St. Peter’s Abbey Newsletter Vol. 32 No. 1 Winter and Spring 2010 Benedictine replaces pastor in Saskatoon By Fr. Lawrence DeMong, OSB nel, the abbey recently re sponded to a request by our diocese to substitute for a Something new has happened in the pastor on sabbatical at Holy Spirit Parish pastoral outreach of St. Peter’s Abbey this on the east end of the city. past year. Since our beginnings in 1903 Beginning in August, I have had the many monks have focused their energies privilege of taking on this new challenge. on a small territory around Muenster By no means my first such “sabbatical sub - which came to be the Territorial Abbey of stitute” — the first being treasurer for Fr. St. Peter’s with an abbot as ordinary, the Daniel Muyres, then two stints in Brazil for only diocese in Canada without a bishop. Fr. Sylvester Vredegoor, OSB, and Fr. True, the monks have always been aware Emile April; this present one is for Fr. Ken of and open to the needs of the larger Beck at Berkeley, Calif., until July. church, caring for Benedictine sisters in I love variety and have always been Winnipeg as chaplain, working in the greatly enriched by these “sabbaticals.” Vancouver and Regina marriage tribunals, And after 10 years of monthly trips to the national Office of Religious Edu - Cumberland House some 360 kms from cation in Ottawa, and especially the dio - the abbey, often on awful roads, I am cese of Maceio in Alagoas, Brazil. delighted to be living in a rectory attached Fr. Lawrence DeMong consults with Ever since this “abbacy” was amalga - to the church. And with three bedrooms, Delores McLean, secretary at Holy mated into the diocese of Saskatoon in this place has been a kind of “priory” for Spirit Parish, Saskatoon. 1998, there has been a feeling that we the abbey, having Br. Anthony Nguyen ought to have a stronger presence at the here for four months of English studies this home away from home has even centre of our new diocese in the city of and often receiving monks before and served as a break for our novice suffering Saskatoon. Although, we have been forced after a trip involving the Saskatoon air - from “cabin fever” as he joked on arrival. to cut back on our presence in parishes port. On one occasion, two of us slept on With a considerable number of mar - around the abbey for sheer lack of person - floor mats to accommodate confreres; and riages and funerals and activities of all kinds, Holy Spirit Parish is well staffed, with full and part-time employees and a huge number of volunteers. Because of a strong team approach, I would say it is a most powerful priestly experience for me. I’m busy and I love it. But I’m not count - ing collections, making out receipts or writing bulletins. I’m preparing and giv - ing homilies, celebrating sacraments, helping with RCIA, visiting people in homes and hospitals, even celebrating Mass at the bedsides of the sick and the dying. I’m asked to do a lot of listening to personal struggles, sharing faith and being challenged and renewed in the process. For example, today after celebrating a funeral, I was called away from the lunch by our secretary, with 22 years experience Fr. Lawrence DeMong presides at a Sunday Mass at Holy Spirit Parish, Saskatoon. Continued on page 3 A message from Abbot Peter’s desk Dear friends of St. Peter’s Abbey, The second trip was to attend the It has been almost a year since the last annual ab bots abbey newsletter was published. Editor Fr. work shop held at Werner Renneberg fell on the sidewalk at Ocean side, Calif., the entrance to the CIBC bank in Humboldt this year, Feb. 5 - June 12 and shattered the nob in the shoul - 11. The monastery der of his left arm. He returned to the abbey was founded more July 9 and resumed his routine, but with than 50 years ago diminished vigour. in a beautiful set - A year ago I noted two deaths in the ting in southern community, Abbot Jerome Weber and Fr. Cali fornia. Our James Gray. This year I want to note two meeting was high - new members, Novices Brs. Lee Evoy and lighted by a fruit - Cosmas Epifano. Pierre April also spent ful workshop on several months with the community as a the Trinity by Dr. candidate and is now hired to do janitorial Michael Downey, work at the college. Br. Pius Sprung, a jun - theologian to Car - ior claustral oblate, left this summer to dinal Mahoney of take on a teaching job in China. Visitors Los Angeles. and inquirers continue to express interest Don Ward vol - Abbot Peter Novecosky poses with Abbot Charles Wright in in our way of life and to appreciate the unteered to edit a front of the abbey church during the abbots’ conference in quiet atmosphere of the abbey. book of remem - Oceanside, Calif., Feb. 5 - 9, 2010. This past year I made two trips to the brances of Fr. James Gray and close to described elsewhere in this newsletter and United States. The first was to Phoenix, two dozen essays were submitted. The it caters to volunteers who wish to experi - Arizona, to attend the Knights of book should be published in the next few ence life in Canada on an organic farm. Columbus Supreme Convention Aug. 2 - months. Fr. Andrew Britz is also pub - Both Fr. Paul Paproski and Br. Anthony 9. The temperature outside rose to 115 F lished a book soon, a collection of his Nguyen were at school in Saskatoon. Fr. during the day, so that didn’t encourage editorials over the past 20 years as editor Paul took classes at the University of leaving the air-conditioned hotel. There of the Prairie Messenger. Saskatchewan and plans to complete his were about 15 delegates from Saskatch e - Br. Kurt Van Kuren introduced a pro - MA degree in history this summer. Br. wan and I went as state chaplain. gram this past summer that saw a number Anthony studied English as a second lan - of young European visitors come to the guage and plans to write his TOEFL exam abbey. The WWOOFers program is this spring. Abbot Peter Novecosky, state chaplain for the Saskatchewan Knights of Columbus, attended the KC Supreme Convention in Phoenix, Ariz., Aug. 2 - 8, 2009, with State More than 40 abbots attended the abbots workshop at Oceanside, Calif. Main speak - Deputy Arden Andreas and his wife, Sherry. er Dr. Michael Downey of Los Angeles gave several sessions on the Trinity. 2 Support works of worthy causes By Peter Goddard, CFP, EPC in will continue their work in the future ry” of the community they are based in. but will be able to reflect the values and Think of it. Who among us can trace It is very edifying to see so many peo - beliefs that they, the supporters, have their family history due to the church ple committing their support to various worked for their whole lives. They also they attended in their community or the groups that they see as worthy and who receive a very favourable tax benefit for schools they went to their whole lives? enhance the value of the future of their doing so. Who else did they attend church or families and communities. They give of In fact, this tax credit will sometimes school with? What part of history did their good fortune to ensure the ongoing make it possible for them to support those classmates or fellow parishioners work of their favourite charities and these groups well into the future even contribute and, what values did these organizations to make sure they are sus - after they have passed on. institutions instil in them to enable them tained now and in the future. Here is an additional benefit some - to make these contributions to the histo - For their support they receive not times left unnoticed. These groups — ry of the community? Now that is a only the comfort of knowing that those hospitals, churches, schools, etc. — legacy! organizations and charities they believe sometimes are the “keepers of the histo - I ask you to consult your financial consultant as to how you can support St. Peter’s Abbey through your will, a life insurance policy or whatever suits you. You can benefit yourself as well at St. Peter’s Abbey through the tax benefits available. Goddard has 33 years of financial planning service and experience. (Top) The chickadees were hungry this winter and came to eat out of one's hand. (Right) A major snow storm Jan. 15- 17 dumped a foot of snow on the ground. It was the only snow storm of the winter and produced enough spring runoff to fill our water reservoir. A wind storm hit us April 9 - 10. Wonderful ecumenical experience is biggest surprise Continued from page 1 house and saw this young woman heading thick Italian accent!) to the patient in the home on foot, skipping! next bed and discovered she had been at and an uncanny pastoral sense, to come to My biggest surprise here is the wonder - McClure when I gave the homily. She the office and see a young woman who ful ecumenical experience of being wanted me to pray over her. And the person was clearly depressed. She started with: twinned with McClure United Church across from her, also from McClure, was “Do you believe in God?” I began by sug - down the street.