Abbot Brendan Downey (1918-1980)

Abbot Brendan Downey passed away on September 4, 1980.

The multi-talented, highly respected, and much loved fifth Abbot of the community died of a heart attack while visiting his family.  He probably died in his sleep.  His brother, Father James Downey was also a member of the community. 

Abbot Brendan seemed destined to work with words and that he did with skill and artistry.  With a bachelor’s degree from Oxford University in language and literature he taught English at St. Benedict’s College.  Later Oxford conferred the master’s on him.  He was the first president of St. Benedict’s College from 1958-1961.  He was the Catholic Chaplain and Director of the St. Lawrence Catholic Student Center, Lawrence, Kan., from 1961-1970.  He also taught at the Kansas University School of Religion, 1962 to 1973.  That year he was assigned to St. Ann’s, Effingham, Kan., and was elected abbot while there. 

The following is taken from his Abbey Death Notice.  “A man of deep Christian faith and hopefulness, Abbot Brendan was witty, musical, and good humored.  He loved to sing popular Irish Ballads, recite verse and he entertained listeners easily.  His columns of editorial opinion in the periodical publications Raven Review and Kansas Monks won great respect.  He had many friends… We monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey cherish his memory and continue our prayers for him.”

One Irish ballad he loved to be asked to sing was “Dear old Donegal.”  It has within it a list of Irish names and he never missed a one.  At Abbot’s meetings he, Hilary Dreaper, St. Bernard’s Abbey, and Jerome Koval, St. Andrew’s Abbey, were said to put on quite a performance.

True to the example of his patron, St. Brendan, he kept a small sailboat and used it fearlessly.  In fact, on a trip to Minnesota to visit family, the boat capsized leaving he and his passengers to spend a night exposed to the elements while clinging to the capsized boat, luckily drifting toward the shore.