The New Abbey Church

by Father Meinrad Miller Choirmaster, Oblate Director, Benedictine College Theology Instructor

As a young monk back in the late 1980s I met alumni of the college coming back for their 50th anniversary of graduation. Many of them had not been back to their alma mater since graduating, so they had never seen the “new” Abbey Church. At that time the Abbey Church had been in use for 30 years, and so I thought it was rather old.

What I learned from talking to those alumni and to the wise elderly monks who were here when I joined was the absolute pride they took in the new Abbey Church. For the first time in the 100-year history of the Abbey, there was an Abbey Church that was able to unite the monastic community, guests, and students in one space.

When the current parish church was built, it served as the church for the monks for large liturgies; but the daily praying of the Liturgy of the Hours took place in the old priory, and later in the choir chapel of the old Abbey (now the Heritage Room in Elizabeth Hall).

When the monks moved into the new Abbey in October 1929, plans for a new Abbey Church had to be tabled because of financial considerations. Once again, the monks prayed the Liturgy of the Hours, and celebrated Mass inside the cloister of the Abbey, which excluded guests from participating. Large liturgies were still celebrated in the parish church from 1929-1957.

That brings us to the glorious “new” Abbey Church, dedicated in 1957. Abbot Cuthbert went to Washington D.C. to personally invite the papal delegate, Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani to preside over the Solemn Mass. Present with the Archbishop and Abbot Cuthbert on that joyful day were most of the Benedictine and Trappist Abbots of North America. Later in that academic year, Archbishop Edward Hunkeler of Kansas City in Kansas presided over the solemn Mass for St. Benedict’s Day; and the monks from St. Procopius Abbey in Illinois celebrated the Divine Liturgy according to the Byzantine Rite.

Today we can still appreciate the sacrifice of the monks and our faithful friends who contributed to the building of an Abbey Church that truly serves as the center of the spiritual life on campus and for guests of the Abbey. It is here at the altar that we celebrate daily the source and summit of our life in the Holy Eucharist. It is here that oblates, friends, retreatants, spiritual seekers, alumni, students, and faculty can truly seek God in silence, the Liturgy of the Hours, the Mass, confession, and Adoration.

St. Benedict teaches us about the care we should take in promoting the Oratory (his name for a monastery church): “The oratory ought to be what it is called, and nothing else is to be done or stored there. After the Work of God, all should leave in complete silence and with reverence for God, so that a brother who may wish to pray alone will not be disturbed by the insensitivity of another (RB 52:1-3).

For 63 years the People of God have gathered in the Abbey Church as a united family. Both in times of joy and times of sorrow, in times of new beginnings at the religious profession of vows, oblation of Oblates, and welcoming of freshmen to Benedictine College, or of saying goodbye at the Baccalaureate Mass or in the funeral liturgy of a monk. May the Holy Spirit continue to strengthen our communion with the Father and the Lord Jesus as we continue to gather to sing the praises of Almighty God, and receive His mercy and grace.

OBLATES

Are you an Oblate? Learn more or contact Fr. Meinrad at: kansasmonks.org/oblates