NOVEMBER 17
On this day, 1983, Fr. Martin Tegart died. He was born on March 4, 1934 in New Albany, Indiana. He attended high school at St. Placid Hall, the school for brotherhood candidates operated by St. Meinrad Archabbey. There he learned the electrician’s trade and he practiced it here at Blue Cloud during our construction era. He entered our novitiate on August 23, 1953, and on August 24, 1954, he professed triennial vows as a brother. He made simple perpetual vows on August 24, 1957 and solemn profession on August 6, 1967.
       From 1962 until 1973, Fr. Martin was assigned to St. Paul’s Indian Mission at Marty, South Dakota. Following this assignment, he was stationed at St. Ann’s Indian Mission, Belcourt, North Dakota where he remained until 1977, at which time he began studies for the priesthood at Sacred Heart School of Theology, Hales Corners, Wisconsin. He was ordained at Blue Cloud on June 5, 1981, after which he went to St. Joseph Parish, Devils Lake, North Dakota.
      Fr. Martin was an easygoing sort of person who faced life calmly. Three months before his death, a physician in North Dakota advised him to go to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester as soon as possible. One of his confreres drove him there. On the way, they had to stay overnight in a motel. His concerned confrere wanted to get an early start in the morning, but Fr. Martin suggested that they sleep late and then have a good breakfast before setting out.                                                                                                                  

    He made friends wherever he was stationed. This was evident when large crowds filled our abbey church for Fr. Martin’s ordinations to the diaconate and priesthood. As a brother, he was assigned to our Marty Mission to do electrical work, but he became a prefect in the boys’ dormitory for eleven years and taught religion in the school. He enjoyed working with youth. Halloween was a big event for him. Every October 31st he converted the gymnasium into a house of horror, building elaborate sets designed to scare and amuse children. In Devils Lake, as a priest, he again worked with youth, organizing QUEST and participating in TEC. His priesthood lasted only three short years before he lost a brief battle with cancer. In his hospital room, he was able to offer mass for the last time on the Feast of St. Martin. He died in Atlanta, Georgia, while on vacation. He is buried in our cemetery.