Br. Kevin McGuire and Fr. Maurus Jaeb Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Profession

Approximately 300 family members, friends and oblates gathered at St. Gregory's on Sunday, May 18, to celebrate with the monastic community the 50th anniversary of monastic profession of Br. Kevin McGuire and Fr. Maurus Jaeb.  A good number of the guests traveled from far distance places to with Br. Kevin and Fr. Maurus well on this momentous event in the life of our community. 

Br. Kevin and Fr. Maurus renewed their monastic profession before Abbot Lawrence during the celebration of solemn vespers.  Following an established monastic custom, Abbot Lawrence presented the jubilarians a special walking staff as a sign of their golden jubilee of profession.  According to the rite, Abbot Lawrence instructed the jubilarians to receive the staff:  "... which represents the cross of Christ.  Use it not so much as a support for bodily strength, but rather to obtain spiritual fortitude from our Savior, Jesus Christ, who has called us all to himself in the gospel, saying: Come to me all you who labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you, for my yoke is easy, my burden is light."

After receiving the staff and a special blessing, Br. Kevin and Fr. Maurus delivered very moving reflections to the those assembled in the standing-room-only church.  Br. Kevin reflected on the many blessings that he has received during the course of his life as a monk.  He is especially grateful for having had the opportunity to devote his time primarily to manual labor outside where he can rejoice in God's creation, for the countless friends he has made over the years, for the support of his monastic community, and for the love of God.  Fr. Maurus reflected on the gift of the monastic vocation and challenged those present to do what they can to pray for and to promote vocations to religious life, to the priesthood, and especially to St. Gregory's Abbey.

The celebration continued after vespers with a reception and dinner given by the monastic community for those who came to honor Br. Kevin and Fr. Maurus.  Many friendships were formed and renewed during the course of the day.

Fr. Maurus delivers an address to those assembled for Solemn Vespers at St. Gregory's Abbey.	Golden Jubilarians Br. Kevin McGuire and Fr. Maurus Jaeb, are pictured with Abbot Lawrence.	The Jubilarians recieve a special blessing during solemn vespers in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Profession.

Congratulations to Br. Kevin and Fr. Maurus!  Thank you for your combined 100 years of witness and service as monks of St. Gregory's Abbey!

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For many centuries, people of the Church in Rome has made a daily pilgrimage on each day of Lent to what are referred to as "station churches." 

A different "station church" is designated for each day of Lent.  Pilgrims traditionally gather in a designated location early each morning and then process to the station church designated for that day for the celebration of Mass.

The station church for Ash Wednesday is the Church of Santa Sabina, which has been used as a place of Catholic public worship since the late Fourth Century.  It is one of the oldest public places of Christian worship, having been built shortly after Christianity was legalized.  Given the historic nature of the Church, the Pope traditionally begins the station church pilgrimages by celebrating Mass at the church of Santa Sabina.  But where does he begin the pilgrim procession?  The Benedictine University of Sant'Anselmo is only a couple of blocks down the street, and so - for several years now - the Holy Father begins his pilgrimage procession at Sant'Anselmo.  Because of this, the community of monks at Sant'Anselmo usually have a special place in the celebration.

Our own Br. Boniface was selected this year to serve as an acolyte for the celebration.  It was a wonderful opportunity for him not only to participate in a special Mass for Ash Wednesday, but to have the rare opportunity to serve Mass for the Pope.

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Rt. Reverend Philip A. Berning, O.S.B., Fifth Abbot of St. Gregory's Abbey, died peacefully at home at St. Gregory’s on Saturday, November 17, 2007, sustained by prayer and strengthened by the sacraments of the Church.

Father Philip was born Anthony Bernard Berning on June 8, 1915, in Ashton, Iowa, to Joseph and Elizabeth Haverkamp Berning. He had four brothers and five sisters, all now deceased.

After grade school in Ashton, Father attended St. John's University Preparatory School, Collegeville, MN, and college at Trinity College, Sioux City, IA, for two years. He entered the novitiate of St. Gregory's Abbey in 1935, receiving the name of Philip. He made his simple monastic profession at St. Gregory’s on July 11, 1936, and solemn monastic profession on July 11, 1939. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from St. Benedict's College, Atchison, KS, in 1938. Upon completion of theological studies at St. John's Seminary, Collegeville, MN, Father Philip was ordained to the priesthood at St. John’s on June 7, 1942, at which time he returned to St. Gregory's Abbey in Shawnee. He received an honorary LL.D. from St. Vincent College, Latrobe, PA, in 1956.

Father Philip was elected Coadjutor Abbot to Abbot Mark Braun on March 12, 1953, and received the abbatial blessing from Bishop Eugene McGuinness on May 6, 1953. He succeeded Abbot Mark on the latter's death on April 2, 1954.  Father Philip led the community as Abbot for the next 16 years, through the times of the Second Vatican Council, until he resigned on February 16, 1970.

During his tenure, St. Gregory's experienced great growth. The monks built a new monastery building as many young men entered the community. The community assessed its ministries and made the decision to close St. Gregory's High School and place increased emphasis on St. Gregory's College. During that period, many of the present buildings on campus were constructed. The college administration building, Benedictine Hall, was completely reconstructed. Bernard Murphy Hall, housing the student and monastery food service, Duperou-Degrasse and Mark Braun residence halls, the Commons, and the aquatic center were all completed during his term as Abbot.

Before he was elected Abbot, Father Philip served in several positions in the monastery, including as procurator, director of scholastics, and novice master. He served as Prefect of Discipline for St. Gregory’s High School, where he also taught religion, history and typing. His pastoral assignments included two terms as pastor of St. Joseph's Church in Ada, Oklahoma, and many years as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in McLoud, Oklahoma. After his tenure as abbot he served as pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Chandler, Oklahoma.  In his later years he served as porter and procurator at St. Gregory’s Abbey.  He was a positive example to all in his gentility, humility, quiet service and devotion to prayer. He greeted all with a shy smile and welcoming eyes. He remained a faithful witness of monastic observance and ministry for seventy-one years and bore the increasing effects of Alzheimer’s disease with great faith and patience.

 Father Philip is survived by the Monks of St. Gregory’s Abbey, many nieces and nephews, and countless friends.  The monastic community is grateful for the assistance of the staff of Mays Hospice of Shawnee, the St. Gregory’s Abbey Health Care Staff, and many friends, who helped make it possible for Fr. Philip to remain at his monastery home during the final years of his life.

Father Philip’s body was received at St. Gregory’s Abbey at Noon on Monday, November 19, and the Vigil for the Deceased was prayed that evening in the Abbey Church.  The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, November 20, with Abbot Lawrence Stasyszen, OSB, presiding.  Archbishop Eusebius Beltran of Oklahoma City was in attendance, as was Abbot Barnabas Senecal from St. Benedict's Abbey in Atchison, KS.  The Abbey Church was filled with many friends, former students, former parishioners, oblates and colleagues who had come to remember this remarkable man.  May he now rest in the peace of Christ forever!  

Abbot Lawrence Institutes Four Monks into Ministry of Reader

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