| When first meeting Br Paul Friedman one never thinks he has been at Blue Cloud Abbey since August 1962. He bounces around with great energy, determination and enthusiasm. His first seven years at the abbey were rather routine: candidacy program for six months, novitiate for a year, working in various jobs as baker, beekeeper and as dorm prefect at Marty Indian Mission School in South Dakota. |
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In July 1969, Br Paul's life took a major turn, Abbot Gilbert asked him to serve at Blue Cloud's newly established mission in Coban, Guatemala. As is Br Paul's Benedictine way, he immediately accepted. He soon moved to Guatemala and entered a Spanish Linguist school along with 25 other missionaries. Br Paul smiles when he tells you he and a nun in the class were told they were exceptionally slow. He did learn though and lived in Guatemala for 20 years. In addition, he developed a cursory knowledge of the native Indian language, Q'eqchi The picture to the left is a new monastery built since Br Paul left. He enjoys going back to visit his many friends in Coban. Br Paul is our official Spanish interpreter when Hispanic visitors come to Blue Cloud. |
| It is exhausting to narrate or to read the many jobs Br Paul had and has at the abbey. One job he truly enjoys is bee keeper. He has a lot of self-taught knowledge of bees and honey. He collects enough honey to supply the abbey and to sell to our visitors. As the right picture shows, Br Paul bravely goes into the bee hives unprotected. He smiles away the stings. |
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At present he is also the head of maintenance, an area he learns more about each day. He is "assisted" by Howard, a jack of all trades, who patiently teaches his boss how to do the jobs. Howard said that Br Paul never gets impatient or angry. One day when working on a messy sewer line Br Paul said in a panned mannerism: "This makes me angry." Howard was surprise because this was the first time he express anything like this. |
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Each year Blue Cloud Abbey host a neighborhood picnic. It is Br Paul who knows all the neighbors and greets each by name. He is the unofficial picnic coordinator. He knows the neighbors from bringing Christmas bags to the homes, a job he relishes as the picture to the right clearly shows. |
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When things are slow Br Paul likes to help in the garden. But these days he spends a lot of time working with the junior monks as their director. He also takes his turn at leading the Divine Office in choir (we call the Heb), MC at Mass and song leader. He has a strong, rich beautiful voice. |
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Some times there are not enough hours in the day for Br Paul, he finds himself doing his Lectio Divina (spiritual reading) or studying late at night as the picture at the left shows. But, it is not all work, there are times for fun, as at our Halloween party when he wears his jacket and hat from Guatemala. What a sight! |
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For vacation, Br Paul usually goes to his family reunions. It is a time he gets to see his mom, 2 brothers and 3 sisters and their families. They are all very close and keep in touch during the year via email. | Updated 3/03 |