blue cloud abbey

 

Vol.16 No. 2                                                   -- Marvin SD 57251--                                                   Summer 2005

A TIME FOR JUBILEES

Several members of the abbey are celebrating notable anniversaries this year, more so than in many years. Retired Abbot Alan Berndt  celebrates his 60th Anniversary of ordination, Fr. George Lyon and Fr. Odilo Burkhardt celebrate their 60th anniversary of profession. Fr. Stanislaus Maudlin observes his 70th anniversary of profession, and Fr. Christopher Uehlein his 50th anniversary of profession.

Fr. Abbot Alan Berndt originally hails from the South Bend, Indiana area where most of his family still lives. He entered monastic life in 1940 in St. Meinrad, Indiana, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1945.  Fr. Alan served the mission schools in Stephan, South Dakota and St. Michael's, North Dakota.  In 1970, he was elected the second abbot of Blue Cloud Abbey, and served in that position until 1986.  He also served as hospital chaplain in Pierre, the state capital. Even though it has been nearly twenty years since his retirement as abbot, Abbot Alan still likes to keep busy. He does a great deal of the landscaping and yard work around the abbey. He can  often  be  seen mowing the lawn or removing dead trees from the windbreaks.  The rest of us hope we can be as active as Abbot Alan when we reach his age.


Abbot Alan Berndt

Fr. George Lyon is also a member of the founding contingent from St. Meinrad. He professed vows there in 1945, and came to the new Blue Cloud Abbey shortly after being ordained to the priesthood in 1950.  Fr. George has worked at the missions in Belcourt, ND, and Marty, SD.   He presently serves as prior of the abbey, and has also served as novice master. As prior, he is in charge of scheduling external pastoral work for our priests, which he also takes part in himself.


Fr. George Lyon

Fr. Odilo Burkhardt was also ordained at St. Meinrad in 1950 and came to Blue Cloud shortly afterward.  He filled a variety of jobs over the years, including pastoral ministry.  From 1976 to 1989, Fr. Odilo was in Coban, Guatemala, at our missionary priory.   His main job these days is taking photographs for the abbey. He has taken most of the photos in the abbey calendar and newsletter, including the portraits accompanying this article.  Fr. Odilo is also in charge of the abbey library and archives.


Fr. Odilo Burkhardt
Fr. Stan Maudlin is the senior member of the abbey.  Like the others in his age group, he hails from the southern Indiana area and began his monastic life at St. Meinrad. He made his profession in 1935.  He also studied briefly at St. Anselmo, the Benedictine College in Rome.    Fr. Stan served at the missions in Belcourt and St. Michael's.   For the last 38 years, Fr. Stan has directed the American Indian Culture Research Center, which houses the large collection of historic photographs previously written about in this newsletter.  Fr. Stan also finds the time to write a monthly column for the Sioux Falls diocesan newspaper.

Fr. Christopher Uehlein and his family are from the Indianapolis area.  He was professed in 1955 and ordained in 1960.  Most of his monastic life has been spent at the abbey, other than a few years at the mission in Marty, SD.  He presently is choir master and organist for the abbey, as well as helping in the Ministries Office, where he has worked for many years.  Several well-known publishers, including Oregon Catholic Press, have included his musical compositions in their choir books and missals.   Fr. Christopher has taken up painting in his spare time, and belongs to a local artists' club that occasionally meets at the abbey.

ABBEY NEWS

After a mild and rather dry winter, spring brought warm weather to the abbey's neighborhood earlier than usual.  Attendance was good for both the Holy Saturday Vigil Mass and for morning Mass on Easter.   By the middle of April the trees were budding and spring was all around us.  At the moment, the farmers need rain badly.  Please keep them in your prayers.     

The mild winter allowed the retreat center to keep busy in January. Groups included a Mixed 12 Step retreat, a Missionary Oblates group, Lutheran Women's Mission League, a retreat for church musicians, and an Episcopalian group from Sioux Falls.  In February, groups included Marriage Encounter from Sioux Falls, a Men's 12 Step retreat, and Asbury United Methodist (Sioux Falls).  A confirmation class from Groton, SD, also visited on a Sunday afternoon.    

In March, the abbey retreat center hosted another confirmation class, this one from Britton, SD.  March also saw retreats by the Region VIII youth directors, another 12 Step group, and local Baptist and Lutheran churches.  April groups included a Women's AA retreat, a tour group from St. John's parish, Arlington, SD, a Marriage Enrichment group, a ladies' quilting group, the South Dakota Institute for Infant Development,  and a retreat for Abbey Oblates organized by Br. Benet.

Since Bishop Carlson was appointed to Saginaw, Michigan in January, Abbot Thomas has been filling in for him at Confirmation ceremonies around the diocese.  This has involved quite a bit of travel for him around the eastern half of the state.  So with a little extra motivation, Abbot Thomas and the community ask prayers for the appointment of a new bishop as soon as possible.

Renovation work has started on the section of the abbey that formerly housed the printing press and shop equipment.  The American Indian Culture Research Center will use the space to display additional artifacts and historical photos from  their  collection.   The  first  stage  has  been refinishing some large, antique display cabinets the AICRC has owned for years.

Spring always brings a return to activity in the garden.  Br. Chris has begun planting. Potatoes and onions have already been put in, with more things to come. Our kitchen has been using hydroponically  grown  lettuce and tomatoes from the greenhouse.

Camp Mahpiyato will be open again this summer on a full-time basis.  Br. Michael will be taking over the management.  Already some church youth groups are scheduled for weekend camps.  A new metal roof was installed on the kitchen building.

                                                                       FR. THEOPHANE GONNELLY
 Our confrere, Father Theophane Gonnelly, OSB, died in a St. Louis, Missouri hospital on January 26th.  His funeral Mass and burial were at the abbey on February 4th. Father Theophane was born in Wilmington, Delaware on February 14, 1921.  He was living in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1942 when he entered St. Meinrad's Archabbey.  Father Theophane was ordained to the priesthood there in 1947.  A musician by profession, he played in a dance band before joining the monastery.   Father Theophane conducted the St. Meinrad Symphony Orchestra and the Chancel Choir. In 1952 he was assigned to Blue Cloud Abbey where we was the choirmaster, organist, and a teacher in  our   seminary.   With the  introduction  of  the vernacular  into  the  liturgy,  Father  Theophane composed English hymns, antiphons, and "The Mass on an Indian Theme" for the Blue Cloud community.    The   Indian   Mass   became   very popular and was sung in many places throughout the country.  

Father Theophane served at the two North Dakota Indian missions formerly staffed by the monks of Blue Cloud: St. Michael's and St. Ann's.  In 1979, Father Theophane became the Chief Judge and Director of the Marriage Tribunal for the Diocese of Sioux Falls.   In 1988, he was recalled to Blue Cloud Abbey.  Here in the abbey, he had served as the community's treasurer, archivist, and chronicler. He was precise in whatever work assignment was given to him.  He was a good teacher and preacher.  And he was a magician, performing for the youth at our summer camp and at the missions.

For the past few years, he had been living with the Servants of the Paraclete in Jemez Springs, New Mexico and more recently with them in St. Louis.  We ask the members of our monastic congregation and all other Benedictines to remember Father Theophane in their prayers for the deceased.

A NEW POPE - BENEDICT XVI

I am writing this only a few days after the election of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI.   It was a culmination of a series of events that had the world's eyes focused on Rome, and also on the Church.

It began with Pope John Paul II's declining health, which many of us immediately knew was for the last time.  Upon Pope John Paul's death, we saw a tremendous outpouring of love and tribute from all over the world. Not only did many non-Catholics have fine things to say about the late pontiff, at times it seemed that virtually everyone had something positive to say about him.   He was commended for his strong stand on moral issues, especially those of human life and dignity.  He was recognized as possibly the most visible person in history.  His outdoor Masses over the years may have included over 150 million people.  As we saw one of the world's largest crowds assemble for his funeral, one couldn't help but notice all the young people in the crowd.  Pope John Paul's long papacy seems to have made an impression on an entire generation.

Some commentators pointed out that for a spiritual leader so popular with young people, it was in his old age and declining health that Pope John Paul gave a unique witness to the Church and world.  In an age possibly too concerned with physical health and youthful appearance, John Paul II was a symbol of suffering with dignity and character.   As the abbey community finds itself aging, this witness has a special meaning for some of us as well.

As Pope John Paul II passed from this life, he seemed the very example of a man who had done all someone can possibly do in service of God and the Church.  The honors paid to him by non-Catholics might even be a foundation for better ecumenical relations in the future.  And the way his funeral focused the secular world's attention was something Catholics could justifiably take pride in; Pope John Paul II was seen as having authority even beyond his position in the Church.

The nine days following the papal funeral were full of anticipation and prayer.  The abbey community prayed in a special way for God's grace to be with the College of Cardinals as they prepared for the conclave.  The monks did not pay much attention to speculations in the news media over who might be chosen.  But we still felt some surprise when the most mentioned Cardinal, Joseph Ratzinger, was elected on the fourth ballot.

The bigger surprise for us, Benedictine monks of Blue Cloud, was the new Pope's selection of the name Benedict XVI.   As of today, Pope Benedict has not stated exactly why he chose it, but some of his colleagues in the Church suggested possible reasons.  Some thought it was in tribute to Pope Benedict XV  (1914-1922), who tried to restore peace to a secularized, war-torn Europe, and helped to reunite the Church after the Modernist crisis.  It was suggested that the new Holy Father may see himself as facing similar challenges.  Another theory was based on Ratzinger's birthday falling on the Church memorial of St. Benedict Joseph Labre.  This theory suggests our new leader may have wanted this saint as a personal patron. 

But those with a knowledge of Church history also saw it as a reference to the patron of all Benedictine monks and nuns around the world.  St. Benedict is also the patron of Western Europe, and helped preserve civilization during the dark ages. Could it be that Pope Benedict XVI has these same concerns? 

             

              Please Remember Blue Cloud Abbey in Your Will

 

Through the centuries, monks have prayed for the souls of their departed  benefactors. This may be our most important work!  Including the Abbey in your will supports the Church's future and provides for your own remembrance.  Our legal name is Blue Cloud Abbey.  We are a religious, charitable corporation located in Marvin, South Dakota.