Fr. Mark Merwick (1894-1951)

Father Mark Merwick passed away March 6, 1951.

Father Mark, the eldest of the Merwick brothers in our community—Father Jerome, of happy memory being the other—was born in Atchison but the family later moved to Kansas City, Mo., later returning to Atchison.  He was educated at the famous St. Louis College (St. Benedict’s Grade School) and later at St. Benedict’s High School and St. Benedict’s College.  After his sophomore year of college he entered the novitiate.  Father Mark made vows July 15, 1915, finished his studies though already holding responsibilities in the College.  He was ordained June 27, 1921.  At one point before entering the monastery, Father Mark considered being a professional baseball player.

Though primarily trained as a Music teacher and, indeed, was head of that department in the College, he became an English professor and took appropriate courses during summer school.  When Father Claude Enslein left Maur Hill, mark was appointed principal and served there until 1941 when he was appointed pastor of Sacred Heart, Atchison.  Later he was appointed as pastor at St. John’s, Burlington, Iowa, and helped Father Bonaventure Schwinn found a Catholic Student Center at The University of Iowa.  He also taught at St. Ambrose College, Davenport, Iowa, and at St. Bede College, Peru, Ill.  On the death of Prior Gerard Heinz he was appointed Prior of the Abbey in 1946.  He served in that capacity until he fell victim to a cerebral hemorrhage while conducting a retreat at St. Gregory’s Abbey, Shawnee, Okla.

He recuperated at St. Margaret’s Hospital, Kansas City, Kan., and died there after being injured in an automobile accident while on his way back to the abbey.  By all accounts one of the very many fine monks in our community.