The 100-year-old monk
St. Bernard's Father Schnurr reaches the century mark

Friday, November 09, 2007
By KAY CAMPBELL

Times Faith & Values Editor,
kay.campbell@htimes.com

Father Thomas Schnurr, who turns 100 Sunday, remembers what St. Bernard's Abbey was like when he arrived as an 11-year-old boy in 1918.

He remembers Brother Joseph Zoettl, the monk who created the amazing miniature buildings in the grotto that made the monastery world famous. He remembers the horse-drawn wagons in Cullman, how the fire chief's equipment consisted of only a hat. How he respected the priests and was one of the small group of boys at the school determined to join the order when they grew up.

In fact, Schnurr's memory seems to fail only the way every priest's memory is supposed to fail: in the remembrance of any troubles of his own and of sins of his parishioners.

"I remember the Justice of the Peace came by about 9:30 one Monday morning," Schnurr said last week as he reminisced in his tiny room in the infirmary at the monastery. His story came from one of the times when he also served as a priest for Cullman.

"He told me he had a man in jail, but if I would get him to sign a pledge not to drink for two weeks, he'd let him out," Schnurr said. "So I got him to sign it."

And did the man keep his part of the deal?

"I don't know," Schnurr said, laughing. "I forgot."

'A regular life'

Schnurr has no particular health problems, beyond weakness when he tries to walk and ears that don't hear so well. He lives in the infirmary where he has help to get dressed or be wheeled to Mass, where he sits in contemplation in the sun-drenched sandstone chapel, built in a modern style with soaring columns and a high arched ceiling made of planks cut from the abbey's forests.

In Schnurr's room, twists of wire holders hold a wooden crucifix to a wire conduit over his sink. His small desk's one shelf is lined with books about the Bible, theology, and David McCullough's "The Great Bridge," which, he says, has "too much politics in it."

His clothes hang on a three-foot rod: his black monk's cassock, three shirts and a jacket. His narrow bed is covered with a hand-crocheted cover made for the abbey. A tiny television sits on a cabinet, a set used, he said, to watch baseball or football.

His relatives just sent his only other piece of furniture, a comfortable arm chair that has a seat that will lift to help him get to his feet.

The only valuable possessions Schnurr owns are the stories of his long and peaceful life. 

Schnurr has been at St. Bernard's since he was 11. Until he took orders, he returned to his home in Louisville, Ky., to visit his family during vacations. He took his master's degree and did doctoral work at Catholic University in Washington, D.C.

His doctoral work was on the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas, who taught a "philosophy of reality, not idealism," Schnurr said.

After Schnurr became a priest, sometimes he was assigned to cover parishes in the Southeast that were between priests, but mostly he has lived and taught at the monastery, where life moves from prayer to prayer between the six formal times of prayer of the Benedictine day.

"It was a good life," Schnurr said, leaning forward as he talked, his forehead lined only with a nearly invisible mesh of tiny wrinkles. "We did our work. We always had something to eat. We didn't have to worry."

"It's a regular life, and we all worked together."

Schnurr paused and regarded his visitor through undimmed eyes.

"See what I mean?" he demanded, sounding as he must have sounded during lectures in his classroom.

Learning on the side

Abbott Cletus Meagher remembers Father Schnurr as a teacher from his own days as a student at St. Bernard's, which had a college until 1979.

Schnurr taught Latin, Greek, German, philosophy and music.

Abbott Meagher remembers how the students loved to try to get Father Schnurr off the subject so they wouldn't have to translate Greek.

"I remember once, from a three-word sentence, we got him to talking about everything from harvesting strawberries to tanning hides," Meagher said last week as he ate soup and a sandwich in the abbey refractory.

Schnurr still loves to talk about the work monks would do in the days when the monastery was completely self-sufficient, from the hogs grown to be butchered and made into food laid on tables monks had built from their own lumber, felled from the vast forest around the abbey. Schnurr thought those lessons were at least as important as ancient Greek, so much so that he made points from those digressions into "bene's," extra credit questions added to his tests.

"It was always something we had talked about on the side," said Schnurr, who has also worked as the abbey's archivist. "At least in my class, things often went off on the side."

The bits on the side are what Kevin Dillon remembers most about the philosophy classes he took from Father Schnurr. Dillon and other members of the classes from 1955 to 1966 who had returned to St. Bernard's for a week of work last week. Dillon joined others re-setting and white-washing the rows of simple crosses that mark the graves of monks and priests in a small cemetery beside the abbey.

"None of us wanted it (philosophy class), but we all got it," Dillon said as he pushed Schnurr's wheelchair over the grass of the cemetery. "He gave us the basic foundations of life. And he was great on Christian apologetics - all that stuff about the church that probably they don't teach now."

'Living the paradox'

'Living the paradox'

Father Schnurr's life has been spent teaching, studying, praying, or working on the grounds of the abbey. His love of the forest still lights his face when his wheelchair is pushed outside.

"Look at that tree," Schnurr said, pointing at a dogwood in burgundy smolder beside a building. "Isn't it beautiful!"

"And look, look at that tree, isn't it terrible?" he said, pointing to an oak with clumps of mistletoe high in bare branches. "Look - that's what mistletoe does. That's what's killing that tree - you understand?"

Schnurr worked at managing the forest when he wasn't teaching.

"You never run out of work in the woods," he said.

Schnurr's has been a life of the freedom found in confinement and discipline, where life is regulated by prayer and silence reigns for most of the day, said Abbey Meagher. And Schnurr has been one of the monks to make the most of the contained infinity of monasticism.

"I think the stability of such a life is a great gift to us," Meagher said. "We live in the paradox: We come to life by dying to life, by living in community."

"I think Father Tom is one of the living saints in our house," Meagher said. "There is a joy about him - he doesn't see himself as a memorable character, but people remember him. In the good sense of the word, he goes by the book. He is a man of discipline."

Celebrating jubilees this year at St. Bernard are Fr. Thomas O’Connor, O.S.B., fifty years a priest, and Fr. Edward Markley, O.S.B., forty years a priest.  On June 5, 2006, Fr. Thomas and Fr. Edward joined Abbot Cletus Meagher, O.S.B., as the major concelebrants for the solemn vows ceremony for Br. Patrick Egan.  During his homily, Abbot Cletus recognized their years of service to the community and to the Church.

            Fr. Thomas is a native of Bowling Green, KY.  He attended Catholic grade school and public high school.  He enrolled in Western Kentucky University and for three years he majored in chemistry.  In the spring of 1942, he volunteered for the Army and, because of his college studies, he was assigned to the Chemical Warfare Service.  When that service was dissolved, he was assigned to a Harbor Craft Company in the Transportation Corps and served in England, France, Belgium and Germany.  In 1947 he received an honorable discharge and returned to Western Kentucky University.  Switching his major, he completed his Bachelor’s Degree with a major in agriculture and a minor in biology.

            In September 1949 he joined St. Maur’s Priory in Kentucky and entered the novitiate in 1950.  He was then sent to St. John’s Abbey and there he earned a second BA degree in Philosophy.  He continued his priestly studies, was ordained in 1956 and earned his Licentiate in Theology in 1958.  Fr. Gregory Roettger, a future abbot of St. Bernard, was on the St. John’s faculty and instructed Fr. Thomas in moral theology.

            From 1958-1969, Fr. Thomas taught systematic theology at St. Maur’s Seminary, which moved from Kentucky in 1967 to Indianapolis, IN.  In 1969, part of the community remained in Indianapolis and retained the name of St. Maur’s Priory while other community members remained in Kentucky and became known as St. Mark’s Priory.

            Fr. Thomas returned to Kentucky in 1969 and helped establish a seminary for older vocations at St. Mark’s Priory.  Fr. Thomas taught systematic theology at St. Mark’s Seminary from the time it officially opened in 1973 until it closed in 1984.  In 1987 he was made Prior of St. Mark’s Priory and was assigned the difficult task of closing the monastery. 

This accomplished, he transferred his vow of stability to St. Bernard Abbey in 1988.  During his years at St. Bernard Fr. Thomas has willingly accepted various assignments and tasks asked of him.   From 1988-1992 he worked at parishes on the weekends, co-edited the St. Bernard Times Newsletter, was vocation director and oblate director, a position he has held ever since.

            In 1992-96, he entered the parish ministry fulltime and was appointed pastor at St. Michael’s in St. Florian, AL.  In 1997, after having returned to the Abbey, Abbot Cletus asked him to serve as cloistral Prior, a service he continues to render to the present day.

            Fr. Edward Markley is a native of Atlanta, GA.  He attended Marist Military Academy for four years and achieved the rank of Student Commandant, the highest rank in the student body. 

He came to St. Bernard as a college freshman and entered St. Bernard College Seminary.  When he received his Bachelor’s Degree in 1962, he was awarded the Philosophy Award for earning the highest GPA.  His first two years of theological studies were at St. Bernard and his final two years were at Catholic University in Washington, DC.  In 1966, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Joseph Durick , Bishop of Nashville.  Fr. Edward was the first ordination in St. Bernard’s new Abbey Church.

He returned to Catholic University and earned a Master’s Degree in Sociology in 1967.  He then taught sociology at St. Bernard College from 1967 to 1971.   From 1971-73, Fr. Edward did doctoral studies at St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO.  He then returned again to St. Bernard and taught in the Sociology Department of the College and served as proctor in the college dormitories from 1974 until the college closed in 1979.

Beginning in 1979, Fr. Edward began a second career in the parish ministry.  He accepted appointments at Sacred Heart Church in Cullman, AL, Our Lady of the Shoals in Tuscumbia, AL, and St. Margaret’s Church in Foley, AL.  During this period, Fr. Edward gave witness to the value of life by suffering imprisonment for his convictions and dedication to the Pro-Life Movement. 

In 1994 he was appointed as cloistral Prior under Abbot Victor Clark, a position he held until 1997.  Returning to south Alabama, Fr. Edward has served as pastor of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lillian, AL, from 1997 to the present.

“Celebrating the jubilees of Fr. Thomas and Fr. Edward has been a blessing for our community,” said Abbot Cletus.  “Their years of faithful and dedicated service to the Abbey as monks and to the Church as priests have been selfless and reflective of the deep presence of Christ in their lives,” he continued. “We are grateful for their lives of witnessing to God’s love and wish them many more years of fruitful ministry.”

On March 17, 2006, Abbot Cletus Meagher, Chairman of the Board of Directors of St. Bernard Preparatory School, announced the establishment of a scholarship in memory of Charles W. Richard and in honor of Ruth K. Richard.

Mrs. Richard and several members of her family including her brother, Charles Kleibacker, joined Abbot Cletus and the monks for an evening of remembrance at the St. Bernard Dining Hall.

At the conclusion of the dinner, Abbot Cletus presented a plaque to Mrs. Richard to commemorate the event.  The text of the plaque read as follows:

“St. Bernard Preparatory School rightly recognizes the dedication and service given over a lifetime to St. Bernard Abbey and St. Bernard High School, Junior College and College by Charles W. Richard and Ruth K. Richard.  Coach Charlie Richard motivated generations of student/athletes and instilled in them the values of teamwork, determination and discipline.  Mrs. Ruth Richard, quietly and gently, brought a mother’s touch to these same student/athletes as they worked to succeed during their academic and athletic careers.  St. Bernard Preparatory School lauds the tremendous contribution made by Charles and Ruth Richard in shaping the tradition that future generations of St. Bernard students will receive and takes great pride in establishing the Charles W. and Ruth K. Richard Scholarship.”

Anyone wishing to contribute to this scholarship may do so by contacting Fr. Marcus Voss, O.S.B. at 256-739-6682 ext 116 or mjvosb@hiwaay.net.

            Br. Michael Gregersen, O.S.B., and Br. Jacob Amos, O.S.B., made their profession of first monastic vows in the presence of Abbot Cletus Meagher, O.S.B., and the monastic community at St. Bernard Abbey at 11:00 am on Tuesday, March 21, 2006, the feast of our Holy Father, St. Benedict.  The students of St. Bernard Preparatory School and abbey guests joined the monks in celebrating the Mass and the rite of profession.

            Fr. Joel Martin, O.S.B, the novice master, called Br. Michael and Br. Jacob forward after the reading of the gospel.  Abbot Cletus delivered the homily and spoke to the candidates about the commitment they were making by professing their first vows in the monastic life.

            After making profession of vows, Br. Michael signed the vows document with Fr. Joel Martin and Fr. Kevin McGrath serving as his official witnesses.  Br. Jacob signed his vows document with Fr. Joel Martin and Fr. Marcus Voss as his official witnesses.  Each monk was then clothed in the full monastic habit and received a copy of the Rule of St. Benedict presented to them by Abbot Cletus.

            Br. Michael is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Gregersen from New Orleans, LA. After high school he served in the United States Air Force from 1974 to 1978.  For thirteen years he worked for Stratton-Baldwin Company, Inc. and Transtar Distributors in New Orleans before his affiliation with the Center of Jesus the Lord Catholic Charismatic Renewal Center of the New Orleans Archdiocese.  He served in residency with this community for fourteen years.  It was during this time that he felt a call to monastic life.

            Br. Jacob is the son of Mr. Cottrell C. Amos (deceased) and Mrs. Barbara Amos of San Francisco, CA.  He holds a B.A. Degree in Philosophy from St. Meinrad College Seminary, an M.A. in Historical Philosophy from the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, CA, as well as a M.B.A. and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Notre Dame.  He worked as an attorney in the Complex Litigation Division and was Managing Partner in the Securities Division of Brobeck, Phleger and Harrison in San Francisco.  He has lectured at the John F. Kennedy School of Law and Hastings Law Schools.  He was volunteer coordinator for the Haight Ashbury Food Bank and Shelter and worked for 15 years in Big Brothers and Sisters.

            Family and guests joined Br. Michael and Br. Jacob as they made their first monastic vows.  The students of St. Bernard Prep School also attended the ceremony.

            Dr. Betty Louise Lumby, Professor of Music and University Organist of the University of Montevallo, provided the organ music for the service.  The congregational singing was led by the monastic schola under the direction of Fr. Joel Martin.

            Br. Leo Borelli was the Master of Ceremonies.  The St. Bernard Preparatory School Knights of the Altar served as his assistants.  The knights included Ross Gray, Anthony Thomas, Jonathan Calderon, and Jared Clark.

Br. Patrick Egan, O.S.B., made his profession of solemn vows on Monday, June 5,2006, before Abbot Cletus Meagher, O.S.B., and in the presence of the St. Bernard Abbey monastic community and their guests. The ceremony was celebrated at 4:00 pm in the Abbey Church and marked the beginning of the annual monastic retreat.

Fr. Thomas O’Connor, O.S.B., the Prior of the monastery, presented Br.Patrick to the Abbot and the community expressed their affirmation of his profession. In his homily, Abbot Cletus spoke of the vowed life and the rich monastic tradition that is the heritage of those who live the Benedictine vocation.

Following the ancient custom, Br. Patrick read his vows before the Abbot and then signed the document on the altar with Fr. Joel Martin and Fr. Marcus Voss as his official witnesses. After the singing of the prayer of profession, he was clothed in the monastic cuculla, a robe given to monks who have solemnly professed their final monastic vows.

Principal concelebrates for the Mass were monks observing jubilees in the monastery, Prior Thomas O’Connor, 50years a priest, and Fr. Edward Markley, 40 years a priest. The Master of Ceremonies was Br. Leo Borelli, assisted by Br. Brenda Seipel, Br.Michael Gregersen and Br.Peter Le. Fr. Joel Martin, Br.Bede Marcy and Br. David Bryant led the congregational singing. Dr. Betty Louise Lumby, Professor of Music and University Organist of the University of Montevallo, was the organist.

Br. Patrick is a native of Florence, AL, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward P. Egan, Jr. After receiving his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Alabama, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. For thirty years he had a variety of military assignments serving in the United States and overseas including a tour of duty in Operation Desert Storm. In 2001 he retired from the army with the rank of colonel.

In September 2001, Br. Patrick entered the formation program of St.Bernard Abbey. In the spring of2003, he made his profession of his first monastic vows. Later that same year, he enrolled at St. Vincent Archabbey to pursue studies required of candidates for the priesthood. He plans to complete these studies by the spring of 2008.

After the liturgical celebration, the congregation was invited to join Br. Patrick and the monastic community for a festive dinner in the St.Bernard Dining Hall.