|
Volume 34, Number 3 |
Richardton, ND 58652 |
July 2006 |
JUBILARIANS FOR 2006
FRANCIS WEHRI
Arthur Wehri was born in rural Haymarsh, North Dakota, in 1935. This parish
was always served by the monks of this Abbey, and many boys from St. Clement’s attended
the Abbey boarding school. Arthur spent the years 1949-
Fr. Francis did his philosophical studies at St. John’s in Collegeville, and
then spent four years in the seminary at Assumption Abbey. After his ordination in
1961, he began to work in the Abbey School. He was principal of the school in 1965
when he underwent open-
The very next year, 1966, Abbot Ignatius Hunkler sent Fr. Francis to Bogotá, Colombia, to be rector of our boys school (San Carlos) in that South American city. Since Bogotá is located at 8,600 ft. above sea level, one might wonder how a heart patient would fare in the thin air. Just fine, it turns out, and our man has functioned as rector of this prestigious school for the past forty years!
In an age when CEOs are considered to be under extraordinary stress, and are
therefore lavishly compensated, Fr. Francis takes a monkish salary (nothing) and
runs a serene establishment. He knows every student by name and takes a hands-
In an important sense, Fr. Francis is probably the best-
BASIL ATWELL
John Atwell arrived at the Abbey in 1979 from Glendive, Montana. He is the son of Genevieve and the late John Atwell, one of five children in the family. John was a member of Sacred Heart Church, where Abbey alumnus Fr. Joe Ponessa is pastor and Fr. Denis sometimes helps out. He graduated from Glendive High School and worked for the telephone company in his hometown before coming to the novitiate. He professed simple vows in 1981, making him a silver jubilarian in 2006.
In his earliest years in the monastery, Bro. Basil worked as a potter. He obtained
a degree in fine arts from St. John’s University, and inaugurated the Abbey Pottery
upon his return from Minnesota. Although he produced some excellent pottery, Basil
found himself more drawn to working with people, especially young people. Therefore,
he began part-
Feeling a need for training in his chaplain work, Bro. Basil began theological studies at his old stomping grounds at St. John’s. Although it was not easy to go back to school at the “advanced age” of 40, he came through with flying colors and was ordained in 2002. He spent his first few years of ministry as an assistant priest at St. Wenceslaus Church, Dickinson. He was also made chaplain to Trinity High School in the same city.
Fr. Basil received his first pastorate in 2004 at St. Mary’s Church, New England,
ND. He also has a mission church at St. Elizabeth, Lefor, ND. His work at New England
has a unique flavor since there is a women’s prison attached to the parish. Not just
in the parish but occupying the same campus! He and his parishioners have found a
good deal of satisfaction ministering to the spiritual needs of the women in the
next-
In this and his other pastoral duties, Fr. Basil finds ample scope for his gifts of rapport with people and enthusiasm for the Gospel of Jesus. He is one of those typical “JP II Priests,” dedicated to the traditions of the Church and a promoter of devotional life. For example, he has introduced Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Mary’s.
RAPHAEL STOVIK
Fr. Raphael was ordained 50 years ago this year (May 20, 1956) so he will be feted with the other jubilarians at the community retreat in early June. Sad to say, he himself will not be present at the event, or even aware of it, since he has been a stroke victim for several years now. He currently resides in the Richardton Health Center just down the block from the Abbey.
Raymond Stovik came from a big family of boys in Colville, Washington. His was a “Benedictine family”: his uncle Mark was Abbot of St. Gregory’s in Oklahoma, and his aunt Mary Mark was a member of Annunciation Priory, Bismarck. His brother Jordan was a monk of St. John’s and his brother Bart was a member of Assumption Abbey.
Nevertheless, Ray did not enter the monastery at a young age. He grew up during the Depression and there was little money for education. Consequently, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1940. By the time he participated in the great invasion at Normandy in 1944, he was an army veteran. His long training served him well in the Battle of the Bulge the next winter. At least he survived, and talked about it the rest of his life.
Upon his return to civilian life, Ray made use of the GI Bill to attend college at
St. John’s, where he graduated in 1951. He was an excellent athlete in college, and
a dedicated tennis player all his life. He also conceived a passionate devotion to
the Philadelphia Phillies. For most of his life, they were a last-
After joining Assumption Abbey, Fr. Raphael made his first vows on July 11, 1952. He did his theological studies at the monastery, resulting in ordination in 1956. In the first years after becoming a priest, Fr. Raphael did some teaching in the Abbey School. His typing class was modeled on military boot camp and a fairly painful experience for many students. But all of them learned to type.
Fr. Raphael spent most of his life in various pastoral assignments outside the monastery.
He worked in many of the small parishes cared for by the Abbey, but his longest pastorate
was at New Hradec, ND (1984-
Fr. Francis Wehri, 50 years professed.
Fr. Basil Atwell, 25 years professed.
Fr. Raphael Stovik, 50 years Ordained.
