Gone to Eternal Rest

we remember...

Father Jude Burbach • 1927-2012

Father Jude Burbach, a monk of St. Benedict’s Abbey in Atchison, Kansas, died on Wednesday afternoon, August 22, 2012, the Feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Elwin John Burbach was born on February 9, 1927, in Hartington, Nebraska, the son of Henry and Anna McFadden Burbach. He attended Holy Trinity Catholic Grade and High School there, graduating from high school in 1945.

After one year of college studies he entered the novitiate at St. Benedict’s Abbey in July 1946, receiving the name Jude, and professing vows on July 11, 1947. He graduated from St. Benedict’s College in 1950 with a BA in Philosophy. After theology studies at the Abbey School of Theology, he was ordained to the priesthood on May 30, 1953, by Archbishop Edward Hunkeler at St. Benedict’s Church in Atchison, Kansas. For the first five years of his ordained life, Father Jude served as a dorm prefect and Latin instructor at St. Benedict’s College. Then for 10 years he served in parishes as assistant pastor at St. Benedict’s in Atchison from 1958 until 1961, and then St. Mary’s, Purcell, Kansas, St. Patrick’s (south of Atchison), and Burlington, Iowa. From 1968 to 1970 he was chaplain for the Benedictine Sisters at St. Scholastica Monastery in Chicago, Illinois, while pursuing graduate studies at Rosary College in River Forest,

Illinois. After completing his MA in Library Science in 1970, he worked in the college library for 5 years. From 1975 until 1983 he responded to an invitation from Abbot Brendan Downy to serve at our Priory in Brazil. Upon his return from Brazil Father Jude worked at the Benedictine College Library again, serving as Head Librarian from 1984-1986. From 1990-1995 he served as the last weekend celebrant at St. John’s, Doniphan, Kansas, and later was Pastor at St. Joseph’s, Wathena, Kansas, and St. Charles, Troy, Kansas. From 1995 until his retirement in 2003 Father Jude served faithfully in the parishes at Onaga, Lillis, and Blaine, Kansas. One of his crowning accomplishments was improvements to the church at Onaga. Father Jude in his quiet way was a witness to the transformative power of Christ in the Benedictine way of life. Always faithful to prayer, lectio divina, and community, he had an interest in the new and the old. He was curious about the world around him and the people whom he met. He was always supportive of monks in their projects and expressed an interest in how things were going. Father Jude was preceded in death by his loving parents, four brothers, and four sisters. He is survived by his brother monks at St. Benedict’s Abbey, by a sister, Ann Janssen, Bellevue, Nebraska, and by numerous nieces and nephews. Father Jude served as pastor of several The monks of the Abbey prayed Vigils for the Dead for Father parishes, a job he says, “was a challenge Jude in the Abbey Church at 7 p.m. on Sunday, August 26. The but...an opportunity for growth.” Mass of Christian Burial was offered there on Monday, August 27. Father Jude earned a masters degree in Library Science. In his later years he frequently made visits to the college library.

Professed • July 11, 1947 Ordained • May 30, 1953

Worda farewell

This homily was delivered by Abbot Barnabas Senecal at the Mass of Christian burial for Father Jude Burbach.

We know the story from 1 Kings, how the prophet Elijah fled to a cave, protecting himself from the anger of the people. He heard a voice ask why he had come to the cave: “Out of fear, for I have been zealous for the Lord.” He remained in the cave, seeking the Lord. There was an earthquake and then a strong wind, and then a fire. The Lord was not in any of these forces. Finally a small breeze passed by. He wrapped his face in his mantle, perhaps fearful that this was the presence of the Lord. And it was. And he listened. My uncle, Father Lucien Senecal, a monk of St. Benedict’s Abbey, gave a senior high school retreat in Hartington, Nebraska, in 1945, and made a summer recruitment trip to this community. Father Jude said these contacts influenced him to make the choice to go to our college in the fall of 1945 rather than to Creighton where he thought he was Father Jude made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with his friend and confrere Father Henry Deters. Father Jude wrote about his friend in the Summer 2012 going. Father Jude said he remembered Father Lucien driving up to their home in a issue of Kansas Monks. black Buick coupe, all shined up. That must

have seemed promising to a young man.

However, Father Jude came to our monastery, eager to learn and to serve, to recognize Benedictine life as a way of retiring to a cave yet remaining very much in contact with others, standing humbly near the Lord. Being the gentle breeze and quiet voice. Seeking to be the loving shepherd Christ had modeled.

Father Jude was a community-minded man. He did not seek the grand things but enjoyed and shared in the simpler things of life. He could master the difficult tasks, such as gaining a Master’s degree in Library Science and learning Portuguese in order to spend eight significant years with the people of Brazil. He paid attention to needs of individuals and of the group, be that the monastery, a parish or a school. He was particularly pleased to help the Onaga parishioners build an addition to their church.

I have many handwritten notes that Father Jude wrote to me in my years as abbot. Almost every note had these two words, “Thank you.”

“Thank you for the homily you gave for Father Bernard Gervais. I miss him as I was next to him in choir for a year or two.”

“You assigned me to Onaga along with Lillis and Blaine. It was a challenge but I found it an opportunity for growth. The addition to St. Vincent church in Onaga will be ten years old in December.”

“My vacation trip to Blue Cloud Abbey in Marvin South Dakota was educational and enjoyable. I stayed two nights. Eastern South Dakota is beautiful with many glaciated lakes. I visited relatives, some of whom are

in care homes or assisted living.”

“Thank you for the Home Pages. With my diminished hearing the Home Pages help me know things I would not be aware of. Happy Feast Day.”

“I was assistant of Father Anthony at 2nd and Division before my promotion to be pastor of Purcell so that Father Otho could be a missionary to Brazil.”

Father Jude was one whose life reflected the discovery that Elijah had, that God is present in the gentle breeze, the small wind of every day life, appreciated and valued.

He took pride in his various apostolic assignments, and people came to know God through Father Jude’s gentle voice and gentle manner. They didn’t sense him as a powerful preacher, but a man of wisdom and advice. They didn’t sense him to be a man who sought to correct them, but one who would love them in their strength and in their weakness. He wasn’t one who had all the answers, but he would help them find those answers.

A man of books he was. Not six weeks ago he came to my office with a paperback book entitled, “Light on Aging and Dying,” By Helen Nearing. He had picked it up at a book sale and thought I might like to look it over, or have others look at it.

These were three of the items marked in pencil, perhaps by Father Jude: “A long life may not be good enough, but a good life is long enough.” Benjamin Franklin

“No man need fear death, because the ultimate tragedy of life is not death. The ultimate tragedy of life is not having lived fully when one is alive.” Norman Cousins.

“I have no intention of dying as long as I can do things. And if I do things there is no need to die. So I will live a long time.” Albert Schweitzer

St. Benedict wanted monks to be humble. Father Jude was humble. He served where he was asked to serve. He shared his need for community by living well and honestly. He chose to be concerned about others more than about himself. He was a celebrant of Sacrament, a celebrant of life and a celebrant of contentment. May each of us join him in such celebration!