ST. PETER'S ABBE' nEWSLETTER

Vol. 9, No.1 Muenster, Sask. Summer, 1985

Brothers Alex Mullie and David Gauthier completed their novitiate and professed temporaryvows on July 11.

ments awaited us. Thanks to the many whodedicate so much energy to foster life!

The parish of St. George at Naicam cele­brated its diamond jubilee on July 12. I offeredthe Mass of thanksgiving, and later enjoyed thedinner.

Abbot Jerome's activitiesThe annual convention of the Saskatchewan

Knights of Columbus was held in Saskatoon,April 27 - 28. I attend these annual conventionsto show my appreciation to the Knights for thework they do for the Church in our province.Each year the Brazil fund of the Abbacy bene­fits from their donation to the missions.

The Diocesan CWL convention was at Cud­worth, May 1. I attended and offered the con­vention Mass, and enjoyed the banquet thatfollowed. This year the provincial conventionwas at Swift Current June 3 and I went therealso.

On June 5 the school children and staff ofSt. Augustine and St. Dominic schools in Hum­boldt and someparents of the children came toSt. Augustine's Church to join in the eucharisticcelebration to mark my 25th anniversary asabbot-ordinary. An outdoor lunch followed onthe grounds of St. Augustine School. The staffand children enjoyed a free afternoon, courtesyof the Catholic Board of Education. I want tothank the organizers of the celebration and thechildren for their contribution to the educationof a priesthood student, and for the personal giftI received.

On the evening of the same day as above,I was happy to offer Mass in St. BonifaceChurch, and afterwards to bless the cairn out­side erected thereto mark the site of the firstchurch built in St. Peter's Colony. Thanks to St. Abbot Jerome Weber.Michael's Parish which maintains this church,and also the cemetery.

Father Jean Papen of Prince Albert cele­brated his 25th anniversary of ordination onJune 15 in St. Michael's Church in PrinceAlbert. I was there to concelebrate with him.He gave the community retreat here severalyears ago.

I was present for the farewell to two well­known teachers in Humboldt, Walter Germann, The area around the historic site of Batocheprincipal of St. Augustine School for many became part of Parks Canada on July 14. I wasyears, and Sister Colette Kaller, OSU, of St. there for the cermony during which the historicDominic School. church, of St. Anthony of Padua, and the adja-

During "Celebrate Life week" I joined the cent rectory were transferrred to Canada to be­walkers near Muenster, and pushed the car- come part of its heritage. A new church dedi­riage for several miles into the village, to the cated to the same saint was built by the govern­community centre, where delightful refresh- ment of Canada for the members of the parish.

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Received as novices on July 10 are Brothers Gerald Moran of Medicine Hat, Alta., Nicodemus(Frank) van Amelsvoort of Weiland, Ont., and Ken Crawford of Prince George, B.C.

Monks make temporary vowsTwo monks completed their year of noviti­

ate and professed three-year temporary vowsduring the eucharistic celebration on the feastof St. Benedict, July 11.

Brother David Noel Gauthier was born inPeace River, Alta., and lived there until hisfamily moved to Calgary in 1968.He graduatedfrom St. Francis High School, Calgary, in 1974and received a diploma in chemical engineer-

ST. PETER'S ABBEY NEWSLETTER

Published by the Benedictine community of St.Peter's Abbey, Muenster, Sask. four times a year:January, April, July and October.

Editor: Damian Yaskowich, OSB.Regular contributors: Abbot Jerome Weber, OSB, Albert Ruetz,OSB, Peter Novecosky, OSB.Photographer: Damian Yaskowich, OSB.

ing technology from the Southern Alberta In­stitute of Technology (SAlT) in 1978.

Mter high school Brother David worked forCanada Safeway as a stock clerk. Following hisgraduation from SAlT he worked for ProcorLtd., sulfur services division, and later forDome Petroleum Ltd. as a petroleum technolo­gist.

Brother David is presently work co-ordi­nator, works in the abbey gardens, and helpswith repair and maintenance of windows in theMichael Building.

He lists weightlifting and drawing as hishobbies. This fall Brother David plans to takea year of University classes at St. Peter'sCollege.

Brother Alexander Roland (Alex) Mulliewas born and raised at Arborfield. Followinghis graduation from Arborfield High School, heattended the University of Saskatchewan,

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Saskatoon for two years, studying in fine artand French.

Brother Alex has a broad field of work ex­perience. He worked as laborer at the U. of S.physical plant, has done gardening, tar roofing,sorting tomatoes, janitor and dishwashing atFriendship Inn, Saskatoon. He was involved involunteer programs for the Saskatchewan Men­tal Health Assoc. iri Saskatoon prior to joiningSt. Peter's.

Brother Alex enjoys manual labor , worksin the abbey garden, and plans to do janitorwork for the college. This summer he hashelped reshingle roofs, and worked with theconcrete crew during parking lot renovations.

Brother Alex lists his hobbies as cycling,and woodcut print making. He is a great naturelover and enjoys studying and identifyingplants and birds which he sees on his regularwalks.

Sister Maria Doepker, OSU, on sabbatical fromour mission team in Maceio since last faU, filledin at the Abbacy Centre assisting Sister CelineGraf, OSU, while Sister Yvonne Billesberger,OSU, visited Europe and the Holy Land.

Our summer guest, Father Paul Fachet, OMI,Edmonton, is seen trimming the hedge whichencloses our flower garden.

25th anniversary

Abbot Jerome Weber will be honored on theoccasion of the 25th anniversary of his blessingas abbot and abbot-ordinary of St. Peter's Ab­bey and Abbacy Nullius, Monday, Aug. 5.

A eucharistic celebration of thanksgiving isplanned for 2:30 p.m. at st. Peter's CollegeGymnasium, Muenster. Everyone is invited toattend this Eucharist.

At 5:30 p.m. a banquet will he held at theHumboldt Uniplex, Humboldt. Banquet ticketshave been made available to special invitedguests, and representatives from all parishesin the abbacy.

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Staying at the abbey from July 2 - Sept. 10are two Coptic Catholic seminarians from Cario, Egypt,Nadi Gayed and Talaat Ayaad. Nadi has completed five years of study and Talaat has com­pleted three.

The guestmaster's reportSincemy last report, the guest quarters has annual monastic retreat. Whenthe monks left,

experienced its usual round of activities. We the rooms were available for people fromhave hosted a variety of groups as well as in- across the province who attended Humboldt'sdividuals. annual Roundup held over the Father's Day

At the end of April, a Womenin Education weekend. An Evangelical Orthodox Churchgroup held a supper and evening workshop on group from Saskatoon used our facilities thestress here. The next weekenda group ofyouth following week for a weekend retreat.from Yorkton came for a weekend conference DuringJuly the hallways are noisywith theand retreat. sound of typewriters as the Saskatchewan

The Catholic deaf community held their Writers' Guild moved in July 13 for a three­secondannual retreat the first weekendof May. week stay. This year we had one of the largestSister Doreen Smith ofSaskatoon co-ordinated groups ever, with 13people bookedin the firstthe weekend. The next week the community week. There were fewer the following twocolleges from across the province had person- weeks. The group also included some artistsnel here for a counsellingworkshop.The native and photographers.welfare administrators had more sessions dur- Avariety of individuals have also come foring May and June. retreats, live-ins, a day of rest or for a visit.

The Unitarian Fellowship of Saskatoon We've also had to accommodate three weddingused our facilities for a retreat the second (overflow) guests the past twomonths. Amongweekend ofJune. Their director was Rev. Con- the individuals here for a longer stay is Gilbertrad Dippel. The followingweek the rooms were Fast of Waterloo, Ont., who is working in theused by our ownmonks whocame home for the library for a month.

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Frank and Catherine Thurmeier, Saskatoon, were enroled as oblate candidates and ElizabethSaretsky, Humboldt, made her final oblation at the Oblate Day, July 13. With these oblates isFather Albert Ruetz, oblate director.

Oblate dayOblate Day on July 13 began with a con­

celebrated mass with Abbot Jerome Weber asprincipal concelebrant and homilist. Middayprayer followed, then the oblates joined thecommunity for dinner. Oblates were then freeto tour the grounds, enjoy each other's com­pany, read or rest.

At 3:00 o'clock Father Albert Ruetz gavea paper on "Praying the Psalms" with discus­sion following on individual experiences withthe psalms. Following a coffee break, the dis­cussion centered on the first section of theOblate Guidelines: "Oblates strive to be loyaland active members of Christ and his church."

After praying Vespers with the communi­ty, all the Oblates renewed their oblation. Thespirit of the outdoor supper which followed wassomewhat dampened by a cool breeze and athreatening rain. Many Oblates still remained Gerry O'Hara, Edmonton, made his final obla­to share Vigil Prayers with the monks at 7: 30. tion as an oblate at St. Peter's Abbey on June 25.

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Over 90 lay people and religious attended two workshops given to train lay presiders for theabbacy, June 5 and 19. Here Father Leo Hinz leads one of the sessions.

Abbey chronicleOn May 12, Brothers Conrad Abs, Francis

Fortney and Basil Schaan attended the RielRebellion Centenary celebrations at Batoche.

650 baby chicks arrived in early May andwere placed under the care of postulant Frankvan Amelsvoort. The chicks are housed in theformer dairy barn which has been vacant sinceour dairy herd was sold in 1983.It has been afew years since the abbey raised its own eatingchickens although we have always maintaineda laying flock of hens.

Our first outdoor supper of this season washeld on May 19.

Father Maurice Weber attended the Mayvocation awareness day at Queen's House,Saskatoon on May 21.

Conference of Spiritual Directors held at Prov­idence Centre.

Father Andrew Britz attended the annualCanadian Church Press convention in Toronto,May 28 - June 4.

Brother William Thurmeier returned fromhis year of studies on June 2. He plans to con­tinue his studies in theology this fall at San'Anselmo, the international Benedictine Collegein Rome.

Brother Basil Schaan attended the firstmass of Ted Bezaire at St. Joseph's Church,Saskatoon, on June 15.Ted was ordained to thepriesthood by Bishop James Mahoney at St.Paul's Cathedral the previous day.

Father Norbert Schwinghammer spentFather Albert Ruetz spent the weekend of June 17 - 23 at Bruno looking after the parish

May 18 in Edmonton attending the Western while Father Roman Schneider was away.7

On June 19, Brother Stanley Vindevogelwas notified by Catholic Family Service, Saska­toon, that he had been awarded the Sister AnnO'Brien scholarship of $1000.Brother Stanleyplans to work on his masters degree in SocialWork at the University of British Columbia,Vancouver, this fall.

The first day of summer, June 21, will beremembered as the day we received a severefrost which killed many of our tomatoes, beans,and other garden plants.

Father Bernard Stauber, with our missionteam in Brazil, returned home for a three­month visit, on June 27.

Brother Basil Schaan attended the ordina­tion to the priesthood of Ted Jerome on June29at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Prince Albert byBishop Blaise Morand.

Father Rudolph Novecosky helped hissister, Sister Rita Ann Novecosky, OSU,celebrate the 25th anniversary of her religiousprofession in Bruno, June 30.

Father Werner Renneberg returned to theabbey July 9 - 17to make an eight-day directedretreat.

Brother Basil Schaan left for st. Bede Abbey,Peru, Ill. to attend the Summer Monastic Insti­tute for Junior Monks.

Father Rudolph Novecosky continues towork on the abbey stamp collection. He wel­comes stamps, especially the Canadian com­merative stamps: 32¢, 37¢, 64¢, and the newpostal rate stamps, 34¢, 39¢, and 68¢.

BEM workshop

Our summer theology study week will beheld from Monday, Aug. 12 - Friday, Aug. 16.

The week will be conducted by Father Ber­nard de Margerie, director of the EcumenicalCentre, Saskatoon. It will feature a thoroughstudy of the BEM (Baptism, Eucharist andMinistry) document.

An outdoor supper on July 1honored Father Bernard Stauber (center) who returned from Brazilfor a three-month visit on June 27.

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Rennovations are presently underway to convert the square between the Michael building andSeverin Hall from a parking lot to a rest area landscaped with lawn, trees and park benches.

AnniversariesDuring the summer theology study week,

Aug. 12 - 16, three anniversaries will be cele­brated: Father Francis Lohmer, 60th anniver­sary of ordination to the priesthood; FatherNorbert Schwinghammer, 50th anniversary ofordination to the priesthood; Father AndrewBritz, 25th anniversary of religious profession.

Deceased confreres

Father Dominic Patrick Eagan, 71, SaintMary's Abbey, Morristown, New Jersey, diedon April 5.

Father Anthony Cahill, 72, Belmont Abbey,Belmont, North Carolina, died on May 9.

Father Jeremy James Murphy, 77, St.John's Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota, died onJune 8.

Father Gerald Joseph Patnode, 49, St.John's Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota, died onJune 18.

Abbot Marion Balsavich of St. Bede Abbey,Peru, Illinois, conducted the communityretreat, June 10• 14.

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