Author: Stephen Verbest

Mass will be at 10:00 am on Easter Sunday

There are various ways to share in our way of life. One may come as a retreatant, or a visitor; or as an associate in the Monastic Center, and now as a Long Term Guest living in the community for one to twelve months, or as a Monastic Brother for indefinite periods of time. For a fuller description of these four ways click on the link at the top menu for “Visit Us”.

On July 13, 2022, at 3:30 in the morning Fr. Kenneth Tietjen died at Stonehill Wellness Center in Dubuque. Fr. Kenneth had been at Stonehill for a few weeks after suffering a broken ankle in a fall. He also contracted COVID. Fr. Kenneth was 93 years old. The funeral liturgy will be celebrated at New Melleray on Monday morning at 9:00, July 18.

On May 7 at 1:00 PM we will have a Memorial Mass in memory of Fr. Xavier Dieter. He died on March 3 and requested a private funeral and burial. Having counseled many men and women over the years, and having worked with our neighbors even longer, providing replacement black angus cattle for their herds, we expect a large number of friends to come for the celebration of Father’s life. A large tent will be provided for an outdoor Mass in front of our Guest House, with food afterwards. All are invited to join us for this remembrance and prayers for Fr. Xavier.

After being closed to the public for several months, our Church, Guest House and Gift Shop are once again open to visitors, retreatants and friends of the monastery.

Fr. Xavier died yesterday evening, Thursday, at 7:45 P.M. He requested a private funeral Mass and burial, with a Memorial Service later on. The Mass and burial will be on Saturday, March 5, just for the monks.

It is 8:20 Wednesday morning. Yesterday the community gathered for the Anointing of the Sick for our brother, Fr. Xavier. He was alert and grateful for the Sacrament. This morning Fr. Xavier has slipped into a coma. The community will gather together again around his bedside to pray for the dying at 9:30. We ask you to join in praying for him wherever you are.

Four more monks have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past week. Fr. Brendan has decided to close the Guesthouse, Church and Gift Shop to the public until at least the end of February, for the protection of both our monks and our guests.

The month of January has reintroduced us to the hard realities of severe winter weather:  plenty of snow and frigid temperatures.  The weather has made traveling hazardous, and one of the monks can personally vouch for its dangers.  While returning to the monastery from  celebrating the eucharist  for our sisters at Mississippi Abbey, Fr. Jonah had the misfortune of sliding into a snow plow.  He was on the monastery road and within sight of the monastery itself when he attempted to pass the plow.  He skidded into the back of the plow and severely dented the door on the passenger side of the car.  Fortunately, he was not hurt and the driver of the plow didn’t even realize contact had been made.  The door has since been repaired and the car is back in service.

We began the month with our annual corporation meeting for Trappist Caskets on January seventh.  We are incorporated as a 501(d) group for the purposes of paying our dues and taxes to the Internal Revenue Service.  This is a tax category which can apply to communal groups (e.g., Hutterites, Amish) who share an industry’s profits, without the individuals having personal access to these funds.  It does require that we meet at least once a year, elect officers, and review business minutes.   Enough monks were present to insure that we had a quorum for the meeting.  It was chaired by Davin Curtiss, one of the attorneys of the firm of O’Connor and Thomas who have represented us for many years.  The weather and precautions due to COVID prevented the presence of some of our advisors, so the discussions were brief and decisions were swift.

COVID did finally gain entrance into our cloister.  Fr. Brendan, our superior, seems to have contracted the virus  and tested positive after evidencing some symptoms.  The unconfirmed source might well have been contact with our sisters at Mississippi.  Four of the nuns there tested positive and the community went into quarantine.  Fr.  Brendan himself has kept in quarantine in the house and is waiting for a negative test before reappearing in the community.  This has slowed down efforts at community and council meetings.  The regular information meeting was not convened again this month.   

During the cold weather, some interior areas of the monastery are being repainted and old and stained  carpeting is being removed.  Most of the carpeting was installed in the 1970’s and has absorbed the wear and accidents of the years.

The final days of December lead us into the celebration of the Nativity of Christ and the manifestation of God’s gift of love to all people.  He abides with us as the constant offer of peace, harmony and love  among all peoples and with the creation he renews to sustain us.  We wish the blessings of this season to all and pray that the New Year will be a time of peace and good will.

Fr. Brendan has returned from Ireland and officially became our superior ad nutum. He was appointed by Dom Peter McCarthy, our Father Immediate, after consultation with the community.  Fr. Brendan assumed office on December 1st, several days after his return.  He has appointed Fr. Ephrem as prior and Br. Paul Andres as sub-prior.  These will be members of the superior’s council.  Also appointed to the council were Fr. Stephen and Fr. David. Br. Joseph was chosen by the community to be its elected representative.  The Constitutions of the Order  (Cst 38) say The abbot’s council is composed of  at least three brothers of whom at least one is elected by the community. While larger than than some previous councils, it will give a broader level of experience to help in the decisions that will have to be made in the imminent future.

Unfortunately, Fr. Brendan was in contact with someone who was diagnosed with Covid.  He is now in quarantine in the community and will not be able to share in our Christmas celebrations.  Fr. Ephrem, the prior, will have to stand in for him at midnight mass.  The closing of the guest house for the Christmas holidays (from December 20 to January 3rd) now serves a double purpose in limiting contact during this time of increased Covid infections.  Although we will open again on January 3rd, we are limiting the guest house to half occupancy (14) and request use of masks and that retreatants be vaccinated.  The monks have received booster shots this December. The annual Christmas party that is held for our employees was cancelled again this year because of Covid.  It had been a good opportunity for the community to meet and thank our employees for their generous service.

The reconstruction work on the south side of the monastery building has been successfully completed.  Deteriorating cement was replaced and rubberized covering installed to prevent leaking into basement areas.  The work was somewhat delayed because of a saw which had to be replaced.  Fortunately, good weather prevailed for most of the work time and the job was completed before hard frosts began.  A ramp which had descended rather steeply into the basement area was leveled so that an entry can be made on even ground from the outer area.  We welcomed the end to the sounds of drilling and jackhammering.  Some damage was inflicted on trees surrounding the abbey during some severe wind storms in late fall.  The damage was cleaned up, and several dead trees were removed to make room for new plantings.  The cedar fence demarcating the enclosure in front of the guest house was also completed while the weather remained mild.