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.
Category: Around the Abbey
Death of Fr. James O’Connor.
The senior monk of our community, Fr. James O’Connor, made his final flight into the home of his Heavenly Father on April 8th. At 97, he had been a monk for 73 years after serving in the Air Force during World War II ( he flew 35 combat missions) and studies at De Paul University in Chicago. He died from complications after a fall in his room in the infirmary on March 22nd. He had been a philosophy teacher for young monks and spent his later years on top of a grass mower. He had been the author of Monastery Seasons, a newsletter which was widely popular and sorely missed when he was no longer able to compose its crisp columns. His funeral was held on a bright and brisk Saturday morning, April 9th. His cousin and some members of his family were able to attend. A touching end to the service was the somber playing of military taps as his body lay at peace.
We are happy to announce the presence of a new observer, Charles Wuebner (age 42). Charles had previously spent some time with us and has now begun the process of closer discernment of his vocation. He was a practicing lawyer in the state of Texas (near Dallas). We ask you to join our prayers that he may respond whole-heartedly to what the Lord is asking of him.
In preparation for the next session of the General Chapter in September of this year, each community has been asked to prepare a house report which will be the subject of the Chapter’s reflections and decisions. The reports are meant to be concise and condensed, while giving a true picture of the concrete reality of each community. Four questions were presented: l) What would you like to share about the life of your community over the last 5 years? Can you share a positive initiative undertaken or an experience your community had in the last 5 years? 2) How do you live communion within your community and with the Order as a whole? 3) Does work, as an important value of our monastic life, help integration in the community and fraternal collaboration? Is it a source of life for each member of the community? 4) What is the impact of secularization and globalization on your common life? The community met one Thursday morning and made suggestions in response to each question. A summary report was drawn up and presented to the community on the next Thursday. With a few minor corrections, this report was accepted and forwarded to the Generalate in Rome well before the due date.
March Information
There has been a bit of a hiatus in the posting of new information. A new method of entering posts has been introduced and the poster (boy) needed some education and upgrading. The flood of events has itself delayed posting. Add to this a severe case of procrastination, and the result could have been predicted.
Moving backwards in time, we can begin with last Sunday’s joyful event of the reception of a new novice. Fittingly occurring on Laetare Sunday, Br. Charles Ross received the novice’s habit as a member of the community. Together with the habit, he chose to be henceforth called “Br. Philip.” The novice has the option of retaining his baptismal name or assuming a new name to signify the fundamental change that monastic life and conversatio will demand of his person. Br. Philip is 43 years old and most recently lived in Clinton, Iowa. He served in the U.S. Marines for four years and then worked as a mechanical engineer. He visited New Melleray a number of times before deciding to join the community. He is mature, deeply committed to following Christ and to placing his trust in God as he meets Him in our community life. We ask prayers that the grace and Spirit of Christ may be alive in his life.
On Tuesday, March 22nd, our senior monk Fr. James O’Connor (97) fell in his room. Although sometimes a little shaky in his movements, he walked unaided and freely explored first floor areas of the monastery. The severe pain he experienced demanded that he be brought to the hospital for X-rays, and a small fracture was discovered. This was repaired by an operation that evening, and he came through with flying colors. However, his hearing is severely impaired and he was unresponsive to therapy. Since we would be unable to provide the care he would need, he has been transferred to a local nursing home in Cascade. We will have to see if he can resume walking and sufficient independence to return with us.
Most will have seen the notice of Fr. Xavier’s death on March 3rd. He had been becoming weaker due to the spread of his cancer and was finally unable to stand by himself. He was bed-ridden for the final two weeks of his life. We called in Hospice to assist in caring for him. He died in the evening as the community was singing the office of Compline: Lord, now let your servant go in peace. Since the guest house and church were still closed because of the presence of COVID in the community, we celebrated a private funeral service and will have a memorial for him later in the spring. Because of a heavy rain, we had to delay the actual burial for an hour after mass was completed. The skies temporarily cleared and we were able to conclude our service. Knowing that the church was closed, he himself expressed the wish for a memorial mass to be celebrated when his family and friends could attend. He was widely known in the area and directed a number of AA and addiction groups.
Last year, the annual community retreat had to be cancelled because of the COVID virus. But this year, we were able to resume this practice from March 18th to the 23rd, under the direction of Dom Innocent Ugyeh, the superior of our Cistercian monastery of Calvaire, Canada. As his name may indicate, he is of Nigerian birth but has been a member of Calvaire for some years. He was very energetic and enthusiastic and offered conferences which focused on the ways in which the Holy Spirit works in the lives of Christians and monks.
After two years of escaping attacks of the COVID virus, six monks tested positive for the virus. Two were severely ill. We closed the guest house and church and curtailed our monastic schedule to limit personal contact and spreading the virus. We celebrated Lauds, the Eucharist, Dinner and Vespers in common. All the other hours were prayed in private. Several monks did gather at 3:30 a.m. in church for Vigils, but found their own ways to pray the office. We then reopened the church and guest house on March 21st, after our retreat had concluded.
Fr. Brendan was able to attend the General Chapter (Part I) at Assisi from the 2nd to the 23rd of February. The main business was the election of a new Abbot General, Dom Bernardus Peeters of Tilburg, Netherlands. New members of his council were also chosen. Part II of the Chapter will be held from September 1-29, 2022. Communities are being asked to prepare house reports which will be read and discussed at this Chapter. Those who participated in this Chapter seemed very enthusiastic about the spirit of cooperation and openness that pervaded the meetings.
Now open.
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’s death
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.
Fr. Xavier Dieter
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.
COVID ATTACK
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.
Beginning the New Year
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.
Closing of the Year
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.
New Superior for New Melleray
Ever since the termination of Dom Mark Scott’s term as abbot, the monastery has been operating without a local superior, in what is called sede vacante. The pandemic had prevented the return of Dom Peter McCarthy, our designated Father Immediate, to proceed with the selection of a superior. In the meantime, Fr. Stephen had been delegated by Dom Peter to act locally in his place as superior of the house.
Dom Peter, accompanied by Dom Gerard D’Souza of Genesee Abbey, was able to return for a Pastoral Visit on Monday, October 4th. Since Dom Peter is canonically the local superior, he cannot “visit himself” in the context of a Regular Visitation. Hence, it was a “Pastoral Visit” although it served as a Regular Visitation of the community. For two days, Dom Gerard and Dom Peter met personally with each member of the community, focusing on the question of the suitability of an election at this time and who would be the person most capable of meeting the particular needs of the community at this time as its superior.
There was strong agreement that an election would not be appropriate at this time, and the consultation concerning the person who should be appointed superior led to the selection of Dom Brendan Freeman. He has been appointed superior by Dom Peter after the consultation of all the brothers. He generously consented to assume this responsibility. Since he is still superior of Mellifont Abbey in Ireland, he will have to return there to close that relationship. The appointment will this be effective only on December 1, 2021. As many will remember, Dom Brendan served as our abbot from 1984-2003 when he retired having reached the canonical age limit of 75. We ask prayers for him and for the community as we move into the future God is preparing for us.