Father Augustine entered our community from New Prague, Minn., and pronounced his final vows August 27, 1911. He was a tuberculosis patient in the Sisters of Charity’s Glockner Sanatorium in Colorado Springs, Colo., at the time of his death. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Matz of Denver October 21, 1911.

In a July 2000 issue of Home Pages, Brother John Kaighin mentions that there are several examples of Father Augustine’s correspondence on file. The following is a priceless example. The quote is taken from a card to Father Lambert Burton March 28, 1912.

“While you good monks are getting up at 3:45 and spending your time and strength in the classroom, in choir and before a pile musty ‘scriptions’ and exercise books, besides fasting six days a week, yours truly is living the life of luxury, getting up at 7:00, eating meat even on Fridays and having holiday every day. Saw my doctor yesterday. He examined me thoroughly and thinks my chest is doing extremely well. I am feeling good and saying Mass everyday. For that I thank God. Kindly give my regards to all.”

Blaise Koumly, born in France, in 1849 immigrated to the United States, entered St. Vincent College, Latrobe, Pa., became a scholastic and was given the name Pirmine or Pirmin. He was professed in 1862. He believed that there was a real, true Ghost Story alive and well at St. Vincent, and not wanting to live with that specter transferred to St. Benedict’s Abbey in 1864. His first night there, one of the monks told him, “Frater, the thing you need most in these parts of the world is horsemanship. Here is a pony, get on and follow me.” The two went to Deer Creek, north of the monastery. This was his first horseback ride. His next ride was the following day 60 miles to Nemaha County, Kan. He later referred to that day as the “never-soon-to-be-forgotten day in his life.”

Father Simeon was a marvel of composure, “laid back” under the most extreme of circumstances. For example, he was the Administrator of Camp St. Maur a number of years and could satisfy the most extreme demands of screaming nine to 12 year olds who did not know what he said but were totally satisfied with his answer. His motto, “Nothing is too good for a camper at Camp St. Maur,” was definitely ambiguous. Such a disposition no doubt served him well as a German prisoner of war in World War II.

On one occasion Father Simeon, not a Fulton Sheen of a homilist, was explaining to the campers at an outdoor Mass the “ineffability” of the Medal of St. Benedict. It seemed that they found an airplane flying overhead much more ineffable. All eyes followed that plane.

For the clerics who were involved in every aspect of his care, Father Claude was a model and an experience. He was a model in that he accepted the suffering that came into his life as a result of an unfortunate auto accident while he was pastor at Purcell, Kan., in an uncomplaining way. He was an experience in that his uniqueness as a native-born German, and a dedicated, unselfish monk was the source of endless stories.

A native of Vermont, Father Damian entered the Abbey in 1897 from his home in Hanover, Kan. He was ordained in 1903, and in 1910 began a career as Director of St. Benedict’s College that lasted until 1922. He later served on parishes in Burlington, Iowa, and as pastor at Sts. Peter and Paul, Seneca, Kan., and retired from there in 1941.

Father Damian was well known for his oratory abilities and as a dramatist. During World War I he spent many hours speaking on behalf of the war effort and Liberty Bond drives. He died of a “lingering illness that confined him to St. Margaret’s Hospital, Kansas City, KS, since 1941.

The son of a Jewish Rabbi, Benjamin Rosenfeld was born in Austria in 1866. He studied to be a rabbi and served three years in that ministry. The First Mass of the son of his Catholic housekeeper moved him to join the Catholic Church. After being confirmed in the chapel of the bishop of Ratisbon, Germany, he traveled to the United States, entered St. Benedict’s Abbey, and offered his First Mass Christmas Day at St. Peter’s, Council Bluffs, Iowa.

“Hi neighbor!” uttered in a strong bass voice, was a frequent greeting of Father Anthony. He was known to refer to one of the monks as “Purcell boy.” He was principal of Maur Hill twice, but because of an asthmatic condition, often missed the opening weeks of the school year. He also served in the parishes of the abbey, most notably in Burlington, Iowa. In 1953 he was teacher of Latin at St. Benedict’s College, Subprior, and Master of Brothers. During his tenure the Abbey entered into an agreement with Wilson and Co. to raise chickens according to a special process. His helper was the newly professed Brother Francis Mutter, O.S.B.

While he was at St. Mary’s a new rectory was built. Above the porch was set the letters I.O.G.D. to stand for the Benedictine motto, “In all things may God be glorified,” in Latin, “In omnibus glorificetur Deus.” Local wags interpreted the letters to mean, “I owe Gregory a dollar!”

Father Jerome Aloysius Faller was a cleric who died shortly after entering the community. In The Abbey News (Vol 3, #6) there is an article on Father Lawrence Theis with the following statement, “One of the young monks of St. Benedict’s, Frater Aloysius (sic) Faller, a native of Chicago, died while Frater Lawrence was in Chicago. He had become ill in Atchison and had gone home to die. Fr. Aloysius’ grave is in the community cemetery.”

When he returned to the abbey on retirement he entered completely into the life. A great conversationalist, he loved to tell stories. Sad to say, many community stories went to the grave with him.

One is remembered. He once asked the former Father Celestine Bache, O.S.B., what was the secret to his preaching. He had the reputation of being a very good one. Celestine replied, “When I mount the stairs to the pulpit I say to God, ‘I’m ready, Lord. Turn on the spigot!’”

Father Winfrid, sometimes spelled Winfried, was born in Germany in 1851. He came to the United States and to St. Vincent College, Westmoreland, Penn., where “he took a professorship for six years.” Upon his resignation he came to St. Benedict’s. Father Winfrid was a teacher to St. Benedict’s. Father Winfrid was a teacher at the College in philosophy and theology. In addition he was an avid and expert collector of botanical and etymological specimens. He became pastor of St. Mary’s Parish, Des Moines, Iowa, and after 28 years of service died there of a heart ailment aggravated by the “intense heat,” as his obituary puts it.

Brother Barnabas was born in Ireland and entered St. Benedict’s Abbey in 1894. On his death, he was the oldest brother in the community. When St. Benedict’s had its own water system, Brother Barnabas was the chief engineer. He was sacristan and was caretaker of the gymnasium, which upon completion, was one of the finest facilities west of the Mississippi River.

Father Bernard was an interesting addition to our community with his frequent comments about many things. He usually walked twice a day and gathered a variety of objects many of which landed in the mailbox of Brother Joseph Ryan. Some of his former football players traveled to Atchison to attend the funeral.

Father Bernard was born in Compton, Calif., attended Catholic schools there and later attended St. John’s Prep in Collegeville, Minn. He later, as a monk of Holy Cross Abbey, continued his education at St. John’s University, Collegeville and at St. Benedict’s College. He professed vows as a member of Holy Cross Aug. 31, 1939, did his theology there, and was ordained to the priesthood May 17, 1944. He transferred his vow of stability to St. Benedict’s Abbey March 21, 2006.

Father Ambrose was known for his phenomenal memory and was often tested by various confreres to validate its authenticity. It was authentic. When he was stationed at St. Benedict’s Parish in Kansas City, he would sometimes, armed with a shopping bag containing a change of clothes and gift for the Maur Hill Monks, he would take the train to Atchison, visit friends in Atchison, sleep at Maur Hill and return by rail the next day. In his last years, his sight was failing and yet he bore that inconvenience admirably.

He was much loved for his being “down to earth”. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and was known to keep at least on Brittany Spaniel around. Blue Gills were known to have fled for cover when he approached a farm pond.

Father Vincent was an avid reader. He belonged to the History Book Club. He read what he bought, and many of those books are now in the Benedictine College Library. On a table in the front room of the rectory at St. Bede, Kelly, were small, red-bound volumes of the works of Charles Dickens. He is reputed to have read The Pickwick Papers at least ten times. The people at St. Bede still speak fondly of him.

Father Daniel was a “son of the ‘auld sod’”. He loved all things Irish and relished his relatives in Milwaukee and Chicago. His frequent visits to Dingle kept him in touch with his relatives there. His quiet but efficient ways endeared him to his conferees who sang around his deathbed with his encouragement. He was a “clean desk” man who often on a given Sunday afternoon began writing the homily for the following Sunday.

Father Paschal was well known for his trusty pipe, good memory, love of bridge, generous weekend parish service and quaint terms used to describe instruments and theories used in teaching Physics. For many years he was the secretary of the Abbey Chapter. His handwriting was very legible.

Father Paschal was a monk of St. Benedict’s Abbey for 66 years. He spent most of those years teaching in the Physics Department of St. Benedict’s College and was a department chair for several years. Paschal was a monk of wide practical knowledge. He served as the construction overseer for the Abbey during the construction of the Abbey Church, St. Augustine (Turner) Hall and Memorial (St. Martin’s) Hall.

Father Terence, spelled with one “r”, as he reminded folks now and then, served at St. Benedict’s College and later in various parishes. Father Terence was never at a loss for an anecdote to share with confreres at ABC (After Breakfast Club) or at Haustus. Incidents in his life took on a dramatic quality in the telling whether it be the time he got involved in a court trial as a result of witnessing and auto accident or telling of an incident on one of the many cruises he took while serving the ship as chaplain. He freely told about his own foibles. Father Terence, who had an abiding interest in submarines, was one of the graduates of Lillis High School in Kansas City, Mo., who joined our community.

Brother Gregory came to the Abbey in middle age having worked as an electrical contractor. He first entered as an internal oblate but later made vows as a Benedictine brother in 1953.

As a member of the monastic community, Gregory served the Abbey, St. Benedict’s College, and later, Benedictine College. He shared his talent for repairing machines of all kinds and was seen daily dashing around campus on his three-wheel Cushman motor scooter.

Father Edgar was appointed to work at the National Catholic Welfare Conference in 1931. “On loan” there for 25 years, Father Edgar was the Director of Rural Life Bureau and the Family Life Bureau. He authored many books and pamphlets on rural and family life as well.