Mon Vol. 1, No. 4 MonksOK From Abbot Lawrence

W i t h this final journey to the church with our All Souls Day, dedicated to prayer for the these words, confrere to celebrate the funeral Mass. Burial deceased who now experience the cleansing Pope Paul VI takes place after Mass in the Abbey Cemetery. of Purgatory. Throughout the month we join summarized Members of the community prepare the with the entire Church to intercede for our the teaching grave, lower the casket, and complete the beloved departed. of the Catholic burial along with family members and friends. C h u r c h All of these gestures are corporal works of This year, our special annual visit to the regarding the mercy performed for our brother monk. Abbey Cemetery will take place on November Communion of 5. The schedule of the liturgy for the day is Saints and the Along with the liturgy, we remember our printed on the front cover of this issue of relationship confrere at our meals for thirty days by keeping MonksOK! We invite you to join us for any or that exists a crucifix and two candles at his normal place all of the liturgies and commemorations on between all those who are united in Jesus at table. We remember all our deceased that day. Christ – a relationship which death does not confreres throughout the year by reading a destroy. Founded on the testimony of Sacred short biography of each on their anniversaries We also invite you to share with us the Scripture and handed down to us through the of death. In doing so we not only remember names of persons you would like us to pray unbroken tradition of the Church, our belief them in prayer, but we also continue to be for in a special way during November. You can in the Mystical Body of Christ provides great inspired by the witness of their lives. Finally, send us these names in the envelope included comfort to us when we experience grief at the during the first week of November we make a with this issue of MonksOK!, or by submitting death of a loved one and fills us with hope special visit to the Abbey Cemetery in order your prayer request through our website. We as we long to be reunited in to pray for our deceased confreres. Through will keep all names submitted at the altar in Christ with all those who the Abbey Church through November. have gone before us on the "We believe in journey of faith. the communion of all the faithful of Christ, those who are pilgrims on earth, the dead who are being In his Rule, St. Benedict admonishes purified, and the blessed in heaven, all together forming I am happy to extend monks to “keep death daily before their one Church; and we believe that in this communion, congratulations to Fr. Charles Buckley, eyes.” This is not meant to overwhelm the merciful love of God and his saints is always OSB, who was appointed on August the monks with a sense of fear or dread [attentive] to our prayers.” (Pope Paul VI, 4 as Acting President of St. Gregory's or gloom. Rather, such awareness of our Creed of the People of God) University, following the retirement of mortality helps us to keep a proper perspective David Wagie, Ph.D., who had served as on life in this world, using the opportunities of president for 2½ years. You can read more this life in order to prepare well for the fullness of these customs we express about Fr. Charles B. – as well as Fr. Charles life promised by the Lord for those who love him our belief in the Mystical Body of Christ M. – on page four. Fr. Charles B. will serve as (cf. 1 Cor 2:9). and affirm that the bonds of our monastic president until the SGU Board of Directors community extend beyond this life and into makes a more permanent appointment. We Our monastery customs for honoring and eternal life promised by our Lord. ask for your prayerful assistance as we go remembering our deceased confreres express about this important task of appointing the beautifully our communal life. We begin by This holds true, of course, for all Christian next president of our university mission and tolling one of our church bells immediately people. Our belief in the Mystical Body of community. upon the death of a monk, whose passing Christ inspires us to invoke the intercession then is announced solemnly at the next of the saints and moves us to pray for our scheduled celebration of the Divine Office. deceased loved ones to assist them in entering Once preparations are made, the community into heaven. The Second Vatican Council Late in August, Br. Andrew received a welcomes the body of our deceased confrere reaffirmed this practice in the Dogmatic shipment of starts for the hundreds of back to the monastery to lie in state so that the Constitution on the Church. We read: poinsettia plants which he will cultivate in monks, family and friends of the community our greenhouse. Yes, our attention is already can pray for the deceased throughout the day In full consciousness of this communion turning to preparations for Advent and the and with the Office for the Dead. of the whole Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, celebration of Christmas. As you make plans the Church in its pilgrim members, from the for the holidays, know that you are welcome Our funeral liturgies are very simple and for very earliest days of the Christian religion, has to join us for the Divine Office and Mass at music we use the ancient texts and melodies honored with great respect the memory of the the Abbey. Our schedule for Christmas will of Gregorian chant. We process with the casket dead; and ‘because it is a holy and a wholesome be listed on the back cover of this issue of down the same hallway used for our daily thought to pray for the dead that they be loosed MonksOK! processions from the monastery to the church from their sins’ she offers her suffrages for them.” for the Divine Office and Mass. We sing (Lumen Gentium 50; cf. 2 Mac 12:45). the Litany of the Saints while making We are mindful of this Communion of Saints especially during the month On The Cover: Black and White of November. On November 1st we Image of the Cross in the Abbey celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints, Cemetery. and on November 2nd we observe

MonksOK Summer/Fall 2009 2 Vol. 1, No. 4 MonksOK

The Relic Chapel The word “relic” comes from the Latin “reliquiae” meaning "remains". Relics are classified in three categories. First-Class Relics are parts of the bodies of saints or instruments of the Passion, like fragments of the cross on which Jesus was crucified. Second-Class Relics are objects which have been in close contact with a saint, such as articles of clothing or personal items. Third-Class Relics are objects that have been touched to the body of a saint or to either first or second class relics.

In the Old Testament, the miraculous relics of the prophet Elisha are mentioned in 2 Kings 13:20-21. In the New Testament, Acts 19:11-12, mention is made of cloths being touched to the hands of the Apostle Paul.

God has often shown His approval of the use of relics as sacramentals by working miracles through them. Relics deserve to be venerated. The bodies of the Saints were temples of the Holy Spirit and instruments through which God worked. We honor relics by preserving them with reverence, visiting the places where they are enshrined, and praying before them, asking some particular saint’s intercession in our behalf or that of another.

Throughout many years relics have been obtained by individual monks of both Sacred Heart Abbey and St. Gregory’s Abbey, and through donations. The Relic Chapel in the Abbey Church was established in 1994, and has approximately 244 relics on display. After the death on August 28, 1993, of Rev. Conrad Betzen, O.S.B., a monk of St. Gregory’s Abbey, members of his family inquired about establishing a memorial in his honor. After some discussion, it was decided to build cabinets to display our collection of relics in one of the side chapels of the Abbey Church in memory of Fr. Conrad, O.S.B.

The Abbey Church is open for visitors daily from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. All are welcome to visit and to pray in the Abbey Church.

After sixty nine years, the old slate roof of the abbey church needed to be replaced. The roofing job was done by Preferred Roofing & Construction Co. of Yukon, OK. We are grateful to Bill Feland of Preferred for his generous gift in-kind of a portion of the roofing materials.

3 MonksOK Summer/Fall 2009 Vol. 1, No. 4 MonksOK Meet the Monks:

Father Charles (Damian) Massoth, O.S.B., served as the eighth abbot of St. Gregory’s Abbey. He was born in Piqua, KS. He came to St. Gregory’s Abbey after serving in the US Navy during World War II and made profession of vows as a monk of St. Gregory’s Abbey on Feb. 25, 1946. He was ordained to the priesthood on April 7, 1951. Having completed a master’s degree at the University of Oklahoma, Fr. Charles served in a variety of positions in the abbey, high school and college, including Business Manager, Dean of Admissions and Records, Registrar and as an Instructor of Business courses at both the high school and college level. He served from 1971 to 1986 as pastor of St. Benedict’s Parish in Montebello, CA. During that time he was honored with an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from the San Diego- based Ministry of Salvation, Inc. Fr. Charles returned to St. Gregory’s Abbey in 1986 to serve as prior of the community. He was elected abbot of St. Gregory’s on Jan. 3, 1989, and blessed on March 5, 1989, by Abbot President John Eidenschink, O.S.B., of the American Cassinese Congregation. He completed his five-year term as abbot on Jan. 5, 1994. The Sarkeys Performing Arts building was built during his tenure as abbot. After his retirement as abbot, he returned to pastoral ministry, first in Montebello, CA., and then Fr. Charles as pastor of St. Benedict Parish in Shawnee. Fr. Charles now lives at the monastery, where he serves as Massoth, O.S.B. guest master. In addition to this, Fr. Charles continues to play an active role in St. Gregory’s University by serving on the Board of Trustees for the St. Gregory’s University Endowment Foundation. He is known for his gentle manner and his beautiful singing voice. Fr. Charles has great concern for the upkeep and appearance of buildings and takes a personal interest in landscaping projects on campus. He is member of the Abbey Publication Team

Father Charles ( John) Buckley, O.S.B., serves as vocation director for the monastery. He was born in El Dorado, AR. Having spent most of his childhood in St. Patrick Parish in Oklahoma City, Fr. Charles attended St. Gregory’s High School and College. After that, he completed his bachelor’s degree in mathematics at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN. Following this he entered the novitiate at St. Gregory’s Abbey and made monastic profession of vows on Aug. 15, 1966. He completed a Masters of Divinity degree at St. Louis University and was ordained to the priesthood on June 20, 1970. Following his ordination he completed a Ph.D. in Math Education at Columbia University in New York. Since his ordination, Fr. Charles has served in a wide variety of roles at St. Gregory’s Abbey, College and University. He served as Vice President for Academic Affairs from 2002-2005. Throughout his career in education, he has served as a professor of Mathematics, and has been sought as an effective tutor by students who struggle with the subject matter. He has also served as a Career Counselor, Dean of Students and Chaplain. Along with his assignments in the educational work of St. Gregory’s Abbey, Fr. Charles has served for many years as Vocation Director, assisting those who are discerning whether or not God is calling them to Fr. Charles live the monastic life in our community, as well as speaking to various groups on the nature of discernment Buckley, O.S.B. and the monastic life. He has served as the Subprior, Prior and Formation Director of the community. His work as Vocation Director includes supervision of our community’s monastic Observation Program for University Students (OPUS). Fr. Charles is a member of the Abbey Senior Council and serves as one of the cantors for the monastery. He also serves as a member of the St. Gregory’s University Board of Directors. He enjoys plants, puzzles, and plays the guitar.

MonksOK Volume: 1, Number 4 Meet more of the Monks @ Publisher: Publication Team: MonksOK MonksOK.org Abbot Lawrence Stasyszen, O.S.B. Fr. Charles Massoth, O.S.B. is published quarterly by the [email protected] Fr. Eugene Marshall, O.S.B. Bro. Benet Exton, O.S.B. Abbey Office of Development: Editor: Bro. George Hubl, O.S.B. 1900 West MacArthur Street, Fr. Maurus Jaeb, O.S.B. [email protected] Shawnee, OK 74804 Devlopment Ministry: Abbey Office: Tel: 405.878.5470 Tel: 405.878.5491 For a free subscription: Contact Editor http://www.monksok.org/

MonksOK Summer/Fall 2009 4 Vol. 1, No. 4 MonksOK Unfinished Elevator Project In The From The Abbey Development Ministry Monastery Many thanks to our Abbey friends who assisted us recently through prayer and financially with our Abbey needs: new elevator, retirement A b b o t fund, continued education, vehicles, church stained glass windows, L a w r e n c e building fund, and other needs of the monks. At this time we are still blesses and in need of about one hundred thousand dollars to complete the elevator places a project in the monastery. Benedictine Our abbey budget relies heavily on the financial gifts of our friends. medal in the For this reason we humbly ask you to remember us financially and in concrete of the prayer. We are also grateful when you remember us in your Will & Es- new elevator tate. If you need more information or assistance in your giving to the shaft in the Abbey, don’t hesitate to contact me – (405) 878-5470. monastery. He This past summer we continued a long tradition here at the abbey in offering two weekend is assisted by retreats for men and women. This ministry is very special for us in seeing retreatants being re- Br. Damian. freshed and renewed in their Faith Journey and their relationship with the Lord. We pray that someday we will have a special building as our retreat center. This will allow us to have groups The project included cutting through come to St. Gregory’s during the year (not only summer) to get refreshed and renewed. four floors and the roof for installation. We do offer private retreats all months of the year, but are limited in having only two guest The project is not completed at this rooms. If you are interested in making a private retreat, call our guest master, Fr. Charles Massoth time as we are in need of raising another (405-878-5495) for reservations. one hundred thousand dollars for the There are many dimensions of work and ministry we monks here at St. Gregory’s accomplish completion of the project. The total for the “honor and glory of God.” We cannot do this alone, and for this reason we ask your as- cost of the project is three hundred and sistance in prayer and treasure, knowing always that in this way you share in our life and work. fifty thousand dollars. This is our fourth issue ofMonksOK, volume one. We hope you have enjoyed reading about the Priests and Brothers here at St. Gregory’s Abbey. We are proud to have you as one of our readers. If you know of someone else that would like to receive a copy, please send me their name and address. A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS was the theme of a summer exhibition You are remembered in our daily prayers. Please pray for us. May God at the Mabee Gerrer Museum of continue to bless you! Art located on our campus here at St. Gregory’s. The museum staff Fr. Maurus Jaeb, O.S.B. selected for this exhibit unique works of art that have been rarely seen by the public. Approximately 95% of the Museum’s collection is in storage because of the shortage of display area. The Mabee Gerrer Museum of Art was established by Fr. Gregory Gerrer, O.S.B., a monk of St. Gregory’s Abbey. One of the most treasured portraits is that of Pope St. Pius X. The portrait was painted by Fr. Gregory at the Vatican with the Holy Father sitting as the portrait was painted. The orginal portrait is in the Mabee Gerrer Museum with a copy hanging in the St. Gregory’s began its 134th academic year on August Vatican. 26. The University continues to hold fast to the timeless values of our Catholic faith and Benedictine tradition, while responding to the ever-changing needs, challenges COME & SEE THE JOURNEYS OF LINDA SCHAEFER and opportunities of the modern world. The Benedictines Artist and photographer Linda Schaefer has spent her career of St. Gregory’s Abbey began their education apostolate documenting rarely glimpsed parts of the world. She was the upon the principle of educating the whole person and the last photographer given full access to MOTHER TERESA and her integration of the Catholic liberal arts tradition, character work in India. This exhibit will be on display Sept 11 through formation and success in life. October 25 at the Mabee Gerrer. For more information about St. Gregory’s University The museum is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesdays contact the Admissions Office: (405) 878-5444; through Saturdays, and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sundays. For [email protected]; or mailing address: 1900 information you can call 405-878-5300. West MacArthur St., Shawnee, OK 74804

5 MonksOK Summer/Fall 2009 Vol. 1, No. 4 MonksOK

Abbey Chronicle 3. Fr. Boniface Copelin returned for the 12. Sub-prior Joachim, Fr. Maurus & June 2009 summer from his studies at Sant’ Anselmo Br. George attended the funeral in Shawnee in Rome for Myrtle A. Weaver, mother of Bob 8. The book now being read in the Weaver, alumnus and former employee of 10. This weekend was our first summer refectory during the evening meal is the University. retreat for the general public. There were STRANGERS to the CITY: Reflections 36 persons registered. Abbot Lawrence led 20. The Board of Trustees of the on the Beliefs and Values of the Rule of St. the retreat at which he spoke on humility in Mabee Gerrer Museum of Art had Benedict by Michael Casey, OCSO. Fr. the Rule of St. Benedict. The retreatants ate their quarterly meeting. The elected Casey will be speaking at St. Gregory’s in their meals with the monks in the monastic representatives of the Board from the early October. refectory. abbey are Fr. Maurus Jaeb and Br. Damian 12. Fr. Maurus Jaeb left today Whalen. Fr. Maurus is also the Treasurer of to attend the installation Mass at the the Museum Board. Abbot Lawrence is an Provincial House of the School Sisters of ex-offico member of the Board of Trustees. Notre Dame in Mankato, Minnesota. His 21. The monks joined the university sister, Sister Helen Jane Jaeb, was elected as administration, faculty and staff for a one of the four new Provincial leaders. He Social and Dinner with the students of the also spent some days with other members of 20. university. his family in Minnesota. Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical “Caritas in Veritate” is being read at the 22. The new SGU students were 14. The Southern Methodist evening meal in the refectory. welcomed by the monks as part of their University class in Monastic Spirituality 31. orientation to campus with an ice cream spent a week at the Abbey. There were The theme for the weekend retreat social and tour of the monastery & the fifteen students and two faculty members. was Let Your Life Speak. Fr. Charles Buckley gave the presentations to almost 50 Abbey Church. 15. Fr. Daniel Suellentrop is now in people. 26. After days of orientation, the residence at St. Ann Home in Oklahoma University began classes for the 2009-10 City because of some respiratory problems school year. due to the construction in the monastery. He had been living at the abbey. 27. The monks enjoyed as their dinner guests in the monastic refectory the new 22. Several of the monks attended the SGU students for the 2009-10 year. Clergy and Religious Appreciation Dinner August sponsored by the Knights of Columbus at 30. Br. George, our campus St. John the Baptist Parish in Edmond. 4. photographer and graphic artist person, After the resignation of Dr. attended the Professional Photographers of 24. Abbot Lawrence attended the David Wagie, President of St. Gregory’s Oklahoma Convention in Midwest City. annual meeting of abbots, prioresses and University, Fr. Charles Buckley was chosen presidents of the Association of Benedictine to be acting president until an interim is September Colleges and Universities. It was at St. named. 1. Anselm Abbey in Manchester, N.H. 5. As part of the new SGU student July Abbot Lawrence attended the orientation, and welcoming the returning summer meeting of Major Religious students, there was a "Meet The Monks Superiors in St. Louis, MO. Night" gathering at 7:30 p.m. 2. As on every first Thursday of the month, the community made a Holy Hour 10. Our evening meal is eaten in The evening included an informal program before the Blessed Sacrament after the silience with table reading. We are now to introduce the individual members of the evening meal and recreation. The intention reading BOOM! Voices of the Sixties, by monastic community, and have them share of the Holy Hour was “LIFE.” Tom Brokow their vocation stories. Questions from the 65th ANNIVERSARY students ended the evening of bringing Fr. Eugene C. Marshall, celebrated his 65th anniversary as a our Benedictine identity to St. Gregory's University. Benedictine Monk on July 11, 2009. He was born and raised in Harrah, Oklahoma and ordained a priest on Feb. 25, 1950. Fr. Eugene 3. Feast of St. Gregory the Great, our attended the University of Oklahoma and the University of Southern patron saint was celebrated with an 11:00 California receiving a master's degree in Library Science. He was the AM, Mass atteded by the monks, SGU head librarian for St. Gregory's High School and College for many faculty, staff, and students, as well as friends years. For the monastic community, he served as prior, sub-prior and of St. Gregory's. novice master. He is also the Chronicler for the abbey and a member 20. Fr. Maurus attended the National of the Abbey Publication Team. Catholic Development Conference in Since his retirement, he works Arlington, Virginia. Abbey Christmas and New part-time in the abbey office and Years schedules on page 8. assists with weekend pastoral assignments.

MonksOK Summer/Fall 2009 6 Vol. 1, No. 4 MonksOK Labor of Love, Oblates at Work Mark L. Ruiz (left) of Tecumseh is shown here refurbishing the abbey church doors. Mark has been taking care of the maintenance of these doors for over forty years. We are always grateful to our alumni, Oblates and friends that help us keep our buildings looking good.

Jim M. Weigant (below) of Pawhuska is spending some work time during his private retreat at the abbey. For a number of years he has helped to beautify the flower beds in front of the monastery. We are always happy to have Jim spend time with us.

Fr. Maurus Jaeb, O.S.B., and John A. Schnaithman (left) of Plano, Texas, look over the list of radio stations in Texas that will carry “Benedictine Moments” about St. Gregory’s. Abbot Lawrence has taped one segment for broadcasting and will be doing more.

Mr. Schnaithman became acquainted with St.Gregory’s through his work with the J.A. Paluch Company. He in turn contacted his friend, the General Manager life. You can see if the way God is calling you might just be of 910 AM KATH in Dallas, David Palmer, about devoting some in this direction. air time to St. Gregory’s. On Friday evening Nov. 27, the day after Thanksgiving, we In Texas, tune in the Catholic radio at the following: North Texas will begin a Monastic Experience Weekend on the theme of ( Dallas Ft Worth) 910 AM KATH & 850 AM KJON (Spanish); Advent: Waiting for Christ. Some people have reflected that South Texas (San Antonio) 89.7 FM KJMA & 1380 AM KWMF the season of Advent, the season of waiting, of attentiveness (Spanish); West & Central Texas (Midland, Odessa) 1150 AM for the coming of Christ, is a very monastic season. The KLPF & KVDG 90.9 FM (Spanish); Marble Falls, 88.5 FM KBMD; weekend will close on Sunday, Nov. 29, the First Sunday of Lamesa, 91.3 FM KBKN; Kermit, 91.5 FM; Morton, 91.1 FM; Van Advent. Horn, 89.9 FM; Wellington, 91.7 FM; Clayton, New Mexico, 91.3. The second Monastic Experience weekend scheduled is December 29 to 31, 2009, leading up to the celebration of the New Year. New Year's is a time for reflection on the past year and the making of some resolutions for the new one. What? Me? A Monk? Consider the possibility, it Monks promise to live a life of continual conversion, so this may be a fascinating idea, at the same time something very time is also appropriate for some men to come to share our challenging. But you’ll never really know if it might fit until life, if just for a brief time. you try it on for size. These weekends are for single Catholic men aged 22 to 45. There will be two opportunities to do that. This year there will be two weekends that we call Monastic Experience Weekends. For informaton see our website or contact: You will get a chance to meet the monks on a personal basis, share in our prayer, our meals and our work, and ask the Fr. Charles Buckley, Vocation Director (405) 878-5462 important questions about the rewards and challenges of this [email protected].

7 MonksOK Summer/Fall 2009 Vol. 1, No. 43 MonksOK St. Gr e g o r y ’s Ab b e y Non-Profit 1900 West MacArthur Street Organization Shawnee, Oklahoma 74804 U.S. Postage PAID Return Service Requested OKC, OK PERMIT NO 2000

Saint Gregory the Great PRAY FOR US

Liturgical Celebrations of Christmas and New Years St. Gregory’s Abbey Church

December 24 – Christmas Eve 7:15 a.m. Lauds December 25 – Christmas Day 8:00 a.m. Eucharist – 4th Thursday of Advent 9:00 a.m. Lauds for Christmas 12:05 p.m. Midday Prayer 10:30 a.m. Eucharist for Christmas Day 5:00 p.m. First Vespers for Christmas 5:00 p.m. Solemn Vespers for Christmas 10:00 p.m. Office of Readings for Christmas 7:30 p.m. Compline (Night Prayer) 10:30 p.m. Christmas Eucharist for Midnight

December 31 – New Year’s Eve 7:15 a.m. Lauds 8:00 a.m. Eucharist for the Octave of Christmas 12:05 p.m. Midday Prayer 5:00 p.m. 1st Vespers of the Solemnity of the Mary, Mother of God 7:00 p.m. Office of Readings for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

January 1, 2010 – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God 9:00 a.m. Lauds for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God 10:30 a.m. Eucharist for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God 5:00 p.m. Solemn Vespers for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God 7:00 p.m. Compline (Night Prayer)

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