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16 S Abbey Views Winter 2011 S 9
Abbey ViewsVOLUME 16, NUMBER 1
Father Dominic’snew Books
Now Available
Fr. dominic has been making the rounds promoting his most recent books. In addition to reading his children’s book Brother Jerome and the Angels in the Bakery to rapt audiences in libraries and parish schools, he has been busily promoting his latest cookbook Thursday Night Pizza, including appearances on WGN and ABc7 in chicago. A pizza pledge special that was shot this past summer will be aired in March on WtVP-47 in Peoria. Sales of both books have been brisk, with the proceeds going to support the monastic community. He has also been making presentations on herb gardening/cooking at home and garden shows and master gardener conventions. If you would be interested in having him share a cooking or gardening presentation at your local parish or other organization, contact him at [email protected], and be sure to mention you’re a Saint Bede alum!
Calendar of Events
marCh 3 BEEr & WINE TaSTING
25-27 SPrING mUSICaL
aPrIL 17 SPrING CONCErT
22-29 SPrING BrEaK
29 aUCTION PrEVIEW NIGhT
30 aUCTION GaLa
maY 7 PrOm
22 119Th COmmENCEmENT
23-25 FINaL EXamS
JUNE 5 15Th aNNUaL BrUIN
GOLF CLaSSIC
JULY 15 ThE BEDaN rECOrD
aUGUST 16 CLaSSES rESUmE
TBa 2012 aUCTION KICK-OFF
OCTOBEr 1 hOmECOmING
o Check here if your son or daughter
would like to receive SBa admissions
material.
an academy representative
will contact you for more details.
Alumni: send us your news. The Bedan Record welcomes contributions to the Alumni class Notes section. Use this form to fax or mail us your personal and professional news items. Photos, news clippings, etc., are also welcome, as well as tips about other alumni who may make good feature story subjects.
• Submission guidelines: Alumni Class Notes are printed in The Bedan Record so that Saint Bede alumni can share news of significant events in their lives. We welcome items about personal and professional achievements, as well as life milestones such as weddings, births, adoptions and deaths. Photos and news clippings are welcome, but cannot be returned.
• Minimum submission requirements: Your legal name, class year and e-mail address (if applicable); home address and home phone number; other useful information includes your business title and company name.
Name__________________________________ class year________
E-mail___________________________________________________
Spouse’s name _________________________ class year ________
_________________________________________________________
Address__________________________________________________
city, State, Zip ___________________________________________
Home phone_____________________________________________
Business name ___________________________________________
Business address__________________________________________
city, State, Zip ___________________________________________
Your title _____________________________ Years in position ___
What’s new?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Send to: Saint Bede Academy
24 W US Highway 6, Peru, IL 61354
Phone: 815-223-3140 • FAX: 815-223-8580
E-mail: [email protected]
So What’s NewWiTH You?
10 S Abbey Views Winter 2011 S 15
Centennial year
during the year 2010 we celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of our community’s becoming an independent abbey. the two issues of Abbey Views during the year provided a sketch of the foundation of Saint Bede in 1891 and the first two decades of its history, together with an account of its becoming an abbey in 1910 and the election of Abbot Vincent Huber. Our commemoration of the centennial was rather low-key, but we had two celebrations for different groups. Since we have been in the diocese of Peoria from the beginning and have taken part in both the educational and parochial ministries of the diocese in addition to our monastic apostolate of prayer and hospitality, we invited the bishop and clergy of the diocese to join us for a lecture, vespers, and dinner on February 15. A number of the priests who attended that day with Bishop daniel Jenky, c.S.c. were alumni of our schools or had been associated with our monks in other capacities. We were enlightened by Abbot Gregory Polan of conception Abbey, who delivered a lecture on The Revised Grail Psalms: A Liturgical Psalter. He and his monks had been commissioned by the U.S. bishops to undertake the revision of the popular Grail translation of the psalms, and he explained the background and process involved in the project. the finished product has just been published, and will in the future be used exclusively in the liturgy. A more inclusive celebration occurred on Labor day, September 6, when we were joined by a large crowd whom we had invited for a solemn Mass and reception. We were honored that Archabbot douglas Nowicki of our mother house, Saint Vincent Archabbey, came and delivered the homily for the occasion. We also appreciated the presence of the President of our American-cassinese congregation, Abbot Hugh Anderson, and the abbots and some monks from our neighboring monasteries of Saint Procopius Abbey at Lisle, Marmion Abbey at Aurora, and Benet Lake Abbey in Wisconsin, and sisters from Saint Mary Monastery in rock Island. Abbot claude Peifer, who was principal celebrant, expressed the community’s gratitude to all those present, who represented the various groups that had accompanied and supported our community in our endeavors over the past 100 years. these included the religious communities who have worked with and for us, past and present students and their parents and families, administrators, teachers, and employees in various capacities, support groups who have assisted with fund-raising and working on numerous projects, members of parishes that our monks have administered, oblates of the abbey, volunteers, and all who have assisted us by their contributions, their work, and their prayer. Our centennial historical display was on exhibit in the abbey church throughout the year until after christmas, and
a portion of it is now visible in the diocesan Pastoral center in Peoria. the diocesan archives in the center include a small museum which, in addition to a standing presentation on Bishop Fulton Sheen, also provides rotating displays on diocesan history. From January through June this display is devoted to the Benedictines in the diocese of Peoria and features some materials from Saint Bede and others from the Benedictine Sisters whose monastery was formerly in Nauvoo and is now in rock Island.
Father Stephen Souse
the first of a series of profiles of the monks, which began in the summer 2010 issue with the oldest member of the community, featured Father Stephen Souse. A month or so later, on July 23, he quite literally dropped dead at the age of 93 in the first-floor corridor of the abbey on a day that up until late afternoon had been like most other days in his long life. Father Stephen was born in Peoria in 1916 of Maronite parents who had immigrated from Lebanon shortly before. After his early education in Peoria, he came to Saint Bede for college in 1934 with the priesthood in mind, and entered the monastery two years later. He was professed in 1937 after transferring to the Latin rite, and was ordained a priest in 1953. Except for two years of higher education at the catholic University of America in Washington, two brief parish assignments, and three years at Spalding Institute in Peoria just before we withdrew from that apostolate in 1950, he spent the rest of his life in the abbey. Father Stephen went about his assignments so quietly and unobtrusively that few people, it seems, had spoken extensively with him and felt that they knew him well. In the community he was much the same, but he had firm views on many subjects, and could sometimes be drawn into lengthy and quite eloquent expositions both in speech and in writing. He was a voracious reader who regularly devoured books and periodicals and, for about the last 25 years of his life, periodically compiled and distributed to confreres and others an internal newsletter that was intended to provide information about what was going on in the abbey. In his earlier days he had done some teaching and parish work, but for about the past 60 years his activity was confined chiefly to the abbey and our school. He was perfectly regular, dependable, and accurate, and quietly went about doing the same things day after day. In the school he served as registrar
We Need Your Help. . . and We’re Not Asking for Money!
We are looking for alumni to volunteer their time, talent and ideas to Saint Bede!
We anticipate adding some new alumni events to our calendar of events.
We want to include you in our plans, so please connect with donna Aleksy
either by phone (815) 223 – 3140 (ext. 243)
or by email [email protected] with your current contact information.
HOMECOMING 2011 • SEPTEMBER 30TH - OCTOBER 2NDHomecoming football game is on Saturday, October 1st.
If you would like to coordinate your class reunion, contact Jeannie Margherio at 815-223-3140 ext. 300 or at [email protected] are happy to provide class mailing lists with phone numbers.
1951 • 1956 • 1961 • 1966 • 1971 • 1976 • 1981 • 1986 • 1991 • 1996 •2001 • 2006
We would be happy to assist you in your planning with such things as hotel and dining lists, class mailing lists, including phone numbers, and all available e-mail addresses.
the annual fund is going well. When the phonathon is complete,we will post a status update on www.st-bede.com
and send out an e-mail. In May you will receive a mailing about theSpecial Gift club. the SGc is the final phase of our annual giving.
remember to check your will to make sure it reflects your wishes.recently several wills that were intended to benefit Saint Bede fell far short of what the donors intended.
the Abbey Views is now being folded into The Bedan Record. Just as the monks have always been at the heart of Saint Bede, the Abbey Views can be found in the middle of The Bedan Record.
If you have any questions about giving to Saint Bede, contact Father Philip at 815-223-3140 ext. 298, or at [email protected].
Annual Fund UpdateIf you are required to withdraw money from your IrA and are in the
rare position of not needing the money
immediately, you can use that money to make a gift to Saint Bede to create a
deferred gift annuity. * Valid through 12/31/11
If you would like to create a fund to benefit your children or for your
retirement you can create a charitable Lead trust that would benefit Saint Bede
until the time the money is needed. the terms of the trust are quite flexible and
very tax friendly.
Developmentn oT e s
Homecoming 2011
c H ro n i c l eThe Abbey
Fr. Stephen Souse
14 S Abbey Views Winter 2011 S 11
and maintained all the student records of attendance, grades, reports, and transcripts with pen and typewriter, though he drew the line at more recent technology. In the abbey he served as community barber for literally decades, kept track of Mass stipends and intentions, and lovingly cared for our houseplants. In both places he faithfully distributed the mail and the newspapers on a daily basis. Above all, he followed the daily monastic regimen of prayer, reading, and work faithfully and uncomplainingly for the 73 years of his life with us, and left us an edifying example of fidelity to Saint Benedict’s admonition to keep death daily before our eyes. Our oldest monk, both in age and in profession, is now Br. George Matsuoka, who is 89 years old and professed for 66 years (see page 13).
Senior monks
Father Kevin Gorman, who retired from his assignment as pastor in cherry, IL in June of 2008 because of increasing debility from Parkinson’s disease, has been a patient at Saint Joseph’s Nursing Home in Lacon for the past two years, after undergoing a fall at the abbey after six months’ residence here. In 2009 the village of cherry commemorated the 100th anniversary of the terrible mine disaster that occurred there, in which our Father Wencel Sholar played an important role in burying the dead and consoling the survivors. Father Bernard Horzen, who retired to the abbey in 2009 from dalzell, where he had served as pastor since 2001, had been able to live in our infirmary and participate in our community exercises until August of 2010, when an episode of choking brought on a serious medical crisis that required hospitalization in Peoria. From there he joined Father Kevin in Lacon, where he has considerably improved with the help of therapy, and we hope that further improvement will be achieved. Father Henry Fritz, after retiring from Saint Benedict’s Parish in Ladd in June of 2009, returned to the abbey and rejoined our regular daily monastic regime for almost a year. In the spring of 2010, however, he responded to an invitation to return to Saint Francis Parish
in Kewanee, where he had previously served as pastor. though now without an official title, he resides at the parish and relieves the pastor, who is also responsible for another parish, of the ordinary pastoral care at Saint Francis. Father Harold datzman continues to serve as pastor of Saint Joseph Parish in Peru, and former Abbot roger corpus of Saint Mary’s Parish in El Paso, IL.
New arrivals
At the other end of the spectrum is Br. Nov. david Freeman, who, after visiting the abbey over a period of several years, came to stay in 2009 and, after some months of postulancy, began his novitiate on June 24, 2010. Although he considers himself a native of Arkansas, where he lived and worked for some years before coming here, he had earlier spent much of his youth in california, where he went to school and also worked and served in the military. He is a qualified electrician. Br. david is alone in the novitiate, under the tutelage of Prior Michael calhoun, the novice master. As is customary in our novitiate, he has classes and study time in the mornings and contributes to the work of the community in the afternoons. In addition to tasks that make use of his background in electrical work, he has also assisted Father Arthur Schmit in managing our bees and their production of honey. He has also succeeded Father Stephen as community barber. For the past few months we have also had a postulant, Mr. Brent decker, who has come to us from davenport, IA. Brent has a rather extensive background of work in concrete construction, as well as in raising and caring for dogs. His study program with Abbot claude and Father dominic Garramone concentrates on catholic doctrine while he is exploring a possible vocation to the monastic life. the most recent arrival to the community is Br. Elias candelaria, who is a native of Leon, Mexico. Br. Elias has had previous experience of monastic life in Italy, where he has been a novice and junior monk at the Abbey of Saint Paul-Outside-the-Walls in rome, has studied theology at our international house of studies, the collegio di Sant’ Anselmo, and library science at the Vatican. While he is exploring the possibility of transferring to Saint Bede, he is working in our library. Br. Gregory Jarzombek, who made solemn profession in May of 2010 and was ordained deacon shortly thereafter, is continuing his theology studies at Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, PA. this semester, as part of the seminary’s field education program, he is gaining experience on weekends at Saint Peter Parish in Pittsburgh.
In a previous issue of The Bedan Record we published an article about the plans of the monastic community to develop a senior village on the west section of our property near Webster Park. We invited interested alumni and friends to indicate their interest in living in our senior village. About thirty alumni and friends expressed a desire to be part of our project. Under the diligent direction of Abbot claude, the planning process is continuing. We have decided that the first phase of our project will be an assisted living center of seventy units, some of which will be devoted to memory
care. By the time you receive this issue we will be accepting bids from contractors, so that we can verify our costs and proceed with the process of securing financing. We deeply appreciate the encouragement and support that we have received from the city of Spring Valley. Provena Life connections, a prominent catholic health care organization, has been contracted to manage our assisted living center, and has provided valuable assistance in the planning process. In the next issue of The Bedan Record we will provide another update on our project.
the assisted living center is only the first phase of a much larger plan. the picture that accompanies this article shows that our long term project is intended eventually to include skilled nursing, a number of possibilities for independent senior living, a hospitality and learning center, and some commercial construction. Please continue to keep our efforts in your prayers, and feel free to contact us with any questions that you may have. We believe that our senior village will expand our ability to serve our friends in many more ways.
Fr. Harold Datzman
Fr. Kevin Gorman
Fr. Bernard Horzen
Fr. Henry Fritz
s e n i o r V i l l aG eSaint Bede
12 S Abbey Views Winter 2011 S 13
recently, tom, a friend of mine, died suddenly. I was asked to preside at his funeral. Since he died suddenly and was not old, only 58, the question asked of God was: Why? Why, God, did you have to take him now? Why did it have to happen this way? Why couldn’t he have had a few more years? A question less often asked of God is: Why life at all? And then more specifically: Why did you give me the gift of life? Life is something most of us just take for granted. It is only when life becomes troubled or a burden, or when death occurs suddenly to someone we love, that we ask: Why? Yet, every day we should be marveling at this marvelous gift. God has a plan for all of us and it is up to us to discover that plan and then live it. We will never be happier than when the plans we have and make actually mesh with God’s plan. As chaplain, I attempt to reinforce this idea with the students. this year I am taking eight students on a “Mystery trip” for four days. they don’t know where we are going or what we will do. trust will be the underlying theme of the trip. they will need to trust me and one another but, most of all, trust God and his plan for each and every one of us
and trust that the plan he has for us affects not only us, but everyone else as well. A movie, popular during the christmas season, is: It’s a Wonderful Life. George Bailey is given the grace to see what the world would have been like had he not been born. the message of this film may help us to come to grips with the life and death of others whom we love and with our own life and death. Life is a pure gift of God. It isn’t something God owed us. And whether our life is one day, one year, fifty-eight years or a hundred and three years: it’s a gift. the way we thank God for the gift is by: 1. living life to the fullest, whether our time is long or short, and 2. participating in God’s plan, knowing that our life greatly affects the lives of others. In other words, had we not been born, the world would not be the same. don’t take life for granted. Participate fully in God’s plan for you. Appreciate the plan God has for others. thank God for this gift. It truly is a wonderful life!
Fr. ronald Margherio, O.S.B.
Brother George is a goodwill ambassador, shake-hands, share-his-cookies kind of guy! His philosophy is to welcome everyone as Christ. Brother George Matsuoka
It’s a Wonderful Life! It truly is. Like most things,
however, we take it for granted until
someone close to us dies or we ourselves have a brush with death.
At the age of 89, having been professed as a monk of Saint Bede Abbey for 66 years, Brother George Matsuoka, OSB, is now the senior member of the abbey on both counts. Born in chicago on August 27, 1921, Br. George spent his early years in the Angel Guardian Orphanage, where he lived from the age of two and a half. His mother, who was of Swedish descent and from Moline, IL., died shortly after he was born. His father, who had been born in Japan, contracted tuberculosis, found himself unable to care for him, and himself died in 1928. At Angel Guardian Br. George attended grade school, a year of high school, and two years of vocational training, completing a course in floriculture in Sedalia, MO, and then worked as a florist in chicago. However, he felt an attraction to religious life, and in his early adulthood he visited several Benedictine abbeys to explore a possible monastic vocation. However, the year 1942, shortly after Pearl Harbor, was not a comfortable time for Japanese-Americans, thousands of whom were being interned by the federal government, even though they were U.S. citizens. While he was visiting St. Meinrad Abbey in Indiana, he was visited by the F.B.I., who wanted to know all about him. Satisfied by what the abbot told them of him, the Bureau spared him from internment but, in view of the local climate of suspicion, the abbot of St. Meinrad suggested that he return to chicago. He subsequently did so and then, after contacting Abbot Lawrence, came to visit St. Bede late in 1942. After a visit of a month or so he decided he wanted to stay and, after
his novitiate, made his first vows in 1944. In the intervening years Br. George has served under all but two of the seven abbots of St. Bede. Until Vatican council II there were two classes of monks in the monastery, choir monks and lay brothers: the former prayed in Latin and did chiefly priestly and intellectual work, while the lay brothers prayed in English and did mostly manual work. this system had developed in the Middle Ages when ordinary people no longer understood Latin, in order to make room for those who wished to live the monastic life but had received less education. When the church reintroduced vernacular languages into the liturgy, there was no longer a reason for the separation, and St. Benedict’s original system of equality of all in a single class of monks was restored. Br. George is now the only survivor at St. Bede of those who originally entered as lay brothers. He remembers the days when the brothers together recited the rosary in English in the basement chapel of the monastery while the choir monks prayed the Latin office upstairs. “Ora et labora” (pray and work) is a well-known Benedictine motto. In the course of his long career, Br. George has worked primarily in the abbey print shop, initially setting type by hand. His supervisor in the print shop in the early days was the redoubtable Father Peter Zureck, who was known for having a relatively short fuse both in the print shop and in his Latin classes. Br. George recalls being pushed around the shop by Father Peter on several occasions when he made a serious enough mistake. He also remembers the joke book that Br. John
dimpfl kept concealed in his habit and the pet parrot of Fr. Norbert tibesar, who served as rector of the school in the late 1940’s. His other principal assignment was in the bakery. Br. George achieved quite a reputation for the quality of the cookies he created and continued to make on his own long after the bakery was no longer staffed. Many individuals and organizations in the local communities greeted Br. George with “open hands” when he made visits into town, sometimes including deliveries from the print shop. Students have also been beneficiaries of the cookies and, indeed, of other benefactions from Br. George, who is regularly on hand to greet them upon their arrival at the academy and at school functions. there is probably no other monk at St. Bede who has become better known to a wider clientele. He is also well-known to many other friends in the local area, with some of whom he has journeyed to football games at Notre dame and to baseball games at the home of his favorite White Sox team. In 1970 Br. George had the opportunity to make a memorable trip to Japan, where he visited with a family in Osaka for three weeks. He now admits, however, that he has lost much of his proficiency with the Japanese language. In retirement, he remains involved in the religious and social activities in the monastery, and frequently takes walks on the abbey grounds for exercise. Over the years, Br. George has become a fixture at St. Bede and is a living memory to the thousands of students, visitors, and benefactors of St. Bede. He is not easily forgotten by anyone who has ever met him.
12 S Abbey Views Winter 2011 S 13
recently, tom, a friend of mine, died suddenly. I was asked to preside at his funeral. Since he died suddenly and was not old, only 58, the question asked of God was: Why? Why, God, did you have to take him now? Why did it have to happen this way? Why couldn’t he have had a few more years? A question less often asked of God is: Why life at all? And then more specifically: Why did you give me the gift of life? Life is something most of us just take for granted. It is only when life becomes troubled or a burden, or when death occurs suddenly to someone we love, that we ask: Why? Yet, every day we should be marveling at this marvelous gift. God has a plan for all of us and it is up to us to discover that plan and then live it. We will never be happier than when the plans we have and make actually mesh with God’s plan. As chaplain, I attempt to reinforce this idea with the students. this year I am taking eight students on a “Mystery trip” for four days. they don’t know where we are going or what we will do. trust will be the underlying theme of the trip. they will need to trust me and one another but, most of all, trust God and his plan for each and every one of us
and trust that the plan he has for us affects not only us, but everyone else as well. A movie, popular during the christmas season, is: It’s a Wonderful Life. George Bailey is given the grace to see what the world would have been like had he not been born. the message of this film may help us to come to grips with the life and death of others whom we love and with our own life and death. Life is a pure gift of God. It isn’t something God owed us. And whether our life is one day, one year, fifty-eight years or a hundred and three years: it’s a gift. the way we thank God for the gift is by: 1. living life to the fullest, whether our time is long or short, and 2. participating in God’s plan, knowing that our life greatly affects the lives of others. In other words, had we not been born, the world would not be the same. don’t take life for granted. Participate fully in God’s plan for you. Appreciate the plan God has for others. thank God for this gift. It truly is a wonderful life!
Fr. ronald Margherio, O.S.B.
Brother George is a goodwill ambassador, shake-hands, share-his-cookies kind of guy! His philosophy is to welcome everyone as Christ. Brother George Matsuoka
It’s a Wonderful Life! It truly is. Like most things,
however, we take it for granted until
someone close to us dies or we ourselves have a brush with death.
At the age of 89, having been professed as a monk of Saint Bede Abbey for 66 years, Brother George Matsuoka, OSB, is now the senior member of the abbey on both counts. Born in chicago on August 27, 1921, Br. George spent his early years in the Angel Guardian Orphanage, where he lived from the age of two and a half. His mother, who was of Swedish descent and from Moline, IL., died shortly after he was born. His father, who had been born in Japan, contracted tuberculosis, found himself unable to care for him, and himself died in 1928. At Angel Guardian Br. George attended grade school, a year of high school, and two years of vocational training, completing a course in floriculture in Sedalia, MO, and then worked as a florist in chicago. However, he felt an attraction to religious life, and in his early adulthood he visited several Benedictine abbeys to explore a possible monastic vocation. However, the year 1942, shortly after Pearl Harbor, was not a comfortable time for Japanese-Americans, thousands of whom were being interned by the federal government, even though they were U.S. citizens. While he was visiting St. Meinrad Abbey in Indiana, he was visited by the F.B.I., who wanted to know all about him. Satisfied by what the abbot told them of him, the Bureau spared him from internment but, in view of the local climate of suspicion, the abbot of St. Meinrad suggested that he return to chicago. He subsequently did so and then, after contacting Abbot Lawrence, came to visit St. Bede late in 1942. After a visit of a month or so he decided he wanted to stay and, after
his novitiate, made his first vows in 1944. In the intervening years Br. George has served under all but two of the seven abbots of St. Bede. Until Vatican council II there were two classes of monks in the monastery, choir monks and lay brothers: the former prayed in Latin and did chiefly priestly and intellectual work, while the lay brothers prayed in English and did mostly manual work. this system had developed in the Middle Ages when ordinary people no longer understood Latin, in order to make room for those who wished to live the monastic life but had received less education. When the church reintroduced vernacular languages into the liturgy, there was no longer a reason for the separation, and St. Benedict’s original system of equality of all in a single class of monks was restored. Br. George is now the only survivor at St. Bede of those who originally entered as lay brothers. He remembers the days when the brothers together recited the rosary in English in the basement chapel of the monastery while the choir monks prayed the Latin office upstairs. “Ora et labora” (pray and work) is a well-known Benedictine motto. In the course of his long career, Br. George has worked primarily in the abbey print shop, initially setting type by hand. His supervisor in the print shop in the early days was the redoubtable Father Peter Zureck, who was known for having a relatively short fuse both in the print shop and in his Latin classes. Br. George recalls being pushed around the shop by Father Peter on several occasions when he made a serious enough mistake. He also remembers the joke book that Br. John
dimpfl kept concealed in his habit and the pet parrot of Fr. Norbert tibesar, who served as rector of the school in the late 1940’s. His other principal assignment was in the bakery. Br. George achieved quite a reputation for the quality of the cookies he created and continued to make on his own long after the bakery was no longer staffed. Many individuals and organizations in the local communities greeted Br. George with “open hands” when he made visits into town, sometimes including deliveries from the print shop. Students have also been beneficiaries of the cookies and, indeed, of other benefactions from Br. George, who is regularly on hand to greet them upon their arrival at the academy and at school functions. there is probably no other monk at St. Bede who has become better known to a wider clientele. He is also well-known to many other friends in the local area, with some of whom he has journeyed to football games at Notre dame and to baseball games at the home of his favorite White Sox team. In 1970 Br. George had the opportunity to make a memorable trip to Japan, where he visited with a family in Osaka for three weeks. He now admits, however, that he has lost much of his proficiency with the Japanese language. In retirement, he remains involved in the religious and social activities in the monastery, and frequently takes walks on the abbey grounds for exercise. Over the years, Br. George has become a fixture at St. Bede and is a living memory to the thousands of students, visitors, and benefactors of St. Bede. He is not easily forgotten by anyone who has ever met him.
14 S Abbey Views Winter 2011 S 11
and maintained all the student records of attendance, grades, reports, and transcripts with pen and typewriter, though he drew the line at more recent technology. In the abbey he served as community barber for literally decades, kept track of Mass stipends and intentions, and lovingly cared for our houseplants. In both places he faithfully distributed the mail and the newspapers on a daily basis. Above all, he followed the daily monastic regimen of prayer, reading, and work faithfully and uncomplainingly for the 73 years of his life with us, and left us an edifying example of fidelity to Saint Benedict’s admonition to keep death daily before our eyes. Our oldest monk, both in age and in profession, is now Br. George Matsuoka, who is 89 years old and professed for 66 years (see page 13).
Senior monks
Father Kevin Gorman, who retired from his assignment as pastor in cherry, IL in June of 2008 because of increasing debility from Parkinson’s disease, has been a patient at Saint Joseph’s Nursing Home in Lacon for the past two years, after undergoing a fall at the abbey after six months’ residence here. In 2009 the village of cherry commemorated the 100th anniversary of the terrible mine disaster that occurred there, in which our Father Wencel Sholar played an important role in burying the dead and consoling the survivors. Father Bernard Horzen, who retired to the abbey in 2009 from dalzell, where he had served as pastor since 2001, had been able to live in our infirmary and participate in our community exercises until August of 2010, when an episode of choking brought on a serious medical crisis that required hospitalization in Peoria. From there he joined Father Kevin in Lacon, where he has considerably improved with the help of therapy, and we hope that further improvement will be achieved. Father Henry Fritz, after retiring from Saint Benedict’s Parish in Ladd in June of 2009, returned to the abbey and rejoined our regular daily monastic regime for almost a year. In the spring of 2010, however, he responded to an invitation to return to Saint Francis Parish
in Kewanee, where he had previously served as pastor. though now without an official title, he resides at the parish and relieves the pastor, who is also responsible for another parish, of the ordinary pastoral care at Saint Francis. Father Harold datzman continues to serve as pastor of Saint Joseph Parish in Peru, and former Abbot roger corpus of Saint Mary’s Parish in El Paso, IL.
New arrivals
At the other end of the spectrum is Br. Nov. david Freeman, who, after visiting the abbey over a period of several years, came to stay in 2009 and, after some months of postulancy, began his novitiate on June 24, 2010. Although he considers himself a native of Arkansas, where he lived and worked for some years before coming here, he had earlier spent much of his youth in california, where he went to school and also worked and served in the military. He is a qualified electrician. Br. david is alone in the novitiate, under the tutelage of Prior Michael calhoun, the novice master. As is customary in our novitiate, he has classes and study time in the mornings and contributes to the work of the community in the afternoons. In addition to tasks that make use of his background in electrical work, he has also assisted Father Arthur Schmit in managing our bees and their production of honey. He has also succeeded Father Stephen as community barber. For the past few months we have also had a postulant, Mr. Brent decker, who has come to us from davenport, IA. Brent has a rather extensive background of work in concrete construction, as well as in raising and caring for dogs. His study program with Abbot claude and Father dominic Garramone concentrates on catholic doctrine while he is exploring a possible vocation to the monastic life. the most recent arrival to the community is Br. Elias candelaria, who is a native of Leon, Mexico. Br. Elias has had previous experience of monastic life in Italy, where he has been a novice and junior monk at the Abbey of Saint Paul-Outside-the-Walls in rome, has studied theology at our international house of studies, the collegio di Sant’ Anselmo, and library science at the Vatican. While he is exploring the possibility of transferring to Saint Bede, he is working in our library. Br. Gregory Jarzombek, who made solemn profession in May of 2010 and was ordained deacon shortly thereafter, is continuing his theology studies at Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, PA. this semester, as part of the seminary’s field education program, he is gaining experience on weekends at Saint Peter Parish in Pittsburgh.
In a previous issue of The Bedan Record we published an article about the plans of the monastic community to develop a senior village on the west section of our property near Webster Park. We invited interested alumni and friends to indicate their interest in living in our senior village. About thirty alumni and friends expressed a desire to be part of our project. Under the diligent direction of Abbot claude, the planning process is continuing. We have decided that the first phase of our project will be an assisted living center of seventy units, some of which will be devoted to memory
care. By the time you receive this issue we will be accepting bids from contractors, so that we can verify our costs and proceed with the process of securing financing. We deeply appreciate the encouragement and support that we have received from the city of Spring Valley. Provena Life connections, a prominent catholic health care organization, has been contracted to manage our assisted living center, and has provided valuable assistance in the planning process. In the next issue of The Bedan Record we will provide another update on our project.
the assisted living center is only the first phase of a much larger plan. the picture that accompanies this article shows that our long term project is intended eventually to include skilled nursing, a number of possibilities for independent senior living, a hospitality and learning center, and some commercial construction. Please continue to keep our efforts in your prayers, and feel free to contact us with any questions that you may have. We believe that our senior village will expand our ability to serve our friends in many more ways.
Fr. Harold Datzman
Fr. Kevin Gorman
Fr. Bernard Horzen
Fr. Henry Fritz
s e n i o r V i l l aG eSaint Bede
8 S The Bedan Record Winter 2011 S 17
Saint Bede Academyclass reunion Tour
C l a s s o f 2 0 0 0
Class of 2000 at Lehigh Park in Oglesby. On left F to B: Angela Pacetti & Jim VanFleet.
On right seated F to B: James Potthoff, Lori Romanelli & Luke Halberg.Standing F to B: Troy Resetich, Laine Twanow, Courtney (Keegan) Balestri,
Scott Wollack, Rich Fiocchi & Brett King.
C l a s s o f 1 9 9 5
From L to R: Darrell Micheli ‘95, Steve Patrick ‘95, Jenna Heuser ‘95, Maria (DeAngelo) Fasolo ‘95, Dana Micheli, Janine Tomsha, Libby Peterlin,
Brian Peterlin ‘95, and Luke Tomsha ‘95.
C l a s s o f 2 0 0 5
The class of 2005 celebrate their 15th reunion at Prime Time Tap in Oglesby, which is owned by classmate Jimmy Essl.
C l a s s o f 1 9 6 1
Wives of the Class of ’61:Back row L to R: Louise Mahnich, Wendy Hudson, Dora Walker,
Susan Welgat, Emma Anderson, & Maryanne Koster. Front row L to R: June Rossiter, Susan Welgat, Sylvia O’Reilly,
Loretta Causa, Karen Schreiner and Dianne Hunteman.
Visit their website www.saintbede1961.info
They need help finding a few more of their classmates:
Carl Swanson, John Schlee, Delmar Robb, & Pat Smith.
For more information contact John O’Reilly ’61
From l-r and bottom to top are: Joe Hass, Carl Verdone, Paul Meismer, Ed Schreiner, Bob Hunteman, Ed Welgat.
2nd row: Tom Zwica, Don Causa, John O’Reilly, Dan McFadden, Bill Murphy, Al Anderson, Bob Koster, Mike Crowley.
3rd row: Mike Rossiter, Paul Osenkarski, Joe Kurtz, Frank Mahnich, Pete McCue, Tom Duncan, Fred Green, and Mike Walker.
Class of 1961 has GREAT plans for their 50th Reunion in October • 2011
Net (led by the National Evangelization Team) Days are held in November when each class has a day of religious retreat.
Religious RetreatneT DaYs
Tuesday, September 28, 2010Seniors: Hailee Brayton and Nate Kapraun; Juniors: Meghan Cessna, Blake Dobrich,
Bucky Emmerling, Carly Ficek, Joe Mauck, and Abby Milus;Sophomores: Brianna Argubright, Grant Bosnich, Steven Gualandri, Kendall Kolodziej,
Jacob Postula, and Barbi Prokup; Freshman: Michael Bellino, Sophie Carus, Christine Daley, Na-than Helle, Raley Mauck, and Taggart Venegas.
Project Santa is a student-directed service project. The students are joined by two volunteers from the senior group that sews the Stockings for Soldiers
Back Row L to R: Rebecca Schmidt, Jessica Lijewski, Tara Kunkel, Dylan Torres, & Jake Kinsella Front Row L to R: Mary Jo Picco (grandmother of Christopher ‘95, Danielle ‘98, Michael ‘02 & Anthony ‘08 Wallace) and Mary
Pagliarello (grandmother of Adam Aleksy ‘00 & Gina-Marie (Aleksy) Tipton ‘02).
DiocesanleaDersHip conFerence
ProjectsanTa
