Br. Eugene Barry (1838-1909)

Brother Eugene was born in Coolroe, County Cork, Ireland, December 31, 1838.  He entered St. Benedict’s Abbey in 1879 at age 41 and made final vows January 1, 1885.

Father Peter Beckman in Kansas Monks has this to say about Brother Eugene:  “Since all the brothers’ common prayers were in German, Irish brothers Eugene and Lawrence (see November 27) must have suffered patiently or otherwise. Brother Eugene was an early citizen of Atchison, had bought a couple of lots, and became a citizen of the United States in 1861.  Before entering the community he taught the boys at St. Benedict’s parochial school and wrote a beautiful hand in English and Gaelic (As Mr. Eugene Barry he kept books for the Symns Grocer Co.).  He was authentically active and kept note on mathematical problems, the weather, the Boer War and gave pokeberry ink a fair trial.  He kept commonplace books of quotations, predominantly scriptural, but mercifully interspersed with such notes as, ‘Monks and Lay Brothers, we assert, are one body with regard to the future life, but while on earth they are distinct, very Disenfranchised so to speak.’  And, ‘I hope his soul enjoys eternal glory, for here on earth I was his purgatory.’  He recorded also some notable victories:  ‘During the year 1906 I did not see a single bed-bug in the students’ dormitory.’”

As Mr. Eugene Barry, later Brother Eugene, he apparently made a wooden sundial placed on a walk to an early entrance to the college.  He is said to have made no fuss about his work; but he left his imprint on whatever he did.

Brother Eugene Barry passed away November 29, 1909.