Author Archives: admin

Sex Scandal Hits Home At St. John’s

Posted on April 22, 2002
Posted in John Eidenschink, John Klassen

As every U.S. Roman Catholic Cardinal except one in poor health is at the Vatican preparing to meet with the Pope about the spreading sexual abuse scandal, word from one Minnesota religious institution brought the scandal close to home.

A Homily by Fr. Dan Durken, OSB

Posted on April 21, 2002
Posted in Daniel Durken, ToDo

Editor’s Note: Recent public statements by Abbot John Klassen regarding sexual misconduct and allegations of sexual abuse by members of the monastic community have ended what he refers to as a culture of secrecy. In the spirit of openness, Fr. … Continue reading →

Former Abbot Abused 2 Monks

Posted on April 20, 2002
Posted in Abbey Apology, Abbot Apologies, Bahamas, Cosmas Dahlheimer, Jerome Thiesen, John Eidenschink, Richard Eckroth

The Rev. John Eidenschink, former St. John’s abbot, has admitted that he sexually abused two abbey monks, one before he was elected abbot in 1971 and another during his eight-year tenure, current Abbot John Klassen said Friday.

Abbot John Klassen – Letter to Friends and Constituents

Posted on April 19, 2002
Posted in Jerome Thiesen, John Eidenschink, John Klassen, Letters to Community

Dear Friends of Saint John’s, The last months have been filled with painful stories about sexual abuse committed by priests and religious. The fact that the stories are most often about events which occurred years, even decades ago, does not … Continue reading →

Fr. Dan Ward – Gethsemani Encounter II, April 2002

Posted on April 18, 2002
Posted in Dan Ward, William Skudlarek

William Skudlarek: I had a sense during our first session this morning that a change was beginning to happen among us. We weren’t so much teaching or preaching, but speaking to one another. And I think that that’s probably an … Continue reading →

Dialogue after Fr. Dan Ward’s Presentation

Posted on April 18, 2002
Posted in BS, Dan Ward, ISTI, William Skudlarek

James Wiseman: Dan, you rightly said that monasteries can be places of healing or hiding and are probably a little of both. I think that you could perhaps help us answer Chodron’s question from the first session this morning, in … Continue reading →

A Homily by Fr. Columba Stewart, OSB

Posted on April 7, 2002
Posted in Columba Stewart, ToDo

The church today is full of doubt and mistrust. We are rightly shocked and embarrassed that betrayal, and heinous abuse can come from those who minister in Christ’s name. For whatever reason, many here this morning have very good reasons … Continue reading →

Contact Fr. Michael Bik

Posted on February 21, 2002
Posted in Michael Bik

Performances are scheduled for March 15 at 7 pm; March 16 at 2 pm and 7pm, March 17 at 2 pm; March 22nd at 7 pm; March 23 at 2 pm and 7 pm; and March 24 at 2 pm. … Continue reading →

From the Theater Department (Fr. Michael Bik)

Posted on January 15, 2002
Posted in Michael Bik

Performances are scheduled for March 15 at 7 pm; March 16 at 2 pm and 7pm, March 17 at 2 pm; March 22nd at 7 pm; March 23 at 2 pm and 7 pm; and March 24 at 2 pm. … Continue reading →

School Chaplain, Fr. Michael Bik

Posted on January 15, 2002
Posted in Michael Bik

The Prep Community will commemorate the Feast of St. Scholastica, twin sister of St. Benedict with a prayer service on Wednesday, February 6th at 9:30 am. Sr. Helene Mercier, OSB of St. Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph will preside.

Abbot Klassen with Offenders Schulte and Tarlton

Posted on December 1, 2001
Posted in Allen Tarlton, Francisco Schulte, John Klassen, Oblates

When this photo was taken, Abbot Klassen was aware that both Fr. Schulte and Fr. Tarlton had credible allegations of sexual misconduct against them.

Monks as Players, Coaches, Chaplains and Fans

Posted on September 1, 2001
Posted in Dennis Beach, John Gagliardi, John Kelly, Otto Webber

Even as monks, members of the abbey have made significant contributions to Saint John’s athletics. Father Dunstan Tucker, remembered as Saint John’s greatest baseball coach, won the conference championship in 1969 on his 70th birthday. Other monk-coaches were Fathers Fintan … Continue reading →

Lecture by Abbot Timothy Kelly

Posted on June 10, 2001
Posted in Timothy Kelly

On June 10th, Abbot Timothy Kelly, OSB, former Abbot of St John’s Abbey in Collegeville MN gave the fourth in the series of lectures celebrating our 50th Anniversary Year.  His topic was The Art of Christian and Monastic Life.  Hopefully … Continue reading →

Abbot Klassen Poses with Two Perpetrators

Posted on May 1, 2001
Posted in Allen Tarlton, Francisco Schulte, John Klassen, Oblates

All eight of the, momentarily, “in-the-country” CSB/SJU [College of St. Benedict-Saint John’s University] Oblate Candidates (“OCs”) gathered on Saturday, March 3, for their first mini-retreat or Day of Reflection.   Fr. Francisco Schulte, Abbot John Klassen and Fr. Allen Tarlton, … Continue reading →

Honesty, reconciliation needed from ISTI

Posted on February 8, 2001
Posted in Daniel Durken, Helen Olson, ISTI, Opinion, Richard Eckroth

The program, “Confession of Sins” aired on Channel 5 on November 10, 2000. A reply was already in print for The Record, quoting Fr. Daniel Durken, by the November 16th issue. How could he have researched it adequately in that … Continue reading →

SJU Student Development

Posted on October 10, 2000
Posted in BS, Francisco Schulte, Isaac Connolly, Tim Backous, Tom Andert

Br. Isaac Connolly, dean of students and director of residential life, is on an administrative leave for the 2000-01 academic year. During the year, Br. Isaac will be visiting other college and university residence life programs to study residential learning … Continue reading →

Protected: Pending

Posted on September 21, 2000
Posted in Pending

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

Abbot Timothy Kelly to Resign, Election Set for November

Posted on July 1, 2000
Posted in Melvin Valvano, Timothy Kelly

A few knew last December. Others wondered–because of the 1995 decision of the American Cassinese General Chapter that changed the required resignation of abbots from 65 to 75 years of age–if Abbot Timothy Kelly, Ninth Abbot of Saint John’s Abbey, … Continue reading →

Recommendations of the Executive Director

Posted on June 6, 2000
Posted in ISTI, Roman Paur

When individuals of any community fail in their integrity, everyone is a victim and everyone suffers. Nowhere is this more evident than when clergy and religious compromise leadership and violate their trust through sexual misconduct. – Roman Paur

Virgil Michel… Justice embodied in Christ-life and Liturgy

Posted on February 1, 2000
Posted in Virgil Michel

“What blasphemy! As if there were anything really Christian about our modern capitalism.” This was Virgil Michel, O.S.B., responding in Commonweal in 1938 to an article in Catholic World which had called Christ “the first preacher of capitalism as the … Continue reading →