strong>wnspeople<br />
huddled with their pas<strong>to</strong>r behind a<br />
seven-foot earthwork they had built<br />
around the church.<br />
Lee Hanley
Lee Hanley Edwin and Margaret Torborg<br />
The settlers <strong>to</strong>iled hard <strong>to</strong> build a<br />
substantial <strong>to</strong>wn set amid prosperous<br />
farms. Though residents never enjoyed<br />
the mild winters they had been<br />
promised, they did succeed in creating<br />
a vibrant version of their European<br />
heritage on the American frontier.<br />
Successive generations were educated<br />
in the parish school; dozens of young<br />
people pursued religious vocations;<br />
and Richmond emerged with a clear<br />
identity among the settlements of<br />
<strong>St</strong>earns County.<br />
Today Richmond and its parish<br />
confront a new frontier in which the<br />
fertile soil counts far less than the<br />
expansion of Highway 23, which<br />
skirts the southern side of <strong>to</strong>wn.<br />
Urban growth between <strong>St</strong>. Cloud and<br />
The organ renovated and enlarged by KC Marrin<br />
Edwin and Margaret Torborg stand on<br />
the pioneer Ox-cart Trail that once<br />
crossed their farm land.<br />
Paynesville promises <strong>to</strong> knit <strong>to</strong>gether<br />
communities with deeply rooted traditions<br />
and blur the identities that have<br />
distinguished <strong>to</strong>wns like Richmond.<br />
Proximity <strong>to</strong> <strong>St</strong>. Cloud and <strong>to</strong> the<br />
granite industry in nearby Cold Spring<br />
has fueled the steady construction of<br />
new homes. Add <strong>to</strong> that the numbers<br />
who commute <strong>to</strong> Saint John’s or work<br />
in the region’s resort industry, and one<br />
begins <strong>to</strong> appreciate Richmond’s future<br />
role as a bedroom<br />
community.<br />
The changing face<br />
of Richmond means<br />
change for the parish,<br />
<strong>St</strong>ephen point out. Today<br />
the parish numbers<br />
some 900 families,<br />
and it is still the only<br />
church in <strong>to</strong>wn. But<br />
the influx of new<br />
citizens means that<br />
Richmond is no longer<br />
the German-Catholic enclave it once<br />
was, and the RCIA program signals<br />
a new demographic. The pas<strong>to</strong>r also<br />
notices the change that summer brings<br />
<strong>to</strong> the congregation. The annual urge<br />
<strong>to</strong> migrate, so characteristic of Minnesota,<br />
means that locals flee <strong>to</strong> their<br />
cabins in the north, while people from<br />
the Twin Cities drive north <strong>to</strong> occupy<br />
both area resorts and church pews on<br />
Sunday.<br />
Yet Richmond is likely<br />
<strong>to</strong> retain its character far<br />
in<strong>to</strong> the future. Farming<br />
will continue <strong>to</strong> put<br />
its stamp on the local<br />
economy and way of life.<br />
So <strong>to</strong>o will the current<br />
descendents of the German-Catholic<br />
families<br />
who braved the frontier <strong>to</strong><br />
FEATURE<br />
shape a unique culture here. Nonetheless,<br />
Richmond and its parish will<br />
evolve—as they always have. During<br />
the pas<strong>to</strong>rate of Dominic Ruiz, OSB,<br />
the parish church installed stately<br />
granite in its aisles and a polished<br />
wood floor in the sanctuary. Master<br />
organ builder, KC Marrin, renovated<br />
and expanded the organ in the church<br />
loft.<br />
Another constant in that evolving<br />
culture is the role of the Saint John’s<br />
Benedictines. Since 1856 monks<br />
have served in this parish. Genera-<br />
An early pho<strong>to</strong> of Richmond<br />
parishioners with their pas<strong>to</strong>r<br />
tions of students have attended the<br />
Prep School and University; youngsters<br />
sing in the Saint John’s Boys’<br />
Choir; <strong>to</strong>wnspeople continue <strong>to</strong> work<br />
in many different capacities at Saint<br />
John’s. Through most of these years<br />
the cross and the medal of Saint Benedict<br />
have adorned the parish church<br />
and become symbols of a lively and<br />
growing faith on the frontier. Both<br />
Richmond and Saint John’s <strong>Abbey</strong> can<br />
rightly celebrate 150 years in 2006. +<br />
Eric Hollas, OSB, is the senior associate<br />
of arts and cultural affairs at Saint John’s<br />
University.<br />
Parish Archives<br />
The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005 page 15
THE ABBEY CHRONICLE<br />
The daily temperature and precipitation<br />
reports of Bradley<br />
Jenniges, OSB, the abbey’s<br />
weather-monk, reveal that the <strong>Collegeville</strong><br />
summer and early fall were<br />
typically warm and wet. July’s twelve<br />
and August’s five days of temperatures<br />
in the 90-95 degree range kept<br />
air conditioners and fans humming.<br />
Summer showers were infrequent during<br />
July and August but September’s<br />
6.32 inches and Oc<strong>to</strong>ber’s 5.14 inches<br />
banished all thoughts of drought.<br />
Simon Bischof, OSB, energetic<br />
member of the grounds crew, was kept<br />
busy mowing lawns that maintained<br />
their emerald elegance until they were<br />
covered first with leaves and then<br />
with snow. The first significant frost,<br />
enough <strong>to</strong> activate windshield scrapers,<br />
was on Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 25.<br />
August 2005<br />
� The monastic community hosted<br />
the annual Clergy Day for the bishop,<br />
priests and permanent deacons<br />
of the Saint Cloud Diocese on August<br />
2. After joining us for Evening<br />
page 16 The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005<br />
Fran Hoefgen, OSB<br />
A s<strong>to</strong>ne arch at an entrance <strong>to</strong> a trail through wintry woods<br />
What’s Up?<br />
The <strong>Abbey</strong> Chronicle<br />
by Daniel Durken, OSB<br />
Simon Bischof, OSB, mows a<br />
monastic lawn.<br />
Prayer the clergy were wined and<br />
dined in the abbey’s refec<strong>to</strong>ry. Five<br />
days later our guests were members<br />
of Saint Benedict’s Monastery. The<br />
sun and shade of the monastery’s<br />
back yard overlooking a sparkling<br />
Lake Sagatagan provided the setting<br />
for a reception<br />
and picnic supper.<br />
These get-<strong>to</strong>gethers<br />
are welcome opportunities<br />
<strong>to</strong> meet and<br />
eat with friends and<br />
give witness <strong>to</strong> our<br />
multiple ministries.<br />
God sprinkles the snow like fluttering birds;<br />
it comes <strong>to</strong> settle like swarms of locusts.<br />
Daniel Durken, OSB<br />
Sirach 43:18-19<br />
Biblical Association met at Saint<br />
John’s August 6-9. Three hundred<br />
Scripture scholars from 46 states<br />
and foreign countries registered<br />
for the meeting. Michael Patella,<br />
OSB, associate professor of theology<br />
at Saint John’s School of<br />
Theology•Seminary, chaired the<br />
committee on local arrangements<br />
and was a panelist on the exegesis,<br />
scholarship and art of The Saint<br />
John’s Bible. Dale Launderville,<br />
OSB, associate professor of theology<br />
at Saint John’s, discussed “Defilement<br />
and Purification in Ezekiel:<br />
The Politics of Sacred Space” at<br />
one of the sessions and was celebrant<br />
and homilist at the closing<br />
� For the first time Monastics of Saint Benedict’s Monastery join us for a picnic.<br />
in its 69-year his<strong>to</strong>ry the Catholic<br />
Daniel Durken, OSB
Eucharist of the convention. Abbot<br />
John Klassen, OSB, presided at<br />
the opening Mass of the meeting.<br />
“The <strong>Collegeville</strong> <strong>St</strong>ation,” a musical<br />
group led by John Hanson,<br />
OSB, provided music during a<br />
convention social hour.<br />
“The <strong>Collegeville</strong> <strong>St</strong>ation”: l. <strong>to</strong> r. John<br />
Hanson, OSB, Patrick Dwyer, John<br />
Dwyer, David Cofell<br />
� Parking lots and roadways<br />
crammed with SUVs, pickups and<br />
U-Hauls, and sidewalks and lawns<br />
crowded with students and parents<br />
signaled the beginning of another<br />
academic year. Enrollment figures<br />
are as follows: Saint John’s University,<br />
1,875; Saint John’s School<br />
of Theology•Seminary, 121; College<br />
of Saint Benedict, 2,045; Saint<br />
John’s Prepara<strong>to</strong>ry School, 315.<br />
� On the evening before classes Saint<br />
John’s first year students joined the<br />
monastic community for Evening<br />
Prayer. Abbot John then spoke <strong>to</strong><br />
the newcomers, encouraging them<br />
<strong>to</strong> do three things: 1.Take a walk<br />
through the woods <strong>to</strong> the <strong>St</strong>ella<br />
Maris Chapel across the lake. 2.<br />
Visit the Hill Museum & Manuscript<br />
Library <strong>to</strong> view The Saint<br />
John’s Bible. 3. Join the monks at<br />
one of our daily community prayer<br />
services: 7:00 Morning Prayer,<br />
Noon Prayer, 5:00 Eucharist, 7:00<br />
Evening Prayer, 9:00 Compline.<br />
The traditional “Meet a Monk”<br />
session followed with 23 monks<br />
visiting groups of 15-20 students as<br />
a gesture of hospitality. One group<br />
learned that the secret of success at<br />
Saint John’s is knowing the difference<br />
between OSB and SOB.<br />
September 2005<br />
� The Saint John’s and Saint Benedict’s<br />
communities were quick<br />
<strong>to</strong> respond <strong>to</strong> the devastation of<br />
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Both<br />
schools offered evacuee students the<br />
opportunity <strong>to</strong> attend CSB/SJU on a<br />
temporary basis. Special collections<br />
at Sunday Masses and in student<br />
housing netted more than $8,100.<br />
Saint John’s <strong>Abbey</strong> gave $10,000 <strong>to</strong><br />
Saint Joseph <strong>Abbey</strong>, <strong>St</strong>. Benedict,<br />
Louisiana, for repair of hurricane<br />
damages. Supported by a Saint<br />
John’s University paid release time<br />
Incoming students purchase steel frames and mattresses for their room lofts.<br />
Daniel Durken, OSB<br />
Daniel Durken, OSB<br />
THE ABBEY CHRONICLE<br />
allowance, Tom Kroll, Saint John’s<br />
land manager and arboretum direc<strong>to</strong>r,<br />
spent several weeks in Texas as<br />
a volunteer in a shelter that served<br />
8,000 displaced people.<br />
L. <strong>to</strong> r.: Caroline Linz and Joanne<br />
Ricker organized the donation of<br />
blankets from the Liturgical Press<br />
<strong>to</strong> survivors of Hurricanes Katrina<br />
and Wilma.<br />
Daniel Durken, OSB<br />
� Joanne Ricker and Caroline Linz,<br />
employees of Liturgical Press, collected<br />
$251 from co-workers and<br />
purchased fleece blanket material at<br />
a 50% discount from Crafts Direct<br />
and Joann Fabrics in <strong>St</strong>. Cloud.<br />
Employees then made 27 adult and<br />
22 child blankets from this material<br />
and delivered them <strong>to</strong> the Red<br />
Cross office in <strong>St</strong>. Cloud for distribution<br />
<strong>to</strong> hurricane survivors.<br />
� The wish of Saint Benedict that the<br />
abbot may “rejoice in the increase<br />
of a good flock” (Rule, ch. 2) was<br />
realized this month with the investiture<br />
of two novices, Peter Sullivan<br />
and Peregrine Rinderknecht, and<br />
the first profession of Andrew<br />
Coval, OSB (see page 28).<br />
� At its annual dinner on September<br />
15 the Central Minnesota Community<br />
Foundation presented its<br />
President’s Award <strong>to</strong> Hilary Thimmesh,<br />
OSB, professor of English<br />
and president emeritus of Saint<br />
The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005 page 17
THE ABBEY CHRONICLE<br />
John’s University. The award recognizes<br />
Hilary’s long-term support of<br />
the foundation, especially as board<br />
chairman from 1992-95.<br />
Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 2005<br />
� A poem by Helen Hunt Jackson<br />
(1830-1884) provides the context of<br />
this magnificent month:<br />
O suns and skies and clouds of June,<br />
And flowers of June <strong>to</strong>gether,<br />
Ye cannot rival for one hour<br />
Oc<strong>to</strong>ber’s bright blue weather.<br />
Wilfred Theisen, OSB<br />
� On Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 18 at “Lunch and<br />
Learn,” a professional development<br />
opportunity sponsored by the Vocation<br />
Project for CSB/SJU employees<br />
(funded by Lilly Endowment),<br />
Wilfred Theisen, OSB, professor<br />
emeritus of physics, discussed “The<br />
Monastic Practice of Hospitality.”<br />
Apologizing for not giving a powerpoint<br />
presentation “because I never<br />
got beyond the use of colored chalk<br />
in my fifty years of teaching,” Wilfred<br />
nevertheless informed and entertained<br />
the audience with insights<br />
on Saint Benedict’s priority of<br />
hospitality, especially <strong>to</strong> the poor.<br />
page 18 The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005<br />
He insisted that genuine Christian<br />
hospitality does not just include the<br />
poor but is practiced primarily for<br />
the sake of the poor.<br />
� A quantum leap <strong>to</strong>wards the construction<br />
of the <strong>Abbey</strong> Guest House<br />
was made on Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 25 when the<br />
monastic community approved<br />
by a substantial margin the <strong>to</strong>tal<br />
construction cost of the guest house<br />
with funding <strong>to</strong> be provided primarily<br />
from donor designated gifts.<br />
AN INVITATION<br />
Richard Oliver, OSB, president of<br />
The American Benedictine Academy,<br />
extends an invitation <strong>to</strong> all monastics,<br />
Oblates and friends of Saint John’s<br />
<strong>Abbey</strong> <strong>to</strong> become members of the<br />
Academy. The only requirement is<br />
for you <strong>to</strong> be interested in the Benedictine<br />
heritage and the purposes of<br />
the Academy. For the two-year full<br />
membership fee of $25 you will receive<br />
printed copies of The American<br />
Monastic Newsletter and be eligible<br />
for the reduced registration fee for the<br />
ABA convention every two years. To<br />
learn more about the Academy visit<br />
the website www.osb.org/aba/ or contact<br />
Sister Adel Sautner, OSB, 415 S.<br />
Crow <strong>St</strong>reet, Pierre, SD 57501-3304<br />
or bennii@dakota2k.net.<br />
Remember our loved ones<br />
who have gone <strong>to</strong><br />
their rest:<br />
Alette Benson<br />
Marie Diekmann<br />
<strong>St</strong>ephen Freund<br />
Mel Reichert<br />
Natividad Castro San<strong>to</strong>s<br />
Clarence Soyka<br />
Frederick <strong>St</strong>ein<br />
William Theisen<br />
Mark Wood<br />
May they rest in peace!<br />
Placid <strong>St</strong>uckenschneider, OSB
Daniel Durken, OSB<br />
“Some seed fell on rich soil<br />
and produced fruit . . .<br />
“. . . a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold” (Matthew 13:8).<br />
Summer 2005 presented the opportunity<br />
for six monks—Linus<br />
Ascheman, Isaac Connolly,<br />
Andrew Coval, Dunstan Moorse,<br />
Raphael Olson and myself—<strong>to</strong><br />
practice our garden skills. Each of us<br />
<strong>to</strong>ok responsibility for our area and<br />
followed the full cycle of crop production<br />
from planting <strong>to</strong> weeding, watering<br />
and harvesting.<br />
John El<strong>to</strong>n, Saint John’s master<br />
gardener, served as consultant and<br />
Jennifer Anderson, dining service<br />
dietician, suggested which produce<br />
would best serve the kitchen’s dietary<br />
A few of the squash harvested this summer<br />
A pail full of Dunstan’s vine-ripened <strong>to</strong>ma<strong>to</strong>es<br />
by Bruce Wollmering, OSB<br />
needs. I served as produce production<br />
personnel coordina<strong>to</strong>r and general<br />
manager of the project.<br />
Linus specialized in four varieties<br />
of scrumptious <strong>to</strong>ma<strong>to</strong>es: Fourth of<br />
July, cherry, Early Pick and Big Boy.<br />
His plants yielded 220 pounds of full<br />
flavor <strong>to</strong>ma<strong>to</strong>es.<br />
Andrew produced three varieties of<br />
hops for beer making, hundreds of<br />
Bolivian rainbow peppers and two<br />
bushels of Andean purple pota<strong>to</strong>es.<br />
Isaac harvested one hundred pounds<br />
of Condor zucchini, sixty pounds<br />
of Yellow Crookneck<br />
summer squash, and<br />
forty pounds of Dusky<br />
eggplant.<br />
Dunstan managed a<br />
mix of vegetables and<br />
spices including carrots,<br />
yellow wax beans,<br />
kohlrabi, dill, chervil,<br />
Italian parsley and<br />
290 pounds of thirteen<br />
Heirloom varieties of<br />
<strong>to</strong>ma<strong>to</strong>es. He also grew<br />
five varieties of flowers<br />
<strong>to</strong> be dried and pressed<br />
for greeting cards.<br />
Raphael grew hundreds<br />
of gladiolas in<br />
FEATURE<br />
a rainbow of colors <strong>to</strong> brighten the<br />
church, monastery and guest areas.<br />
I supplied the salad table with 20<br />
boxes of lettuce, 15 boxes of radishes<br />
and two varieties of peppers<br />
plus another 512 pounds of <strong>to</strong>ma<strong>to</strong>es<br />
(<strong>to</strong> bring our <strong>to</strong>tal <strong>to</strong> 1,022 pounds),<br />
20 pounds of onions, 45 pounds of<br />
cantaloupe and over 1,500 pounds of<br />
winter squash. I also renovated the<br />
root cellar for winter s<strong>to</strong>rage.<br />
With the 2,010 pounds of <strong>to</strong>ma<strong>to</strong>es<br />
produced in the abbey garden by<br />
Brother Urban Pieper, the grand<br />
<strong>to</strong>tal of juicy, red <strong>to</strong>ma<strong>to</strong>es harvested<br />
this summer is 3,032—over a <strong>to</strong>n and<br />
a half. Brother John Hanson harvested<br />
25 bushels of apples from the<br />
abbey’s orchard.<br />
Produce from the efforts of these<br />
monks and other occasional helpers<br />
such as Father Fintan Bromenshenkel<br />
saved the abbey thousands of dollars<br />
in food costs plus offered meaningful<br />
manual labor and a close-up<br />
of the wonders of growth. We indeed<br />
plant and water but only God causes<br />
the growth (1 Corinthians 3:7). +<br />
Bruce Wollmering, OSB, is chair of the<br />
<strong>Abbey</strong> Forest and Lands Committee.<br />
Daniel Durken, OSB<br />
The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005 page 19
FEATURE<br />
Readers probably associate<br />
the name Rockport with<br />
popular footwear. But for<br />
Brother Chris<strong>to</strong>pher, Rockport is<br />
synonymous not with leather but with<br />
lumber. The Center for Furniture<br />
Craftsmanship, located in Rockport,<br />
Maine, is where Chris<strong>to</strong>pher for nine<br />
months studied and practiced the art<br />
of making quality furniture under the<br />
direction of David Upfill-Brown, a<br />
master craftsman from Australia. He<br />
also survived six blizzards that made a<br />
wimp of recent Minnesota winters.<br />
Founded in 1993, the Center is<br />
dedicated “<strong>to</strong> provide the best possible<br />
education for people who want<br />
<strong>to</strong> design and build functional, beautiful,<br />
expressive work out of wood <strong>to</strong><br />
the highest standard of craftsmanship”<br />
(Mission <strong>St</strong>atement). The faculty,<br />
composed of professional furniture<br />
makers with exceptional technical ex-<br />
page 20 The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005<br />
Lee Hanley<br />
Chris<strong>to</strong>pher Fair, OSB, and his two-faced clock with<br />
an abstract flower design<br />
Chris<strong>to</strong>pher Fair, OSB,<br />
brings fresh focus <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>Abbey</strong> Woodworking<br />
by Daniel Durken, OSB<br />
pertise, come from the United <strong>St</strong>ates,<br />
England, Canada, New Zealand and<br />
Australia. In 2004 the school had 320<br />
course enrollments from 37 states and<br />
six foreign countries.<br />
Chris<strong>to</strong>pher<br />
began his program<br />
learning<br />
the basics of<br />
woodworking<br />
such as how <strong>to</strong><br />
sharpen <strong>to</strong>ols<br />
and the characteristics<br />
of<br />
wood. “Wood<br />
is alive,” he<br />
explains. “Wood<br />
moves and this<br />
dictates what<br />
can be done<br />
with it.” He<br />
Designing and building functional, beautiful,<br />
expressive work out of wood . . .<br />
studied project design, aspects of<br />
drawing and drafting and the techniques<br />
of wood bending, veneering,<br />
staining and turning on lathes.<br />
Chris<strong>to</strong>pher’s maple library built-in shelves in the university<br />
president’s office<br />
Michael Roske
Putting principles in<strong>to</strong> practice,<br />
Chris<strong>to</strong>pher completed eight woodworking<br />
projects, namely, a foots<strong>to</strong>ol,<br />
<strong>to</strong>ol box, Shaker dwarf clock, veneer<br />
table <strong>to</strong>p, the Orchid clock, several<br />
chair designs, puzzle cubes and the<br />
Mac-Time clock. This last project<br />
involved research in<strong>to</strong> the work of<br />
Charles Rene MacKin<strong>to</strong>sh and his<br />
wife Margaret MacDonald, Scottish<br />
architects and designers who were part<br />
of the Glasgow art movement. Chris<strong>to</strong>pher<br />
then designed and produced the<br />
Mac-Time clock, a two-faced clock<br />
with an abstract flower design (see<br />
accompanying pho<strong>to</strong>).<br />
When he returned <strong>to</strong> the abbey<br />
Chris<strong>to</strong>pher was named shop supervisor<br />
of Saint John’s <strong>Abbey</strong> Woodworking.<br />
His staff includes Larry Notch,<br />
Michael Roske, Gregory Eiben-<br />
steiner, OSB, and Isidore Glyer,<br />
OSB. Formerly known as the Carpenter<br />
Shop which concentrated on<br />
the manufacture and repair of dormi<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
and classroom furniture, <strong>Abbey</strong><br />
Woodworking now has a new focus.<br />
In an effort <strong>to</strong> establish a broader<br />
cus<strong>to</strong>mer base <strong>to</strong> ensure the continued<br />
vitality of the operation, Saint John’s<br />
<strong>Abbey</strong> Woodworking aims <strong>to</strong> be recognized<br />
as an apos<strong>to</strong>late of the abbey.<br />
It seeks <strong>to</strong> provide not only inter-corporate<br />
services but also services <strong>to</strong><br />
outside interests. The new focus is the<br />
manufacture and marketing of oneof-a-kind,<br />
cus<strong>to</strong>m furniture <strong>to</strong> outside<br />
clients such as alumni, Oblates,<br />
relatives and friends. A brochure is in<br />
the making. Additional information is<br />
available at sjawood@csbsju.edu. +<br />
Chris<strong>to</strong>pher’s drop front secretary<br />
Michael Roske<br />
FEATURE<br />
Jim Dugan<br />
Chris<strong>to</strong>pher’s Shaker dwarf clock,<br />
five-feet tall, made of red oak and<br />
Spanish cedar<br />
The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005 page 21
ABBEY MISSIONS<br />
In September I visited our dependent<br />
priory in Fujimi, Japan. Although<br />
the 6,000 mile flight from<br />
Minneapolis <strong>to</strong> Tokyo can be made in<br />
twelve non-s<strong>to</strong>p hours, it takes more<br />
time <strong>to</strong> get one’s entire being re-assembled.<br />
Father Kieran Nolan met me at the<br />
Narita International Airport and we<br />
journeyed <strong>to</strong> Kamakura, a beautiful<br />
seaport city south of Tokyo. We spent<br />
the night there and met Oblate Gyo<br />
Furuta for breakfast. Furuta san, a former<br />
confrere, is one of the <strong>to</strong>p Catholic<br />
scholars in the country. We then<br />
visited a local Episcopalian church<br />
(the pas<strong>to</strong>r is an Oblate) and met a<br />
group of Oblates who had gathered for<br />
Midday Prayer. Following conversation<br />
and some moving introductions,<br />
we enjoyed a delicious lunch. Friend<br />
and Oblate Fusegima san did all the<br />
legwork for this gathering.<br />
It is important <strong>to</strong> emphasize the<br />
positive impact of the HolyTrinity<br />
Benedictine monastic community on<br />
the Church in Japan: being a house<br />
for prayer and spiritual refreshment;<br />
a place for hospitality <strong>to</strong> people of<br />
page 22 The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005<br />
The community is sinking its roots in the rich soil of Fujimi.<br />
all faiths; a pas<strong>to</strong>ral ministerial<br />
presence <strong>to</strong> people in the local and<br />
regional Church, both in English and<br />
Japanese; and the beginnings of an<br />
outreach <strong>to</strong> people through translation<br />
and publication.<br />
At the request of the community,<br />
Father Roman Paur has been<br />
visiting Fujimi for extended periods<br />
every few months. He functions as<br />
a consultant and facilita<strong>to</strong>r for their<br />
community meetings. In June the<br />
community discussed a wide variety<br />
of options for leadership in the future.<br />
The consensus was <strong>to</strong> ask Roman <strong>to</strong><br />
be administra<strong>to</strong>r for a period of one <strong>to</strong><br />
two years. He has<br />
appointed Father<br />
Edward Vebelun<br />
as subprior and will<br />
men<strong>to</strong>r him closely<br />
during this time.<br />
One afternoon<br />
the monks hosted<br />
a group of fifteen<br />
Christian ministers<br />
Members of Holy Trinity Benedictine<br />
Monastery, Fujimi, Japan, pose with Abbot<br />
John: l. <strong>to</strong> r. Paul Mako<strong>to</strong> Tada, Nicholas<br />
Thelen, Peter Kawamura, Kieran Nolan,<br />
Edward Vebelun, Abbot John Klassen,<br />
Thomas Wahl.<br />
A Visit <strong>to</strong><br />
Japan and<br />
Holy Trinity<br />
Benedictine<br />
Monastery<br />
by Abbot John Klassen, OSB<br />
from the local area. I spoke about The<br />
Saint John’s Bible. The monastery has<br />
both Illuminating the Word and The<br />
Gospels and Acts. Calligraphy is the<br />
highest art form in Japan and these<br />
books and the Bible project were an<br />
instant hit.<br />
These latter events are indicative<br />
of the good energy in the community<br />
and a positive sign of the fruits of<br />
this community’s presence in Fujimi.<br />
Furuta san used the metaphor of the<br />
community sinking its roots in<strong>to</strong> the<br />
rich soil of Fujimi. This is surely the<br />
immediate and important task for this<br />
community. +<br />
Abbot John (second from right in front row) met with Benedictine<br />
Oblates in Kamakura, Japan, during his September visit.
Graduate of School of Theology<br />
pas<strong>to</strong>rs 6,000 families<br />
How do two African Benedictine<br />
priests of Uganda serve<br />
a parish that includes sixteen<br />
outstations and numbers 6,000 families,<br />
30,000 individuals and this year’s<br />
869 first communicants and 1,266<br />
confirmands?<br />
Gabriel Ssenkindo, OSB, a 1999<br />
graduate of Saint John’s School<br />
of Theology, answered that question<br />
when he visited his alma mater.<br />
Father Gabriel is a member of Christ<br />
the King Priory in Tororo, Uganda.<br />
The community was founded by the<br />
Ottilien Benedictine Congregation<br />
of Germany in 1984 and numbers<br />
twenty-five members plus ten novices.<br />
The priory operates a vocation<br />
school with carpentry and metal<br />
shops, a mo<strong>to</strong>r garage and a small<br />
farm. The community provides a dispensary<br />
and an ophthalmic clinic with<br />
a resident eye surgeon. The monks<br />
Some of the 869 children preparing for First<br />
Communion<br />
Gabriel Ssenkindo, OSB, associate pas<strong>to</strong>r of<br />
<strong>St</strong>. Theresa Parish, Tororo, Uganda<br />
also harvest pineapples, jack fruit,<br />
bananas and papaya and dry the fruit<br />
for export <strong>to</strong> Germany.<br />
Gabriel is the associate pas<strong>to</strong>r of<br />
<strong>St</strong>. Theresa Parish, about four and a<br />
half miles from the<br />
priory. Established<br />
in the 1950s by the<br />
Mill Hill Missionaries,<br />
the parish<br />
was entrusted <strong>to</strong><br />
the Benedictines in<br />
2003. Forty-seven<br />
percent of the population<br />
of Uganda<br />
is Catholic while<br />
thirty-five percent<br />
belong <strong>to</strong> other<br />
Christian denominations.<br />
by Daniel Durken, OSB<br />
30,000 parishioners, 869 first communicants and 1,266 confirmands<br />
To answer the opening question,<br />
Gabriel credits the indispensable help<br />
of the parish’s eight special ministers<br />
who conduct communion<br />
services and Christian burials.<br />
Sixteen catechists prepare<br />
parents and children for baptism,<br />
first communion and confirmation.<br />
One catechist instructs<br />
couples for marriage. These lay<br />
ministers travel by bicycle over<br />
rough roads <strong>to</strong> their missions.<br />
Lay ministers and the bicycles they use<br />
<strong>to</strong> get <strong>to</strong> their mission churches<br />
ABBEY MISSIONS<br />
Twenty bikes were purchased from<br />
funds of a German abbey.<br />
The weekly parish collection averages<br />
$40. Each mission chapel contributes<br />
$1 <strong>to</strong> $4 per Sunday. Eighty<br />
percent of the<br />
people live on<br />
a daily earning<br />
of one dollar.<br />
Their main work<br />
is subsistence<br />
farming.<br />
A special<br />
concern of the<br />
parish is the care<br />
of children orphaned<br />
by AIDS.<br />
Parish widows<br />
and widowers<br />
lead this ministry.<br />
Thanks <strong>to</strong><br />
nationwide educational programs and<br />
the increased availability of medicine,<br />
Uganda has decreased the rate of HIV<br />
infection from thirty percent <strong>to</strong> six<br />
percent.<br />
Readers wishing <strong>to</strong> contribute <strong>to</strong> this<br />
mission may send their contribution,<br />
designated for <strong>St</strong>. Theresa Parish,<br />
Tororo, Uganda, <strong>to</strong> Christ the King<br />
Priory, Benedictine Mission House,<br />
P.O. Box 528, Schuyler, Nebraska<br />
68661-0528. Your donation will be<br />
forwarded <strong>to</strong> Uganda. +<br />
The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005 page 23
STRENGTHENING FOUNDATIONS<br />
Ever since the first monks of<br />
Saint John’s <strong>Abbey</strong> came <strong>to</strong><br />
this sacred place in 1856,<br />
people of faith have worked with us<br />
<strong>to</strong> provide for our needs and <strong>to</strong> enable<br />
us <strong>to</strong> fulfill our mission of prayer and<br />
work. By offering your support <strong>to</strong> the<br />
abbey you become a part of the important<br />
work done by the monks. You<br />
join us in our journey, becoming coworkers<br />
with us in answering God’s<br />
call <strong>to</strong> do God’s work. With your assistance<br />
we strive <strong>to</strong> continue working<br />
in<strong>to</strong> the distant future <strong>to</strong> serve you and<br />
the Church.<br />
What Your Gift Can Do<br />
Each year our friends and benefac<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
make financial gifts <strong>to</strong> support the<br />
abbey. What does a gift <strong>to</strong> the abbey<br />
accomplish? Here are a few areas that<br />
friends of Saint John’s help support:<br />
• Promote vocations <strong>to</strong> the monastic<br />
life and the priesthood<br />
• Provide opportunities for spiritual<br />
renewal through retreats and spiritual<br />
direction<br />
• Educate monks so they can teach<br />
those who come <strong>to</strong> our Prepara<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
page 24 The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005<br />
<strong>Abbey</strong> Archives<br />
The monastic community at prayer<br />
An Invitation <strong>to</strong> Help<br />
by Year-End Giving and<br />
Tax Benefits<br />
by Geoffrey Fecht, OSB<br />
Please join us in our journey and become co-workers with us.<br />
School, University and School of<br />
Theology•Seminary<br />
• Offer assistance in missionary outreach<br />
• Support our Health and Retirement<br />
Fund <strong>to</strong> assure the welfare of monks<br />
who have served the Church for<br />
generations<br />
• Promote enterprises such as <strong>Abbey</strong><br />
Woodworking and <strong>Abbey</strong> Arts and<br />
Crafts<br />
• Maintain abbey buildings and<br />
grounds<br />
Your gift helps support these many<br />
needs of the abbey and makes our<br />
ministries possible.<br />
Ways <strong>to</strong> Give<br />
As you do your tax planning<br />
this year, we hope<br />
you will consider making<br />
good use of the income tax<br />
charitable deduction. Your<br />
year-end gift can significantly<br />
reduce your income taxes<br />
while providing support for<br />
Saint John’s <strong>Abbey</strong>. Regardless<br />
of your income, in<br />
most cases you can lower your taxes<br />
through charitable giving. The amount<br />
of the income tax savings will depend,<br />
of course, on your tax bracket.<br />
But giving is concerned with much<br />
more than tax savings. Your charitable<br />
gifts make an important difference<br />
in what we are able <strong>to</strong> accomplish.<br />
Year-end gift ideas include cash gifts,<br />
gifts of s<strong>to</strong>ck or real estate, charitable<br />
gift annuities and others. For more<br />
information please call the <strong>Abbey</strong> Development<br />
Office at 320-363-3556 or<br />
e-mail us at sjabbeydev@osb.org. +<br />
Don LeMay, OSB, (l.) and Arnold Weber, OSB, visit in<br />
Saint Raphael’s Retirement Center.
An Additional<br />
<strong>Abbey</strong> Guest House Contribution<br />
In early Oc<strong>to</strong>ber we received the<br />
wonderful news that <strong>St</strong>eve and<br />
Barbara Slaggie of Winona, Minnesota,<br />
have given an additional $1<br />
million <strong>to</strong>ward the construction of<br />
the <strong>Abbey</strong> Guest House. This donation<br />
is especially welcome in view of<br />
increased construction costs. The new<br />
gift brings the Slaggie’s <strong>to</strong>tal contribution<br />
<strong>to</strong> this project <strong>to</strong> $4.5 million.<br />
<strong>St</strong>eve Slaggie graduated with a<br />
degree in economics from Saint<br />
John’s University in 1961. A university<br />
Regent since 1999, he is the<br />
long-time direc<strong>to</strong>r, corporate secretary<br />
and shareholder relations officer for<br />
the Fastenal Corporation of Winona.<br />
Barbara Slaggie was born in Marshall,<br />
Minnesota, and comes from a family<br />
<strong>St</strong>eve and Barbara Slaggie contribute<br />
another $1 million for construction of<br />
the <strong>Abbey</strong> Guest House.<br />
of fifteen. Over the years <strong>St</strong>eve and<br />
Barbara have gotten their whole family<br />
involved with Saint John’s. We are<br />
delighted with their continued support<br />
of the <strong>Abbey</strong> Guest House.<br />
A view of preliminary footings of the <strong>Abbey</strong> Guest House east of the <strong>Abbey</strong> Church.<br />
The square, boarded up area <strong>to</strong> the right is the entrance <strong>to</strong> the utilities tunnel<br />
completed this past summer.<br />
STRENGTHENING FOUNDATIONS<br />
Michael Crouser<br />
Lee Hanley<br />
<strong>Abbey</strong> Guest House<br />
Construction Update<br />
With the utility tunnel for the<br />
<strong>Abbey</strong> Guest House completed,<br />
the Knutson Construction Services of<br />
Minneapolis has begun construction<br />
of the Guest House itself.<br />
On Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 10 the heavy construction<br />
equipment arrived on campus<br />
and the sounds of roaring mo<strong>to</strong>rs and<br />
backup beeps are heard in the land.<br />
The digging and pouring of cement<br />
for the footings of the building was<br />
begun. The footings were in place before<br />
the arrival of the winter cold and<br />
the construction of the building itself,<br />
somewhat modified <strong>to</strong> meet budget<br />
figures, is now in progress.<br />
Architect Vincent James of the<br />
Vincent James Associates Architects,<br />
Minneapolis, assures us that completion<br />
of the <strong>Abbey</strong> Guest House can be<br />
expected in the fall of 2006.<br />
Note: You may follow the <strong>Abbey</strong><br />
Guest House construction progress<br />
by checking the daily webcam at<br />
http://guesthousecam.saintjohnsabbey.<br />
org/ +<br />
Geoffrey Fecht, OSB, is the development<br />
direc<strong>to</strong>r of Saint John’s <strong>Abbey</strong>.<br />
The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005 page 25
Simon-Hoà Phan, OSB<br />
VOCATION NEWS<br />
In this third year since its inception<br />
the Saint John’s Benedictine<br />
Volunteer Corps (SJBVC) has<br />
recruited five graduates of the SJU<br />
2005 class <strong>to</strong> serve in Benedictine<br />
communities in the United <strong>St</strong>ates<br />
and abroad.<br />
Andrew Dirksen, political science<br />
major from LeMars, Iowa, and Michael<br />
Hahn, political science major<br />
from Robbinsdale, Minnesota, work at<br />
Saint Benedict’s Prep in Newark, New<br />
Jersey. They are tu<strong>to</strong>rs of students<br />
and teacher assistants at this seventh<br />
through twelfth grade, 575-student,<br />
inner city school established by Benedictines<br />
of Newark <strong>Abbey</strong> in 1868.<br />
Mark Hoffman, music (vocal)<br />
management major from Duluth, Minnesota,<br />
works in the library and with<br />
the grounds crew at the International<br />
Benedictine College of Saint Anselm<br />
in Rome, Italy. Established in 1687<br />
and res<strong>to</strong>red in 1888, the college enrolls<br />
some ninety students in programs<br />
of priesthood and monastic studies,<br />
theology, philosophy and liturgy.<br />
page 26 The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005<br />
Paul Conroy, English major from<br />
Monticello, Minnesota, and Andrew<br />
Krueger, communication major from<br />
Orono, Minnesota, teach English at<br />
the <strong>Abbey</strong> of Hanga in Songea, Tanzania.<br />
Founded in 1957, Hanga <strong>Abbey</strong><br />
with its 150 members is the largest<br />
Benedictine community in Africa<br />
and operates a hospital, dispensary,<br />
primary and secondary schools and<br />
seminary. Paul and Andrew participated<br />
in the Saint John’s <strong>St</strong>udy Abroad<br />
Program in South Africa during the<br />
spring 2004 semester and <strong>to</strong>gether<br />
climbed Kilimanjaro, the 19,340-feet,<br />
tallest mountain in Africa.<br />
Why did these young men volunteer?<br />
Dirksen: “I wanted a change<br />
of pace, time <strong>to</strong> reflect on my future<br />
and the chance <strong>to</strong> experience a different<br />
environment and ethnic group.”<br />
Hahn: I was infected <strong>to</strong> service<br />
during my years at Saint John’s.”<br />
Hoffman: “I didn’t have time in<br />
high school or college <strong>to</strong> do volunteer<br />
work, so this is the opportunity<br />
I need.” Conroy: “I want <strong>to</strong> help<br />
others.” Krueger: “I was interested in<br />
Members of the 2005 Saint John’s Benedictine<br />
Volunteer Corps, l. <strong>to</strong> r.: Andrew Krueger,<br />
Andrew Dirksen, Mark Hoffman, Michael<br />
Hahn, Paul Richards, OSB (direc<strong>to</strong>r), Paul<br />
Conroy<br />
Five Benedictine<br />
Volunteers Serve<br />
in New Jersey,<br />
Rome and<br />
Tanzania<br />
by Daniel Durken, OSB<br />
Saint John’s 2005 graduates were “infected <strong>to</strong> service” at <strong>Collegeville</strong>.<br />
the Peace Corps, but when that didn’t<br />
work I still wanted <strong>to</strong> do volunteer<br />
work.”<br />
Volunteers are expected <strong>to</strong> spend<br />
thirty <strong>to</strong> forty hours a week in the<br />
work of the host monastery. They<br />
also pray with the community once or<br />
twice a day and join the community<br />
for at least one meal a day. The host<br />
community provides their food, lodging<br />
and a small monthly stipend.<br />
SJU alumni interested in joining<br />
Saint John’s Benedictine Volunteer<br />
Corps should contact Paul Richards,<br />
OSB, direc<strong>to</strong>r of the program, at 320-<br />
363-3007 or prichards@csbsju.edu. +
Paul Conroy writes: I have<br />
been in Tanzania for a little<br />
over a month now, and I have<br />
quickly gotten used <strong>to</strong> eating the same<br />
foods every day: a lot of rice, occasionally<br />
pasta, meat sometimes and a<br />
lot of bread. At the end of a meal if I<br />
am still hungry I stuff my face with<br />
a few pieces of bread with sugar and<br />
bananas. The bread is homemade and<br />
very good. While I still have the occasional<br />
craving for a Saint John’s buffet<br />
or McDonald’s dollar menu, I am content<br />
with everything we are provided<br />
here. Our menu is much more diverse<br />
than many peoples’.<br />
My knees have finally become<br />
adjusted <strong>to</strong> the hard wooden kneelers<br />
at church. The first time we knelt on<br />
them, two minutes in<strong>to</strong> it was like “O,<br />
Sweet Jesus, there is no way I can do<br />
The ordination of a priest at the<br />
<strong>Abbey</strong> of Tanga in Tanzania<br />
Benedictine Volunteers<br />
in Tanzania write home<br />
“I am having an amazing time. Africa is wonderful.”<br />
this!” But now it is no big deal except<br />
when we pray the rosary; that gets a<br />
bit long.<br />
A very interesting part of life here<br />
I have slowly gotten used <strong>to</strong> is hand<br />
holding. People hold hands everywhere.<br />
Men walk down the street<br />
holding hands, women and men,<br />
women and women, children, everyone.<br />
It has taken a little getting used <strong>to</strong><br />
holding hands for an extended period<br />
of time with people as we sit and try<br />
<strong>to</strong> converse or walk down the dusty<br />
road. But it is part of the culture and a<br />
very interesting one I am happy <strong>to</strong> experience<br />
. . . usually. I am doing very<br />
well here and am having an amazing<br />
time. Africa is wonderful.<br />
Andrew Krueger writes: One<br />
of the monks about forty years<br />
old died here unexpectedly<br />
from heart failure.<br />
The average life<br />
expectancy is something<br />
like 44. While<br />
it was sad for the<br />
community, crowds<br />
of people came in<br />
support and it was a<br />
really good cultural<br />
experience. The ceremony<br />
was leagues<br />
away from anything<br />
VOCATION NEWS<br />
I’d ever expect in the <strong>St</strong>ates—long<br />
church services, women wailing at<br />
times, lots of music.<br />
My birthday celebration was great.<br />
One of the monks decorated our place<br />
with balloons and beach balls and<br />
surprised us when we got home. Lots<br />
of monks and others showed up. After<br />
drinks and presents a group made<br />
their way down the hall with a large<br />
cake singing, “Cakey, cakey, cakey”<br />
and clapping their hands. The group<br />
s<strong>to</strong>pped in front of me and the song<br />
changed <strong>to</strong> “Cut the cakey, cakey,”<br />
repeated over and over until the cake<br />
had been entirely cut. Then the song<br />
changed <strong>to</strong> a Swahili word for distribute<br />
and, of course, “Cakey, cakey,<br />
cakey.” It was fun <strong>to</strong> experience a<br />
birthday in a new culture.<br />
One of my goals was accomplished<br />
when last week I had four separate<br />
encounters with siafu. Siafu are the<br />
crazy ants that you will often see on<br />
animal and plant shows. One of the<br />
columns was protected by soldiers,<br />
so I made sure <strong>to</strong> sit and observe and<br />
play with them for a while. Anything<br />
you dip <strong>to</strong>wards their stream of movement<br />
gets absolutely devoured. It’s<br />
crazy. +<br />
The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005 page 27
VOCATION NEWS<br />
Andrew Coval, OSB,<br />
professes first monastic vows<br />
Taking as his starting point the<br />
“make-over” fad of our time,<br />
Abbot John Klassen, OSB, in<br />
his homily for the Feast of the Exaltation<br />
of the Holy Cross, September 14,<br />
asserted, “Saint Benedict would cast a<br />
pretty cold eye on this kind of process.<br />
You can put a habit on in a few minutes<br />
but it takes a lifetime <strong>to</strong> become a<br />
monk. Benedict would argue that deep<br />
change ultimately has <strong>to</strong> come from<br />
the inside out.”<br />
In the context of these words,<br />
Andrew Coval, OSB, 27, made his<br />
initial public commitment <strong>to</strong> the<br />
Benedictine way of life during the<br />
celebration of the Eucharist that mid-<br />
September afternoon.<br />
Brother Andrew, son of Thomas<br />
and Marie Coval of Philadelphia, has<br />
six brothers. While earning a degree<br />
in philosophy at Emory University,<br />
page 28 The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005<br />
Andrew Coval, OSB, on the day of his<br />
first profession of vows<br />
“Saint Benedict would argue that this is the real make-over” (Abbot John).<br />
Atlanta, Andrew made a weekend retreat<br />
at the Trappist abbey in Conyers,<br />
Georgia. This sparked an interest in<br />
Catholicism and he converted in 2001.<br />
Andrew later spent three months<br />
in the Conyers’ abbey’s guest program.<br />
He then came <strong>to</strong> <strong>Collegeville</strong>,<br />
earned the MA in systematic theology<br />
at Saint John’s School of<br />
Theology•Seminary in 2003 and participated<br />
in Saint John’s <strong>Abbey</strong>’s summer<br />
Monastic Experience Program of<br />
work and prayer with the community.<br />
After teaching theology at an<br />
Episcopal high school in Alexandria,<br />
Virginia, Andrew decided <strong>to</strong> begin his<br />
Benedictine “make-over” program<br />
and entered the novitiate in September<br />
2004. He is now teaching Spanish at<br />
Saint John’s Prepara<strong>to</strong>ry School and<br />
occasionally pursuing a beer brewing<br />
hobby (see pages 10-11 of this issue). +<br />
L. <strong>to</strong> r.: Novice Peter Sullivan, OSB; JP Earls, OSB (direc<strong>to</strong>r of formation);<br />
Novice Peregrine Rinderknecht, OSB, during a class in the novitiate library<br />
Lee Hanley<br />
Two Benedictine<br />
novices invested<br />
Two young men were accepted<br />
in<strong>to</strong> the novitiate and clothed<br />
in the monastic garb at a simple<br />
ceremony during Evening Prayer on<br />
September 11.<br />
Novice Peter (Joseph) Sullivan, 31,<br />
of Mattituck, New York, is the son of<br />
Joseph (deceased) and Anna Sullivan.<br />
He has an older sister and brother. Peter<br />
has an MA in elementary education<br />
from Dowling College, Oakdale, NY.<br />
Novice Peregrine (Jakob)<br />
Rinderknecht, 25, of Shaker Heights,<br />
Ohio, is the son of Joseph and Gail<br />
Rinderknecht. He has two younger<br />
brothers. This spring Peregrine<br />
received the MA in systematic<br />
theology from Saint John’s School<br />
of Theology. +<br />
Robin Pierzina, OSB
Liturgical Press<br />
Psalms, the second of a seven-volume<br />
series of full-color, page-bypage<br />
reproductions from The Saint<br />
John’s Bible, will be available in<br />
February from Liturgical Press, <strong>Collegeville</strong>.<br />
Michael Patella, OSB, chair of the<br />
Committee on Illumination and Text,<br />
says, “I believe the Book of Psalms<br />
will be one of the favorite books<br />
<strong>to</strong> see when the Bible is exhibited.<br />
People love the psalms. The way<br />
they appear in The Saint John’s Bible<br />
provides people a way <strong>to</strong> read their<br />
favorite psalm with new eyes.”<br />
Cover of the Psalms book of<br />
The Saint John’s Bible.<br />
The five numbered panels are the<br />
five books of the psalms.<br />
The Saint John’s Bible Update:<br />
Psalms, Exhibitions, Award<br />
Visual representations of chants<br />
from Benedictine, Native American,<br />
Muslim, Taoist and other traditions are<br />
the basis for the illuminations of the<br />
psalms. Every psalm page features<br />
a small gold image that graphically<br />
renders the chanting of the monks of<br />
Saint John’s <strong>Abbey</strong>.<br />
Psalms is published in hardcover,<br />
80 pages, 9 3 /4 x 15, $59.95. This volume<br />
may be ordered from Liturgical<br />
Press by phone (1-800-858-5450) or<br />
e-mail (sales@litpress.org).<br />
Exhibition Tours of<br />
The Saint John’s Bible<br />
After its highly successful exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts<br />
this past spring and summer, The Saint John’s Bible continues its<br />
exhibition <strong>to</strong>urs <strong>to</strong> museums and galleries:<br />
Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, Nebraska, January 21—April 15, 2006<br />
The Vic<strong>to</strong>ria & Albert Museum, London, England, February 2—May 1, 2006<br />
Tyler Art Museum, Tyler, Texas, June 8—September 3, 2006<br />
The Library of Congress, Washing<strong>to</strong>n, DC, Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 6—December 15, 2006<br />
Naples Art Museum, Naples, Florida, January 26—April 6, 2007<br />
National Museum of Catholic Art and His<strong>to</strong>ry, New York City, May 18—<br />
July 27, 2007<br />
Meadows Museum, Shreveport, Louisiana, September 7—November 16, 2007<br />
Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, Arizona, December 21, 2007—March 7, 2008<br />
Mobile Art Museum, Mobile, Alabama, Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 10, 2008—April 10, 2009<br />
BANNER BITS<br />
Colman J. Barry<br />
Award <strong>to</strong> Sister<br />
Wendy Beckett<br />
Saint John’s University will present<br />
the thirteenth annual Colman J.<br />
Barry Award for Distinguished Contributions<br />
<strong>to</strong> Religion and Society <strong>to</strong><br />
internationally renowned art commenta<strong>to</strong>r,<br />
Sister Wendy Beckett, <strong>to</strong> honor<br />
her service <strong>to</strong> society as art his<strong>to</strong>rian,<br />
author and television host. A Carmelite<br />
nun, Sister Wendy has hosted BBC<br />
television documentaries on a variety<br />
of art museums and galleries and written<br />
more than fifteen books.<br />
The award will take place on January<br />
30, 2006, at a private reception in<br />
England <strong>to</strong> coincide with the opening<br />
of the international exhibition <strong>to</strong>ur of<br />
The Saint John’s Bible at The Vic<strong>to</strong>ria<br />
& Albert Museum, London. +<br />
Sister Wendy Beckett, Carmelite nun<br />
and host of TV documentaries on art<br />
The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005 page 29
BANNER BITS<br />
Aunique parade of 23 Franklin<br />
cars cruised through the <strong>Collegeville</strong><br />
campus on September<br />
16 as part of the Midwest Franklin<br />
Tour. Hosted by Roy Bernick and<br />
Colleen Rawlings-Bernick of Waite<br />
Park, Minnesota, drivers and passengers<br />
parked their sparkling vehicles in<br />
the Science Center parking lot while<br />
visiting the <strong>Abbey</strong> Church and the Hill<br />
Museum & Microfilm Library.<br />
John Wilkinson was the original<br />
designer of the au<strong>to</strong>mobile that became<br />
one of America’s great luxury<br />
cars. But it was Herbert H. Franklin,<br />
a former newspaper publisher, who<br />
gave his name <strong>to</strong> the vehicle that he<br />
manufactured in Syracuse, New York,<br />
and marketed from 1902 <strong>to</strong> 1934.<br />
1930<br />
Franklin<br />
Deauville<br />
1926 Franklin<br />
page 30 The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005<br />
Courtesy Thayer Birding Software<br />
Lee Hanley<br />
The Franklin was one of the most<br />
innovative mo<strong>to</strong>r cars of its time. The<br />
special feature of the au<strong>to</strong>mobile was<br />
its air-cooled engine which eliminated<br />
the cus<strong>to</strong>mary radia<strong>to</strong>r and problems<br />
of overheating and freezing. When<br />
dealers demanded more conventional<br />
styling with a standard radia<strong>to</strong>r in<br />
front, a false radia<strong>to</strong>r was put on the<br />
1925 Franklin.<br />
The Franklin also featured lightweight<br />
and flexible construction at<br />
a time when other luxury cars were<br />
ponderous machines. Franklins were<br />
capable of speeds of 60 mph whereas<br />
heavier vehicles like the Oldsmobile<br />
lumbered along at 20 mph. In 1904 a<br />
Franklin was driven from New York<br />
Colleen and Roy Bernick and their rare 1933<br />
twelve-cylinder Franklin classic car<br />
Classic Cars Cruise<br />
Collegville Campus<br />
The Franklin was one of the<br />
most innovative cars of its time.<br />
<strong>to</strong> San Francisco in about half the<br />
coast-<strong>to</strong>-coast time recorded earlier by<br />
Packard and Win<strong>to</strong>n cars.<br />
Roy Bernick, retired vice president<br />
of Bernick’s Pepsi Cola of Waite Park,<br />
and his wife Colleen are the enthusiastic<br />
owners of 44 antique and classic<br />
cars and six Franklins. Their collection<br />
includes a rare 1933 twelve-cylinder<br />
Franklin and an almost extinct<br />
1930, eight-cylinder Deauville-Franklin<br />
of which there are only three in<br />
existence. +<br />
Much of this material was taken from<br />
an article by Richard A. Wright on the<br />
Internet.<br />
1914 Franklin<br />
1915 Franklin<br />
Hugh Witzmann, OSB
Jerome Tupa, OSB,<br />
announces new web site<br />
Father Jerome announces a new<br />
web site <strong>to</strong> exhibit the various<br />
series of his paintings, prints, watercolors<br />
and drawings. The website<br />
is www.jerometupa.com. This<br />
site also offers an on-line s<strong>to</strong>re for<br />
ecommerce.<br />
This new web site was designed<br />
by Jeff Voight, a friend of the abbey.<br />
In particular Jerome’s upcoming<br />
pilgrimage exhibits in New<br />
York City and Washing<strong>to</strong>n, D.C.<br />
are featured. The Road <strong>to</strong> Compostela<br />
is the latest painting series<br />
completed for exhibition.<br />
2<br />
The first showing of some pieces<br />
in this series will be at Saint John’s<br />
in the Rogers Art Center in the<br />
spring of 2006 and will be sub-<br />
sequently shown<br />
in a traveling exhibit<br />
moving from<br />
Washing<strong>to</strong>n, D.C. <strong>to</strong><br />
New York City and<br />
finally <strong>to</strong> Chicago.<br />
We hope you enjoy<br />
this site. +<br />
BANNER BITS<br />
Above, Jerome Tupa’s Assisi Basilica<br />
At left, Jerome Tupa’s Compostela<br />
The <strong>Abbey</strong> Banner <strong>Winter</strong> 2005 page 31
Calendar of Major Sesquicentennial Events<br />
April 5, 2006 – Opening Day <strong>to</strong> commemorate the departure on April 5, 1856, of five<br />
Benedictine monks from Saint Vincent Monastery in Pennsylvania for Minnesota<br />
• Presentation of Saint John’s at 150. A portrait<br />
of this place called <strong>Collegeville</strong><br />
• 5:00 p.m. Eucharist at which the Archabbot<br />
of Saint Vincent Archabbey presides<br />
April 30, 2006 – Twin Cities Day <strong>to</strong> commemorate the arrival<br />
of Benedictine monks in Saint Paul on May 2, 1856,<br />
and <strong>to</strong> celebrate the long service of Saint John’s <strong>Abbey</strong> <strong>to</strong><br />
Twin Cities and Minnesota parishes<br />
• 7:30 p.m. A festive Evening Prayer Service at<br />
Assumption Church in down<strong>to</strong>wn Saint Paul with the<br />
Saint John’s <strong>Abbey</strong> Schola and a choir and orchestra<br />
from Saint John’s University<br />
May 20, 2006 – Welcoming Our Neighbors <strong>to</strong> celebrate the arrival of five<br />
Benedictine monks in Saint Cloud on May 20, 1856 and <strong>to</strong> emphasize the<br />
commitment of Saint John’s <strong>to</strong> community<br />
• Various exhibits and activities throughout the<br />
day, e.g., <strong>to</strong>urs, his<strong>to</strong>rical displays, musical<br />
groups, games, picnic<br />
• 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Concerts by John<br />
McCutcheon<br />
• 5:00 p.m. Eucharist at which Bishop John Kinney<br />
presides<br />
• Opening of “Benedictines in Central Minnesota”<br />
exhibit at <strong>St</strong>earns County His<strong>to</strong>rical Museum<br />
June 24, 2006 – The Feast of Saint John the Baptist <strong>to</strong><br />
commemorate the discovery of Indianbush as the<br />
location for the abbey and its schools<br />
• 10:30 a.m. Eucharist at which the Abbot of Saint<br />
Michael’s <strong>Abbey</strong>, Metten, Bavaria, presides<br />
• 5:00 p.m. Anticipated broadcast of “The Prairie Home<br />
Companion” by Garrison Keillor<br />
NOTE: Further details of major Sesquicentennial events<br />
will be released <strong>to</strong> media as the schedule is confirmed.<br />
PO Box 2015<br />
<strong>Collegeville</strong>, MN 56321-2015<br />
www.saintjohnsabbey.org<br />
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED<br />
Nonprofit<br />
Organization<br />
U.S. Postage<br />
PAID<br />
Saint John’s <strong>Abbey</strong><br />
Placid <strong>St</strong>uckenschneider, OSB