KANSAS MONKS
Abbey notes
Abbot Ralph Koehler is resident in the Abbey now, and has been assisting with weekend parish assignments. He and his brother provided an evening meal of fresh catfish, caught in Centralia Lake. Abbot Owen Purcell said the prayers of blessing over the animals on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Oct. 4. This blessing was on the parking lot on the north side of the monastery where employees and friends of the abbey brought their pet dogs and cats. The Abbey health care staff assisted the elderly monks in attending this event. Father Denis Meade has consulted with community members and diocesan officials in drafting documents to guide the creation of second parish in the Brazilian city of Mineiros. To date, the city has one official parish administered by our Benedictines. In 2009, our center of parochial activity will be the church of San Bento, the church of St. Joseph’s Priory. Father Maurice Haefling served as a financial consultant for St. Andrew’s Abbey, Valyermo, Calif., Sept. 8-14. Prior James Albers and Brother Leven Harton hosted six young men for a vocation retreat Oct. 3-5 at the Abbey. Five were Benedictine College students and a sixth, a vocation guest, who has visited here previously. Father Gerard Senecal, pas30
tor of St. Benedict’s and Sacred Heart parishes in Atchison, has presided over the funeral services for 250 persons at St. Benedict’s Church since he became pastor ten years ago. There are between 25 and 30 burials a year at Mt. Calvary cemetery. Abbot Barnabas Senecal was reappointed to the Archdiocesan College of Consultors by Archbishop Naumann. Members of this advisory group are Msgr. Gary Applegate, Msgr. Charles McGlinn, Msgr. Thomas Tank, Father Frank Burger, Father Michael Koller, Msgr. Michael Mullen, Father Gary Pennings, Father Bill Porter and Father Brian Schieber. The College of Consultors is a body that fulfills certain administrative and advisory duties as part of archdiocesan governance. Father Hugh Keefer has been asked by Coach Joe Brickner to again serve as Chaplain to the Benedictine College men’s basketball team. He has worked out a program of times that he will offer Mass with the team, be their prayer leader before games, and sit with the team during games. Father Betrand LaNoue invited Tim Ward of Ward and Ward Framing in Kansas City, and a restorative artist to view and assess water damage to two of the Bernard Wagner murals. Most damage has been sustained in the abbot’s chapel, from roof leakage. An estimate of repair costs will be provided.
Community News Jim Luce, who moved from kitchen work to cleaning our abbey rooms and halls last Spring, has been working on a study program through Fort Hays State University. He received a bachelor’s degree from that institution in May of this year, with major emphasis in Sociology and a minor emphasis in Biology. Jim did most of these courses as distance learning on his home computer. Jim is a 1977 graduate of Maur Hill. St. Benedict’s Abbey hosted priests of the Archdiocese for Vespers and a festive evening meal Oct. 7. After the meal, a group of 15 visiting priests accepted Father Blaine’s offer to show them the Elizabeth Zeller exhibit of icons in the Abbey Art Gallery. These priests attended this annual event: Father Steve Beseau, KU Catholic Student Center, Father Bill Bruning, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Topeka, Father Frank Burger, Prince of Peace, Olathe, Father Raymond Burger, resident in Olathe, Father Robert Burger, resident in Olathe, Father Earl Dekat, St. Leo’s, Horton, Father Martin Francis, resident at Cure of Ars, Father Greg Hammes, Cure of Ars, Leawood, Father Michael Hermes, St. John Evangelist, Archbishop James Keleher, Father Norbert Lickteig, resident in Topeka, Father John Maier, resident in Leavenworth, Msgr. Charles McGlinn, Cure of Ars, Leawood, Msgr. Michael Mullen, St. Patrick, Kansas City, Arch-
bishop Joseph Naumann, Father Anthony Ouellette, St. Patrick, Kansas City, Father Gary Pennings, Chancellor, Olathe, Father Bob Pflumm, resident in Overland Park, Father Bill Porter, St. Michael’s, Leawood, Father John Reynolds, St. Joseph’s, Nortonville, Father Al Rockers, Holy Angels, Basehor, Father Harry Schneider, Holy Spirit, Overland Park, Father George Seuferling, resident in Meriden, Father Jerry Spencer, Holy Name, Father Rick Storey, St. Patrick’s, Osage City, Father Shawn Tunink, Most Pure Heart Mary, Topeka, Father Anthony Williams, St. Joseph, Olpe, Father Mitchel Zimmerman, Vocation Director. Health of Abbey Members Father Bertrand LaNoue had minor surgery on his back. This has given him some relief. He still moves about with a walker for security. Brother Peter Karasz has a recurrence of vision problems in his left eye. He uses a magnifying glass for reading when he leads community prayer in the chapel. Father Michael Santa lives each day quite aware of events in the sporting world and the news of the day as he listens to TV in his room. The effects of MS are ever-present for him but he always comes to community prayers. Prayer Requests Stephen Burns, formerly of the
