Eternal rest grant unto him Fat he r Br u ce Sw i ft
Born • December 17, 1932 Profe ssed • July 11, 1955 Ordained • M ay 26, 1960 Died • December 25, 2014 •
Requiescat in Pace
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Fr. Bruce Swift, died on December 25, 2014, as he was preparing to join the monks for Morning Prayer on Christmas. Abbot James was able to anoint him and give him the Apostolic pardon, as he was surrounded by his brothers in prayer. Robert Lee Swift was born on December 17, 1932, one of triplet boys born to William and Loretta Swift, near Springfield, Mo. He attended grade school and high school at St. Agnes in Springfield, Mo., and spent the fall semester of 1950 at Drury College before transferring to St. Benedict’s College. Upon graduating from college in 1954, he entered the novitiate of St. Benedict’s Abbey, receiving the religious name, Bruce. He professed vows on July 11, 1955. After completing priesthood studies at the Abbey School of Theology, he was ordained by Archbishop Edward Hunkeler on May 26, 1960. Fr. Bruce’s monastic life was punctuated with a willing obedience to his superiors. His college degree was in biology, but when he discussed future studies with Abbot Thomas Hartman, the Abbot asked him to study French. He received a Masters Degree in French from Assumption College, Worcester, Mass., and spent four summers studying in France. For the past 13 years, Fr. Bruce spent much of his time ministering to the imprisoned.
From 1960 to 1983 Fr. Bruce served in many roles at Maur Hill Prep, the Abbey’s high school. He taught English, drama, biology, chemistry, and French, and served as cafeteria manager from 1961-1971, as maintenance director from 1970-1980, and as chaplain from 19801983. He would return to teach religion in 1992-1993.
Abbot Ralph Koehler asked Fr. Bruce to become the postulant director in 1983, and in 1984 he also was assigned the duty of vocation director. Many vocation visitors came on his regular “Come and See” weekends to explore monastic life here at the Abbey. Abbot Owen Purcell assigned Fr. Bruce to serve as pastor of Sacred Heart in Conway, Mo., and St. William in Buffalo, Mo., from 1993 to 2000. During the great Jubilee Year of 2000-2001, called by St. John Paul II, Fr. Bruce served as a confessor at St. Paul’s Outside the Walls in Rome, where he heard confessions of pilgrims in English and French.
Fr. Bruce (at right) spent 24 years at Maur Hill Prep School along with many other monks like Abbot Owen Purcell (left).
Abbot Barnabas Senecal asked Fr. Bruce to come back and serve as the novice master, a job he held from 2001 until 2011. His wisdom was valuable in helping novices cultivate a monastic spirit. He also served as Catholic chaplain to the prisoners at the State Penitentiary in Lansing, Kan., from 2001 until 2013. Since 2001, he was best known as a faithful confessor. At scheduled hours, or when called at any hour of the day or night, he was a faithful minister of the mercy of God in the Sacrament of Penance to all who presented themselves. Fr. Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, and three brothers, William, James, and Fred. He is survived by three sisters, Jeannine Solar, Patricia Garton, and Rosie Fritz, and a brother, Paul. We commend our brother, Fr. Bruce, to your prayers. 6
Kansas Monks
