Fr. Eric Deitchman (1934-1997)
Father Eric Deitchman passed away October 11, 1997.
Eric came to St. Benedict's as a camper at Camp St. Maur, stayed around summer after summer as a Senior camper and later, Junior Counselor, became one of the few actual winners of the Grand Sachem Award, the highest in the hierarchy of honors in the camp honor system.
Known as Jim Deitchman, he entered the community as a lay brother after graduation from Rockhurst High School, making first vows in 1954. As Brother Philip his mind was full of ideas and projects, of course showing some of this when on the Camp Staff. With the help of others including Brother Raymond Pfeifer, he rejuvenated the Abbey vineyards, added French varieties of purple and white grapes for table and Mass wine, made a sweet mead for Christmas pleasure that allowed confreres to “run the way of God’s commandments with expanded hearts.”
Fr. Eric cheerfully celebrating mass in brazil
Brother Philip, feeling that God was calling him to be a ordained member of the community became Frater Eric when he entered the clerical novitiate of the Abbey, went back to school and earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from St. Benedict’s College in 1959. He was ordained priest June 1, 1963, and then taught mathematics at Maur Hill Prep School, 1963-65. He volunteered for St. Joseph’s Priory, Mineiros, Goiás, Brazil.
Despite his genuine love, enthusiasm, and generosity, the transition from the United States to Brazil was not an easy step to take. His many ideas, at the first attempt to share them, defied being shared because of the language barrier. He mentioned to one monk that at one point after an embarrassing situation when he felt “put down” by a parishioner, he nearly returned to the United States. He was convinced to remain in Brazil.
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His death notice devotes three paragraphs to his life in Brazil. He was pastor of the “matriz,” the Mother Church and a large city parish for ten years. He was Prior of the community for nine years, and business manager as well. During that time he brought Marriage Encounter to the area, and agricultural experts from the University of Missouri who helped transform “chapadaõ” (shop-a-DOWN) plate-land into lush soybean fields and pastures for a thriving cattle industry. Father Eric taught in the Mineiros Public schools for 30 years. In 1995 the Catholic University of Goiás conferred on him Professor Benemerento (well deserving teacher degree) “in recog-nition of scientific, educational, and humanitarian work.” Father Eric was an honorary citizen of the State of Goiás.
While giving himself to all these projects Father Eric founded a cooperative in Mineiros to promote local agriculture, and he also might be called the founder of the Brazilian national park, The Parque das Emas – the Park of the Emus – famous on the circuit of ecological tourism parks around the world. In 1970 the Kansas Monks purchased 250 acres of land in Mineiros. With his previous knowledge in agriculture and having consulted with the State Agriculture Department Father Eric obtained Agricultural Lime that would allow the acidic soil to be corrected and future crops to flourish. According to Father Duane, those who passed by while the white lime was being thrown onto the soil said: “The Monks are crazy; they are throwing snow on the land here in Brazil.!” Father Eric’s role in transforming the agricultural life in Mineiros was monumental and has left a lasting impact on farming in that region of Brazil to this day.
Fr. eric (far left) promoted local agriculture in Mineiros, brazil
fr. eric celebrating mass in brazil
Father Eric was diagnosed with liver cancer, faced an operation in the United States, returned to Brazil, and maintained a high level of activity. During that time he even brought a group of people from Mineiros to the United States and to Atchison. The cancer later returned, and was treated in Brazil, but ultimately brought him to the God he served so well, faithfully, and courageously. He is buried in the Municipal Cemetery in Mineiros to await the final judgment among the people he loved.