Photo Caption: Archabbots, abbots, and monks exchange a sign of peace during a Mass of Thanksgiving on Sept. 6 commemorating the centennial of St. Bede Abbey’s elevation to an independent abbey.

By: By Jennifer Willems

(For more photos from the celebration as well as from a day at St. Bede Abbey spent by Catholic Post assistant editor Jennifer Willems, click on the camera icon at the left of this page.)

PERU — Surrounded by family, friends and benefactors — as well as the abbots and representatives of four Benedictine communities in Illinois and Wisconsin — the monks of St. Bede Abbey commemorated the centennial of their becoming an independent abbey with a Mass of Thanksgiving on Sept. 6.

Abbot Claude Peifer, OSB, of St. Bede was the principal celebrant for the liturgy. Giving the homily was Archabbot Douglas Nowicki, OSB, of St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pa., the community that gave life to St. Bede when six of its monks came to the new Illinois Valley monastery in 1891.

With the support of St. Vincent, St. Bede founded a school, started offering pastoral care to the Catholic immigrants in the area, and was established as an independent abbey in 1910 after 13 monks transferred their stability to the monastery, making it their home for the rest of their lives.

“As we celebrate the 100th anniversary today, we know that the founders of St. Bede Abbey came to serve the people of God,” said Archabbot Douglas. “They came because of their faith, their hope, their love, their courage in surmounting all obstacles, and their willingness to take up Christ’s yoke and to learn from him who is meek and humble of heart.”

Like St. Benedict, he said, the monks of St. Bede continue to surrender wholeheartedly to God and place their trust in his providence. This is what has enabled the community to give “effective and dynamic witness to the resurrected Lord” and to build up the body of Christ through its educational and pastoral works.

“We bless God for this miracle of St. Bede Abbey,” Archabbot Douglas said. “This community will continue to meet the challenges it encounters in new and effective ways. The future is not determined by the past, but by your faith, hope, love and courage. With God’s help, the miracle will continue.”

EXPRESSIONS OF GRATITUDE
In his remarks at the end of Mass, Abbot Claude offered his gratitude to Archabbot Douglas “not only for his gracious words of encouragement, but through him to his community, our ‘mother,’ for all that she has done and continues to do for us.”

He also thanked Abbot Hugh Anderson, OSB, president of the American-Cassinese Congregation and the former abbot of St. Procopius Abbey in Lisle, for his presence. The congregation is a union of 20 independent abbeys that cooperate with one another in areas of common interests.

The celebration was a homecoming of sorts for Abbot Anderson, who grew up in Immaculate Conception Parish in Ohio.

Abbot Claude also recognized Abbot Austin Murphy, OSB, and a large delegation from St. Procopius Abbey, “our closest neighbor”; Sister Charlotte Sonneville, OSB, and Sister Mary Schmidt, OSB, former co-workers who represented St. Mary Monastery in Rock Island; Abbot John Brahill, OSB, the new abbot of Marmion Abbey in Aurora; and Abbot Edmund Boyce, OSB, of St. Benedict Abbey in Benet Lake, Wis.

While he noted that St. Bede currently has 25 solemnly professed members and that there were 85 others who had gone before them resting in the abbey cemetery, Abbot Claude said, “We do not live in isolation, but in mutual dependence.”

“Whether you are blood relatives or friends of members of the monastic community, or have been collaborators in our ministries or employees, Oblates of the community, Sisters who have live and worked with us, parishioners of parishes in which our monks have served, students in the schools that we have conducted, parents of young people we have instructed, members of the governing board of our academy, trustees, members of committees, alumni, donors of funds for scholarships, buildings, equipment and endowments, worshipers in our parishes, benefactors, faithful friends who support us by your encouragement, your good counsel and your prayers — without your collaboration, these 100 years would have been far different and perhaps this day would not have arrived,” he said.

There was one other special mention.

“Our community gives heartfelt thanks to God for all that he has brought about in this place during this century,” Abbot Claude said.

The monks of St. Bede had a chance to offer their thanks personally as they greeted friends and visitors in the cafeteria of St. Bede Academy after Mass.