LUMEN VITAE HONOREE CURTIS MARTIN, FOUNDER & CEO OF FOCUS
ABBOT JAMES W/ CO-CHAIRS PATRICK & KATE CARR
LUMEN VITAE HONOREE ARCHBISHOP JAMES P. KELEHER
A bbot ’s
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Kansas Monks
For the third consecutive year, friends and benefactors of St. Benedict’s Abbey turned out for an evening of prayer, dinner and entertainment for the 2015 Abbot’s Table. The monks honoried two recipients with the annual Lumen Vitae award and spent time with friends and benefactors. At the end of the event, neither group was disappointed. The Abbot’s Table invites friends and benefactors to get to know the monks a little better. This year’s benefit dinner drew its largest crowd yet, about 650 persons gathered at the Sheraton Crown Center in Kansas City, Mo. Archbishop Emeritus James P. Keleher and Curtis Martin were both recognized at the event on April 18 for their leadership and important contributions of service to the Church. St. Benedict’s Abbey friends and benefactors were invited to attend Mass to start the evening – Archbishop Keleher was the principal celebrant and Abbot James Albers was homilist. A dinner and program followed the Mass. Lively videos highlighting both the fun (think plays on Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood and a humorously forgetful abbot) and more serious sides of the prayer and service of the monks were woven into the event. In addition to celebrating the service of the honorees, the event raised funds to assist with the aged members of the community and the formation and educational expenses of the younger monks. Completing work that has been underway for months, an anonymous donor’s $100,000 challenge gift was matched during the evening. Both Archbishop Keleher and Curtis Martin, founder of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, were given an opportunity to speak to the crowd gathered for the evening. While Archbishop Keleher was invited to the Abbot’s Table to be honored for his contribution to the church, he was quick to shine the spotlight on the important work others bring to the table. “The monks and abbots of this blessed Abbey have been faithful partners of our Archdiocese from its earliest days,” said Archbishop Keleher, noting the fact that the Holy See named the Abbey’s Prior, Fr. Louis Fink, as the second bishop of the fledgling archdiocese. The videos highlighted some of the contributions the monks have made in the Archdiocese and in many lives. As much of an honor as it was to be recognized himself, Archbishop Keleher said he wanted to thank the Abbey for the blessing of its prayers and the “powerful ministry” it has provided in so many parishes of the Archdiocese. Br. Luke Turner, a member of the committee that planned the Abbot’s Table, was touched to see Archbishop Keleher share the evening with friends both old and new. “He was just so engaging with everybody there,” he said. “So many people knew him already. I’m sure he made some new friends, too.” The event highlighting the contributions of Archbishop Keleher couldn’t have come at a better time than during the Easter season, said Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann. “He’s an Easter bishop,” said Archbishop Naumann, “he’s filled with joy and hope. I’m so grateful to him. He has been incredibly supportive and encouraging to me, and we’re really reaping the fruits of his great ministry in the Archdiocese today.” “Archbishop Keleher was a real breath of fresh air when he came to the archdiocese because he has such a great personality and a great
