Abbey Banner - Fall 2020

Abbey Banner Fall 2020

O sing to God, sing praise; proclaim all the wonderful works of the Lord!

Psalm 105:2

Shane Miller

This Issue Abbey Banner Magazine of Saint John’s Abbey Fall 2020

Volume 20, number 2

Published three times annually (spring, fall, winter) by the monks of Saint John’s Abbey.

Editor: Robin Pierzina, O.S.B. Design: Alan Reed, O.S.B. Editorial assistants: Aaron Raverty, O.S.B.; Dolores Schuh, C.H.M. Abbey archivist: David Klingeman, O.S.B. University archivists: Peggy Roske, Elizabeth Knuth Circulation: Ruth Athmann, Tanya Boettcher, Chantel Braegelmann, Cathy Wieme Printed by Palmer Printing Copyright © 2020 by Order of Saint Benedict ISSN: 2330-6181 (print) ISSN: 2332-2489 (online)

Saint John’s Abbey

2900 Abbey Plaza Box 2015 Collegeville, Minnesota 56321-2015

saintjohnsabbey.org/abbey-banner Change of address: Ruth Athmann P. O. Box 7222 Collegeville, Minnesota 56321-7222 rathmann@csbsju.edu Phone: 800.635.7303 Questions: abbeybanner@csbsju.edu

Uncomfortable Truths

Cover: Father Roman Paur and the quarantine food cart (a.k.a.

Meals on Wheels) Photo: Alan Reed, O.S.B.

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hat a year 2020 is turning out to be! It is a year of a global pandemic that is creating an international financial crisis—a crisis that is forming the context for our nation’s longstanding struggle to learn racial justice and equality. Just as the killing of George Floyd made the unequal treatment of Black people by law enforcement visible, so the fact that Black, Latinx, and Indigenous peoples are far more likely to die from COVID-19 makes their lack of access to good healthcare visible.

Isaiah 1:10, 16-17

This Issue of Abbey Banner acknowledges the uncomfortable truths exposed and amplified by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May. Love, justice, and reverence for all life are the heartbeat of the Word of God and the Rule of Saint Benedict. Racism, privilege, and violence are antithetical to our beliefs and values.

Abbot John Klassen challenges each of us to sit with the uncomfortable truths and to listen to the voices of the Black, Latinx, and Indigenous communities. Jon McGee, Eugene McAllister, and Peter Dwyer—the heads of the abbey’s educational and publishing apostolates—affirm our Christian faith and Benedictine heritage as indispensable to this conversation and to our individual and collective responses. Father Nickolas Kleespie reflects on this time of crisis and invites us to proclaim and model love for our neighbor.

Father Bryan Massingale, a distinguished Black faculty member at Fordham University, has written a powerful reflection on the challenges facing the white community at this time. (See “The assumptions of white privilege and what we can do about it” in the National Catholic Reporter, 1 June 2020.) He offers suggestions for moving forward that serve as a template for the following reflections.

Since March 2020, a global pandemic has dominated our lives and lifestyle, upended all that could be characterized as “normal,” disrupted our national and local economies, sickened millions, killed hundreds of thousands. Brother Aaron Raverty outlines the impact of COVID-19 on Collegeville and on our monastic routine and ritual. Abbot Primate Gregory Polan encourages us to be mindful of the many blessings—yes, blessings!—that have come to us because of the coronavirus. Brother Richard Oliver introduces us to Saint Edmund, Martyr, patron saint of pandemics.

In children and adults alike, few words can inspire discomfort and dread as readily as those from the family dentist: you have a cavity! Not all cavities are bad news, however. Mr. John Geissler tells us about good cavities, both natural and humanmade, for critters in the Saint John’s Abbey Arboretum.

The service and ministry that embody our monastic community’s understanding of the Gospel would not be possible but for the grace of God and the support of our sisters and brothers in faith: neighbors, friends, employees, students, oblates, benefactors. Father Geoffrey Fecht, on behalf of the monks of Saint John’s Abbey, names and thanks the thousands of generous donors and volunteers who further our mission.

In this issue we also learn about Casa San Benito, our community’s Latinx ministry; Benedictine Volunteer bridge building in Tanzania; a monk who doesn’t mind sitting in the front row of church; the creation of an Easter icon; and more.

Medal of Saint Benedict: Fray Gabriel Chávez de la Mora, O.S.B.

Abbot John Klassen, O.S.B.

Hear the word of the LORD: Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good.

Make justice your aim: redress the wronged.

With Abbot John and our confreres, the staff of Abbey Banner offers prayers for the health and safety of our readers and for a deepening commitment to love our neighbors. Peace!

Brother Robin Pierzina, O.S.B. Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon which cuts without wounding and ennobles the one who wields it.

It is a sword that heals.

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First, we need to understand the difference between being uncomfortable and being threatened. Father Massingale notes that there is no way to tell the truth about race in this country without white people becoming uncomfortable. White people need to confront the fact that we have benefitted from and failed to acknowledge white supremacy.

This is a hard reality to embrace—and to recognize how systematically it is woven into our culture.

We need to be willing to sit in the discomfort this hard truth brings. It will be difficult. It may bring me and you to sadness, to confusion, to guilt, to frustration, to embarrassment. Why? Because of our ignorance.

Because of our lack of understanding of the underlying issues that Black, Latinx, and Indigenous peoples face every day. On any given day, at any given hour, their right to be on this good earth can be challenged.

How can we become a more just, equitable, and loving society?

We need to know a holy, righteous anger—the kind of anger that Jesus knew in the synagogue when its leaders could not acknowledge that it was good to heal a person on the Sabbath (Mark 3:4-6). We need to be angered, grieved, and pained enough to say: This cannot and will not be!

And we need to listen. We need to sit with Black, Latinx, and Indigenous peoples, and ask: What do you need us to do? What do you need to do out of your own agency? How can we become a more just, equitable, and loving society?

Listen to Emmanuel Acho: Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man— You Tube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8jUA7JBkF4

Martin Luther King Jr.

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Fall 2020

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Our Benedictine Values

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he killing of George Floyd on 25 May 2020 painfully reminds us of the human cost of racism and violence. It forces us not only to reflect on our values and beliefs but to act on them to seek change in support of justice, peace, and real and lasting community.

Our Benedictine values provide extraordinary guidance. They call us to welcome all people and to respect the dignity of each person. They favor the common good in support of community. They commit us to the practice of justice. They demand deep listening, with both the ear and the heart, to the voices of all those around us, particularly the voices of the suffering and the oppressed. And they teach us to strive for peace. These values and commitments are central to our identity.

Our community spent the last eight weeks of the school year apart because of COVID-19. But our values and ideals are neither place bound nor time bound. We can still use our hearts, hands, and voices in service of justice and peace to build community. We take seriously our charge to prepare our students for lives of purpose, service, and achievement; to develop the skills and the moral foundation to lead and seek solutions that create a just and equitable society.

Jon McGee

Saint John’s Preparatory School

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n these troubled times, we are and must be a source of stability. Our Catholic beliefs tell us what is important: a belief in the dignity of each person, a special concern for those less fortunate, and a sense of solidarity among all people. Our Benedictine values guide us: living and working in community, praying together, and listening intently.

From Crucifixion to Glory

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e join the world in mourning George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and untold thousands of other people— Black, Brown, and Indigenous men, women, and children who have been murdered in the United States and its predecessor colonies and settlements.

We acknowledge our complicity in the sin of racism and the evil inflicted on people of color in our country and the Church we serve.

Liturgical Press is guided by the Rule of Saint Benedict, wherein we are called to listen. As we have listened to the outpouring of grief and rage, I have reflected on our failures to live up to our mission: “To publish the Good News of Jesus Christ . . . to deepen the faith and knowledge of a richly diverse Church.”

We could and should have done more to work against the structures of privilege that encode racism in the fabric of our culture and our Church.

We could and should have done more to engage with and publish Black, Brown, and Indigenous authors to serve readers, ministers, and worshipers of all races. We commit to work, with humility and hospitality, toward becoming a publishing company that represents and reflects and serves the whole People of God. Peter Dwyer

Liturgical Press Leonhard Lenz/Wikimedia

I can’t breathe.

I can’t breathe

We must affirm the dignity of Mr. Floyd and make this tragedy a turning point in the lives of our neighbors and our own lives. Saint Benedict taught us to listen with “the ear of our heart” (Rule Prol.1).

As we listen, the path forward becomes clear.

Eugene McAllister

Saint John’s University

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Leonhard Lenz/Wikimedia

One of the scribes asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?”

Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Mark 12:28-31

Nickolas Kleespie, O.S.B.

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uring our community’s retreat this summer, Abbot Jeremy Driscoll emphasized context in light of the Paschal Mystery: “Something horrible is happening to the crucifixion of humanity. And God is acting.” It is difficult to hear Jesus’ expression of the greatest commandment without the layer of context gripping our nation now: the hunger of justice for Black people in our society and the painful plea that their lives matter. How will we choose to love our neighbor as ourselves?

A powerful piece of music has illumined my understanding of the crucifixion of humanity and

how God is acting. The Seven Last Words of the Unarmed, a choral work by Joel Thompson, puts to music the last words of our unarmed neighbors who have been killed. Words like: “What are you following me for?” asked by Trayvon Martin in 2012. “I don’t have a gun!

Stop shooting!” shouted Michael Brown in 2014. “I can’t breathe!” pleaded Eric Garner in 2014, echoed by George Floyd this spring. If the death of Jesus evoked a crisis in the disciples, then the death of these unarmed Black men, our neighbors, should evoke a crisis in us. The crisis is part of our proclamation.

Mr. Thompson’s choral work ends with a powerful turn

The Seven Last Words of the Unarmed is a choral composition by Joel Thompson. In creating the piece, Mr. Thompson “used the liturgical format in Haydn’s Seven Last Words of Christ in an effort to humanize these men and to reckon with my identity as a Black man in this country in relation to this specific scourge of police brutality.” The composition was premiered in 2015 by the University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club under the direction of Eugene Rogers, and they are the performers in the 2016 video: https://www.youtube .com/watch?v=od6DMd3sP4s. See also: https://sevenlastwords.org/.

1. “Why do you have your guns out?” Kenneth Chamberlain, 66 2. “What are you following me for?” Trayvon Martin, 16 3. “Mom, I’m going to college.” Amadou Diallo, 23 4. “I don’t have a gun! Stop shooting!” Michael Brown, 18 5. “You shot me! You shot me!” Oscar Grant, 22 6. “It’s not real.” John Crawford III, 22 7. “I can’t breathe!” Eric Garner, 43

toward hope—the final movement, titled “Glory,” proclaims that “One day when the Glory comes, it will be ours.” Like the command in the Gospel to love our neighbor, the text in the music continues that when we love as one; care, feel, grow as one; then God’s glory will be known.

In this time of crisis may we proclaim love for our neighbors and may our participation in this Paschal Mystery strengthen us to seek justice untiringly. In doing so, God is acting, and the commandments to love God and love our neighbor become the context in which the kingdom of God is made new. May our works of love be a powerful turn from crucifixion to glory.

We must always take sides.

Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.

Elie Wiesel

Father Nickolas Kleespie, O.S.B., is a faculty resident and chaplain at Saint John’s University.

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Benedictine Volunteer Corps Sam does not regret his efforts.

He considers his work the beginning of a lengthy project that future Benedictine Volunteers can take up. Even if he had completed it, there would still be a need for ongoing maintenance. “It was both a literal and metaphorical bridge,” he reflects. He was instrumental in upgrading the walking surface over the water. More significant, however, is the metaphorical bridge he built: deepening the relationship of Hanga Abbey with the local community and Saint John’s Abbey Benedictine Volunteer Corps.

Bridge Building in Tanzania Timothy Backous, O.S.B.

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hen Samuel Gerdts first arrived at Hanga Abbey in Tanzania, East Africa, Father Nickolas Kleespie, O.S.B., was there to give a tour of the very place he had served before becoming a monk of Saint John’s Abbey. It was an introduction to a community and lifestyle that Sam would embrace for the next year, and he was eager to get going. His intended assignment was to be a teacher, but that didn’t work out because of government regulations regarding certificates and education backgrounds. So instead, the monks asked him to help in the machine and woodworking shops—two things Sam knew nothing about!

As Father Nick and the Hanga Abbey guestmaster showed Sam around, he noticed a rickety bridge that stretched some 160 feet out into what was known as Hanga Pond—a picturesque space that attracted many visitors and monks. However, walking on the bridge was perilous, because boards would occasionally give way! The bridge led to a house—equally in need of repair—that was a popular destination for weddings or other gatherings. So when Sam’s teaching assignment failed to materialize, he decided to use his unscheduled time to rebuild the decaying bridge.

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Even though Sam had identified a useful and worthy project, bringing it about would prove to be as challenging as walking on the bridge. First, there was the issue of financing. When he revealed his intention to rebuild the structure, he was told he would need to find the resources to do it. In other words, in addition to becoming a structural engineer and a laborer, he also had to be a development officer! Undeterred, he began looking, asking, even begging for the materials he would need to complete the task. Sometimes it involved long trips into town for the actual wood for the bridge, wood that was not always the same type or size. The novices helped him shape the wood into

the size of a pylon or a floorboard that necessitated some heavy lifting and the backbreaking effort of manual sawing. As a result, he recalls, “The novices were not always happy when they had to work with me!”

There were also times when the project called for fashioning special metal joints to attach the pylons to the boards. He would then make his way to the abbey’s welding shop to produce the needed joints. Unfortunately, those little trips could take the better part of a day, making the project a slow and arduous task.

The locals, and some of the monks who observed this process, would say to Sam, “This

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will never get done.” Their pessimism inspired him to push on.

Sam had no real training in any of these crafts. Formerly, when such work presented itself, he sought help—and professional tools—to get the job done. His only experience of being a “skilled laborer” dated to an internship on Kodiak Island, Alaska, where he helped build a fishing lodge. Yet, even there he did what he was told and was guided through the process. On Hanga Pond, he was the foreman and most of the work force! He had to figure out everything, step by laborious step.

In the end, the locals were right.

Sam did not finish the full

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160 feet of that bridge. The funding was short; the other work around the abbey was too intrusive; the intensity of the project was more than he had anticipated. But Sam is satisfied that the bridge is safer and more reliable than when he first walked its boards. He is satisfied as well that the regular foot traffic to the “community house” has been well served.

For Sam Gerdts, the takeaway is personal. The Benedictine Volunteer Corps is not a “bridge too far” but rather something that took him to places to which he had never been and taught him lessons that will last a lifetime.

Mr. Samuel Gerdts and Mr. Joshua Olson, 2019 graduates of Saint John’s University, spent the past year as Benedictine Volunteers at the Abbey of Saint Maurus in Hanga, Tanzania.

Nicholas S. Briese, M.D., who taught chemistry and coached water polo as a Benedictine Volunteer at Saint Benedict’s Prep, Newark, 2006–2007, died of leukemia on 9 July 2020. Following graduation from the University of Minnesota Medical School, 2011, Nick’s compassion, generosity, humor, and zeal for service led him to excel as an internal medicine physician. In his own words: “I am committed to providing the best possible care to patients, [walking with them] and their loved ones.” May he rest in peace.

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Casa San Benito Efraín Rosado, O.S.B.

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he pioneer monks who founded our community on the banks of the Mississippi River in 1856 were drawn to central Minnesota by German immigrants. The community’s initial—and most essential— ministry was to provide pastoral care along with religious and academic education for the immigrants. Parochial ministry and missionary zeal have given form and direction to Saint John’s self-understanding of monasticism throughout its existence.

In recent years immigrants, especially from Latin America, have been arriving in the towns of central Minnesota. Primarily poor farm laborers and dispossessed factory workers, these immigrants seek the same things that their nineteenthcentury predecessors sought: decent jobs, food, housing, education for their children, faith formation, spiritual direction, sacraments and prayer—and a warm welcome.

Mindful of our initial mission to the German immigrants, and recognizing similarities in the needs of today’s local Latinx communities, the monks of Saint John’s Abbey feel called to provide help to these new immigrants. In addition to addressing the spiritual and sacramental needs of the immigrants, the monks provide basic counseling and support of material necessities. Through

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the abbey’s Center of Latino Ministry, Casa San Benito (House of Saint Benedict), the monks continue the labor of building up the Church, the Body of Christ, in central Minnesota.

Hospitality—receiving all guests as we receive Christ (Rule 53.1) —is a hallmark of Benedictines, central to our charism, central to our mission. Today, as was the case during the past fifteen centuries, monasteries are magnets attracting people seeking spiritual formation or the sacraments, an education, or even a job. And that is what Casa San Benito can do. Saint John’s Abbey is committed to helping our Latina sisters and Latino

brothers by praying with them and sharing the Word of God in spiritual conferences and in the Eucharist. We offer ministerial assistance in Spanish for Sunday and Holy Day Masses and in other sacraments and prayer services. We provide sacramental preparation classes in Spanish, offering spiritual direction and counseling. We assist with retreats and faith formation classes for adults, children, and youth. We also offer financial assistance for the Youth in Theology and Ministry (YTM) program sponsored by Saint John’s University School of Theology, as well as other educational programs, such as the Emmaus Institute for Ministry Formation of the Diocese of

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Father Efraín blesses a quinceañera (fifteenth birthday honoree) at the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul, Richmond, Minnesota.

Saint Cloud. We provide charitable assistance (food, clothing) and guidance, including translation assistance, for completing health and legal forms. Above all, Casa San Benito promotes interculturalism: the integration of our Latinx communities into local parishes and schools, so that diverse populations come together in a spirit of mutual respect and appreciation for who they are and the gifts they bring to each other.

In April 2019, Saint John’s hosted a Lenten retreat in Spanish, welcoming more than seventy Latinx adults and young people. In their assessment of the retreat, the participants offered very positive comments, noting especially that all felt welcome—and telling us that they expected us to have more activities of this type! The many Latinos and Latinas who visit us say that they feel at home here.

And they repeatedly remind us that they are happy to have priests and brothers who speak to them in Spanish, attending to their spiritual needs, sharing in their faith.

Earlier this spring, with the lockdown and quarantine situations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our Center for Latino Ministry was challenged to find new ways to extend hospitality and minister to our Latinx brothers and sisters. Our ministerial outreach now includes the broadcasting of Sunday Eucharists, religious reflections, and prayer services

Ministry during a pandemic

in Spanish. These services are filmed at Saint John’s and broadcast on the web. Typically five hundred “attend” the weekly services from their homes through the livestreaming of our Facebook page of Casa San Benito (https://www.facebook .com/CentroSanBenitoMN/). In addition, we provide spiritual direction by phone or social media channels. All of this, of course, is intended for the spiritual consolation and faith enrichment of all ages. We also attempt to provide some modest financial assistance to families in dire need due to serious illnesses or loss of employment.

The services of Casa San Benito benefit all our local communities, confirming that it is a blessing to live in a multicultural environment. Immigrants enrich our lives in every aspect—culturally, technologically, economically, as

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well as in our faith and spiritual lives. As it has done since the mid-1800s, Saint John’s Abbey strives to help our immigrant sisters and brothers in their hope of becoming or continuing to be productive members of our society. We are not only filling up the pews of our churches, we are also building up the Body of Christ.

Father Efraín Rosado, O.S.B., is the director of the Saint John’s Abbey Center for Latino Ministry.

In the reception of the poor and of pilgrims, the greatest care and solicitude should be shown, because it is especially in them that Christ is received.

Rule of Benedict 53.15

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Holy Disagreement: Jerome and Augustine Martin F. Connell

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ost of us imagine saints as kind and gracious, or “nice,” as Minnesotans —holy or not—are tagged! This is especially true of those canonized in the last three centuries, since detailed criteria for measuring saintliness for beatification and canonization were standardized. However, the result and shortcoming of the Vaticanmandated measures of saintliness are that they may cut out the candidates who have done or said anything slightly less than perfect. Shouldn’t genuine conversion make a difference in real human lives? Regrettably, the process of canonization seems to exclude those who had been deplorable, colorful sinners before conversion but whose faith-filled lives have since made a real difference in the societies where they spent their days.

This is not to cast doubt on the sanctity of the canonized but rather to question whether only squeaky-clean lives inspire the rest of us deplorables to holiness.

What about the broken, aimless, sin-filled lives that were changed dramatically by the advent of Jesus Christ? We can be consoled that the liturgical calendar retains feasts of some lively saints from centuries before the rigorous measures were established.

Two such saints are captured in colorful stained glass in the Great Hall (first church) of Saint John’s: Saints Jerome and Augustine.

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Saint Jerome (left) and Saint Augustine

The windows depicting these two eminent saints are appropriately set apart from one another, for the two—though contemporaries—disagreed mightily over the language to be used in Christian worship.

Jerome argued that the Word of God is best translated from the inspired author’s original language, while Augustine’s

Alan Reed, O.S.B.

position was that what’s best for the sacraments is what the Church already knows: tradition.

Who were these men, saintly or otherwise?

Saint Jerome (Latin: Eusebius Hieronymus; feast day: 30 September) was a tactless, lascivious curmudgeon—and also brilliant. A priest, theolog-

ian, Doctor of the Church, and author of some of the earliest commentaries on the Bible, Jerome (347–420) is known primarily for his translation of the Hebrew Old Testament and Greek New Testament into Latin (Vulgate). In the late fourth century, Pope Damasus I asked Jerome to embark on a decadeslong project to translate the sacred texts, because the pope felt there were too many Latin Bibles in circulation. He hoped that an authorized Bible would stabilize the faith.

Saint Augustine (Latin: Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis; feast day: 28 August), a Doctor of the Church, is perhaps best known because of his engaging autobiography, The Confessions.

But Augustine (354–430) wrote many books. His inventive theology profoundly shaped Christian faith, both Catholic and Protestant. His writings curbed heresies, formed an enduring theology of the Trinity, promoted a compelling theology of grace and original sin, and founded our theology of the sacraments.

As a priest in North Africa— he became a bishop later— Augustine served a church whose people knew the Word of God in the Old Testament from a translation of a translation.

The original Hebrew had been translated into Greek which, in turn, had been translated into Latin. So that the faithful not be jolted by an unfamiliar

translation, Augustine wrote Jerome in 403 expressing a preference for a translation of the Old Testament from the approved Greek Scriptures. “If your new translation [from Hebrew] is read in church, it will be different from the Greek.

It will be quite sad if what is heard in Latin churches differs from what is heard in Greek churches.”

original text, and a translation of a translation would change it even more. Jerome knew Hebrew and Greek; but apart from a few Greek phrases, Augustine knew neither. Jerome had the erudition to know that a Bible closer to what the original authors wrote would be superior; he had studied the original Hebrew language for that very reason.

Jerome, living in Bethlehem, retorted: “Stop bothering an old man who wants only to hide out alone in his monastic cell. If you need to show off your theology, why not try it out on some younger, eloquent, and popular people in Rome?”

In fact, Jerome was no “old man”—Augustine was 49 when he wrote the letter, Jerome 56— and Jerome had taken up the translation work, at the request of the pope, for the sake of a more accurate rendering of the Bible.

Augustine persisted: “I wish you would have the kindness to point out the many differences between the Hebrew and Greek versions. To me there seems to be very little difference.” The Latin from Greek was what Augustine’s church was used to, and he hoped that Jerome would explain why the changes were needed so that he could also explain why a new version was being imposed.

Is a debate over a translation a thing of the past? Consider that Pope Francis thinks a phrase in the Our Father—“lead us not into temptation”—might be changed because God does not actually lead us into temptation.

The pope suggests that we pray: “Do not let us fall into temptation.” If Saints Jerome and Augustine were to debate the merits of a new translation of the Our Father, Jerome would likely support retranslating the original and making a new, if unfamiliar, version of the prayer.

Augustine’s position, however, would likely stick with what we know: “Lead us not into temptation.” Once again, the debate centers on the value of the original language versus tradition.

Any translation, of course, can change the meaning of the

Dr. Martin F. Connell is professor of theology at Saint John’s University.

Your word is a lamp for my steps and a light for my path.

Psalm 119:105

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Cavity Nesting Project Only after reflecting on this matter did I comprehend that our critical work of establishing young oaks in the abbey arboretum was coming at the cost of removing large-diameter trees that could be potential cavity nesting sites. The subject took on greater significance for me this winter when I was on a cross-country ski trek through the arboretum and encountered signs of two cavity nesters that dwell here: the paired tracks of a fisher that had recently bounded

John Geissler

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dapting to ever changing environmental conditions is a critical component of wise stewardship of our natural resources. Guidance on how to adjust comes from studying the ecosystem’s reaction to past stewardship activities as well as following the latest scientific research. Saint John’s Abbey Arboretum is a member of the Sustainable Forests Education Cooperative, and our membership is one way for us to stay connected with current studies.

Every winter this group hosts a Forestry and Wildlife Research Review during which the researchers present their latest findings to local natural-resource managers. Presentations in January 2020 were focused on cavities—as in large tree cavities —and their importance as wildlife habitat components.

The value of leaving dead or declining standing trees on the landscape is widely recognized.

Less well known, at least to me, is how rare these large natural cavities, suitable for wildlife, really are. For instance, during a recent two-year study in a north central Minnesota forest, Edmund Zlonis, from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and his research team inspected 7,869 trees and found 1,186 potential cavities.

Of the 1,186 cavities, only 223 were big enough for cavitynesting ducks—such as wood ducks. Similarly, Michael Joyce

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Supplementing habitat with humanmade structures is not a new concept at Saint John’s.

For example, we have been very successful at building purple martin houses and gourds, bluebird houses, wood duck houses, an osprey platform, loon platforms, and flying squirrel boxes.

Despite all these efforts, however, we don’t supply anything for forest dwelling wildlife requiring larger cavities. Accordingly, the arboretum staff decided to make some nesting boxes specifically for fishers and barred owls. In mid-March, when the coronavirus shelter-in-place orders

Tony Peroutky

A fisher investigates a newly made nesting box.

from the University of Minnesota Duluth Natural Resources Research Institute pointed out that extensive surveying of more than ten thousand northern Minnesota trees found that less than two percent had cavities large enough for fishers (of the weasel family) to use for nesting.

Trying to discover why there has

Ryan Pennesi/Natural Resources Research Institute

been a fifty-percent decline in the fisher population in the last twenty years, the research group recently built and installed artificial nesting boxes—part of a study to determine whether the boxes would be a viable nesting option for fishers lacking natural large tree cavities.

John Geissler

Michael Joyce/Natural Resources Research Institute

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across a snow covered log, and a glimpse of a barred owl gliding away through the long winter shadows. In that crisp winter air, I recognized that if others were to enjoy beautiful sightings such as these, I would have to give more serious thought to maintaining and improving habitat within the abbey arboretum for cavity nesters.

Nesting boxes intended for barred owls (above, top row) or for fishers (lower row) were built in the land manager’s garage and now await occupants.

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ule of Benedict

Before all things and above all things, care must be taken of the sick, so that they will be served as if they were Christ in person.

began, I was at home with a pile of scrap wood in the garage.

With the eager assistance of our two children, we built eight fisher nesting boxes and eight barred owl nesting boxes. A very satisfying and meaningful project, so beneficial to the arboretum wildlife, was made all the more memorable because it was completed with the help of my kids! And the benefits continue: I now have the perfect proposal for Eagle scouts and Saint John’s Prep School students looking for service projects to be completed remotely. Already I have three additional fisher boxes built by prep school student Alton Mies, and more on the way.

Care for the Sick Eric Hollas, O.S.B.

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he stately ruins that flank Canterbury Cathedral in England are the silent legacy of the monks who prayed and worked there for centuries.

The stones are impressive, even if it is a challenge to identify some bits of the once bustling complex.

John Geissler

The new nesting boxes are being attached to trees in the appropriate habitat throughout the abbey arboretum. We intend to invite undergraduate students majoring in environmental studies and biology to monitor the boxes, collect data on their use, and identify which locations are most successful. This data will inform future placement of nesting boxes and will be shared with regional researchers and landowners. It is my hope to update Abbey Banner readers on the project next year and perhaps share awesome photos of fisher kits and barred owlets!

Stay tuned!

Mr. John Geissler is the Saint John’s Abbey land manager and director of Saint John’s Outdoor University.

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Rule of Benedict 36.1

Structures like the chapter house and cloister remain intact and clearly communicate their purpose. Others need a trained eye to explain them, as is the case with one skeleton of Gothic tracery standing at the edge of a garden. There is little to suggest that it once housed the sick and elderly, and it remains one of the few examples extant from the Middle Ages.

We may be surprised to learn that medieval monasteries even needed an infirmary, given that the average life expectancy of the time seldom exceeded thirty years. However, people who survived common childhood diseases could live to a respectable old age. Monks fared better, due to a regular lifestyle and diet. Eventually, of course, even monks needed dedicated care.

John Geissler

Geissler Family Contractors (above) submitted the winning bid for abbey arboretum nesting boxes. Due to the coronavirus, Brother Jeremy Welters (below) provided solo service in the arboretum, where he expressed genuine care for all God’s creation, except for the deer flies.

The ruins of Canterbury Cathedral are a visible reminder of Saint Benedict’s concern for the sick and elderly (Rule 36).

In level of importance, care for

Ruins of Canterbury Cathedral

the infirm ranked alongside the hospitality offered to guests, for in both groups, monks would encounter Christ (RB 36.1-3; 53.1,15).

Saint Benedict’s infirmary is a far cry from its modern counterpart.

For one thing, the technological clutter of modern medicine was not yet created. The same is true for pharmaceuticals. In their stead was the herb garden, supplying both the kitchen and the dispensary. However, Benedict compensated for his lack of knowledge about medical practice in his attention to other details. Ailing monks were allowed to eat meat.

They were also allowed baths, which were doled out sparingly to the healthy. The refectory and chapel in the infirmary are reminders that Benedict exempted the sick as well as the elderly from the more rigorous

Eric Hollas, O.S.B.

regimen expected of the healthy and younger monks.

Benedict was also sensitive to human nature. Just as he asked the junior monks to respect the seniors, and the seniors to love the juniors, so he prescribed similar advice for the infirmary.

There the healthy brothers should be especially attentive to the needs of the sick, while the sick should not grumble or complain about their situation.

Benedict insists that the sick and the well live in proximity to one another, just as young and old will live together as one community. As one family, they will help each other along the path that leads to the new and eternal Jerusalem.

Father Eric Hollas, O.S.B., is deputy to the president for advancement at Saint John’s University.

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Lives of the Benedictine Saints Edmund the Martyr

“The symbol of arrows as carriers of disease, misfortune, and death draws on a rich vein of arrow metaphors in the Old Testament and Greek mythology.”

Richard Oliver, O.S.B.

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search through Benedictine history for a patron saint of pandemics reveals how Saint Edmund, widely cited as a pandemic patron, became associated with the Benedictines and even influenced the United States Bill of Rights.

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Born about 841, Edmund succeeded to the throne of East Anglia in 855. Brought up as a Christian, in his eagerness for prayer he retired for a year to his royal tower at Hunstanton and there learned the whole Psalter by heart! Alongside King Alfred of Wessex, Edmund fought against the pagan Viking and Norse invaders (the Great Heathen Army) until 869, when a horde of marauding Danes moved through the countryside, burning churches and slaughtering villages wholesale. On reaching East Anglia, their leaders confronted Edmund and offered him peace on condition that he would rule as their vassal and forbid the practice of the Christian faith. He refused.

until he was entirely covered by their shots like the bristles of a hedgehog, as Saint Sebastian was.” Then they beheaded him.

After decapitation, the head of Edmund was flung into a dense part of the woods. The date was 20 November 869. A talking wolf protected the head and alerted Edmund’s faithful followers by crying out, “Hic, hic, hic” (Here, here, here!). The decapitated head is said to have miraculously reunited with the body.

According to the tenth-century account of the saint’s life, Passio Sancti Eadmundi (985), penned by the Benedictine scholar Abbo of Fleury—who quotes as his source the Benedictine abbot of Glastonbury, Saint Dunstan (909–988)—the Danes bound Edmund to a tree, shot him with “missiles, as if for their sport,

King Cnute the Great gave his newly built stone shrine and church of Saint Edmund to the care of monks, and with the foundation of the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Edmund in 1020, the site became a place of national and international pilgrimage. For centuries Edmund’s resting place was

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Painting of the martyrdom of Saint Edmund by Brian Whelan, 2003

patronized by the kings of England, and the abbey became increasingly wealthy as the cult of Saint Edmund grew.

After a fire near the shrine in 1198, Benedictine Abbot Samson’s task was to transfer the richly decorated shrine of Edmund to a new location in the sanctuary of the great abbey church. By this time the shrine of Saint Edmund, then recognized as the patron saint of England, had become a sacred destination for pilgrims in need.

Perhaps Edmund’s association with Saint Sebastian—their pain and death by arrows judged to be equal to that of plague—led Christians to look to Edmund for protection during a pandemic. According to Emily Kasriel (“What plague art tells us about today,” BBC Culture),

Abbot Francis Aidan Gasquet, O.S.B., says of Jocelin of Brakelond’s Chronicle of the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds (1173–1202): “It is impossible to read the pages of Jocelin without seeing that the ruling idea of [Abbot Samson’s] life was his devotion to his great patron, St. Edmund. He was the servant, after God, of the saint, his representative and the upholder of his honour and privileges, the champion of his rights, the guardian of his property. Inspired by this thought he worked to make Edmundsbury worthy of its patron, and in his success, he saw the result of the saint’s intercession and protection.”

So revered was the saint that on Saint Edmund’s Day in 1214, rebel English barons held a secret meeting at his shrine before confronting King John with the Charter of Liberties, the forerunner to the Magna Carta, which the king signed a year later. That document is celebrated as playing a key role in the foundation of human rights and democracy, particularly the United States Bill of Rights (1791) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). This event is reflected in the motto of Bury St Edmunds: “Shrine of a King, Cradle of the Law.”

During the dissolution of the monasteries under King Henry VIII, chancellor Thomas Cromwell’s lackeys defaced the shrine and confiscated its silver and gold. On 4 November 1539 the abbot and his monks were expelled, and the abbey was dissolved. Edmund’s bejeweled shrine was plundered, but Edmund’s body was missing, and his whereabouts remain a mystery even today.

A millennium after its founding, the remains of the abbey are

This year, 2020, the English town of Bury St Edmunds celebrates one thousand years since Benedictine monks arrived. The place name, St Edmundsbury, came into use after Beadoriceworth became the resting place in 902 for the martyred body of Edmund, King of East Anglia.

extensive and include the complete fourteenth-century Abbey Gate and Norman Tower, as well as the impressive ruins and altered west front of the immense abbey church (consecrated 1095), Saint Mary’s Church, and parts of Saint Edmundsbury Cathedral. In 2013 Dr. Francis Young discovered a previously unknown document from a monk that said Edmund’s body had been placed into an iron chest. In his book, In Search of England’s Lost King, Dr. Young explains his theory that Saint Edmund may be buried in the monks’ cemetery that lies in consecrated ground beneath the tennis courts in the fourteen-acre Abbey Gardens, created in 1831 and redesigned in 1936.

Edmund the Martyr—feast day, 20 November—is the patron saint of pandemics, kings, the Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia, Benedictine Douai Abbey in Berkshire, wolves, and torture victims. He is represented in Christian art with sword and arrow, the instruments of his torture.

In the midst of our own pandemic, Saint Edmund, pray for us.

Brother Richard Oliver, O.S.B., president emeritus of the American Benedictine Academy, is the coordinator of Saint John’s Abbey church tours.

Fall 2020

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COVID-19 and Collegeville Aaron Raverty, O.S.B.

COVID-19 is a new coronavirus, primarily affecting the lower respiratory tract in most humans, but capable of causing a wide range of symptoms. Even infected asymptomatic persons are able to spread the virus through tiny respiratory droplets.

Those testing positive manifest symptoms of varying severity and generally recover, but death claims others, especially the elderly or those with underlying medical conditions. No one seems to know the exact origin of this new virus, but it may have spread from birds or mammals to humans. The evidence trail points to open animal markets in Wuhan, China, a city numbering over eight million residents in 2020.

Saint John’s Abbey’s response to the pandemic has been swift and thorough. Since mid-March our community has observed the guidelines or mandates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and Saint Cloud Bishop Donald Kettler. This included the governor’s announcement of a stay-athome rule for all “nonessential” workers. The monastery went into lockdown as isolation was encouraged to prevent community spread of the virus. Our church doors were closed (as were the churches in the Saint Cloud Diocese) to all outsiders at the request of the bishop. Both

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Monastic burial during a pandemic

Saint John’s Preparatory School and Saint John’s University shifted to online instruction; most students vacated their dorms. Liturgical Press and campus service outlets either closed or had their operations minimized. Most administrators and staff worked from home.

Our abbey guesthouse closed until June 2021. A new message appeared on our abbey website: “Saint John’s Abbey has suspended all public attendance for Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours. All Masses in the abbey church will continue to be live streamed, plus Saturday and Sunday Evening Prayer, at https://saintjohnsabbey.org/live.”

The monastic community initiated its own internal protocols.

Social distancing is now the norm, both in assigned seating in our monastic choir and in our general movements in monastic spaces. Monks regularly wipe down (sanitize) the choir stalls

Michael Galle

after community prayer and Mass. Hand sanitizer can be found at strategic internal church locations and in and near our refectory. Wearing facemasks for Eucharist and prayer services is expected of all.

In addition, a special protocol for the eucharistic celebrant and for those approaching the altar for Holy Communion is now in place. Initially, Sunday and weekday Masses were open to monks only. More recently, the church is being reopened for tours and to guests for liturgical services, but with the same facemask and physical distancing protocols.

The pandemic has significantly changed our daily routines, manner of dining, and social interactions. Traveling off campus is severely restricted; frequent handwashing is encouraged; group gatherings are avoided; donning facemasks is part of our “new normal.” In our refectory,

vinyl gloves are available for handling or serving food, and we are becoming more adept at grasping items with the aid of specialized paper sheets. Monks take turns serving their brothers from a buffet line. Table managers regulate serving traffic in the refectory, both for the sake of social distancing and contact tracing. During the summer months, weather permitting, we ate many meals al fresco (in the monastery backyard) with appropriate distancing. The community’s barbers also practice their trade in the outdoors.

Our community meetings have moved from the abbey chapter house to the Founders Room (a large meeting space in the quadrangle) so that strict social distancing can be better maintained —and because video-conferencing technology is available here, virtual participation in the assembly is now possible by confreres living or working outside the cloister.

Robin Pierzina, O.S.B.

Our experience in a time like this takes us deep into the meaning of our profession of obedience, stability, and conversatio.

Abbot John Klassen, O.S.B.

Our apostolates and ministerial outreach have not been spared by the pandemic. Monks ministering in local parishes have honored diocesan protocols in place. Because churches had been closed, worship services, sacramental life-cycle celebrations, and parish social events were severely curtailed or canceled altogether. As churches gradually reopen, the faithful will notice strict and likely inconvenient guidelines to ensure their safety. Parish funerals have been significantly altered, with attendance limits, social distancing, and facemask protection. Some families are planning memorial services at future dates for deceased loved ones.

To help confreres visualize the process of “opening up” the community, abbey leadership has introduced the concept of an “activity dial” for how we approach our ministry and work, social life, and health care.

A multilevel safety plan—relying heavily on recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health—is in place for confreres residing in the congregate-living environment of the monastery.

Not surprisingly, some monks chafe at the lockdown restrictions and changes brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.

Though some report feelings of loneliness, restlessness, or loss of focus, morale is generally good. Monks’ generosity is impressive, as reflected in their willingness to volunteer for extra tasks and with offers to cover service-scheduling conflicts. Due to community and state travel restrictions, the Benedictine vow of stability is being exercised rigorously!

To build the bonds of community, to practice charity and loving-kindness, Saint Benedict exhorts his monks to “anticipate one another in honor; vie in paying obedience one to another”—no one following what is considered useful for oneself, but rather what benefits another (Rule 72). This commitment to pursue what is for the good of all, rather than personal benefit or comfort, has never been more needed. The stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic have indeed challenged the monks to reflect on the most fundamental values of monastic and Christian life.

Brother Aaron Raverty, O.S.B., a member of the Abbey Banner editorial staff, is the author of Refuge in Crestone: A Sanctuary for Interreligious Dialogue (Lexington Books, 2014).

Keep calm and wash your hands!

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Pandemic Blessings Abbot Gregory Polan, O.S.B.

J

esus tells his disciples in the Last Supper discourse: “Peace, I leave with you; my peace I bestow upon you.

Not as the world gives it, do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27). The Easter peace that Jesus gives is not a freedom from anxiety, but a freedom to live amid anxious times with trust and faith in God’s presence.

Despite our fears and worries, something is quietly stirring in the hearts of believers. The Holy Spirit, through this mysterious Easter peace, guides us in ways that are simple and good, touching and transforming.

How easy it is to name the challenges that have come our way with this pandemic: fear for the present moment, unexpected death, uncertainty about the future, living with an invisible enemy, financial pressures, distance from loved ones, praying in unfamiliar ways, and more.

But with a little hindsight, we also discover the blessings that have come to us.

First, we have come to see what a blessing our Benedictine tradition and calling have been.

While many live alone, isolated and without another human face to encounter, we are blessed with our monastic community.

The human desire to be connected with others stands as a distinguishing characteristic of our daily life. With social

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distancing, we have been forced to live somewhat apart, but clearly, not alone. With social distancing, there has grown a unique closeness that happens when challenges unite people, bonding them by their willingness to do together what is for the good of all. Sacrifice is rarely easy, but when it is done by a whole community, it possesses a unique character that binds people in a joy that is satisfying and enriching—even lifechanging. Our fears are transformed into courage; our anxieties develop into moments of trust because of the strength we experience in the midst of our community.

Second, both our community and private prayer take on new dimensions. We regret that our oblates and friends who usually pray with us are not present.

Yet, their absence fosters a true concern for them in our hearts; we miss them, and we earnestly pray for them. Though at a distance, the presence of those who usually pray with us is felt. It is easy in our daily intercessions to remember the Church, the world, and our governments; yet now, knowing the challenges that they face for the good of the people they serve, there is a greater sense of the worldwide communion that we share. I have heard from several oblates, expressing appreciation for the ways in which monks, nuns, and sisters have been able to livestream their celebrations of the Liturgy of

the Hours and the Eucharist to include others. We see in this how our community prayer ministers and assists others in their communion with God. Third, the environment of our monasteries has often provided us with places to be grateful for the beauty of creation, the gifts of God’s earth, and the opportunity to reflect on how important our care for the earth’s resources really is. God has made us stewards of these gifts.

During this pandemic, we have experienced how we can be better overseers and guardians of what has been given us to develop the beauty and splendor of God’s reign among us in the created order.

Fourth, the past weeks have awakened and intensified our appreciation for silence and reflection. Our lives are often caught up in the fast pace of society, which can diminish the time devoted to silence and reflection. We may even discover how uncomfortable we are with more silence in our lives. It has taken both time and effort to use the silence that has been forced upon us as something that is really a gift in disguise

The Easter peace that Jesus gives is not a freedom from anxiety, but a freedom to live amid anxious times with trust and faith in God’s presence.

Joined by the Spirit, separated by the pandemic

—precious times for communion with God, whether in the practice of lectio divina, adoration, or stillness before the divine presence already within us.

Psalm 46 challenges us to take the quiet we have been given, and to find God present within us: “Be still and know that I am God” (46:11). Silence and solitude are gifts for us to use wisely, even after the time of this pandemic.

Fifth, we are living in a moment of inspiring heroism. We have seen the sacrifice by dedicated doctors, nurses, and vigilant public servants who have all put their lives in harm’s way to fulfill the calling they have received.

Likewise, there has been heroism in the fervent prayer, generous service, and creative ways of assisting people in their spiritual

needs and desires. The beautiful challenge before us is to keep this kind of generosity and creativity growing within our monasteries and to all who come to us as guests.

There is no doubt that the months ahead will be a time of transition to new ways of living in our communities, in our celebration of the liturgy, in the way that the Church will adjust to changing expectations.

There will be additional changes in the way we live within our societies and cultures following this worldwide pandemic. This is a time when we should ready ourselves to move forward with faith in the God who never abandons us, but always surprises us with a divine goodness that exceeds our expectations. The path forward will be different,

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with the mixed elements of challenge and blessing. The future will carry a newness that asks us to be docile to the movements of the Holy Spirit who never ceases to teach, guide, and inspire us along new and uncharted paths.

Like the apostles and Mary in the upper room (Acts 1:12-14), let us wait in confidence, in trust, in hope. Let us ready ourselves to respond with enlivened trust in God and the guidance of the Spirit.

Abbot Primate Gregory J. Polan, O.S.B., a graduate of Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary, is the head of the Benedictine Confederation.

This article is excerpted from a letter sent to the members of the Benedictine Confederation in May 2020.

Fall 2020

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Meet a Monk: Michael Kwatera

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ho has the toughest job in the monastery?

Most monks would say it is the abbot. Our resident poet, Father Kilian McDonnell, once compared that job to herding cats! Others insist it is the person in charge of food (refectorian). Imagine the slings and arrows there! Still others nominate the prior, because he controls the car keys. The debate continues, but most monks would agree: the director of liturgy has the most thankless job. Ultimately, he is responsible for much of each day’s activity: praying and sharing the Eucharist. At Saint John’s Abbey, that person is Father Michael Kwatera, O.S.B., who as a youngster sat in the front pew of his parish church so he could see what was going on—a practice he continues today as director of liturgy!

The only child of Josephine (Stecz) and Joseph Kwatera, Michael grew up in Minneapolis, attending Ascension grade school and graduating from DeLaSalle High School before enrolling at Saint John’s University in 1968.

During his college years he began to consider his vocation.

Religious life was not foreign to him; he had two Franciscan aunts, Sister M. Loyola and Sister M. Rose, who actually encouraged him to consider the Benedictine Order. Those prayerful aunts and Michael’s own love for the post–Vatican

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Saint Patrick halls, which he calls “the best sophomore floors.” For the past eighteen years it has been his privilege to celebrate Mass three times per week with the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls.

In his spare time, he enjoys listening to classical music.

insights gained from these reflections on the needs of rural and small churches would serve him well as a pastor.

Timothy Backous, O.S.B.

Father Michael has taught theology classes to prep students as well as to undergraduate and graduate students at Saint John’s.

He is a former director of oblates, and he has ministered at a number of local parishes: Saint Augustine (Saint Cloud), Saint James (Jacobs Prairie), Saint Martin (Saint Martin), and Saint Catherine (Farming).

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II liturgy drew him to the mon-

astery following graduation from the university in 1972.

After completing the monastic formation program and professing solemn vows in 1976, he continued with theological studies leading to a master’s degree and ordination to the priesthood in 1977.

Father Allan Bouley, former director of liturgy and Michael’s mentor, suggested that the community needed monks to study liturgy. Accordingly, Michael turned his sights to liturgical studies at the University of Notre Dame, where he completed a master’s degree (1980) and doctorate (1994).

While there, Michael took part in the Rural Ministry Collegium. The

Worship is his work! Since 2006 Michael has served as the abbey’s liturgy director—his third time in the position. As director as well as chair of the abbey liturgy committee, he oversees the monastic community’s daily, weekly, and annual worship services. He is a founding member of the Monastic Liturgy Forum (now Monastic Worship Forum), a professional

The future liturgist and his dad

Kwatera archives

Kwatera archives

Father Michael and his parents following the Mass of Thanksgiving at the Church of the Ascension, Minneapolis, 12 June 1977

organization for monastic liturgists. He has assisted the Saint Cloud diocesan Office of Worship and led workshops for liturgical ministers. He has authored several prayer books, two books on liturgical theology, and many articles for popular liturgical journals. For ten years Michael was a regular columnist on liturgical topics for The Visitor, newspaper of the Diocese of Saint Cloud. He has written hymn texts and blessings. He has especially enjoyed preparing texts for the blessing of athletic facilities at Saint John’s.

Father Michael recognizes the liturgy as the premier school of faith, the place to meet Jesus Christ. In this belief, he is at one with our confrere Father Virgil Michel (1890-1938), a pioneer of the twentieth-century liturgical movement that strove to renew the Catholic liturgy with

an eye to renewing society.

Michael draws inspiration from Father Virgil and sees himself as the heir of Virgil’s ideas and work as the director of liturgy.

Since 2005 Michael has served as a university faculty resident on second floor of Saint Boniface/

Benedictine life enables Michael to devote himself to work and prayer. It has provided a welcome framework to serve others within and outside the abbey.

“The liturgy shows us the ideal of service,” asserts Father Michael, “Christ’s self-offering throughout life, unto death— which we seek to imitate, both inside and outside the liturgy.

Even if the monks of Saint John’s Abbey should reach perfection in preparing and celebrating their liturgies (and they won’t!), it would mean nothing unless our lives are in accord with the mysteries of Christ that we celebrate.”

Blessings [Soccer]

The psalmist declares that “my feet you made swift as the deer’s.”

Lord, let our players not grow weary as they press on toward every goal.

Let yellow cards and red cards be few for them, and let your saving help give them the joy of victory.

[Baseball]

The psalmist tells us that “Yours is a mighty arm, O Lord; your hand is strong, your right hand ready.”

Let some of your might be in the arms of our players.

We ask you to strengthen them to run the bases and not grow weary, to walk and not stumble.

Fall 2020

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Joel Kelly

Simeon Thole earning a master’s in counseling psychology in 1976. Following several years of missionary work at San Antonio Abad, Humacao, Puerto Rico, Joel served first as clinical supervisor and later as the director of education and training of the inpatient alcohol treatment program at Ingalls Memorial Hospital, Harvey, Illinois.

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orn on 1 September 1939, in Darwin, Minnesota, Father Joel Kelly, O.S.B., was the fourth of five children of Stanley and Verna (Lindberg) Kelly. He attended grade school in Darwin and graduated from nearby Litchfield High School in 1957. That fall he enrolled at Saint John’s University as a priesthood student. Two years later he entered the formation program of Saint John’s Abbey with twenty-three other novices.

He professed his first vows as a Benedictine monk on 11 July 1960 and was ordained a priest on 4 June 1966.

Between 1964 and 1970 Father Joel served as a prefect, chaplain, and theology teacher at Saint John’s Preparatory School. During the summers he pursued graduate studies at Loyola University, Chicago, graduating with a master’s degree in religious education in 1972. Shortly thereafter, he returned to Loyola,

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Returning to Collegeville in 1984, Father Joel began two decades of ministry as a faculty resident of the university, first in Mary Hall and later in Virgil Michel House.

At the same time, he exercised his considerable counseling skills, serving as the university chaplain (1984–1992) or chaplain at the Minnesota Correctional FacilitySaint Cloud (1993–2003). Along with abbey vocation director Brother Kelly Ryan, Joel initiated a three-week Monastic Experience Program during the university’s January Term. Over the years, dozens of undergraduates were introduced to monasticism as they participated in the daily life and prayer of the community.

Wherever Joel served, he established friendships that endured.

He was a model of generous and thoughtful Benedictine hospitality, a compassionate and jovial presence, a repository of Kellyfamily stories, Irish wit, and history. He was a dedicated and vocal fan of Johnnie athletics, cheering on the football and basketball teams in Collegeville and supporting the hockey team during their games in Saint Cloud. A shameless promoter of his hometown, Joel could tell the story—in remarkable detail, and whether you wanted to hear it or not—about “one of the seven wonders of Minnesota”: Darwin’s 17,400-pound twine ball [below], the world’s largest (13 feet in diameter, 40 feet in circumference) made by one man, Francis A. Johnson.

Father Joel’s final ministry was as chaplain for nearly fifteen years at Community Hospital of San Bernardino, California. In August 2019 he was diagnosed with advanced Bulbar ALS, necessitating his retirement and return to Saint John’s, where he lived in the abbey’s health center until his death on 8 June 2020. Following the Mass of Christian Burial on 13 June, Father Joel was interred in the abbey cemetery.

studies, he was ordained on 2 June 1962. While teaching at the prep school, he spent his summers pursuing graduate studies at Marquette University, Milwaukee, earning a master’s degree in English in 1965.

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he second of four children of Otto and Margaret (Acheson) Thole, Father Simeon Thole, O.S.B., was born on 21 April 1935 in Moorhead, Minnesota. After being taught

by Benedictine sisters at Saint Joseph’s grade school, he followed the lead of his older brother (Father Thomas Thole, O.S.B. [1932–2016]), enrolling at Saint John’s Preparatory School, from which he graduated in 1953 and later served as an English and religion teacher (1962–1978), dorm prefect (1963–1976), and mentor to many young men.

Simeon interrupted his undergraduate studies at Saint John’s University after his sophomore year to enter the novitiate of Saint John’s Abbey, professing his first vows as a Benedictine monk on 11 July 1956. He received his bachelor’s degree (in philosophy and classics) in 1958. Following priesthood

A writer, superb homilist, and pensive monk, Father Simeon shared his insights on the Word and life in Homily Hints for the Loose-Leaf Lectionary published

by Liturgical Press; with the sisters of Mount Saint Benedict (Crookston, Minnesota) as their chaplain—or monk in residence, as he styled himself—1978–1981 and 1983–1991; as pastor of Saint John the Baptist Parish (Collegeville), 1991–1996; and as Sunday Mass chaplain for the sisters of Saint Benedict’s Monastery (Saint Joseph) and Saint Paul’s Monastery (Saint Paul) from 2002 until the time of his death. The Benedictine sisters appreciated his commitment to justice for women religious who are not permitted to have ordained ministers of the sacraments.

Between 1996 and 2002 Father Simeon served as apostolic administrator of Saint Leo’s Abbey, Florida. “The chapter of Saint Leo’s voted down having an administrator, but I still was sent,” he recalled. “They expected me to come in and be authoritarian, but my approach was discussion-based, and the community did listen to my suggestions.” After returning to Collegeville, Simeon was active

as a spiritual director, giving conferences for the Benedictine Day of Prayer, and serving as recording secretary for the abbey’s senior council.

Zealous for frugality (some called him cheap), Simeon delighted in the simple things: a long nap, games of solitaire, popcorn while watching the Vikings, frosted rosettes on birthday cakes, and controlling the television remote control for the evening news (no commercials to be heard). Depending on one’s own point of view, he was either determined and unwavering—or stubborn and set in his ways. He was a voracious reader, studying the daily newspaper as well as Commonweal, The Tablet, America, National Catholic Reporter, and The American Benedictine Review. To keep himself informed about alternate theologies, he also read The Wanderer.

Simeon’s physical exercise of choice was running, then walking, and finally weaving.

In his later years, undeterred by a loss of balance, he kept walking—sporting a number of shiners from collisions with walls or pillars.

Shortly after being diagnosed with lymphoma, Father Simeon died on 19 July 2020 in the abbey’s retirement center.

Following the Mass of Christian Burial on 25 July, he was laid to rest in the abbey cemetery.

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Christ Pantocrator During the 2020 Easter season, an icon of Christ Pantocrator written

by Father Nathanael Hauser, O.S.B., graced the sanctuary of the abbey and university church. Beginning in September 2019, Father Nathanael created a number of full-size studies (drawings) before finally applying acrylic paint and a bit of 24K gold leaf to the canvas. The painting itself took about seven weeks to complete.

I wanted it to be reminiscent of the work of Brother Clement Frischauf (1869–1944) in the Great Hall, but in icon style. So the main choice was to use a similar pose with the open book and the text used by Clement (Ego sum Via, Veritas et Vita) [John 14:6: I am the way and the truth and the life.] Then I went with my own style, which is something of a mixture of Russian and Greek icon styles. I wanted it both to stand out from the red screen in the church sanctuary and also seem to be a part of it, while appearing to be a natural extension of the abbot’s throne as well. I hope it will bring joy to the community, especially during these difficult times!

Nathanael Hauser, O.S.B.

Nathanael Hauser, O.S.B.

The semicircular artwork is twelve feet wide and seven feet high with a one foot podium. Due to its weight, it was necessary to write the icon on canvas with a wooden frame—crafted in the abbey woodworking shop. Because egg tempera, typically used for icons, needs an inflexible, non-warping support such as wood, acrylic paint—which will “move” with the canvas—was used instead.

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Lewis Grobe, O.S.B..

Nathanael Hauser, O.S.B.

Donor Honor Roll Give, and it shall be given to you. Good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over, will they pour into the fold of your garment.

Luke 6:38

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s in years past, at this time Saint John’s Abbey recognizes and gives thanks to those who so generously assist the abbey through their contributions, planned giving, and volunteering. We express our gratitude publicly in Abbey Banner by listing the names of our donors and volunteers. These donors make possible multiple programs that the abbey sponsors.

We read in Scripture, “Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and passed it to them, and they all drank from it” (Mark 14:23). Jesus, the perfect steward, gave thanks and passed the cup on just before he gave himself to us completely for our salvation. He offers us the chance to drink from his cup, and we know what drinking from his cup means for each of us. Often it means our own sacrifice—giving up some of what we have in order to do the Lord’s work—recognizing that we are not only responsible for our own lives but also for the lives of those around us. Taking care of our brothers and sisters is an important Benedictine value.

The monks of Saint John’s Abbey thank all our donors and volunteers for making their own special sacrifice to assist the abbey in its work. Our heartfelt hope is that you will continue to partner with us in our service and outreach. It is through your generosity that we are able to continue our essential ministries, our focus on education, and offer the unique abbey programs that bring the presence of Christ to our students, parishioners, guests, oblates, friends, and benefactors. Your generosity also makes possible service through our Saint John’s Benedictine Volunteer Corps, through prison ministry, and social justice work. In addition, we have been offering services to the Latino/a community of the area, providing pastoral ministry and other necessary services. Your help is essential in sustaining and strengthening all the work of Saint John’s Abbey—where your gift makes a vital difference.

Thank you for the role you have played in making Saint John’s what it is today.

May God Bless You! Father Geoffrey Fecht, O.S.B. Abbey Development Director

The following are those who have given directly to Saint John’s Abbey.

Saint John’s University and Saint John’s Preparatory School each has its own fundraising offices and programs.

Abbey Legacy Circle

Recognizing those benefactors who have made a planned gift for the abbey through wills, trusts, annuities, and life insurance policies. Donors who asked that their gifts remain confidential are listed as Anonymous. (Deceased +) Anonymous (3) Harriet Acheson+ Dr. Peter J. Albert and Charlotte Mahoney Bernard J.+ and Joan+ Andert Daniel N. Arzac, Jr.+ Lydia Avery+ Bernard J. Axtman+ Richard+ and Irene+ Barry S. C. Bauclair+ L. Darleen Baumberger+ Rev. Eugene G. Belair+ Paul J. and Edna Berres Margaretha Bierbaum+ Leigh F. Birkeland+ Joseph J. Bischof+ Edward F. Bitzan+ Anna B. Blissenbach+ Beatrice M. Bloms+ George F. and Geri Bodmer Keith J. Boelter John Book+ Henry G. Borgerding+ Mr. and Mrs. Peter Botz+ John Braegelmann+ Jackie Breher+ Thomas F.+ and Lorraine+ Bresnehen Rev. Francis A. Britz+ Margaret D. Broderick+ Mary E. Brown+ Margaret A. Bucher+ Harry E. Burns+ James F. Burns+ Marion+ and Charlotte+

Butcher Addie L. Butler+ Therese Carbonneau+ Phyllis “Kelly” Carmien+ Noreen L. Carroll+ William P. Cashman+ Vera M. Chapado+ COL Benjamin+ and Opal+ Chapla Dr. Robert and Nancy Christensen Dr. Brendan Collins and Gail Sher Margaret Collins+

Rev. Louis G. Cook+ Paul E. Cormier Claire Crandall+ Francis G.+ and Norma+ Culhane Rev. Martin T. Cullen Edward Cunningham+ William G. and Colleen Dalrymple Hermit Angela G. Del Greco, Obl.S.B. Carol Deutsch+ Stephen S. Deutsch+ Rev. Patrick T. Devine+ Ruth K. Dindorf+ John+ and Anna+ Dreis Frances Drinkwine+ Rev. Charles J. Duerr+ Joleen and Dean+ Durken Marie+ and Henry+ Ehmke Deacon Elmer+ and Georgina+ Eichers Wilfred F. Engel+ Elizabeth Everitt Mary Eynck+ Hazel Fecht+ Margers Feders+ John Finken+ Mary Fischer+ Rita G. Fisher+ Lucille A. Fitzsimmons+ Edward P.+ and Loretta H.+ Flynn Maxine Z. Flynn+ Harriet R. Fraser+ Angeline Freund+ Rev. Joseph J. Fridgen+ Rev. Cecil H. Friedmann+ Gerard Gach Nellie Gaida+ Paul and Mavis Gannon Margaret L. Gilboe+ Dr. Theodore and Bernadine+ Gimenez Lawrence J. Gleason Sr.+ Edward R. Goossens Louise+ and Emmett+ Gorman Rev. Peter W. Grady+ Richard J. Grant+ Robert A. Gresbrink Charles and Mary Griffith Gary K. Grooters+ Elizabeth Grote+ Rudolph J. Guerra+ Joan M. Gurian George H. Haack+ Msgr. James D. Habiger+ Lawrence P. and Mary Haeg Lois J. Hall Marybelle+ and Willard+ Hanna

Dr. Harris D.+ and Mary+ Hanson John E. and Geraldine Happe Eugene R.+ and Celia+ Hawkins Rev. Lawrence A. Hemp+ Florentina Herding+ Abraham and Sharon+ Hernandez Dr. Noreen L. Herzfeld Arthur G. Hessburg+ Elmer Hoeschen+ Msgr. Michael J. Hogan+ Lenora Hollas+ and Jane Hollas Rev. Jerome J. Holtzman Fred J.+ and Valeria+ Hughes Joseph B. Hunn Catherine A. Huschle+ Mary G. Huschle+ Rev. Wilfred Illies+ John+ and Claire+ Jacobowitz Richard T. and Patricia M. Jessen Lois Job Mark Emery Johnson+ Francis+ and Helen S.+ Jordan Rev. Bernard W. Kahlhamer+ Marjorie Kalinowski+ Rose J. Kaluza+ Rev. Neal E. Kapaun+ Rev. Lawrence E. Keller+ Ann+ and Herbert L.+ Kelly Jack Kelly+ Dorothy B. Kennedy+ Marie P. Kiess+ Severyn+ and Margaret+ Kipka Beatrice Kirchner+ Martin+ and Gertrude+ Kirschner Catherine Klassen+ Rev. Sylvester M. Kleinschmidt+ Rev. Kenneth F. Knoke+ Gladys Kobishop+ Robert J. Kohorst+ Bernice Kowalik+ Theodore Kraker+ Mathilda Kramer+ Hedwig L. Kratz+ Anna C. Kremer+ Lucille E. Kreutzian+ Vivian E. Krogh+ Rev. Philip J. Krogman+ Kenneth P. Kroska+ Catherine Kruchten+ Dr. John J. Kulus Josie Kwatera+ Alvina Laubach+ Helen C. Lauer+ Susan and Edward W. Lehmann Jr. Bernadine A. Leicht+

Lester F. LeMay+ Eugene+ and Ursula+ Lenard Iver M. Linnemann+ Bernice Locci+ Robert H. Mace Jr., Th.M. Dr. Michael W. Maeder+ Robert A.+ and Norie T.+ Mahowald Brenda Maiers+ Richard+ and Dolores T.+ Manthey Terrence J. Martin+ John+ and Marian+ Maurin Mary F. Meinberg+ William M.+ and Leona R.+ Meinz Rev. Michael G. Mertens+ Florence Meyer+ Magdalen Michels+ Michael Molloy and Thomas Hilgers Rev. John E. Moore+ Florence G. Moritz+ Helen Moritz+ Henry A. Morof+ David J. Morreim Mary M. Muckley+ Louise Muggli+ Martinella+ and Stephen J.+ Muggli Sr. William Paul Muldoon Michael and Laura Mullin Doris H. Murphy+ Dennis and Ruthanne Neeser Arthur G. Nelles+ Steven T. and Dr. Kristen Nelson Gertrude Niehoff+ Milton J. Nietfeld+ Joseph Niggemann+ Msgr. Allan F. Nilles+ E. Thomas O’Brien+ Walter Otto+ Rev. Harold J. Pavelis Alma Pavia+ Steven Pederson and John Burns+ Gregory J. and Ellen Pelletier Jerry and Ruth+ Peltier Melvin Pervais Mary Pfau+ William Phelps and Sayre Weaver-Phelps John J. Pieper+ Emily Platnik+ Elizabeth Portz+ Joseph+ and Caroline+ Portz Rev. Gerald L. Potter+ Harriet Pregont+ Joseph Prostrollo

Alan Reed, O.S.B.

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Abbey Banner

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Adella L. Rademacher+ Msgr. James W. Rasby+ Erma T. Rausch+ Lydia Reichert+ Mathias J. Reichert+ Anthony+ and Mary+ Rhomberg Rev. Donald W. Rieder+ Evelyn Roche+ Evelyn Roelike+ Marcella Rotty+ Laurel Rudolph-Kniech and James Kniech Eddie Rueth+ Rev. Kenneth Russell+ Rev. Thomas J. Ryan+ Steven and Cynthia Saboe Josephine T. Sauer+ Margaret Schissel+ John J.+ and Marie+ Schmitt Rev. Bernard P. Schreiner+ Roland J. Schreiner+ Ottilia Schubert+ Rev. Raymond A. Schulzetenberg+ Rev. Paul A. Schumacher+ Mark Schwietz and Marti Elliott Lidwina Schwinghamer+ Rev. Alex L. Schwinn+ Donald+ and Joan+ Seifert David and Patricia Serreyn John A. Siebenand Mildred M. Sieve+ Wilfred J. Simon+ Elizabeth Sjoving+ Stephen and Barbara Slaggie Mary Jean Smith+ J. T. Starzecki Gen Stein+ Julia Stein+ Rev. Louis C. Stovik+ Virgil M. Stovik+ Marjorie C. Studer+ Joseph Suk+ Alice G. Sullivan+ William P. Sullivan Jr.+ Rev. David K. Taylor Bill and Jean Tehan James L. and Donna+ Tembrock Joseph and Judy Tembrock Alfred A.+ and Elisabeth+ Terhaar Ethelyn Theisen+ Louise Theisen+ Robert J. Thielman+ Frances+ and Ted+ Thimmesh Henri V. Tran Sharon H. Tupa Sherri L. Vallee Helen C. VanAcker+ Rev. Arthur A. Vogel+ Nestor and Evelyn Vorderbruggen

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Alfred C.+ and Dorothy+ Wagman Arthur L.+ and Romana+ Wahl Florenz Walz+ Jerome Weber+ Dr. Stephen and Mary Ellen Weber John C.+ and Eileen+ Weihs Patricia A. Weishaar Thomas S.+ and Margaret+ Welch David A. Wendt and Renee Harberts Theresa Marie Wendt+ Dr. Waldemar H. Wenner Edward L. “Chuck” Wenzel+ Harriet Wicklace+ George W. Widman+ Orville Woeste+ Gregor+ and Marie+ Wollmering

Abbey Founders’ Circle

(Lifetime Giving) Recognizing those who have made cumulative gifts of $50,000 or more to the abbey over the course of their lifetime (gifts and pledges, outright and deferred). Donors who asked that their gifts remain confidential are listed as Anonymous. (Deceased +) Anonymous (15) Harriet Acheson+ Dr. M. George and Gloria Allen Ayco Charitable Foundation Jeffrey P. Barnett Richard+ and Irene+ Barry Florian L+ and Kathleen+ Baumgartner Rev. Eugene G. Belair+ Paul J. and Edna Berres Leigh F. Birkeland+ Beatrice M. Bloms+ Keith J. Boelter Jackie Breher+ Joseph T. Brudney+ Margaret A. Bucher+ Marion+ and Charlotte+ Butcher Phyllis “Kelly” Carmien+ Central Indiana Community Foundation Central Minnesota Community Foundation Cherbec Advancement Foundation Dr. Robert and Nancy Christensen Margaret Collins+ Paul E. Cormier Claire Crandall+ Brian P. and Joy L. Crevoiserat Francis G.+ and Norma+ Culhane Rev. Martin T. Cullen

Generosity is the most natural outward expression of an inner attitude of compassion and loving-kindness.

Hermit Angela G. Del Greco, Obl.S.B. Ginger and Roger Delles Ruth K. Dindorf+ Driscoll Foundation Joleen and Dean+ Durken East Bay Community Foundation Marie+ and Henry+ Ehmke Wilfred F. Engel+ Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Rita G. Fisher+ Edward P.+ and Loretta H.+ Flynn William and Patricia+ Friedman Paul and Mavis Gannon Dr. Theodore and Bernadine+ Gimenez Dorothy J. Gorecki Rev. Peter W. Grady+ Gary K. Grooters+ Judith Grooters Joan M. Gurian Msgr. James D. Habiger+ Lawrence P. and Mary Haeg Donald M. and Marion Hall Marybelle+ and Willard+ Hanna Dr. Harris D.+ and Mary+ Hanson Rev. Robert Hazel James A. and Maxine Hecimovich Abraham and Sharon+ Hernandez Elmer Hoeschen+ Mark W. Holian+ Naomi Jasmer+ Mark Emery Johnson+ Marjorie Kalinowski+ Ann+ and Herbert L.+ Kelly Severyn+ and Margaret+ Kipka Beatrice Kirchner+ Martin+ and Gertrude+ Kirschner F. Alexandra and Robert+ Klas Rev. Kenneth F. Knoke+ Hedwig L. Kratz+ Rev. Philip J. Krogman+ Julia and Frank+ Ladner Mary and Bud+ Lambert Rev. Peter Lambert Susan and Edward W. Lehmann Jr. Diane Liemandt-Reimann and Ronald Reimann Bernice Locci+ Joseph R. and Sylvia Luetmer Michael R. and Nancy McCarthy McDowall Company McGough Construction Company, Inc. McGough Foundation Lawrence and Andrea+ McGough

Dalai Lama

Tom and Linda McGraw William M.+ and Leona R.+ Meinz Theodore E. and M. Irene Micke The Minneapolis Foundation Minnesota Community Foundation Michael Molloy and Thomas Hilgers Morgan Stanley GIFT Florence G. Moritz+ Henry A. Morof+ Mary M. Muckley+ William Paul Muldoon National Philanthropic Trust Dennis and Ruthanne Neeser Steven T. and Dr. Kristen Nelson Walter+ and Caroline+ Niebauer Milton J. Nietfeld+ Onchuck Law Office, S.C. Steven Pederson and John Burns+ Jerry and Ruth+ Peltier Melvin Pervais William Phelps and Sayre Weaver-Phelps Joseph+ and Caroline+ Portz Joseph Prostrollo Adella L. Rademacher+ Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc. Rita and Robert+ Rengel Rev. Donald W. Rieder+ John E. and Lois Rogers Marcella Rotty+ Mary Ellen Rudden Steven and Cynthia Saboe Saint Paul Foundation Ralph Schad+ Scherer Bros. Lumber Co. Michael and Susanne Scherer John J.+ and Marie+ Schmitt Ottilia Schubert+ Carole Schwietz Lawrence+ and Marilyn+ Schwietz Mark Schwietz and Marti Elliott William and Joyce Sexton Amb. Robert and Ellen Shafer Russell and Tina Sherlock Slaggie Family Foundation Stephen and Barbara Slaggie J. T. Starzecki Virgil M. Stovik+ Alfred A.+ and Elisabeth+ Terhaar Louise Theisen+

Lyle and Marilyn Theisen Raymond and Mary Turcotte The U.S. Charitable Gift Trust Kae+ and Maurice+ Vandeputte Alfred C.+ and Dorothy+ Wagman Arthur L.+ and Romana+ Wahl Jerome Weber+ Dr. Stephen and Mary Ellen Weber John C.+ and Eileen+ Weihs Patricia A. Weishaar Thomas S.+ and Margaret+ Welch Robert+ and Jeanette+ Welle Dr. Waldemar H. Wenner Edward L. “Chuck” Wenzel+ Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Daniel A. and Katharine Whalen Harriet Wicklace+ William and Joyce Sexton Family Foundation Willis of Minnesota, Inc.

Abbot’s Circle

(Lifetime Giving) Recognizing those who made cumulative gifts of $25,000 to $49,999 to the abbey over the course of their lifetime (gifts and pledges, outright and deferred).

Donors who asked that their gifts remain confidential are listed as Anonymous. (Deceased +) Anonymous (2) Dr. Peter J. Albert and Charlotte Mahoney Bernard J.+ and Joan+ Andert Gordon J. and JoAnne Bailey Benedictins de Montserrat John and Bonita Benschoter Rev. Francis A. Britz+ Mary E. Brown+ Noreen L. Carroll+ Catholic Community Foundation Dr. Brendan Collins and Gail Sher RoxAnne and Jack F. Daly Jr.+ Laurence G.+ and Redelle+ DeZurik John L. and Jeune Dieterle Rev. Charles J. Duerr+ Bernadette S. and Ed Dunn El-Jay Plumbing & Heating, Inc. Hazel Fecht+ Andy and Jodi Fritz Nellie Gaida+ Edward R. Goossens The Greater Cincinnati Foundation Group for Affordable Housing George H. Haack+ Matthew and Jacqueline Haughey

Rev. Lloyd G. Haupt+ Rev. Wilfred Illies+ John+ and Claire+ Jacobowitz Francis+ and Helen S.+ Jordan K. C. Marrin Co. Rev. Bernard W. Kahlhamer+ Thomas and Joan+ Kasbohm John J. and Marilyn Kennedy Vincent R. and Jean Kinney Klas Family Foundation Koch Foundation, Inc. Catherine Kruchten+ Helen C. Lauer+ Edward J. LeMay Mark and Joyce Ludowese Dr. Michael W. Maeder+ KC and Anne Marrin Joseph S.+ and Sharon+ McGraw Mary F. Meinberg+ Magdalen Michels+ Paul and Nancy+ Moran Louise Muggli+ Garrett E. and Diane+ Mulrooney Gertrude Niehoff+ James S. and Lori A. Rausch Rosemarie Rinn J. Patrick Rooney+ Eunice and John+ Ruff Rev. Thomas J. Ryan+ Rev. Raymond A. Schulzetenberg+ Schwab Charitable Fund Rev. Alex L. Schwinn+

Mary Anglin Joe Armes Steven F. Arnold Annette Atkins Ayco Charitable Foundation Gordon J. and JoAnne Bailey Caroline Baillon Baillon Family Foundation, Inc. J. Michael Barone Richard L. and Helga Bauerly Bob and Mary Becker John M. Becker Benedictins de Montserrat Raymond and Joan Benson Lila Bernick Thomas Bik and Laurel Toussaint Mary Catherine Bolster Edward J. and Peggy Bonach Joseph and Patricia Brudney Stephen W. and Rita Buckley Calvin University

Rev. Richard J. Dillon Donald B. and Marilynn Drever James C. Drozanowski Bernadette S. and Ed Dunn Joleen Durken Alexis Duval-Arnould and Kjerst Monson Kevin and Betsy Egan Patrick J. and Kris Ellingsworth Russel and Beverly Engleson John J. and Debra Erhart Essex County Community Foundation Patrick D. and Gail Evans Rev. Dennis D. Evenson Cynthia M. Foster COL Bill and Helen Franta Dr. Dale and Mary Gerding John T. Gerlach George Golden Edwin and Judy Grelson

SOAR!

Rev. Louis C. Stovik+ Dr. Joseph Sullivan Target Corporation Rudy and Sheryl Tekippe Michael Urbanos and Rosann Fischer Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program Florenz Walz+ David A. Wendt and Renee Harberts Stephen and Regina Wolfe Gregor+ and Marie+ Wollmering

Prior’s Circle

(Annual Giving) Recognizing those benefactors who have made annual gifts of $1,000 or more to the abbey between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020.

Donors who asked that their gifts remain confidential are listed as Anonymous. (Deceased +) Anonymous (12) John and Catherine Agee Dr. Peter J. Albert and Charlotte Mahoney Dr. M. George and Gloria Allen John and Elizabeth Anderla

Paul Middlestaedt

Phyllis “Kelly” Carmien+ Noreen L. Carroll+ Catholic Community Foundation Catholic United Financial Foundation Central Minnesota Community Foundation Cherbec Advancement Foundation Dr. Robert and Nancy Christensen Jeanne Christianson Charles Coghlan Community Foundation of Louisville Lucy L. Cords and Alvin Gerads Paul E. Cormier Daniel Coyle Gerard De La Cruz Bernard and Catherine DeLaRosa Hermit Angela G. Del Greco, Obl.S.B. John L. and Jeune Dieterle

John F. and Joan Grobe Dr. Benedict R. and Claire Haeg Lawrence P. and Mary Haeg Jane T. Hagerman Steven and Nancy Hanousek James A. and Maxine Hecimovich Dr. Noreen L. Herzfeld E. A. Hickok Joseph C. and Shelly Hoesley Barbara Houston Kent P. and Marylyn Howe Dr. Terrence and Toni Hughes Richard A. and Donna Humphrey Willem T. Ibes Robert J. Ilg InFaith Community Foundation Craig Irvine Naomi Jasmer+ Richard T. and Patricia M. Jessen Thomas Joyce

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Terrence W. Ryan and Elizabeth Whalen Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation Saint Paul Foundation Thomas and Linda Sanders Jessika A. Satori Will and Barbara Schafer Gary M. and Carolyn Scherer Michael and Susanne Scherer Roger and Irma Scherer Joseph L. and Marilyn Schmit Rev. Bernard R. Schneider Donald and Susan Schreifels Schwab Charitable Fund Mark Schwietz and Marti Elliott Dolores Seashore David and Patricia Serreyn Aubrey Sexton James F. and Paula Sexton William and Joyce Sexton William T. Sexton Elizabeth P. Shipton Stephen and Barbara Slaggie Dennis and Mary Kay Smid Dr. J. Weston Smith SOAR! Paul Middlestaedt

Rev. Bernard W. Kahlhamer+ Lyle C. and Kathleen Kasprick Dennis and Elizabeth King Keenan Richard D. and Janice Kellogg Timothy F. and Sharon Kelly Most Rev. Donald J. Kettler Kingsley H. Murphy Family Foundation Vincent R. and Jean Kinney Christopher and Tomoko Kitrick Sandra Klas Rev. Sylvester M. Kleinschmidt+ John A. and Maureen Knapp Theresa Knier Kazuko Rosa Kojima Tom and Jan Kordonowy Dr. Lawrence and Mariann Kukla Peggy Ladner and Clifton Brittain Rev. Peter Lambert John E. Lange John Leddy H. Daniel and Wendy Levene Delbert R. and Sharron Lewis Rev. Vincent P. Lieser Hon. John and Mary Lindstrom Justin Lombardo Joseph R. and Sylvia Luetmer Patrick E. Lynch Robert L. and Anne Mahowald John and Mary March

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KC and Anne Marrin Scott and Mary Kay May Ruth G. Mayer McDowall Company Lawrence McGough Thomas and Mary McKeown Thomas and Rose Mary Meyer Theodore E. and M. Irene Micke Mightycause Foundation Dr. Jeffrey M. and Mary Milbert The Minneapolis Foundation Eric Moede Paul Moran William Paul Muldoon Katherine Murphy Michael E. and Jane Murphy Cary and Regina Musech National Christian Foundation National Philanthropic Trust Dennis and Ruthanne Neeser Robert and Joanne Neis Joseph M. and Susan Ness Elizabeth Nilles Ronald J. Noecker Susan and Stuart Nordquist Michael and Kathleen O’Keefe Rev. Thomas Olson Eugene and Rita Olsson Omaha Community Foundation James P. O’Meara Beverly and Don Oren John and Gigi Ossanna Gianfranco and Susan Pagnucci Gregory R. and Peg Palen

Jonathan and Beth Payson Bruce and Mary Kay Pederson Steven C. Pederson John and Connie Pellegrene Jose A. Peris and Diana L. Gulden David Pfeffer Brian and Caroline Phillips Vincent C. and Marcia Pletcher Stephen and Laura Pluemer George H. L. Porter and Carol Arnold Porter Joseph+ and Caroline+ Portz John and Frances Povolny Len and Mary Powell Dr. Kenneth and Gretchen Preimesberger David and Karen Quinby Jeffrey T. Rabatin Rose M. Rarick Therese Ratelle James S. and Lori A. Rausch Donald B. Regan Bonnie H. Reim Rita Rengel Charles H. and Lucy Rieland James L. and Suzanne Rielly Drs. Richard and Jane Rodeheffer Francis and Rosemary Roehl Kenneth and Betsy Roering John E. and Lois Rogers Mary Ellen Rudden John P. and Susan Ryan

Michael and LeAnn Staiger J. T. Starzecki Dr. Thomas and Ann Stone Robert H. Sueper Dr. Joseph Sullivan Ronald J. Tavis Rudy and Sheryl Tekippe Mary Ann Tham Dr. Anthony P. Thein Lyle and Marilyn Theisen Jon and Lea Theobald Rev. Kenneth E. Thielman Gary Thomas+ Christopher J. and Sarah Thompson Wallace and Mary Ann Tintes John and Lucie Traxler Mary Trisko Patricia Tyson Michael Urbanos and Rosann Fischer The U.S. Charitable Gift Trust Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program Gilbert Verkamp Miriam R. Vetter Phyllis L. Volk Mary Jo Warnke Col. Marvin and Marjorie Weber Patricia A. Weishaar Paul N. and Jacqueline Welle Scott N. Welle Christopher and Jennifer Wenner Dr. Joseph H. and Mary Wenner Dr. Waldemar H. Wenner Lloyd and Elaine Wenning

Raymond Wesnofske and Lynda Moecker Dr. Gene and Joanne Wilhelm William and Joyce Sexton Family Foundation Thomas B. Williams Stephen and Regina Wolfe Paul Woychick Tom+ and Mary+ Woychick Stephen R. Yurek

Confreres’ Circle

(Annual Giving) Recognizing those benefactors who have made annual gifts up to $999 to the abbey between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020.

Donors who asked that their gifts remain confidential are listed as Anonymous.

(Deceased +) Anonymous (14) Mark and Maryann Aaron H. Dale Abadie Abilene Christian University Brian J. and Cassandra Adamek Dennis M. Adams Mary Adams Gretchen Agee Mary Ager Robert and Margaret Agnew Donald Ahlbach Barbara Ahlstrom Richard and Patricia Ahner Diana Akullo Richard and Ellen Albares Rosemary Albrecht Daniel and Christine Alexander Janet Alexander William Alexander Reynaldo and Kirsten Aligada Rosemarie Allen Thomas C. and Sally Allen Tom Allen William and Linda Allen Bryan and Karen Alpers John K. Alpers Norma Alpers Randall O. Altmann Brian and Kari Amacher Jeffrey and Theresa Ambord Leo H. and Dolores Ament American Endowment Foundation American Online Giving Foundation Msgr. Gaspar Ancona Deacon George and Mary Kay Anderberg Tony Andersen and Ann Pryor Andersen Ann E. Anderson

LTC Craig E. and Judith

Anderson Rev. E. Byron Anderson Gene and Caralyn Anderson Hunter and Barbara Anderson Joan Anderson John M. Anderson Kathryn Anderson Martha M. and Renner Anderson Rolf T. Anderson Scott Anderson Gordon Andersson Suzanne and Thomas Andreasen Michael Antolik Clem and Alice Anton Douglas R. and Linda Appelgren Dennis and Lorie Archambault James W. and Nancy Archbold John W. and Sally Arden John J. Ardila Rosemary Arena Mary M. Ariens Florine K. Armstrong Ann and John Arndt John and Margaret Arnold Craig T. and Jaime Arth Douglas T. and Kristine Asmussen Shimelis G. Assefa Ruth D. and Gary Athmann Richard and Carol Atkins Dolores and Joe Auge Karen Auman Marian Bach and Mary A. Lohaus Dr. William R. and Rhonda Bachand Susan Bachelder John J. and Beverly Bachman Kenneth A. and Elizabeth Backe Marina E. Bahmer Joseph and Kathryn Bainbridge Barbara Bakeberg Mark W. and Hellen Baker William and Jeannemarie Baker Patricia D. Balassone Sharon Balcom Rev. Timothy H. Baltes Thomas G. and Katherine Bambenek Douglas J. and Gretchen A. Bancks Michael P. Bancks Nicholas A. and Jodi Bancks Peter D. and Nicole Banick Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund Donald and Sandra Banta Robert and Lori Barklow Anacleta S. Barlaan Marilyn R. Barmash

Rev. Patrick Barnes Sara B. Baron Mary Ann Barragry Adelaide Barrett Mr. and Mrs. Patrick J. Barrett Robert and Theresa Barrett James J. and Martha Barry Nancy K. Barry Patricia Barry Jennifer and Jonathan Bartch Rose Bartley Dan Bassile Rick and Sharon Battis John Baucom Jeffrey P. Bauer Merle and Claire Bauer Michael T. and Lucille G. Bauer Michael W. and Margaret Bauer J. Greg and Christine Bauleke Michael B. and Barbara A. Baumann Paula Baumberger Tim and Pat Baumberger Timothy K. and Linda Baumgartner Msgr. Thomas F. Baxter Marlene Bayerkohler Richard J. and Sharon Beach Dr. Edward and Kathleen Beal John and Sharon Beauclair

Paul and Sharon Beaudry Gary and Kay Bechtold Connor M. Beck Guy W. and Ruth Ellen Beck Mary and Clayton Beck Matthew J. Beck Jean and Allan+ Beckel Klaus P. and Zerryl Becker Joseph W. and Joyce Beckermann Vern and Sue Beckermann Susan L. Beckett David and Pamela Beckley LTCs James and Lisa Beckmann Mary K. Beckmann Aimee Beckmann-Collier and David Collier Kathleen Bednar Thomas J. Beer Ruth Beiswenger Juan Carlos Belalcazar Canal Joe and Judith Suess Belde Robert D. Bell Charles A. Belland James A. Belland Robert E. and Karen Bellmont John and Bernadette Bellows Ronald G. and Laura Benefiel Geno Beniek Michael P. Bennett

Alan Reed, O.S.B.

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Virginia C. Bennett John and Bonita Benschoter M. Joseph and Theresa Berg Ronald L. and Phyllis Berger William and Pauline Berghoff Jr. Paul A. and Paula Bernabei Philip R. and Kathy Bernish Jean and Frank+ Berres Diego L. Berrio Jeffry J. Berton Joseph R. and Helen Bettendorf Jennifer L. Beutz Michael C. and Karren A. Beutz Mary G. Beverage Thomas Bice-Allen Rev. John Adam “Martin” Biggs, Obl.S.B. Ronald L. and JoAnn Binsfeld Mary Lou Birk James L. and Virginia Bisek Paul A. and Johanna Bisek Carol Bishop Cletus M. Bitzan John and Kathy Bjerke Jennifer Black Donald R. Blais Margaret A. Blenkush Rose Blesener and William Daly Margaret Blohm Theresa J. Blommer Bill and Marjorie Blubaugh John and Mary Bluemle Dr. Aaron R. Boatz Christine Bochen Terry and Mary Kay Bodeen Patricia J. Bodelson George F. and Geri Bodmer Faye and Robert Boehler Robert A. and Jean Boehler Thom Boerigter Howard C. Boeser Rick and Mary Boettner Eileen and Larry Bolstad Aaron and Nicole Bolton Carla M. Boner John R. and Stacia Bonifaci Jeffrey Bonneville Gregory and Linda Bookey Tom and Marie-Louise Borak Patrick D. Borden John T. and Katie Borgen Monica Bossenmaier Joseph T. and Kelly M. M. Bower Rev. William Bowles David and Felicia Boyd Daniel T. Bozek John J. Bradbury Kathleen A. Brady-Murfin Margaret J. Brahm Dale and Jen Brandel Thomas and Marilyn Brandel Noah and Holly Brandenburger Rev. Peter B. Brandenhoff

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Abbey Banner

Donald L. and Patricia Brandl John E. and Terrie Brandt Gerald H. Brantner Sue Brass Zora B. Bratsch Joanne Braun Robert W. and Bernice Braun Douglas and Debra Breckenridge Michael and Susan Bredeck Sheryl D. Breen Ellen Brennan Michael and Karen Brenteson Steven and Marlene Bresnahan Eric B. Brever and Heather Hamernick Susan Brewster Robert and Judith Brezinski Rev. Bill Bried Adam R. and Amber Briggle Robert and Mary Rae Briggle Tom and April Bringardner Clark M. Brittain Beatrice and Larry Britz Frances and Ray Broderick Thomas and Mary Novak Brodersen Dr. Matthew and Laurie Anne Broghammer William Bronn Martha Brophy Roland and Cyrilene Brouillard Sarah and Jacob Brouillard Edward G. Brown Ken and Carol Brown Nadine Brown Robert L. Brown Sheryl A. Brown David L. Bruch Richard E. Brudos Timothy Bruels Mark J. and Lisa Brueske Matthew C. Brumleve Sarah Buchanan William D. Buckley Jerry and Jean Bucksa Robert Buckvold Ruth Bueckers Edward and Mary Buksa Richard Buller Cecelia Burgwald John A. and Mary B. Burke Steven and Pamela Burke Kathy Burmeister Betty Burns Carol Johnson Burns Joe and Kayreen Burns Jane Burr Cecilia Burtzlaff Jacquelyn Bush Louisa C. Butler Karen Buytaert Rose Mary Byrne Ed and Therese Cacek

Kathleen Cahalan and Don Ottenhoff Charles G. Calhoun Daniel Calhoun Rev. Michael J. Callaghan, C.M. Siri C. Caltvedt Kyle J. Camp Cynthia Campbell Dr. Joseph G. and Eileen Capecchi Mark B. and Mary Kay Capecchi Joseph and Linda Capistrant Catherine A. Carey Elizabeth M. Carey Jackie Carey Lin Cargo Benjamin T. Carlson David Carlson Donald D. Carlson Gary and Katherine Carlson Kevin D. Carlson Lane J. Carlson Pamela C. and Ken Carlson Tom and Shelly Carlson Troy and Laura Carlson Mary Lou and James Carney Mark D. Carrier Mary Fran Carter Kathleen Casey Jonathan D. and Brianne Casper Marcia Casper Catholic Community Foundation Kevin L. Caulfield and Richard Jackson Rev. Lawrence A. Cavell Kathleen A. Cepelka Gary E. and Kim Cerkvenik Karen and Richard J.+ Chalmers Carl R. and Diana Chalupsky Mary Chamberlain Dale J. and Regina Charpentier Paul Chase and Mary M. Angerman John and Sally Chatelaine Helen Chathas Matthew Chiapete James D. Child Dorothy Chizek Mary Ann Chladek James and Nancy Chouanard Daniel C. Chouinard Karen M. Chretien Brent A. and Angela Christian John W. and Nora Chromy Church of Saint Boniface, Cold Spring Church of the Holy Faith Inc. Elaine P. Churchill Eugene and Paulette Cichowicz Janice Cink Robert F. Cisco Thomas and Linda Clancy

COL James G. and Brigitte Clapp

Mary A. Claps Br. J. William Clarey, F.S.C. Katherine Clark Paul and Eileen Clark Robert J. Clark Rita M. Clasemann Peter and Mary Jo Clasen Anita Clauson Nancy Clements+ George Cliff Rev. Kevin I. Clinton Mary Jo Cobb Leonard L. and Jeri Coequyt Lorraine H. Cofell Edward and Mary Coffin Susan Nierengarten Cohen Vicki Coifman Mary Lou Colbert John Coleman Albert J. and Susan Colianni Eric Colleary David and Julie Collins Winnie and Tom Collins Rev. Richard F. Collman Sharon Colston Ana F. Conboy Ralph E. Congdon Anthony and Susan Connelly Sara A. Connerty Brian J. and Carol Ann Connolly Barbara Conrey Christopher Conway and Margaret Nuzzolese Conway Ralph J. Cooke Gregory and Donna Cooley Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Coover John A. Corbo Kenneth J. and Carol Coskran Nathaniel G. Costa Bertram and Jill Cottine Thomas Coughlan Francis M. and Marilyn Court Judith Coval Rev. John Cowan James C. and Michele Cox Kathryn Lilla Cox and Patrick Cox Michael and Renee Coyle Francis R. Crain Mary E. Cranstoun Joseph Creech Jr. Timothy and Deborah Crennen Pat Cripps Randy and Christy Crnkovich Michael and Ellen Cronin William J. Cronon Joseph and Elizabeth Crosby Robert V. and Florence Crow Daniel and Sandra Crowley Rev. Martin T. Cullen Pat Cullen Dr. Michael and Virginia Cummings

Paul Middlestaedt

Brad and Joan Cunningham Thomas S. Cunningham William and Judy Cunningham Edward D. and Eileen K. Curley Weston L. Cutter Ellen Cutting Dennis A. Cvelbar Mary Ruth Cyr Leonard Czech Rev. Robert Czok MaryTeresa Dachel-Baker and Ben Baker J. Michael Dady and Kim Monahan Dady Julia Dady William F. and Nanette Dagnon Adele W. Dahlberg Karen Dahlstrom Jack and Marge Dallas Rev. Gerald E. Dalseth Kathleen Daly Thomas M. and Patricia Daly Bernard W. and Jody Dan Mary P. Danaher David M. and Judith Daniel John R. Danielson Margaret C. Danieri James D’Arcy Charles Darwent Dr. John M. and Judy Daugherty Andrew and Emily Davis Angela Davis John and Mary Davis Nancy Davis Steven and Michaela Tilgner DeCock Barbara DeGrote Ludovicus J. and Susan DeHoog Richard and Elizabeth Deibert Martin J. Deignan

Julio G. and Mary DeLaRosa Ginger and Roger Delles Renate and Dieter Dellmann Dr. Robert L. Delorme Thomas and Annmarie DeMarais Kurt and Fiona Demel Paul J. and Pam DeMorett Paula and Joe Dempsey Brent Derowitsch and William C. McDonough Kevin M. and Ann Deshler Rick DesLauriers and Mary Hessian-DesLauriers Mari Detrixhe James and Barbara Deutmeyer Alfred S. Deutsch Benedict and Sharon Deutsch Kevin J. and Diane Devereaux S. Emily Devine Gregory J. DeWitt Dale and Constance DeZeller Dr. Richard and Jean Diaz Rev. John V. DiBacco Jr. Sandra Dickinson Alex D.+ and Ann+ Didier Timothy Diegel Diffley Guitar Studio John B. and Kathryn Diffley Kathleen Diffley Leonard Di Lisio Msgr. James E. Dillenburg Barbara W. Dilley Margaret Dimoplon Elizabeth Dingmann Robert J. and Paula Dinndorf Cynthia M. and David Dirkes Andrew F. and Anna Dirksen Joseph C. and Mary Dirksen Barbara A. Dispanet Dr. Moya Dittmeier Divine Word College, Iowa William and Leah Doherty

Clara Dolan Margaret A. Dolan Richard and Jan Dold Judy Doll Joyce Donovan David J. and Catherine Dooley Karen M. Dosemagen Millicent Dosh Robert and Pamela Douglas Dorrine M. Douglass Steven and Brenda Douvier Charles E. and Carmelle Dowdle Valoree Dowell Gregory D. and Mary Jo Downs Daniel J. and Kim Doyle Marilyn J. and Robert Doyle Mary H. Doyle Michael and Martha Doyle Patrick Doyle Robert Doyle Patricia Drahota Michael C. and Carol Drake Ross B. and Sara Drever Steven M. and Mary Drew James A. and Jane Drill Jacob A. Dripps S. Monica Drogon Sheila Drolet Anthony and Theresa Drummond Fred Drummond Edward A. Duane Victor Lee Dubrowski Adeline Duerscherl Harold J. and Mary Duffy Lorraine B. Duffy Jan Duhnke John P. Dullea Robert and Evelyn Dumonceaux Rev. Gerald Dunn Suzanne M. and Richard Dunn Carla Durand Mark and Barbara Durenberger Mary Durocher Hudson Luanne Durst Steve M. and Suellen Dusek Paul and Laurie Duxbury Janice A. Dworschak James and Joy Dwyer John S. Dwyer Catherine D. Earp Michelle R. Eberhard Robert H. Ebner Larry E. Ebnet Kim R. Eckert Dr. Jerome and Helen Eckrich Anthony and Joanne Eckroth Rev. Leonard A. Eckroth David and Rose Marie Ederer Charles and Patricia Edstrom Jason Edwards Thomas P. Egan Jr.+ Ronald and Wendy Eggerichs

Brad and Mary Eggersdorfer Brian Eggersdorfer John S. and Min Ehlers Sandra and Donald Ehlert Diane M. Ehr and Jared Culbertson Lavina Eich Marlin G. Eich Eugene and Dottie Eisenschenk Gregory and Jeanne Eisinger Robert T. and Carol Ekhaml Mary Jean Elioff James Ellison Martin and Elizabeth Ellman Marie K. Elsen Mary C. Emanuelson J. David Enestvedt Nic Engel Thomas R. and Sharon Engels Jerome J. Engleson Larry and Kim Engleson Timothy and Clare Engling Stephen D. Engstrom Clarence and Jean Enneking Enviro-Safe, Inc. David E. Erichsen Janet Ericksen Alan J. and Mary Erickson William P. and Bernadette Erickson Cyril and Darlene Erkens Bruce and Bernice Ervin Marie R. Esplan John and Janet Essig Bernadette and Robert Ethen Terry and Karlyn Etheridge Dr. Mary Jean Etten Brad M. and Mary Eustice Leo and Terry Euteneuer Mel and Julie Euteneuer Bernard F. and Nancy+ Evans Richard M. and Patricia Evans Robley D. and Joan M. Evans Elizabeth Everitt John W. and Margaret Faber Michael A. Fahey Dorothy M. Fairbanks Martin S. and Margaret Fallon Dr. Terese Fandel and Dr. John Pennings Carrie W. Farmer Thomas H. and Florence Farnham James and Joanne Farver Ellen M. Fay Patrick and Joann Fay William and Patricia Fay Daniel C. and Lynn Fazendin Modris M. Feders Joseph H. Feitelberg Gerry and JoAnn Feld Robert Felde and Martha Steele Mark C. and Theresa Feldmann

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Franc Fennessy and Jennifer Noyes Fennessy Jeffrey and Caren Fenske Peter J. Fergusson Rev. Michael M. Ferraro Jeanne L. Ferrian and Robert H. Byers Michael P. Fiala Thomas M. and Anita Field Virginia A. Field Rev. Brian J. Fier Br. Harry Finkbone, O.S.L. David and Barbara Finn Donna and John J. Finnegan Jr. Richard and Lori Fiocchi Anita M. and Donald Fischer Betty Fischer Donald and Anita Fischer Dr. Henry and Kathleen Fischer John and Judith Fischer Pamela M. and Peter C. Fischer Richard and Patricia Fischer Joseph Fitzgerald and Ane Kvale Fitzgerald Nora Fitzpatrick and John Thuente John D. Flanagan Rev. Robert B. Flannery Charles A. Flinn Jr. and Elizabeth Hayden Denis and Mary Flint Jeanne Flood Mary Joe Florian Agnes Flynn Connor and Pamela Flynn David and Anita Flynn Patrick J. and Marlene Flynn John E. and Linda Fodstad Aldor Fontenault Daniel and Carol Forby Daniel P. and Cindee Forby Arthur P. Forcier Jr. Colleen Ford-Dunker Lucille Foss+ Yvonne Foster Judy Fournier Maria-Teresa Fowell Blaine and Colleen Fowler Eric C. and Amy Fowler Claire Fox Patrick and Michelle Fox Franciscan Poor Clare Nuns Bonnie and Steve Francisco Aaron Franta and Jennifer Lahmann Daniel J. and Mary Franta Peter J. and Cheryl Franta John and Jeanne Fraune Joseph W. Fraune Adriana Frazier Rex and Doneta Free Kenneth C. and Denise Freed Robert A. Freed Penny J. Freeman

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M. Ann Freitas James and Mary Frey Peter and Nancy Fribley Dr. Gregory and Ann Friederichs Joseph and Nadine Friederichs Rev. Thomas A. Friedl William Friedman Joseph and Kathleen Friedrich Michael J. Friedrich Samuel D. Friesen Kurt P. and Amy Fritsch Dr. Thomas and Cathy Fritz Deacon Bob and Gretchen Froehle Joan and E. Michael+ Frohrip Linda Frolik John D. and Bettina Fruth Carlos R. and Sheila Fuentes Patrick and June Fulton Janice Funk Jerry and Jeanne Furst Gerard Gach James J. Gaebel Dr. John R. and Patricia Gaertner Mary Jane Gaffney Norbert J. Gaier Edward Gallagher III Kevin L. and Marie Gallagher Mary Gallagher James and Mary Grace Galvin James V. Gambone Thomas and Janet Gambrino Stephen and Barbara Gamradt Nick and Carol Ganas John Gans and Stephanie Kessler Rudolph A. Gapko+ Lawrence Garcia Steve A. Garibsingh Michael K. Garrity Daniel and Mary Garry Edward and Joan Gartner Bernadette Gasslein Scott and Denise Gathje Robert and Maggie+ Gatz Supranee Gavinlertvatana Clifford and Peg Gawne-Mark Margaret K. Gaynor Rachel Gaynor-Horejsi Michael A. Gee Jerome and Beth Geis Alan Geiwitz and Mary McMahon Elizabeth B. Gemmill Steve A. and Jennifer Genereau Rev. Donald Genereux Louis and Marianne Genter Craig and Shirley George Drs. Lawrence George and Karen Wyatt Julius and Katherine Gernes Stephen E. Gerteisen Donald and Mary Gerum

John Chrysostom Long, O.S.B.

Sue Gherty Michele Gibson Monica Gibson Rollie and Tillie Gilk Michael J. Gillen Drs. Shawn P. Gillen and Barbara Higgins Rev. Joseph Gillespie, O.P. Mary Alice Ginther Rev. Edward M. Girres Dirk Giseburt and Marilyn Stahl Mark J. and Kelly Giura Sharon and James Givens John and JoAnn Glady Laura Glass Jeffrey A. Glover Leila Goblirsch Kathryn M. Goddard William R. and Virginia Goedde Cynthia A Goerig John and Marleen Gomes Perry and Patti Good Vernon W. Goodin Jack and Margaret Goodnoe Elna Goodspeed Robert A. Goossens Rev. Kevin M. Gordon Dorothy J. Gorecki Richard D. Gorman Louis M. and Eileen Gottwalt Thomas and Maria Gottwalt Mark and Karen Gould Raymond and Joan Gove Carol Graff Kathryn Grafsgaard John and Margaret Graham Rev. William C. Graham Leon and Patricia Grahn Jerome and Kathleen Graney Steven J. and Ann R. Gravelle Patricia Gray Edward and Alice Grayson Dennis and Cynthia Green

Marianna Greenlee Thomas and Mary Greenstein Benjamin M. and Janet Gregorio John and Barb Grek Robert A. Gresbrink Judy Grewe Charles and Mary Griffith Drs. John Grim and Mary Evelyn Tucker Alvina Groebner Thomas and Nancy Gruber Paul R. Gruetzman Anne Grunau Theresa J. Gucker Thomas Guenther Nancy J. Guertin Thomas Guinan Gil and Lisa Gullickson Dolores Gulotta Bjorn K. Gustafson and Philip A. Faggiano Rev. John G. Guthrie Kenneth Gutzwiller Eugene and Terese Haak Marlene Haberer Raymond L. Hackert Rosemary Hagerott Mathias R. Hagovsky Joanne Hagstrom Paul Haik Matthew J. Haines and Jennifer Marshall Christine Halaburka Marcie Halberstadt Valdemar Halgas Bonnie Hall Jon Hall Patrick M. and Suzan Hall Robert and Lisa Hall Thomas R. Hall and Julie Kunkel James and Barbara Hallelman

Thomas Haller and Patricia Moses Joseph F. and Kristine Halloran Michael F. and Danette Halloran Darnell and Mary Halverson Dr. Paul R. and Mary Hamann Margaret M. Hamburger and John Kupris Beth Hamel Kay Hamilton Clay and Mary Hamlin Gerry Hamm Janet C. Hanauer+ Mary Hanlon Marguerite and James Hannigan George G. Hans Mary Hansen Mary Ann Hansen Mary E. and Richard Hansen Richard and Kathryn Hansen Ted Hansen Charlotte L. Hanson Jonathan R. and Peggy Hanson Marcia and Harlan Hanson Dr. Robert and Gaylynn Hanson Steven and Diane Hanson Bill and Alice Hardy Elizabeth Harkwell Elsa Harmon Katharine Harmon and Matthew Sherman Lois and John Harren Betty Harris Louise Harris-Cole James A. Harrison Betty M. Harthman Terrance J. and Renee Hartman Francis Hartmann John and Mary Hartmann H. Michael Hartoonian Marvin A. and Pamola E. Hartung Dr. Quentin and Kathleen Hartwig Patricia C. Haskins Mehdi Hassan and Kaneez Fatimah Louis and Kathleen Hastert Norton J. and Kathy J. Hatlie Paul M. and Lorri Hattenhauer Kristin Haugan LeRoy J. and Marilyn Haugh Robert C. and Denise Hauser Mark J. Hawkins Carol Hawkins-Lopez and Marcella Brantley Paul F. and Renee Hayden Karen Hayes Emily Hayne Gerard M. Healy Robert and Maureen Healy

Dr. Michael D. and LaRae Heaney Dorothy A. Hebert Kathleen E. Heck COL Roger Heger Mary Corita Heid, R.S.M. David Heike John and Joyce Heilard Dale L. and Kay Heimermann John and Lorna Heinen Marladene M. Heinen Thomas Heinen and Tamra Phillippi Ryan A. and Michelle Heining Marjorie Heinz Dale and Joan Heitz Christopher J. Heitzig Thomas and Barbara Heitzmann Michael and Janice Helkenn Robert and Colleen Helms Suzanne and Norbert+

Hemesath Kenneth and Jane Hemmesch Michael T. and Michelle Hemmesch Kathleen M. Henderson David M. Hendricks Charles and Marcia Hendrickson John Heng Charles J. Henkel Joseph Hennen Thomas J. and Carol Hennessey Richard P. and Nancy Hennig Roger and Bonnie Hennis John C. and Kathleen Henry Joseph E. and Martha Henry Patrick Henry Darryl L. Hensel Michael Hensley John and Janet Hentges Abraham and Sharon+ Hernandez S. Yliana Hernandez Dr. Roger and Marlene Herold Kathleen Herrick Frank and Mary Beth Hess Dr. Philip and Elizabeth Hessburg Fred and Judy Hessinger Marlys Hetland Andy Heuer and Pairin Hongsoongnern Kevin Heyburn Frank J. and Abby Heydman Rev. Read Heydt Robert and Karen Heying Gregory and Katherine Hickman James P. and Lynne Hicks Deborah Hiestand John Higgins Bryant and Margery High Horse

Steven Hill Brad and Kim Hingtgen Richard and Rose Hinkemeyer Mary Hire John R. and Carol Hirschfeld Thomas J. Hoben Geraldine Hodgson Peter R. Hoeger and Debra Lerdal Dennis and Rita Hoemberg Linda and Jack Hoeschler Mark D. and Jenn Hoffman William R. Hoffman Hoffmann Family Trust-A Jewel Hunt Hoffmann Dr. James R. Hofmann Kathy A. Hogan Kevin P. and Lucy Hogan Dr. Timothy and Carolyn Hogan Tom and Jane Hogan Donald G. and Louise Holden Jean M. Holewa Dr. Robert W. Hollenhorst Alice S. and David J. Holm Barb and Tom Holmgren Mary R. Holt John J. and Sara Holter Daniel C. and Amy Holth Rev. Jerome J. Holtzman Steven and Susan Holupchinski Mark Homer and Joanne Loritz Honeywell International Charity Matching Carolyn Honl James G. Hoofnagle John H. and Colleen Hooley Eugenia C. Hopfer Mary and Jeff Hoppe J. Gregory and Patricia Horgan Milan Hornola Edward F. Horski Joseph D. and Patrice Horwath John and Geri Hotz Barbara Jane Houle, Ph.D. Mary Lou Houle Douglas Hourin Richard J. and Christine Howard Joann Howitz Gregory J. and Cynthia J. Hromatka

Xinyue Huang Paul J. and Dolores Huber James J. Hubner Bonnie M. Hugeback Keith F. and Julie Hughes Kevin J. and Joanne Hughes Margy Hughes Joseph B. Hunn Nancy and Mark Hunsley Dr. Kai K. and Myrna Hunt Dr. Vincent R. and Mary Kay Hunt Carolyn Hunter Leo and Lucia Huntington Marian Huntley-Lickteig Edwin A. and Quonnella M. Hurd James Hurd and Virginia Anderson Robert Hurley and Chantal Tanguay Marlene Husen Tammy Huss Jeffrey P. Hutson Thomas and Frances Hutson Roger C. Huyink Julia Shin Hye Hwang Sandra A. and John J. Hyland III Monica Hynes-Payack and Peter Payack Diane and Gary+ Ignowski Gene W. and Dottie Illg Fred and Margaret Imdieke Nina and John Incampo Patrick J. Irlbeck Kenneth and Lucy Irvine Ellen Jackelen Boniface Jacobs John P. and Josephine Jacobs Lance D. Jacobs Tom and Sharon Jaeb Douglas W. and Laura Jaeger John T. Jaeger Col. James and Judith Jagielski Jan and Kim Jahnke Donald and Diana Jakubisin Kathleen Hall Jamieson Terrence James Jancik Charles J. Janoff Veronica Janssen Herman H. Janzen Warren D. and Dianne Janzen

Generosity comes from seeing that everything we have and everything we accomplish comes from God’s grace and God’s love for us. It is from experiencing this generosity of God and the generosity of those in our life that we learn gratitude and to be generous to others.

Desmond Tutu

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James Jarocki and Kris Blakeslee Jay K. and Dolores S. Jarrell Joseph Jastrzembski Linda R. and Glenn Jeffrey Gerard and Leona Jenniges Randal and Judith Jenniges Colleen A. Jennings Michael L. Jennings Michael R. and Patricia Jennings Elizabeth A. Jensen Mark R. and Heidi Jensen Michael D. and Kathleen Jensen Deborah J. and Thomas Jerome Rev. Aaron Johanneck Kathy A. Johannes Arthur A. and Kathleen Johnson Brent M. and Carla Johnson Clifford and Patricia Johnson Daniel R. Johnson Jeffrey L. and Cynthia Johnson Joshua P. Johnson Lawrence A. Johnson and Gwen Perun Lonnie and Monika Johnson Lucie Johnson

Marianne Johnson Marie Johnson Martell F. Johnson Peggy Johnson Rita Johnson Steven Johnson and Susan Iverson William G. Johnson Jr. David J. and Lori Johnston Ronald E. Joki Douglas and Kathleen Jones Gerry Jones and Berhane Tadesse Lucy R. Jones and Jim Johnson Patricia Herbison Jones Heidi Joos Lawrence and Renee Jordan Janet Joy Daniel and Janet Joyce Dr. James J. Joyce Mary S. Joyce Tina Joyce Steve and Sharon Judge Robert G. and Mary Juenemann Andrew V. Julo Kathleen Juneau

Michael Crouser

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Thomas J. and Shirley Jungels Roger W. and Kathleen Junker Gregory and Kristine Kaake Ted and Karen Kaden Steve and Kimberly Kahat Rachel Kaiser Dave and Mary Jane Kalina Donald A. and Rosemary Kalkman Jon R. Kallman Richard and Susan Kallok David C. and Anne Kaluza Michael and Judy Kammerer Richard A. and Susan Kammueller Dr. Adrian L. and Jacqueline Kapsner Matthew A. and Hope Kapsner Mary Fran and William Karanikolas Christina Karnowski Thomas Kasbohm Lloyd and Adelaide Kasprick William P. and Louise Kauffman DeAnn Kautzmann Joanne K. Kavanagh Kevin and Joanne Keane Timothy J. and Mary Keaveny Julie Keesling Garrison Keillor John Keimel and Ellen Kraft Robert F. Kelleher David G. Keller and Emily Wilmer Matthew A. Keller David H. and Jean Ann Kelley Ryan P. and Carrie Kelley James B. Kelly Jr. Jane Kelly Jerome W. and Sharon Kelly Jerry Kelly Joan Kelly Joseph P. and Jean A. Kelly Joseph T. Kelly Mary J. Kelly Mary M. Kelly Richard J. Kelly Steve and Jane Kelly William E. and Patricia Kelly Dr. Michael J. and Caroline Kelner Theresa Kelsch George R. and Charlene Kelzer John F. and Patricia Kemper Kendall Parker Frank A. Kennedy John C. and Molly Kennedy Nathaniel J. Kennedy William and Sylvia Kennedy Kensington Bank Richard W. Kent Donald L. and Patricia Kercher Michael H. and Zoe Kerfeld

George Kern Jerome L. Kern Jerome C. and Bonnie Kettleson Dr. Thomas J. and Pamela Keul Robert J. and Mary Kiefer Randall P. and Janice Kieffer Rev. Robert J. Kieffer Micah D. and Eleanor Kiel Bernice and Ernest Kiene Anne M. Kieser Frederick and Elaine Kiesner Patrick and Susan Killeen Daniel and Helen Kim James G. Kimmitz Steven M. Kin Corrine Kindschy Peggy and Michael King Drs. Bernard C. and Virginia Kinnick Peter G. Kirby Kyle V. Kirsch and Kelly Quinn-Kirsch Robert A. Kitchen COLs Mark E. and Kristin Kjorness Patricia Klarkowski Richard and Janice Klaverkamp Susanna Klavora Douglas and Patricia Klein Gary C. and Darnell Klein Janice Klein Dale C. and Karen Kleinschmidt Robert and Phyllis Kleinschmidt Anne M. Klejment Colleen Klessig Jerome and Kristi Klukas Katherine Klykylo Donna Mae and Frank+ Knapek Thomas M. Knier and Lisa Reuder Pat and Kate Knight Knights of Columbus Council 12979 Shawn D. and Jessica Knorr Bernard and Marcia Koalska Jeana and Jim Koenig Peter M. and Nancy Koenig Elmer and Aurelia Kohorst Patricia L. and Joel Kok Kevin and Paula Koktan John and Linda Kolb Laurence and Susan Koll Mary Schnettler Kolofsky Dr. Steven E. and Debbie Koop Steve and Kerry Koopmann Jeff Korsmo Walter J. Kosel Dusan Kosic and Maja Janjic Steve and Chris Kosowski Irene Koster Phil and Carolyn Kostolnik Jerome D. and Rita Kostreba Mary Jo Koszarek James J. and Martina Kotek

Kathy Kovell Timothy and Jennifer Kowalewski Neil R. Kraft Deacon Eugene and Linda Kramer Michael J. Kraus Michael P. and Joan Krause Kathleen K. Krehbiel Br. Anthony Kreinus, S.V.D. Rev. Michael Krejci Robert W. Kressin Richard and Karla Kretchmer Richard and Donna Krisch Vivian Kroeker Irene Kroening Tom and Mary Kroll Frances Kron Steven and Ann Krueger Daniel Krumenaker Alvin and Ellen Krump Ruth Kubinski Maureen Kucera-Walsh and Michael Walsh James E. Kuderer Jim and Polly Kuelbs Lenore and Joe+ Kuelbs Glenn and Mary Kuhnel Carl and Janet Kuhrmeyer Edward J. Kuklock Paul T. and Kathryn Kulas Barbara A. Kummerer Richard and Debbie Kummet Katherine Kunkel Kilian and Khadim Kuntz Ronald R. Kurpiers Dennis W. Kurtz John T. Kustermann Susie and David Kuszmar Janet Kuznia Kathleen Kuznia Lawrence and Margaret Kwacala Marion Kyler Robert and Dixie+ Labat David and Elaine Labdon Rev. Frederick C. LaBrecque John J. Lacey Kevin O. and Beth Lafeber Thomas M. and Marie LaForce Daniel W. Laginya Marlene S. Lahr Dr. Joy and Dr. James Laine Arthur Laliberte Richard T. Lally Jr. Huong T. Lam Darren M. Lamb Mary Rose Lamb Gail Lamberty Dennis and Karen Lamecker Ronald and Janenne LaMere Rev. Robert Lampert Carol H. Landgraf Roger G. Landwehr Bethany Lane

Douglas and Nancy Lane Bernard A. and Zerrin Langer Doris Langston Philip and Debra LaPorte Genevieve Lapp Michael F. and Deborah Larkin Maureen Larney S. G. LaRosa Kathleen Larsen Lawrence and Jean Larsen Alfred G. Larson Ann M. Larson Harold Larson Dr. Julie and Jon Larson L. Wayne and Sharon Larson Wendy Larson Lizette Larson-Miller and Steve Larson Vincent and Kathy Laubach Glen A. Lauer Joseph G. and Katherine Lauer Deacon Vincent I. and Carol Laurato Law Office of J. Brian Martin & Associates, P.C. Thomas A. Lawler John E. and Evelyn Lawyer William D. and Dawn Leach Donald and Mary Leaon John and Jane Lebens John and Michelle LeBlanc Dr. Joseph Lechowicz John Lee Robert Lee and Mary E. Schaffner Andrew Leet Patricia Lefevere Gerald P. LeGarde Susan and Edward W. Lehmann Jr. Lisa M. and Tim Leimer Rev. Richard J. Leisen Ashleigh M. Leitch James Leitner James N. Leitschuh Bill and Deb LeMay Edward J. LeMay Lorrayne S. Lenarz Thomas Lenertz Carm Lennon Gerald and Mary Lou Lenz Brian A. and Betsy Jo Lenzmeier Mahri Leonard-Fleckman Arlene Lesser Rosemary and Joe+ LeTendre Harold and Carla Levander Jr. Thomas P. and Jean Levandowski Mary L. Levin Sharon and Antoni Lewandowski Richard and Emma Lewis Stephen and Lynn Lewis Jerry and Barb Liddell Patricia A. Lieb Robert Lieser Robert A. and Jeanette Lieser Robert and Margaret Lietzke

The Benedictine monks of Saint John’s Abbey welcome guests of all faiths to experience the abiding presence of God within a praying community.

Pang Juan and Susan Lim Edward and Patricia Lindell Frank and Elaine Lindell Rev. Thomas Lindner Lois Liners Brent Ling and Megan Janicki S. Anna M. Lionetti Joseph P. and Mary Alice Lipinski Ellynda and Harry Lipsey Brenda Lisenhy Daniel P. and Mary Beth Liska Thomas H. and Erin Lisle Dorothy and William Liszka-Vowles Xiao G. Liu Jean Ljungkull Christopher and Mary Loetscher Jason C. Lofgren Sieghardo Loh Paul and Joan Lombardi Stephen and Barbara London S. Alice Long Merle Longwood Judith Lorrig Most Rev. Paul S. Loverde Danny Lovestrand Elmer Lovrien Jeanne M. Lowe Roger and Rosie Loxtercamp Dr. Gary and Coleen Lucachick Rev. James Lucas Paulette M. Lucas Robert W. and Lillian Lucas Denise and Deacon Matt Ludick Joan R. Ludick Mark J. and Karen Ludick Horst and Keiko Ludwig Cynthia M. Luedtke Larry and Jo Ann Luetmer Roland and Connie Lundby Anthony and Gail Lusvardi Donald and Annette Luther Dr. Thomas and Mary Jo Lyke Brian P. and Jackie Lynch John and Katherine Lynch Michael J. and Barbara Lynskey Colleen Lyons Dr. Mary E. Lyons Charles C. and Geraldine Maas John and Catherine Maas Robert H. Mace Jr., Th.M.

Robert J. and Maria MacFarlane Dwaine Machacek Thomas C. Mack Joyce D. Macnamara Richard E. Madigan Rev. John W. Madsen William J. Maguire Catherine Mahoney James E. and Berteil Mahoney Thomas J. and Deirdre Mahoney Robert J. and Helen Malby Richard and Jodene Malmsten Annette Malone Thomas P. Malovrh Catherine Mamer Martin and Laurie Manahan Bruce Mancini and Betty Nystrom Francis M. Mancl Linda Manders Scott L. and Debra Mans Kevin J. and Casey Manthie Dr. Michael and Laurie Marchetti John G. and Geraldine D. Marek Kelly Marlow Marguerita Marschall Gregory J. and Alice Marszalek David and Mary Grace Martin George L. and Anne Martin J. Brian and Evelyn Martin COL James and Rhona Martin Terri Martin Timothy E. and Monica Marx John E. and Kathleen Marxer Robert Marzik and Alice Caldwell William J. Marzolf Lucy A. Mastri Thomas F. and Michelle Matchie Jennifer A. Mateer John S. Mathias Judith A. Mathiowetz Robert A. Mattes Kathrine and David Matthew Phyllis Mattill Mark and Susan Matuska Tom and Mary Maus Paul and Susan Maxbauer Rev. Anthony C. May Michael R. and Eileen May Carol Mayer Dr. David P. Mayer

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Joseph and Imogene Mazur Dr. Bill and Jane McBride Siliva McCalip E. Michael McCann Michael McCann William J. McCarron and Ann Thompson Charles D. McCarthy Harold and Julie McCarthy McCarty Domes Inc Gerald J. McCarty Kathleen McConville Richard and Doris McDermott Myles T. McDonald Timothy McDonald Leigh E. McDonnell David McEachron Joyce and Richard McFarland Michael E. and Kathleen McGill Tim and Martha McGinnis Dr. Brian P. and Pamela McGlinch Virginia McGoldrick Margaret McGonigle McGough Construction Company, Inc. L. J. McGovern Matthew R. McGrane William S. McGrath Rosemary McGraw Patrick J. and Tracey McGuinn Timothy S. and Jeanne McIntee Kenneth and Patricia McKenna John W. and Wendy McKenzie Dr. John H. McKnight, Obl.S.B. Patricia McLain Carl A. McLaughlin Thomas and Patricia McMahon Edward and Linda McManis Sharon McMillan, S.N.D. Katherine McMullen Marian F. McNamara Russell and Carol McNaughton Jeraldine L. McNeilis Frederick J. McNew Bernadette McQuaig Paul McQuillan Sue Meers Mark and Irene Mehlos Gerald L. and Evelyn Mehrkens Irene M. and James Meier Peter B. Meier E. Meierdiercks Bruce Melchert and Cathrine Nilles Jean C. Melin Thomas Meoska Pamela Mercier Teresa A. Mertes Erik and Paula Metling Daniel A. Metzler Dorothy C. Meyer Dr. John R. Meyer Kenneth M. and Joanne Meyer

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Aidan Putnam

Madeline E. and Jeffrey D. Meyer Mark and Michele Meyer Martha M. Meyer Deacon Steve J. and Michelle Meyer Gordy Midas Charles H. Middendorf Paul and Tricia Middleton Drs. Tim G. and Mary Zitur Miley Millan Brothers Construction, Inc. Luis and Mitzi Millan Gavin and Kaycee Miller Harold E. Miller James L. Miller Mark and Anne Miller William G. and Gunni Miller Brian J. and Aleta Millette Jon L. and Lisa Mills William C. and Taisia Mills Julie and Daniel Mincks William D. Minihan Dennis L. Mishuk Gary P. and Barbara Mitchell Steven and Rachael Mock Terry A. Moe Timothy and Marianne Moe Gary and Barbara Moeller Robert J. and Sharon Moeller William A. and Ann Moeller Sister Karen Moha Paul G. Mohrbacher S. Lorraine Molchanow Kevin and Delia Molinaro-Nolan Jerry and Linda Molitor Bart and Barbara Mollet

Donald and M. Jeanne Molloy Daniel P. and Jamie Moloney Rev. Raymond G. Monsour Mary Moore Michael J. and Rita Moore Nancy J. Moore Edward Moorse Ana Moreno and James Solem Mona Morgan Morgan Stanley GIFT Michael and Patricia Moriarity John M. and Elizabeth Morley A. A. Moroun David J. Morreim Michael A. and Lisa Morrey Pamela Morris Patricia Morrison Royce W. and Marjorie Morrissette Drs. Greg Motl and Laurel Brooks Daniel and Laurie Moudry Joseph and Kathleen Mucha Craig Mueller Paula E. Muggli and Lon Enerson Stephen A. and Lora Muggli Dr. William and Imelda Muggli Mary Lou Mulcahey-Ott Robert and Nancy Mulligan Fra’ Thomas Mulligan James A. and Franchelle Mullin Joseph D. and Sharon Mullin Michael and Laura Mullin Michael T. Mulroe Garrett E. Mulrooney Phil Mulvaney David J. and Catherine Mumma

Dolores Munoz Todd Munson Patrick W. and Joyce T. Murphy Paul and Roberta Murphy Richard and Marilyn Murphy Timothy and Katherine Murphy Timothy and Sheila Murphy Diane M. Murray Robert and Dorothy Mushel Ann Myran Edwin M. and Mary Anne Nakasone GEN Paul Nakasone Gary J. and Eileen M. Nalevanko Marilu Narem COL Robert Nasby and Karin Ann Craven Kristi A. Nash Thomas R. Nash National Christian Foundation, California Rev. Dale M. Nau William and Nancy Naughton Robert and Joyce Neary Mary Neidermeier James and Jacqueline Neilson Bonnie M. Nelson Bradley C. Nelson Myrna Nelson Richard and Shirley Nelson Dr. Robert A. Nelson Steven C. Nelson John B. and Kathleen Nett David Neufeld Michael Neumayer Margrette A. and John Newhouse

Roger V. Newinski Elaine M. and Thomas Newton Mary Newton and Charles Dunham Chinh-Paul Nguyen Moira L. L. Nichols Steve and Peggy Nichols Mark and Mary Beth Nicklaus Jane Niebauer Waldo and Elaine Niebauer Dolores Nierengarten Jean Nierengarten John and Lori Nies Louise Nieters Joseph and Melinda Nilan Patricia A. Nilius Toshitaka Nishidate Mark F. and Jana Noack Susan Noakes Richard and Colleen Nodland Sr. Joseph P. Noelke Jr. Br. Bernard X. Nolan, F.M.S. Bruce R. Nolan Lawrence Nolan Matthew Nolan Peter J. and Cathy Nolan Michael and Diane Noll Rev. Mark Nordell Nancy Nordenson Brandon W. Nordhues Tony Nordick Kathleen Norris Kyle R. Notch and Anna Dalton William J. Noth and Marcia Baumhover S. Irene Novak, O.S.F. Kevin and Marie Novak Kathy Nuckolls Angela Nugent Michaela Nyland Darrell and Sharon Nystrom Janell Wenzel O’Barski Richard E. Oberg Paul Oberlander and Linda Hoolihan Robert and Marilyn Obermiller Ralph and Janie O’Bleness Daniel O’Brien and Catherine Dolan James P. and Margaret O’Brien Rev. John F. O’Brien Terry P. O’Brien William and Theresa O’Brien Jerome D. O’Connell and Katherine Bloom O’Connell Thomas O’Connell and Rebecca Heist Donna O’Connor Michael W. O’Connor Leroy Odden and Susan Misukanis Jeff Odendahl David Odland

Robert and Donna O’Donnell Charles A. Oehler Tim Ogle Hilda O’Hanley Marge O’Hara Michael O’Hare Lisa Ohm and Stuart Goldschen Kevin J. and Theresa O’Kane Thomas P. and Juliet O’Keefe Peggy O’Leary, C.S.J. Dr. John and Lois Olinger Catherine O’Link-Meyers John and Carolyn Olive Joseph and Carol Olivieri Bill and Becky Olson Emily Olson Jed and Kelly Olson Karen E. Olson Kathy Moraghan Olson Mr. and Mrs. Ray R. Olson Ronald and Gail Olson Todd and Andrea Olson Kathy O’Malley Patrick and Peg O’Malley Daniel C. O’Meara Richard O’Meara Michael O’Neill Joe Opatz Michael and Marie O’Reilly Thomas and Carole Orth David M. and Laureen Osberg Gary M. Osberg William Osei-Bonsu and Maria Insaidoo Phil and Gail Osendorf Mary Osterhus Steven and Karen Ostovich Malcolm and Mary O’Sullivan Deacon Sherman Otto James M. and Kathleen Pach Laurie Packard Ronald Paczkowski and Judith Talbott Joan Page Karen Pagel Dr. Tom C. Pagonis and Amy Acampora Joseph and Stephanie Palen David and Jean Palkert Rev. M. Charles Palluck Gary D. Palm Christopher and Christine Palmer Mary Pluth Palmquist Dr. Anita M. Pampusch Zhenyue Pan John and Elizabeth Park Grace Parker Most Rev. Richard E. Pates Pam and Dan Patnode Mark L. Patzloff and Ruth E. Jakobsen Patzloff Beverly and Dennis Paul Cecilia Paulus

Ed and Dolores Pavek Robert C. and Renee Pearson Benjamin and Kathleen Pease Edward A. Pease Michael and Therese Peck David and Mary Jo Pedersen Ann and Gary Pederson Philip T. Peichel Bernard and Judith Pekarek R. Ted and Lorraine Peller Jerry C. Peltier Alice Pena Sharon Pennock Michael and Ann Percuoco Kevin W. and June Perrizo Mark J. Perrone Stuart Perry and Lissa Staples Heather J. Stefanek Peters Lorelet G. Peters Rose Marie Peters Douglas and Anne Petersen Charlotte L. Peterson Harleen Peterson Laurel Peterson Patricia M. Peterson Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Peterson Kathleen Petheo Lorne and Judi Petkau Roger Petrich Dale and Charles Petrishe Joseph J. Petroski Robert and Ann Petrzelka Jon Petters and Colleen Hollinger Joyce and Thomas Pettinger Chet and Janice Pettite Dr. COL James A. and Gay Pfaff Ronald D. and Marie Pfannenstein Rev. Bernard A. Pfau Maryann Pflipsen William Phelps and Sayre Weaver-Phelps Daniel and Katherine Philbin James Phillips Thomas L. Piazza Emy E. and Marie Picard Linda M. Pick Thomas W. Pickrell Donald A. Picmann Arnold Picon Thomas Piekarczyk and Carol Graczyk Roger B. Pieper Diane and Mike Pierce Douglas Pierzina Paul D. Pieschel Yvette R. Piggush Janice Pikal James Pike Edwin J. Pinheiro James and Ellen Pinkowski Dr. John D. Pirsch

Virginia M. Pitra Barbara Plachecki James and Barbara Platten Kenneth J. Plein Michelle A. Plombon Rev. Jeremy J. Ploof Patricia E. Podesta Mark G. and Julia M. Poepping Charles and Janice Pohlman Gavin J. and Becca Poindexter Norman Polasek James and Verle Polglase Edward F. and Susan Poniewaz James E. Pontius Richard J. and Sandra Pope Carol Johnson Porter Betty Porwoll Barbara T. Post B. Neal Poteet John A. Powell Rebecca and John Powell Charles W. and Jana Preble David C. Prem Steven Prihoda Tom Primmer Cynthia A. Prindle Kathleen A. Prokopec Frederick and Patricia Prom James F. and Mary Prosser Duane M. Pufpaff George and Binu Punnoose David and Marian Quale Jack and Alice Quesnell Dan and Marta Quinn Joanne L. and Leonard Rabatin Hon. Frank L. and Margaret Racek Emil and Beverly Radaich Suzanne and Garry Raddohl Dean and Ellen Rademacher Paul and Jill Radzicki Rev. Raymond M. Rafferty David and Carol Rajdl Marvin C. and Phyllis Rakotz Mark A. Kathleen J. Ramion M. Cristina Perez Ramos Robert M. and Sarah Ramus Hon. J. K. Randall Magdaline A. Randolph Michael and Carol Rangitsch David Rask Claudette Rasmussen Mary Rasmusson Rita Rassier Donald H. and Martha Rasure Thomas and Deborah Ratelle Mona Rath and Douglas Magney Jeanne S. Rathsack Joe A. Rausch Keenan and Denise Raverty Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund Sherry Reames

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Bernadette Ann Reardon Terry and Michael Reasoner Robert and Mona Reddick Steve Redding and Michelle LaFrance James A. and Patricia Redmond David Reed and Shari Borgen Patricia and Gregory Reese Timothy W. and Jennifer Regan Pierre N. and Judith Regnier Elenora Reichert Victoria Eckrich Reid and Tom Reid Gary and Pamela Reierson John P. and Pamela Reilly Robert Reilly and Judith Heinz Dr. Bernard and Dawn Reimer Thomas and Denise Reinig Mary and Harry Reischl LaDonna Reisdorf Jon L. Reissner and Ann Ferreira Reissner Sandy Reiter Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc. Michael and Elizabeth Renier Laura Renker Joe Rennie J. M. Resberg Denise Reuter Elizabeth Reuter Richard and Elisabeth Revoir Leanna G. Rexford Gerard F. Delos Reyes John and Marge Reynolds Wendy Rheaume Joane Rhoda Mark and Jane Rhodes Dr. Royal Rhodes Allen C. and Colleen Richardson

Giving when you can is generosity.

Giving when you can’t is sacrifice.

J. R. Rim

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Joseph and Gail Rinderknecht Todd and Agnes Ring Lloyd Ringrose Paul L. and Linda Ringsmuth Carolyn Rinker Russick Margaret M. Riordan Virginia Riser Matthew and Angie Rissler Karen M. Ristau Kevin M. Rittenhouse Mary A. and Ronald Ritter Laura C. Roberts William and Carolyn Robichaux Benjamin J. Robinson Raymond J. and Roseannamary Robinson Steve and Mary Robinson Jan Robitscher David Rocchio and Michele Houston William Roche Jeri Rockett and John Hershey Charlotte A. Roeber Geraldine Roebuck Joan V. Roeder John R. and Mary Roeder Kathleen Roehl Charles E. Roemer Denise Roemer Timothy Rogalla J. Barbara Rogan S. Mary Christine Rogers Thomas and Mary Rohr Douglas A. and Michelle Roise Rev. Robert J. Rokusek Sara B. Ronnevik Dr. Brian E. and Nancy Rooney Jean Roozendaal Dr. Christopher G. Rose Lexi Rose Gerald A. and Gaye Rosekrans Michael and Julia Roskos Jerry and Lois Rothstein Yvette and Morell Rover Dr. David and Betsy Rowekamp Benjamin P. and Maureen Roy Jean A. Royer Dr. C. M. and Angela Rubald Delores Rubald Allan J. and Mary Rudolph Laurel Rudolph-Kniech and James Kniech Ann M. and John Ruff Constance A. Ruhr William and Ann Rullis Cheryl Running Jackie Ruppert Rev. James D. Russell Virginia M. Russell David and Eileen Rutten Mrs. Agnes Ryan James and Charlotte Ryan John and Jeanette Ryan Kenneth and Kathleen Ryan

Thomas R. Ryan James P. and Carol+ Ryczek Steven and Cynthia Saboe Ronald J. and Barbara Saffert Jerry and Melissa Sais Barbara Sajna Mark and Mary Saladin Sam and Cecilia Salas Don Saliers Gerald and Lorraine Sande James and Cheryl Sanders Joseph F. and Takako Sandkamp Virgil and Joan Sandkamp Christopher Santer David J. and Joyce Sauer John and Margie Sauer Richard and Laurel Sauer Timothy and Mary Sauerer Richard and Sharon Savageau Edward and Sheila Scanlan Gene Scapanski Juleen and Ray Scegura Callan M. Schackor Jeffrey and Nichole Schaefer Robert and Irene Schaefer Scott and Kathleen Schaefers Betty Schaeppi James E. Schaffhausen Leonard and Mary Scharmach Michael P. and Laura K. Schenk Mark and Heather Scherer Mrs. William H. Schermerhorn Katherine Scheuer Belita Schindler Leona Schleper Otilla M. Schley James and Sharon Schlick Michael A. Schlosser William and Patty Schmeling Peter T. and Mary Schmelzer William and Mary Schmelzer David H. and Ruth Schmidt John A. and Margaret Schmidt Philip and Debbie Schmiesing James W. Schmitt Kenneth and Sharon Schmitt Dale and Mary Schmitz Fritz and Carol Schmitz Barbara G. Schneider Claude C. Schneider Gerald and Therese Schneider James and Carol Schneider Norbert R. Schneider Stephen J. and Anne Schneider William P. and Donna+ Schneider Paul and Connie Schnepf Dana and Ellen Schnobrich Brendon Schoenberg Christine R. Scholl Peter A. Schommer Terry and Lynn Schones Ronald and Marcia Schorn Jackie and Wendell Schott Nancy Schreyer

Barbara Schroeder Helen Schroeder Norma T. Schroeder Diane Schroepfer Laurence and Helen D. Schroepfer James and Cheryl Schubert Ric and Denise Schuett S. Dolores Schuh, C.H.M. Diane Schulte Verna. Schultingkemper Jamie L. Schultz Lawrence M. Schultz Anthony Schulzetenberg Eugenia Schulzetenberg Richard and Monica Schulzetenberg Amie T. Schumacher Don and Kitty Schumacher Mary Jane and Robert Schutzius Geraldine Schwab Patrick S. and Christine Schwab Henry and Alma Schwalbenberg William and Maureen Schwartz Donald F. and Catherine Schwarz Lorraine Schwarzrock Dr. and Mrs. Robert C. Schwegler Joan Schwelling Gregory and Mary Lynn Schwietz Mike and Christine Scillo Thomas and Maryellen Scott Meredith Seaborn Diane Seaman Thomas and Barbara Seeger Kelly C. Seelbach Edward J. Seelen Frank and Delores Seidl William Seidl Patricia Seitz Mary E. Sellner James and Leslie Senden Jo Senta Dr. Elizabeth Serow John J. and Frances F. Serpe Joseph and Sandra Sery Rev. Michael F. Sexton David G. and Julie Seykora Michael and Debra Seykora Amb. Robert and Ellen Shafer Deacon Clarence J. Shallbetter Margaret L. Shannon Doug and Marilyn Sharp Ray Shaw Dora J. Shay Judith and Leslie Sheehan John Shelde Maximillian T. and K. Dawn Shemesh Rev. Edward J. Sherman Wayne Sherwood Ted Shide

Drs. Jun H. Shin and Jinah Shin Rose M. Shober Frank and Shirley Shusta Fred and Shiela Shusterich Fred and Gladys Sickler James and Deborah Sieben Rev. Martin J. Siebenaler Danette Siertle Howard L. and Rhoda Siewert William and Diane Simmons Joseph Simms Jane and Robert Simon S. Rene M. Simonelic, O.S.F. Dorothy S. Simonet John D. Sipe Sisters of Saint Benedict Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Ann Skoglund Jana and John Skradski Joseph Skudlarek Thomas J. and Mary Miller Skudlarek Glenn and Nancy Skuta Family Barbara Slade and Erik J. Stolhanske John P. Slauson Jeanne L. Slocombe Richard D. and Bonnie Slomkowski Timothy and Sheraldine Smit Brian J. Smith George and Katherine Smith Gerard P. Smith James Smith Kevin Smith and Mary Ruff Kevin J. Smith Michael G. Smith and Alissa White Smith Dr. Michael K. and Joleen Smith Patricia L. Smith Paul L. Smith Rev. Timothy and Rita Smith Tom and Aimee Smith Henry and Barbara Smorynski David and Judith Smucker Morgan Soderberg Adam A. Solano Jr. Bruce and Gloria Soma Mary K. Sommers Stefan and Lori Songstad Delores J. Soroe Gregory Soukup and Mary Jo Carr Rick and Sue Sovada Anne Sovik Joseph and Betty Spano Jacqueline and James Sparks Robert and Karen Spies Jason and Stacy Spillum

Michael and Jennifer Spindler-Krage Matt Spooner Martin J. Stachnik JoAnn F. and Donald J. Stacken Leon G. and Beverly Stadtherr Tom and Tanya Stager Marlyce Stainbrook+ Scott K. and Renotta Stainbrook John and Alice Stalboerger Sharon K. Stanton James M. Stastny Therese A. Stawowy John and Laura Stedman St. Edward Catholic Church Roger Stegura Paul Steichen William and Mary Steinbicker Dr. Paul and Jane Steingraeber Family Joseph and Marsha Stencel Barbara Stender Kevin Sternal Dr. Charles and Louise Stevens Margaret Stich Virginia Stillwell Chuck and Bobbi Stoetzel Marcie Stokman Peggy Stokman Brett T. Stolzenberg and Christina Anderson Glenn and Gail Stout Rev. Deborah J. Stowers Mary Ann and Bruce St. Peter Joel and Diane Strangis Jeannette Streefland Jeff and Leanne Stremcha Jon Stuart Mark and Nancy Studer Walter and Marilyn Suchy Diane Sufka Sung W. and Sun Suh Thanongsak Sukwiwat and Suteera Sermsakul Raed Sulaiman and Christiane Maroun Daniel P. Sullivan Eugene P. and Irene Sullivan Jerome and Kathy Sullivan Joan B. and Philip Sullivan John and Patty Sullivan Mary Sullivan Mary Kay Sullivan William Sullivan Annetta M. Sutton Jerry and Terri Swan Judy Swanberg David F. Swanson Joseph and Loretta Swanson Kathryn A. and Timothy Swanson Paul and Marie Swanson Randall and Amy Swanson Patrick D. and Ann J. Sweeney

Paul Middlestaedt

Thomas G. and Allison Sweetman Gregory T. and Jeanette Swenson Janet Swenson Dr. Richard N. Sykes Robert and Barbara Sykora Ron and Sheila Szymankowski John and Karen Tackaberry Charles Taffe Stanley and Gloria Takahashi Maryanne G. Talamayan John Tancabel and Jean Stepan Julie and Mike Tangredi Mary Tansill Ronald J. and Mary Ann Tarro Susan Tasa Doris Tauscher Rev. Youannes F. Tawfik Rev. David K. Taylor Jeanette Saddler Taylor John D. Taylor and Leigh W. Dillard Joe and Phyllis Tegels Carol Tembreull James L. Tembrock Joseph R. and Judith Tembrock Paul and Susan Tembrock William J. and Kathleen Tembrock William J. Temmler Marjean Terrell Rev. William Tesch Richard P. and Karen Teske Texas Instruments Foundation Richard R. and Susan Theis Carol Theisen Douglas J. Theisen Dr. Hubert H. Theissen Mark and Charlene Thelen Oswald L. Thelen Thomas and Eleanor Thelen

Kaye and George+ Thibault Colleen Thielman+ Elizabeth A. Thimmesh Ronald V. and Susan Thimmesh Robert and Shannon Thissen John M. Thomas Joseph Thomas Corey C. Thompson Margaret Thomson Edith Thoreson Joseph and Mary Ann Thorp Jananne T. Threlkeld Donn and Patricia Thurk Ying Tiam Amy and Derek Timperley Mark F. Tinguely Karl J. Tise Marilyn J. Tisserand William M. Toenies Marilyn R. and Victor Toepfer James and Elaine Tohal J. Tomassilli Patrick and Dee Tomczik Ronald A. Tomczik Mary Alice Tomporowski C. Joseph and Cindy Tonsing Urban A. Torborg Irene Toth Ralph Tourino Lorrayne Traut Herb and Linda Trenz Theodore and Debra Trenzeluk Rose C. Trigg Felix E. Tristani Dr. Garrett and Erin Trobec Bernard M. and Pam Troje Angelina L. Trujillo, M.D. Deborah Truscott Tom Trykowski Sharon H. Tupa Keith and Kristine Tussing Richard L. and Joan Tvedten

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Patrick S. and Elizabeth Twohy Chris and Darla Twomey Mark and Judy Twomey John F. Tyler Rev. Reginald J. Udouj, O.S.B. Jack E. and and Susan Uhas Lyle and Marilyn Uhlenkamp John M. Uldrich Lorrie Ulfers Robert and Renee Ullo Dr. David A. and Marie Uppgaard Gregory A. and Loretta Utecht Jerry L. Utt II Eugene G. Valek Valparaiso University Dr. Jon R. and Karen van der Hagen Beverly and Gregory Vander Vorste

Visitation Monastery of Minneapolis James A. and Kathleen Vivaldelli Geraldine M. Voelkel Mil Voelker Thomas R. and Mary Jo Vogel David and Judith Volk William Volk and Sandra Smith Volk John and Vicki Volker John J. Vondrell Bennett J. Voorhies Leo and Margaret Vos Michael and Susan Vos James R. and Anita+ Vossen Diane L. Voth Brian E. and JoAnn Vucinovich W. K. Kellogg Foundation Roger A. and Roxanne Wacek

Chris and Geralyn Warfield Michael D. and Robin Warner Anne Warwick Phyllis Warzecha Gregory L. and Terry Waters Elaine and James Watson Lancelot Watson Robert G. Webber Bernard and Barbara Weber Daniel and Linda Weber Dr. Edward R. and Becky Weber Gene M. and Judy Weber Genevieve Weber Joann Weber Nancy Weber Paul and Julie Weber Phyllis Weber Robert M. and Carol Weber Mark A. and Lisa Wegleitner

Paul Middlestaedt

Daniel D. and Jeanne Van Overbeke Johan Van Parys Rudy Van Puymbroeck Dr. James E. and Perha Varley Linda Varvel Steven Vatch Jr. Marty Vebelun Mark R. Verdun Robert A. Verkuilen Joyce Vesel Dr. Ronald R. and Judith Vessey Yolanda Vickman Betty V. Villa Gary and Lola Villwock David P. and Di Ann Vinck Richard A. and Linda Virden Gloria and Gerry Visel

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John D. and Grace Wachlarowicz Kurt P. and Cynthia Wachtler Alice Wagner John L. Wagner Michael J. and Aimee Wagner Dr. Richard J. and Mary Wagner Rose M. Wagner Drs. William Wagner and Jean Schott-Wagner Katherine Wallace Steven P. Walter Paul D. Walters Gary R. Walz Leo J. Walz Wilbert M. and Karen Walz Elizabeth and Francis Wang Joanne Ward Thomas and Patricia Ward

LTC Thomas C. and Maria

Wegleitner Leslie D. and Mary S. Weigelt Glen and Penny Weihrauch John and Sue Weitz John P. and Mary Weitzel Douglas and Mary Beth Weldon Timothy M. and Rosemarie Weldon Andy and Nicole Welle Paul G. Welvang Kenneth and Kathleen Wernimont Frederick S. and Cynthia West Clifford and Gloria Wexler Greg and Ellen Weyandt Helen Whalen Paulina Whang

James and L. Y. Floria Whitcomb Paul and Maureen White Robert L. Wicker Catherine Wideman Ron G. and Katia Wieber Wayne and Carol Wieber Mark and Beverly Wiechman Cathy S. and Alvin Wieme Michael Wiktorek Matthew J. Wilch Jerome and Martha Wilczyk Douglas A. and Eugenia Wilhelmi Raymond R. Will Thomas C. Will Kenneth and Winifred Willcox Bede D. and Vonnie Willenbring Cynthia Williams James and Ann Williams L. Lawrence Williams Leonardo M. Williams and Catherine Fisher Amy Wilson Christian Wilson Larry and Marlys Wilson Ranae Wilson William A. Wimmer Robert A. and Dolores Wind Bernetta Windschitl Joyce Windsperger-Rubio and Luis Rubio-Losada James F. Wineski and Maisie Kashka Sylvia Winkelman Leander Winkels Karl and Lucy Winter James L. and Carole I. Wirz Michael S. and Jill Witham Richard and Erin Wojciechowski Sana J. Wolden Dr. Hugo M. and Agnes Wolf Raymond J. Wolf Aaron J. and Marian Wolff James and Judith Wollmering Craig Wood Demyrias H. Woodard Justin K. Woodruff Albert A. and Kathleen Woodward David and Mary Woodward Thom and Jeanne Woodward Jason T. Woolwine Mark R. Woychick John E. and Mary Wren Joshua R. Wright Scott and Betty Wright Robert Wrubel Robert C. and Anne M. Wuolu Rebecca Wurdak Katherine Wyers John Yager Gene and Carolyn Yankel Kristy J. Yao Marilynn K. Yaremchuk

Eileen N. Yeates Randall Yoder Thomas Yogan Alan and Marilyn Youel James W. Young Roger C. Young and Joy Beaulieu Young Thomas A. and Roxanne Young Kathleen Yung Rosemary Yurczyk Edward M. and Mary Zabinski Mary Zabinski Paul J. Zatek Jacqueline A. Zbaracki S. Andrea Zbiegien, S.F.C.C. Robert and Dolores Zeni Wayne R. and Phyllis Zenk Joshua J. Zenner Edward F. Zganjar Frank R. and Kathleen Ziegler Robert and Joan Ziegler Rita Zilka Randall and Shirley Zipf Betty Zollner Pauline Zorza Nicholas L. Zurn

Abbey Volunteer Circle Between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020 the following abbey volunteers provided service for the monastery.

Joseph Bauer Kelly Beniek Bob Brinkman John and Mitzi Brinkman Raj Chaphalkar Kriston Clarke Denny Douma Justin Doyle Ed and Bernadette Dunn Rose Dwyer Kevin and Betsy Egan Marie Eli Paul Elwell Tina Elwell Earl Felling Anne Gall Jennifer Galovich Chuck and Mary Griffith Amy Grinsteiner

John Grobe Eileen Haeg Anne Hanson Pat Haws Michael Hemmesch Jim Hofmann Denis Hynes Ron Joki Patricia Jones Matthew Kiminski Kyle Lamb Peter Langseth Rodney Langseth Rungthip “Nune� Langseth Matthew Ludick Lauren Lynch Barb Lyndgaard KC and Anne Marrin Petrina Mehr David Meoska Tom Meoska Burdette Miller-Lehn Bill Mock Donald Morovits Dave Morreim

Luke Morrey Bill Muldoon Greg Murray Gary Neu Steven Pederson Karleen Petters Chris Porter Anne Przybilla Jake Reading Matt Reichert Dorothy Roske Michael Roske Michael Ross Sharon Schmitt Kay Sheils Robert and Jane Simon Martin Stachnik Ben Trnka Mark and Judy Twomey Margaret Vos Kay Wagner Rosemary Walsberg Bailey Walter Ziegler Harold Zipp

Benedictine Volunteer Corps Circle

Between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020 the following Benedictine Volunteers served in sites in the U.S. and around the world.

Dominik Bame Jack Barsody Keegan Conrad Darragh Cutter Lucas Friederichs Ryan Gall Michael Garber James Gathje Samuel Gerdts Peter Griggs Kirk Harrington Timothy Havenaar Grant Hesse Noah Hynes-Marquette Jaheer Jones Jacob Kirsch Justin Kletschka Kevin Lamb John Miles Luke Olley Joshua Olson Taylor Pickthorn Muqkadeen Poole Michael Reilly Jacob Ruhland Aaron Schwietz David Stokman Richard Swanson

Robin Pierzina, O.S.B.

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Cloister Light The daily routine within the cloister is enlivened by the antics of the “characters” of the community. Here are stories from the Monastic Mischief file.

From the Oral Tradition

Fathers Godfrey Diekmann and Virgil O’Neill were involved in a car accident, during which they and their eyeglasses went flying.

Though bruised and shaken up, they were not seriously hurt and returned to the monastery. In the following days, however, they began to wonder if they hadn’t actually sustained more serious injuries. Neither could see clearly.

Reading was difficult. Doctors were unable to identify any internal injuries. After several days, they discovered—to their great embarrassment—that each was wearing the other’s glasses! As word spread throughout the community about what had happened, Godfrey scolded his confrere: “Damn it, Virgil, I told you not to tell anyone!”

One of the brethren did not have a good morning. Nothing at the monastery breakfast table seemed to be right. He expressed his irritation to the refectorian: “The orange juice is warm.” Moments later, he added a second complaint: “The sausage is cold.” Provoked, the refectorian retorted: “Well, stick it in your orange juice!”

Abbey Chronicle Paul Fitt

Dear Confreres: With the appropriate approval of Father Abbot, I will be undergoing corrective foot surgery on Wednesday. The operation is necessary to correct some deformities in the toes of my left foot. After the operation I will enjoy several days of being pampered and fussed over in the abbey health center. Although I may be under the influence of pain medication, I can assure you that I will be keeping a detailed list of all visitors.

In order to encourage more creative story-telling among various “humorists” in the community, I want to forewarn them that the following story lines have already been exhausted: My condition is in no way athletically connected.

My condition is not the result of a frozen turkey carcass or ham bone falling out of the freezer onto my foot.

My surgery does not replace any well-deserved 25th anniversary or sabbatical travel.

Br. Paul D. Fitt, OSB

Liturgical Press Since 1926 the monks of Saint John’s Abbey have been spreading the Good News through the publications of Liturgical Press.

Note written on a returned brochure: Return to sender. He’s still deceased.

Note attached to a returned tape recording: Make a copy of this, and return it to LP for a refund.

Refund policy If the world ends before your subscription expires, we’ll double your money back.

Evaluation of a manuscript submitted for publication: You will sell two copies of this book. One to the author and one to his mother.

Will you be joining us for lunch today, Brother?

No. There are too many people in this community who annoy me.

Brother Gabriel

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth . . . but not the mineral rights.

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Father John

History: the interminable succession of one damn thing after another.

Father Alexander

I may have my faults, but being wrong is not one of them.

Father Rudolph COVID-19

Thou shalt wear a mask in public.

Hygenesis 3:16

O

n 7 April, Tuesday of Holy Week, with temperatures rising to 69°F, Lake Sagatagan opened for the season—at the highest water level in living memory. Easter alleluias were tempered by snow flurries, temps in the 30s, and windchill in the 20s. The faithful of southern Minnesota recorded as much as ten inches of snow on their Easter bonnets. Temps in the upper 70s and a dew point of 60 marked Memorial Day and the beginning of summer. June was hot and humid but had little precipitation. Abundant rain in July saved the corn crop, and temps in the 80s and 90s with tropical dew points (as high as 76) helped it to thrive. August weather proved more conducive to human comfort.

If Minnesota’s summer clime was something of a rollercoaster of conditions, life during a pandemic has been oppressively stable with stay-at-home orders; bans on public worship services, funerals, and weddings; and closings or cancellations of public events. Our defining Benedictine values are under siege.

Community and hospitality are restricted, with limitations on welcoming guests to liturgies or even to the campus; and the closure of our guesthouse until the summer of 2021. Facemasks and social distancing have given a new look and form to our prayer services and meals. Liturgies have been simplified to the essentials, with many tactile elements modified or eliminated.

Walter Kieffer, O.S.B.

Waltz of the flowers. The flowering, showering crabapples delighted the abbey’s Cistercian guests (l to r): Brothers Andrew Tong Ho, Emmanuel Le Ba Nguyen, and Benedict Vuong Tran.

The sign of peace is expressed with a nod, bow, or mannered wave. Hymns have been abbreviated or even recited, resulting in shorter liturgies—though some homilists still drone on! In the monastic dining room, the savory aroma of the day’s menu has been supplanted by the scent of hand sanitizer.

Confreres strive to support and encourage one another, balancing the need for social distancing with our fraternal bonds. COVID-19 is no friend of community, but the monks persevere.

March 2020 • Though shortened by the cor0navirus, the 2020 maple syrup season was still sweet. Between 28 February and 20 March, volunteers, visitors, and arboretum

Robin Pierzina, O.S.B.

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staff collected 7,935 gallons of sap, producing 218 gallons of syrup.

May 2020 • The Academy of Parish Clergy honored Warren Carter and the Mark volume in the Wisdom Commentary series published by Liturgical Press with its 2020 Reference Book of the Year.

• The Fourth Sunday of Easter was made all the more joyous, thanks to abbey musicians Fathers Robert Koopmann and Anthony Ruff and Brother Jacob Berns, who resurrected the longlost Sunday Evening Week IV prayer service by our late confrere Father Jerome Coller. For senior members, the liturgy was a waltz down memory lane; for a younger generation, a celebratory introduction to Saint John’s musical patrimony. A week later, Father Jerome’s Week I service was sung. Alleluia!

• Because of travel restrictions during the pandemic, confreres offered retreat conferences— scheduled months ago—via video conferencing: Father John Meoska for Monastery of St. Gertrude, Cottonwood, Idaho; and Abbot John Klassen for Benet Hill Monastery, Colorado Springs. Father Michael Peterson offered remote retreats for Benedictine sisters in South Dakota: Mother of God Monastery, Watertown; and St. Martin Monastery, Rapid City; as well as for oblates of Saint John’s.

Father Michael Patella offered a

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The sound of the horn, pipe, flute, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and all the other musical instruments

Daniel 3:4

Confreres brightened the community’s spirits during the pandemic with gifts of music. Brother Jacob Berns offered a short organ recital, Prelude and Fugue in C Major by J. S. Bach, on 21 March. A week later, Fathers Robert Koopmann (piano) and Michael Peterson (Native American flute) entertained the brethren. Father Michael performed his own composition, “Purple Martins Flying above Lake Sagatagan.”

Father Bob concluded with Prelude in G-sharp Minor (Sergei Rachmaninoff) and “Blue Skies” (Irving Berlin).

On 9 May Brother Jacob celebrated the completion of the HoltkampPasi organ with a performance of a four-movement setting of A Solis Ortus by Nicolas de Grigny. For the first movement, he used only the original Holtkamp pipes. For each successive movement, he incorporated more Pasi ranks, culminating with a show of his trumpets for the grand finale. In June Jacob presented Fantasy in C by Johann Pachelbel. That recital was concluded by Father Michael Peterson and Brother David Allen (drum) with another of Michael’s works, “Maples Freeing Their Seeds.”

Martin Pasi

Master organ builder Mr. Martin Pasi installs the last pipe, the tiny high C en chamade, to complete the Holtkamp-Pasi organ in the abbey and university church on 7 May. These reed stops are mounted horizontally rather than vertically to project a more powerful sound. Following the Sunday Eucharist on 10 May, Abbot John Klassen and the monastic community extended a blessing on Mr. Pasi and on Mr. KC Marrin, who built the new console.

hybrid of in-person (with physical distancing) and broadcasting for Saint Benedict’s Monastery, Saint Joseph, Minnesota.

July 2020 • The Catholic Press Association of the U.S. and Canada (CPA) annually recognizes what it judges to be the outstanding work of Catholic publishers, authors, and book editors. For 2020, the CPA honored Liturgical Press with twenty-six book awards, including nine for first place. The work of Ms. Monica Bokinskie was recognized with four awards for catalog design.

• The annual observance of the feast of Saint Benedict on 11 July was notably subdued. All jubilee celebrations of monastic profession (70 years: Father Wilfred Theisen; 60 years: Brothers Luke Dowal and Mark Kelly and Fathers Roger Klassen, Blane Wasnie, Michael Naughton, Roman Paur, and J. P. Earls; 50 years: Brother Richard Oliver; and 25 years: Brother PaulVincent Niebauer and Father Edward Vebelun) were postponed until 2021—when, it is hoped, COVID-19 will no longer be a threat to confreres and guests alike.

August 2020 • The greater Saint John’s community expressed its gratitude to Mr. Gary Jorgensen who retired on 7 August after a 34-year career at Saint John’s. As a youngster and master electrician, Gary joined the physical plant staff in

Robin Pierzina, O.S.B.

The renovation of the Breuer wing of the monastery continues apace, with most of the interior walls being taken down. Metal stud framing of rooms and new heating/ cooling and plumbing systems are being installed.

Robin Pierzina, O.S.B.

House finches (Haemorhous mexicanus) nested on a window ledge of the quadrangle courtyard. Five of the six eggs hatched, and the youngsters were the cutest show in town before flying the nest.

1986. (It was his background in theater, however, that best prepared him for the drama of Collegeville life!) Gary would later become electric shop foreman, then building and facilities manager, and finally, director of physical plant in December 2014.

Throughout his tenure, Gary

exercised good stewardship and thoughtful leadership. Congratulations and best wishes, Gary!

Mr. Russ Klein, a descendant of the Collegeville Klein Clan and the abbey’s neighbor to the south, now oversees the physical plant operations. Welcome, Russ!

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Fifty Years Ago Excerpted from Confrere, newsletter of Saint John’s Abbey: 1 July 1970

• Father Emeric Lawrence has been chosen to receive a Distinguished Service Award at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa. Father Emeric has the distinction (?) of having had the recently crowned Miss Iowa in his Catholic Life and Thought class two years ago when he taught at Luther College.

• Brother Luke Dowal has begun work at the Saint Cloud Hospital and is happy to have this opportunity for practice for his future work as nurse here at the abbey.

• The new maple syrup shack is being built on the southeast corner of the prep field near the KSJR radio tower.

3 August 1970 • The board of the FM radio station KSJR / KSJN / KCCM [Minnesota Public Radio] met at Saint John’s in June with representatives of Concordia College, Moorhead. Final plans were reviewed for the opening this fall of KCCM in the FargoMoorhead area. This station will be the third step in the Minnesota Educational Radio network and will be a joint ecumenical undertaking of Saint John’s and Concordia, the first such cooperative effort in the United States.

Monks in the Kitchen • The newly formed Grounds Committee has been doing some improvements of the campus.

Each building now has an elegant sign in front of it, which eases the job of directing visitors to various places. Now we don’t have to say, “Walk past two old brick buildings, till you come to a white one, then turn left and go to the second concrete one!”

• The Institute for Mental Health workshop is beginning its third week for this summer.

During last week’s session, Ann Landers was here to offer advice to the participants.

3 September 1970

• [Father James Wilde, liturgy committee member, writes:] One project is the attempt to bring out the characteristics and nature of certain selected psalms for the Divine Office [including redividing] given psalms into verses and strophes suitable for alternating recitation between acolytes and choirs. Since certain psalms have passages com-

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• [Father Kilian McDonnell writes:] I have been received most graciously by the Pentecostals here in South Africa. I met at one time with more than 100 pastors from various Pentecostal denominations. I have visited white and black churches in Johannesburg. Now I am in the bush where I am visiting Zulu and Indian Churches. This has been a very fruitful time of research.

Green Chili Sauce Ælred Senna, O.S.B.

I

have a fondness for New Mexico—the beauty of its desert landscape, its art and pottery, and of course, the food!

During the peak of the green chile season—officially August and September, but it can stretch into October—one can find chile roasters in parking lots far and wide. These contraptions resemble oversized bingo-ball cages with fire burning beneath them. The chiles are loaded into the cage that rotates above the flames until their skins are blistered and black.

It is easy to roast chiles at home, even without a chile roaster.

Start with the freshest chiles available—their stems should look fresh, not dry and shriveled.

Use Anaheim chiles (long and light green), poblanos (wider and very dark green), or any fresh chile—or mix and match, as I do! Coat the peppers very lightly with oil before roasting.

Place the chiles on a baking sheet lined with foil. Roast under high heat in the broiler, turning them a time or two to blister the skin over the whole pepper. Place the roasted chiles in a plastic bag to sweat as they cool. When cool, remove the blistered skin. Open the chiles, remove the seeds, then chop or use in large sheets, depending on the recipe.

Salsa de Chile Verde (Green Chili Sauce) • • • • • • • •

6–8 medium-sized green chiles, roasted, peeled, and seeded 2–4 roasted Serrano chiles (optional, for extra heat) 15–20 medium-sized tomatillos ¾ cup diced onion 1 small clove garlic 1 bunch of cilantro roughly chopped, to taste Salt to taste Olive oil

Roast the chiles as described earlier.

Prepare the tomatillos: While chiles are roasting, remove papery husks from the tomatillos. Wash the tomatillos to remove the stickiness. Place them in a medium-sized saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil on the stove, boiling about 3–5 minutes, until tomatillos are soft—not too long, or the tomatillos will burst.

Make the sauce: Place chiles, tomatillos, onion, garlic, and cilantro in a blender or food processor, and puree. Add salt to taste, and blend to combine. Taste for salt.

Heat a tablespoon or so of olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan.

When hot, add sauce and cook until the onions have softened.

Add about 1 cup of water and cook until heated through.

Sauce may be refrigerated in a sealed container for a week to ten days or preserved longer by canning in jars.

Photos: Ælred Senna, O.S.B.

Michael Barone in the MPR music library

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posed for individuals and passages composed for various group arrangements, this type of redivision was adopted to bring out with greater clarity the inherent structure and meaning, making them more understandable in group prayer.

Another aspect of this project is that since certain psalms are by their nature simply meant to be sung, Father Bryan Dority [Henry Bryan Beaumont Hays] and other musicians of our abbey are composing appropriate musical settings.

University archives

Yes, it’s a little extra work! But it is well worth the effort. Try it!

Brother Ælred Senna, O.S.B., is associate editor of Give Us This Day and a faculty resident at Saint John’s University.

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In Memoriam

Fear Not

Please join the monastic community in prayerful remembrance of our deceased family members and friends:

Timothy Backous, O.S.B.

Mary Antonette Ahles, O.S.F. Gregory Martin Bechtold Nicholas S. Briese Thomas R. “Tom” Bromen S. Shawn Carruth, O.S.B. Richard J. “Rich” Chalmers Robert A. “Bob” Connors Elizabeth Clare “Betty” Cooney Margie Dierkhising Eleanor Suhling Dillard Roy Gary Donabauer David Forest Engleson Patricia Rose Forster Margaret Galbraith Allen Gise, Obl.S.B. Leo F. Glatzel George Michael Gottfried Charles W. “Chuck” Greene Edmund (Nathaniel) “Ed” Grundmayer Elizabeth “Beth” Hadley Thomas (Marcellus) Handorgan Adrian Harmening, O.S.B. Christine G. Hemmesch Frances Ann Heymans Jane E. Hickethier Mark (Matthew) “Doc” Holiday Lenora Hollas John (Bryce) Howard Jonathan Hunt, O.S.B. Wilfred J. “Willie” Jelinski Joel Kelly, O.S.B.

W

Cornelius “Tony” Kilroy, O.P. Ursula Klie George (Rene) Kluzak Kathleen Kovacs Rev. Nicholas J. Landsberger Richard J. “Rich” LeBlanc Adrian F. Ledermann Bernard J. Lee, S.M. Dorothea Lenz, O.S.B. Melissa Lewandowski Rosemary C. Maher Michael E. Maiers Michael Anthony Mancuso Eugene Marshall, O.S.B. George Matsuoka, O.S.B. Kathleen “Kay” McGuire Terry McGuire Renee Miller S. Duane Moes, O.S.B. Kathy Ann Murphy Fra Carl B. Noelke Abbot Alcuin Nyirenda, O.S.B. Joann W. O’Connell Sarah O’Malley, O.S.B. John Paur Stephen Pavkovich, Obl.S.B. Jean E. Petersen Marijean “Jeanie” Martin Pruett Sheila Rausch, O.S.B. Patricia Flynn Raverty Rembert Reilly, O.S.B. Harold “Harry” Reischl Jerome J. “Jerry” Reischl

Bernice Reitmeier Cleone Josephine Renner, O.S.F. Wilfred “Manny” Ressemann Jocile Robinson, O.S.B. Harold J. “Hal” Roske Tom Ruprecht Mary Cecilia Schmitt, O.S.F. Mary Jean Schneider Terrence “Terry” Schubert Mary Catherine Shambour, O.S.B. Wilbert “Willie” Sherod Mary Jane Slaney, O.S.B. Daniel Jerome Stang, O.S.C. Deacon Gregory John Steele Margaret M. “Maggie” Steffen Carol Ruth McGee Stiles Rev. Harold Richard “Hal” Stockert Jim Taylor JoAnne Theisen Simeon Thole, O.S.B. Carleen F. Tiefenthaler Abbot Ricardo Tintos-Delgado, O.S.B. Hubert Adalbert Vavrik, O.S.B. Robert Velten, O.S.B. Paul A. Verret Rev. Arthur A. Vogel Dianna Weber S. Thomas Welder, O.S.B. Joseph Francis Wethington John Wimmer Carol Wolla, Obl.S.B. Betty Ann Zollner

Precious in the eyes of the LORD is the death of God’s faithful ones.

Psalm 116:15 A Monk’s Chronicle Father Eric Hollas, O.S.B., offers spiritual insights and glimpses into the life of the Benedictine community at Saint John’s Abbey in a weekly blog, A Monk’s Chronicle. Visit his blog at: monkschronicle.wordpress.com.

Father Don’s Daily Reflection Father Don Talafous, O.S.B., prepares daily reflections on Scripture and living the life of a Christian that are available on the abbey’s website at: saintjohnsabbey.org/reflection/.

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e grow up with fear. Beginning at the time of our earliest memories and continuing as we age, fear often grips our psyches. Sometimes its irrational quality wanes a bit, but the emotion is still there, from fear of monsters in the closet to viruses on the doorknob. Human beings know fear instinctively, emotionally, and intellectually.

Saint Benedict must have understood this dark aspect of human nature when he wrote in his Rule: “Having climbed all these steps of humility, therefore, the monk will presently come to that perfect love of God which casts out fear” (RB 7.67; 1 John 4:18). His hope was that good deeds and a virtuous lifestyle would not be motivated by the fear of punishment or hell, but rather, by goodness itself, by love of God. This is a noble achievement, because how we live our lives should not be a constant test of morality, but rather an organic, authentic movement of the Holy Spirit inspiring us.

Beyond the call to the individual to cast out fear, the community is also challenged to let go of fear and live productive and holy lives. Groups can entertain irrational fears just as easily as individuals. The abbot and other leaders must work tirelessly to reassure the community that fear need not be the reason for our decisions or actions. This is not an easy task. Fear is something we sense in others rather quickly, and it can be as contagious as the flu. When those around us are huddled in fear, we are likely to follow their lead. That is why it is important to remind one another that fear is, as Jesus told his disciples, useless (Mark 5:36).

Prayer leads to trust in God.

Fear is wasted emotion and debilitating to communal growth. Fear often gives way to an imaginative scenario that seems so real in our minds that it shuts down the power of the present. The Gospels confirm that nothing the disciples feared, from storms to the crucifixion itself, was worth the emotional toll it took on them. Living in fear is not life-giving for anyone.

Prayer that leads us to trust in God is a sure remedy, inviting us to leave the irrational behind and, instead, look toward the only thing that is trustworthy: a God who loves us.

It is not death that we should fear, but we should fear never beginning to live.

Marcus Aurelius

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Abbey Banner Magazine Saint John’s Abbey P.O. Box 2015 do not reduce in size (size or place between and greater) Collegeville, MN100%56321-2015 U.S.A. use alternative logo for smaller size www.saintjohnsabbey.org

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Abbey Banner The rustle of leaves Stirs memories of childhood The sound of voices Of gleeful children kicking The leaves high into the air.

A golden rain came With the swift autumn wind; Each puff brought a swirl, A whirling shower spreading A carpet of gingko leaves.

Each leaf was painted In dazzling golden yellow, Gleaming in the sun, A last tribute to autumn— God the artist held the brush.

Neal Henry Lawrence, O.S.B.

Fall 2020 Volume 20, Number 2

4 This Issue Robin Pierzina, O.S.B.

22 Pandemic Blessings Abbot Gregory Polan, O.S.B.

5 Uncomfortable Truths Abbot John Klassen, O.S.B.

24 Meet a Monk: Michael Kwatera Timothy Backous, O.S.B.

6 Our Benedictine Values Jon McGee Eugene McAllister Peter Dwyer 7 From Crucifixion to Glory Nickolas Kleespie, O.S.B. 8 Benedictine Volunteer Corps Timothy Backous, O.S.B. 10 Casa San Benito Efraín Rosado, O.S.B. 12 Holy Disagreement: Jerome and Augustine Martin F. Connell 14 Cavity Nesting Project John Geissler

Father Neal Henry Lawrence, O.S.B. (1908–2004), was a monk of Saint John’s Abbey who served at Saint Anselm’s Priory in Tokyo and Trinity Benedictine Monastery in Fujimi for nearly forty years.

17 Rule of Benedict: Care for the Sick Eric Hollas, O.S.B. 18 Lives of the Benedictine Saints: Edmund the Martyr Richard Oliver, O.S.B. 20 COVID-19 and Collegeville Aaron Raverty, O.S.B.

26 Obituary: Joel Kelly 27 Obituary: Simeon Thole 28 Christ Pantocrator 30 Donor Honor Roll Geoffrey Fecht, O.S.B. 48 Cloister Light 49 Abbey Chronicle Robin Pierzina, O.S.B. 52 Fifty Years Ago 53 Monks in the Kitchen: Green Chili Sauce Ælred Senna, O.S.B. 54 In Memoriam 55 Fear Not Timothy Backous, O.S.B. 56 Poetry Neal Henry Lawrence, O.S.B.