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 Broth-

er 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. 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, Archbishop 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.

Abbey, has suffered heart difficulties. He is recovering now in his home in Rochester, NY. He appreciates prayers of the community. Ruth Acheson, our kitchen manager, gives this report on two persons for whom she has requested prayers: “Our grandson Darwyn’s leg is healing nicely and is straight now. We went back on Oct. 17 to take the pin out and cast off. He will then be fitted for a prosthetic foot and leg up to his knee. My sister Elizabeth has to have 16 weeks of chemo treatment for her liver cancer.

Eugene Vader, Minnetonka, Minn., suffered a blood infection which hospitalized him; while in the hospital he experience three cardiac arrests, none of which caused damage to his heart. Doctors did place a defibrillator in Gene. He is at home. He appreciates prayers for him during his time in the hospital.”

Brother Dietrich Reinhart, O.S.B., a monk of St. John’s Abbey, Collegeville, Minn, and President of St. John’s University, has recently been diagnosed with lung cancer. The diagnosis was rendered at the Mayo Clinic. An entry on a patient web site allows concerned friends to keep up with his condition and treatment. That site is http://www.caringbridge. org/visit/brotherdietrich “Br. Dietrich had checked out of the hospital in Rochester on Sept. 30 after completing the out-patient gamma ray treatment. The procedure went well and the next step is a follow up visit next week,” from the site. Brother Dietrich was one of our Congregational visitators in 2006.

Vern Ostdiek passed away after suffering from terminal brain cancer. Recently, he was a resident in the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Nelson, Neb. Vern celebrated his 54th birthday on Sept. 30. Vern taught in the physics department of Benedictine College until this illness. His family appreciates the prayers of Vern’s many friends and colleagues.

Whitey Mack, the renowned submarine skipper of the USS Lapon who made the historic and epic advances into Soviet waters during the Cold War, is in the final stages of pancreatic cancer. Father Aaron Peters asks prayers for Whitey.

Carol Clements, wife of Jack Clements MH ‘68, suffered cardiac arrest and was hospitalized Sept. 12 in Tucscon. She was given CPR but was for some time without oxygen to the brain. She has suffered impairment, was given a defibrillator, and is making significant improvement. She is in inpatient rehab at St. Joseph’s hospital in Tucson. Jack and their two sons appreciate prayers for Carol. Information about Carol is on line at: www. caringbridge.org/visit/carolclements

Julie Hegarty of Atchison has been receiving treatment for cancer and does appreciate our prayers.

Roberta Wolters, wife of Phil, had surgery at Research Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 2, and will be receiving treatment for cancer. The family appreciates our prayers.

Joel Stigall, brother of Jim Stigall, is beginning chemotherapy treatments for cancer that was discovered recently. Jim is a Methodist minister resident in Ottawa, Kan., and comes to the Abbey for private retreats. Jim asks that we pray for his brother.

Kansas Monks Magazine is now available online. Visit us at Kansasmonks.org for past issues of Kansas Monks as well as the Abbot’s Home Pages (an unabridged version of Abbey Notes.)

the Journey Forward

Bailout Bill Revives Pension Protection Act The passage of the $700 billion financial rescue package included a two-year extension of the Pension Protection Act (a.k.a. IRA Rollover Provision), which expired at the end of 2007.

This provision allows taxpayers to make tax-free contributions from their Individual Retirement Accounts to qualified charitable organizations. The following limitations apply:

• The donor must be age 70½ or older. • The maximum annual IRA rollover is $100,000. • The contribution must be a direct gift to a charity (no planned gifts).