He early on saw that there was a need for evangelization to Hispanics and subscribed to a pastoral/worship aid called “Buen Pastor.” He passed that on to one of the clerics who had taken Spanish at Maur Hill and who found that experience helpful later on as one of the founders of the Mineiros Priory, Brazil, in 1962.

Sebastian delighted in pointing out the relationship between the appearance of the yellow dandelion leaves and the Spanish for “Lion’s teeth” – “dentes leon.” He would then chuckle!

Paul Corey was born in Barre, Vt., of Lebanese extraction and entered the novitiate here as a lay brother taking the name of Augustine. He made his first vows December 8, 1952, and simple perpetual vows January 14, 1956. He served the community faithfully as one who took care of the refectory, as a painter and abbey custodian. He died unexpectedly at the abbey on November 8 and received the sacraments of the dying at the time of his seizure. He was a quiet and unobtrusive member of the community.

Father Lucien was from a small French community in Zurich, Kan. Two of his brothers became priests of the Salina Diocese and two sisters were members of the Sisters of St. Mercy, Omaha. Lucien was the uncle of Abbot Barnabas Senecal and of Father Gerard Senecal.

He was master of brothers twice and prefect of ecclesiastical students in the college Father Lucien was a most generous member of the community who always did what obedience asked but with his own particular mannerisms and flair for the dramatic. Even his casual greetings, celebration of the Eucharist or the simple smoking of a cigarette were not dull but enthusiastic events.

One of the many members of our community from St. Benedict’s Parish, Kansas City, Kan., Father Walter did his entire course of studies, from high school to theology, at St. Benedict’s. He was among the first class of novices in the new monastery in 1930 and made his first profession July 11, 1936. From then until 1944 he was an instructor at the College in math and speech. He later taught at Maur Hill High School. Simultaneous to these assignments he was assistant procurator, manager of the Abbey Student Press, and manager of the Raven Roost. In 1956 he became pastor of St. Benedict’s, Bendena, and in 1963 he was named pastor of St. Benedict’s Parish, Atchison, where he was assigned when he died rather suddenly.

Fr. Bruce served at Maur Hill Prep in many roles. He taught English, drama, biology, chemistry, French, and religion; was cafeteria manager for ten years; maintenance director for another ten; and chaplain for three more years. Additionally, Fr. Bruce traveled extensively to recruit boarding students for Maur Hill. He recalled often trips to Saudi Arabia where he would be smuggled from American compound to compound celebrating clandestine Masses. One Christmas he celebrated a total of 13 such Masses, six on Christmas Eve, and seven on Christmas day.

Father Edwin was plagued with failing eyesight but his vision was somewhat restored by an operation. He assisted Coadjutor Bishop Francis Johannes while the bishop was resident in Marysville, Kan. From 1930-36 he was hospital chaplain at Sabetha and in charge of the mission there. He was appointed chaplain of Mercy Hospital, Fort Scott, Kan., but with a recurrence of eye problems retired from there in 1941 and returned to the Abbey. Apparently he never lost his mental sharpness and what were termed “witticisms and practical philosophical epigrams that never failed to delight and amuse those who were near him.”

Abbot Ralph Koehler asked father Emeric to take upon himself the task of revision the books of the Opus Dei, the Divine Office, which were to be used daily by the monks. Father Emeric said, “yes,” to the request and began reading everything he could find on practice and theory. Finally he assembled a team to accomplish the work of revision. The team consisted of Fathers Joseph Guinotte, Blaine Schultz. Hugh Keefer, and Aaron Peters. They worked faithfully and diligently with the assistance of some other members of the community. The product turned out so very well and the volumes are used to this day.

Amid all this varied work Father Boniface found time to translate the Rule of St. Benedict that became very popular. This edition, published by the Abbey Student Press went through 13 printings. He was buried from St. Benedict’s Church December 27, 1923, with Abbot Martin Veth as the celebrant. In our community the name of Boniface Verheyen evokes the memory of a true pioneer, willing to go where obedience sent, and as one who made a unique contribution to the life of those he served.

John Taylor was born in Chicago, moved to the Kansas City, Mo., area later and married. He had his wife had one child, a son, Father Martin Taylor of the Abbey community. John, after the death of his wife and when he saw that Tommy, Father Martin, was settled at the Abbey, joined the community as an internal oblate in 1950. He put his business expertise to good use in the procurator’s office. He often came to Maur Hill where his son was teaching. Each year on Father Martin’s birthday he brought a fifth of “Old Taylor” to the recreation room as a treat for all.

For many years Brother Leonard worked at the College farm and later at the Abbey. In 1921 he sustained a broken leg that was slow in healing because of his advanced age. But that did not stop Brother Leonard from becoming the janitor in what was called the old Abbey Hall. He took part in the schedule of the community as well.

Father Sylvester wrote in various journals on educational matters. He decried the neglect of the teaching of spelling in the elementary schools. His dissertation was entitled, “The Adjustment of Teacher Training to Modern Educational needs.” Though classically trained and from that background “his influence on education in the middle west was to liberalize and modernize it.” Thus spoke the author of an article in The Atchison Daily Globe.

Perhaps one of the most colorful and storied members of St. Benedict’s Abbey, at least in modern times, Father Theodore died of a heart attack at a hospital in Kansas City, Mo., December 9, 1980. He was pastor at St. Ann’s, Effingham, when first stricken. He was a native of Milwaukee, Wisc., early on a member of the Catholic Central Verein, graduated from St. Benedict’s High School in 1930 and from St. Benedict’s College in 1935 magna cum laude in philosophy. From 1935-1940 he earned a doctorate in theology at Sant’Anselmo and during that time was ordained priest at Monte Cassino!

Abbot Martin was thoroughly formed, particularly by his studies in Rome and German background, in the European Monastic tradition. This seems to be symbolized by the very design of the Abbey building, Tudor Gothic, to match the St. Benedict Hall. The Abbey perched high on the bluffs of the Missouri River was, perhaps, inspired by a visit to Ettal! Abbot Martin leaned heavily on the atmosphere and studies at Sant’Anselmo to form his young and promising monks. He encouraged their travel to monastic centers in Europe during their vacations. His spirituality was thoroughly monastic, evidenced by conferences to his own monks and to the Sisters at Mount St. Scholastica.

At the time of his death he was chaplain at St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, Sabetha, Kan. He served the people at St. Ann’s, Hiawatha, Kan., on two different occasions for 23 years. The writer of this Necrology remembers his first ever assignment as a priest, simplex, as a helper to Father Norbert in Hiawatha in 1957 and being treated to an A & W root beer on Saturday night. Out by train to Hiawatha on Saturday from Atchison and home Sunday by bus!

Father Edward was a punster who, when asked how he was doing on a given day, replied, “Magnolius!” He loved to play bridge and seemed willing to go to any lengths to find a foursome, daily if possible. He was a poet of some repute and once wrote “An Ode to Kansas” that was presented to President Dwight Eisenhower.

He also wrote a poem, “Babe Ruth, Home Run King” in which each letter of the title began a line of the poem so that the left margin spelled out the title! To this day the Schmitz brothers are beloved of their many relatives living at St. Benedict, many in what is fondly called, “Schmitzville.” While Father Sylvester was nicknamed “The bear,” Edward was “the cub.”

Early on after ordination he served the mission at Perrin, Mo., but Father Clement spent the majority of his monastic life managing or helping manage the abbey farms and vegetable gardens. He kept bees and prepared honey and candles for the community. He incarnated “ora et labora” and was a sought-after confessor for many of our monks.

Daily he brought the newspapers to the Father’s recreation room and on Sundays the Prior entrusted him with the task of passing around the box of cigars to the priests gathered there after dinner.

Father Bart was a monk of many talents that ranged from cooking to sewing. He was ready and willing to help his fellow monks whenever he could and endeared himself, because of his service and ready wit, to the parishioners where he ministered, in the city or the country.

During his years as a counselor at Camp St. Maur he became famous for his “Hoop Dance” and was tempted to put the hoop on to hop once again when the rural parishes he served needed rain! He and his friend, Freda Pickman were famous all around for their Christmas Candies.