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Fr. Gonzalo Blanco, First Colombian Prior

                                 --by Fr. Philip Vanderlin

A new chapter in the 45-year history of our dependent priory in Bogotá, Colombia, began on July 1, 2005: Fr. Gonzalo Blanco became the first Colombian Prior of Tibatí. Fr. Gonzalo, who is 49 years old, was appointed Prior earlier this year by Abbot Brian Wangler, after consultation with the capitulars of Tibatí and the Senior Council of Assumption Abbey.

Fr. Gonzalo becomes the seventh Prior of Tibatí. Fr. Frederic Mundt, was appointed the first prior in 1960 by Abbot Ignatius Hunkler, but returned to the Abbey only months after arrival in Bogotá because of health reasons. Subsequent Priors were Lawrence Wagner (1960-1975), Valerian Odermann (1975-1981), Francis Wehri (1981-1987), Sebastian Schmidt (1987-1996) and Philip Vanderlin (1996-2005).

The new Prior heads a growing community which consists of seven solemnly professed monks (Francis Wehri, Efraim Villegas, Gonzalo Blanco, Fabio Mejia, Nicolás Cano, Roberto Duarte, and Manuel Cely), one Junior (Pedro Calderón), six novices (Luis Gonzalo Zamora, Esteban Lopez, Nairo Estupiñan, Diomer Posada, Harold Sanchez, Diego Navarro) and two postulants (Fr. Ricardo Prieto from the Villavicencio diocese and Luis Felipe Galvez, 1999 alumnus of Colegio San Carlos). Fr. Francis remains the only American at Tibatí today.

Prior Gonzalo comes from the beautiful city of parks, Bucara-manga. He has three brothers and two sisters. He made his vows as a Benedictine in 1987 and and after studying theology at the Franciscan University of San Buenaventura, was ordained priest in 1992. Gonzalo is currently the chaplain of Colegio San Carlos and also director of community life in the school. He previously taught religion in the grade school of Colegio San Carlos before being appointed chaplain in the high school. Prior Gonzalo will oversee the two main apostolates of Tibatí, Colegio San Carlos with 1,300 students, and Colegio San Benito de Tibatí with 550 students. San Carlos was begun in 1961 and San Benito in 1979.

May the community of Tibatí increase under the leadership of Prior Gonzalo! The daily tolling of the new bell at Richardton reminds the monks of Tibatí, the Joy of the Lord. (“Tibatí” is the name of the bell.)

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