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August 2010

Dear Friends,

As we begin a new academic year at Marmion Academy, I would like to share with you a few thoughts. This past summer was a very eventful one for the monks of Marmion Abbey. We had both a very happy and sad summer. We lost three of our Benedictine brothers who were called to God. Father Damien Duprai, 47, died very suddenly on June 11. Father Bede Stocker, 94 years old and after a long illness, died a month later on July 13. On August 13 Father David Palmatier, 78, died, who also suffered a long illness during the past year. Please pray for their eternal rest. They were all faithful monks who helped Marmion to be what it is today.

The summer was also a very joyous one in other respects. As many of you know from my last Abbot’s Corner message, the Marmion Abbey community elected me as their fifth abbot on June 25, succeeding Abbot Vincent Bataille. On July 10 the Abbey was blessed with having two men begin their one-year novitiate. They are Father Novice Michael Solazzo and Novice Seth Brown. The very next day, the Solemnity of St. Benedict, our Brother Marcos Rivas professed solemn vows as a permanent member of Marmion Abbey. Brother Marcos begins his third year of theological studies at Mundelein Seminary. Lastly, the Rite of Blessing of an Abbot was celebrated on August 11 here at the Abbey church. Bishop Thomas Doran of the Diocese of Rockford celebrated the mass and blessed me as abbot. About 400 guests were in attendance. Luncheon followed for the guests. It was a very busy summer to say the least.

I would also like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt and sincere gratitude to all of our Marmion family for your prayers, well wishes and expressions of support. In the future, for however much time our good Lord gives me as abbot, I count on your continued prayers not only for myself but for all of the monks of Marmion Abbey. Let us pray for one another.

Lastly, as we begin a new academic year here at Marmion Academy this week, I pray that God blesses all of you and your families. The beginning of a new school year always brings with it many hopes, challenges and not a few fears. As we again take up our labors here at the Academy, I suggest that we do so in a spirit of faith and confidence in God, and in knowing that as in past years, God will bless us abundantly. As our students begin the new school year, they will see the blessing of our newly renovated Regole Science Center. Another blessing will be our new Gertrude and Maurice Regole Field House. The groundbreaking for this project will take place on Friday, August 20, at 6:00 PM. As we move ahead, I look forward to coming to know many of you better this year.

Sincerely in St. Benedict,

Abbot John Brahill, O.S.B.

Fr. Bede Stocker, OSB 1916 ~ 2010

Fr. Bede Stocker OSB died at St. Patrick’s Residence in Naperville this evening, Tuesday, July 13th. Fr. Vincent was with him at the time. He was a faithful monk and devoted to his monastic community. Upon coming to Marmion in 1947, Fr. Bede taught at the Academy and served the Abbey community as Novice Master and Sup…erior of the young monks of the Abbey for 20 years. He thus was responsible for the formation of several decades of Marmion monks. In the early years of the Abbey and Academy, Fr. Bede was responsible for the landscaping of the property and is largely responsible for having created the beautiful groves of trees and plants around the campus. In 1970 he was appointed Superintendant of the Christmas Tree farm and served in this capacity for the next 36 years.

Fr. Bede’s body will be received by the monastic community in the Abbey Church on Friday, July 16, at 4:00 p.m. Visitation will follow, with Hour of Readings and Office of the Dead at 6:30 p.m. The Funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, July 17, at 10:30 a.m. in the Abbey Church, with burial to follow.