Fr. Raymond Woydziak (1883-1958)

Adolph Woydziak came from Dubuque, Kan., at the age of 13 in 1896 to begin studies at St. Benedict’s High School and College. Ill health made it necessary that he miss a year. As a student he worked in the bookbindery and was responsible for the gilding of book edges.  He received the habit from Father Alphonse Filian, novice master, and made his profession to Abbot Innocent Wolf as Frater Raymond in 1906. As a Frater and college student he perfected in the College with Father Lambert Burton. He was ordained June 28, 1912. 

Until 1921 Raymond taught commercial courses at the college having taken training in St. Louis and Kansas City. When he left St. Benedict’s College he undertook a series of pastoral assignments at St. Benedict’s, Atchison, Ss. Peter and Paul, Seneca, St. Benedict’s Kansas City, KS, and later at St. Louis, Good Intent.  He retuned to the abbey in 1940 where he doctored his diabetes.  Father Raymond never lost his interest in the community and was a popular confessor to many on Friday Nights.  On entering his room it was not uncommon to find several red bandanas drying on the radiator. He loved his snuff, as did many of the early monks.

The famous photographer, Gordon Parks for the famous Life magazine article, “A Cloistered Life,” December 1953, pictured Father Raymond kneeling at his bed.  

A young monk once confided in him that he just did not understand the Church. Father Raymond said, “Keep on with what you are doing.”