Welcome to the web sight. I hope that you will enjoy what you find here and find it informative as well.

January 2008

Dear Friends,

A happy New Year! And may 2008 be a year of peace in your lives, in your families and in your communities.

The Christmas season quickly came to a close. But with such an early Easter we will soon be in Lent. The liturgical seasons pass quicker every year!

We had a very good Christmas at the abbey. As usual the Abbey church was filled with standing room only at the midnight mass. Then at the mass during the day the church was almost filled once again. It is great to have so many faithful with us. It is especially inspiring when we can look out in the congregation and see so many alumni who have returned during college breaks to celebrate mass with the monastic community.

In past letters I have spoken of the new men who have entered our community. I think it would be a good idea this time to focus on our dear brothers who have been called to eternity.

From September 2006 until September 2007 four of our brothers have died. Bro. Placid died in September 2006. Fr. Martin went to eternity in February of 2007 and Fr. Luke several months later. Then in August Fr. Matthias died after a long illness.

Fr. Matthias had been one of the founders of the Colegio-Seminario and Priorato in Guatemala. Father actually started working part time in Guatemala in 1959. So he had been the member of our community who had spent the most time in Central America. With the passing of Fr. Matthias there are no more founders in Guatemala. They have all died. With the exception of Fr. John who is the prior and comes from the abbey, all the members of the priory community are Guatemalans. Fr. Matthias was placed to rest in the priory cemetery right next to another founder Fr. Patrick Greene. And so in death as in life they are right next to one another.

Bro. Placid was the original chef for the monastic community. He spent many years working in parishes, Newman Centers and prisons in South Dakota.

Fr. Luke had been the prior of the abbey for the longest period of time. He had suffered from ill health for many years before his death. He had also worked in the academy as teacher, commandant and dorm prefect.

Fr. Martin had worked in the academy as a dorm prefect and teacher before becoming a fulltime chaplain in the Navy/Marines.

We miss all of our departed brothers. However, as St. Benedict has said we are all racing to our final reward. These good brothers of ours have won the race. And now they await the rest of us in eternity.

But of course it is always a petition in our prayers that the good Lord continue to send good men to our community. He has always watched over the Marmion Abbey community.

We are appreciative as well of your interest in us and your prayers for us. God bless and peace.

Abbot Vincent