Fr. Bonaventure Schwinn (1891-1969)
There were two Schwinns who were members of St. Benedict’s Abbey. One was Father Leonard who later was appointed abbot of the now defunct Holy Cross Abbey in Canon City, Colo., after having been administrator for a time.
The second was Father Bonaventure. Both hailed from Wellington, Kan., the later being born August 29, 1891. Father Bonaventure did his high school and early college education at St. Benedict’s but graduated from St. Vincent College, Latrobe, Pa., in 1912. In 1914 and 1921 he received masters and doctors degrees from there. He had done his novitiate there in 1910 and made vows as a member of St. Benedict’s Abbey, July 2 1910. He was ordained priest May 26, 1916.
Father Bonaventure taught theology and scripture in the Abbey School of Theology where he was also dean, was the sub-prior of the abbey and master of clerics. He was also a trusted advisory to Abbot Martin Veth. Father Bonaventure was vice-president of Mount St. Scholastica College for a time, and held a Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Iowa as well. He, with the help of Father Mark Merwick, started a catholic student center there. Later he was assistant chaplain to the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. He also taught English at St. Mary College, Leavenworth. The Benedictine Sisters in Colorado Springs and St. Scholastica’s, Chicago, had him as chaplain as well.
Father Bonaventure was a scholar and as the first editor of the American Benedictine Review, inaugurated it with the first issue in March 1950. He continued as editor for several years. Father Timothy Fry later joined the list of editors. Father Bonaventure gave the ABR a scholarly character of a wide academic vision. Father Terence Kardong, the present editor, has given it a more Benedictine focus in keeping with the times.
Bonaventure was an excellent retreat master and was in great demand. He spoke very, very, very slowly. When he told a story he kept his audience on the edge of their seats craning their necks. He once mentioned that a leak in the room above caused water to drip… drip… drip… on a new breviary of Msgr. Francis Kelly in Leavenworth. One waited for each drip to hit the leather cover while attempting to control laughter all the while.
