COLLEGEVILLE \u2014 A fire-eating monk isn\u2019t something visitors to St. John\u2019s University see every day. After all, not many monks have a circus background.<\/p>\n
Brother Paul-Vincent Niebauer has been a fire-eater since his teenage years, but these days he doesn\u2019t perform for just anybody.<\/p>\n
Last week, the 59-year-old monk brushed off the old trick in the university\u2019s Great Hall. Students and staff watched as he lit two white marshmallow-looking contraptions on metal skewers and dipped them into his mouth.<\/p>\n
He hadn\u2019t done the routine in ages, but still keeps his fire-eating kit in his abbey office. This former circus performer is now the vocation director for St. John\u2019s Abbey, and he still uses the circus skills he learned decades ago.<\/p>\n
The monastery is seeing an increase in those interested in the monastery and an increase in the number of St. John\u2019s graduates entering, Niebauer said. The monastery welcomed four novices this fall. Two are St. John\u2019s graduates, Niebauer said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s promotion, promotion, promotion,\u201d he said of his work in vocations. \u201cIn the circus, we said, \u2018You can have the best show on Earth, but it doesn\u2019t do any good if no one knows you\u2019re in town.\u2019 Today, we are one of many, many, many options. But there are those who would find it attractive, if they knew about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Niebauer has always been interested in the circus.<\/p>\n
The Wisconsin native first came to St. John\u2019s as a first-year student in 1970. He hated it, he said. He transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and graduated with a degree in theater.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was the closest thing to the circus that I could find,\u201d Niebauer said.<\/p>\n
He worked with circuses between 1974-1989. His experiences sound like the plot lines in storybooks. He ate fire, cuddled newborn tigers, served as the ringmaster and handled a 12\u00bd-foot python, Cleopatra.<\/p>\n
He transformed into a clown. He juggled. He even had a \u201cvivacious assistant\u201d for his acts.<\/p>\n
Niebauer loved every minute. In fact, he created a PowerPoint about his former career. He sometimes shows it to students and others interested.<\/p>\n
At his prime, Niebauer earned as much as $2,000 a week. But his schedule was grueling. He performed two shows a day in seven towns a week. He calculates he performed about 6,500 shows in his career.<\/p>\n
He drove about 76,000 miles a year, most of it alone at night. During those lonely drives, he thought about becoming a priest. He was nearing his 40th birthday.<\/p>\n
After doing a religious retreat in Colorado, he fell in love with the idea of a life devoted to God.<\/p>\n
He once again turned to St. John\u2019s, and entered the seminary in 1992.<\/p>\n
\u201cSt. John\u2019s had changed,\u201d Niebauer said. \u201cIt was beautiful. Of course, it didn\u2019t change, I changed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Niebauer decided not to become a priest. He looked at monastery life. It fit.<\/p>\n
The monastery helped Niebauer continue his passion for theatrics. He earned a master\u2019s degree in directing and ran a children\u2019s circus camp for 10 years.<\/p>\n
Brother David Paul Lange, an art associate professor and residence hall faculty resident, worked with Niebauer on the circus camp.<\/p>\n
The camp wasn\u2019t only entertaining, it also allowed the students to overcome their inhibitions and raise their self-esteem, Lange said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing able to be a performer like that, it was a really positive experience,\u201d he said. \u201cThey are so much more confident than their peers. Circus camp, go figure.\u201d<\/p>\n
The two discontinued the camp a handful of years ago. It was demanding, Niebauer said.<\/p>\n
But he uses his circus skills to educate and entertain students. He answers questions about monastic life to students over pizza.<\/p>\n
He once enticed an entire residence hall into listening to his vocation story with a promise of eating fire.<\/p>\n
Everyone showed up.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s intensively creative,\u201d Lange said. \u201cHe\u2019s got such a skill at motivating people. He\u2019s a great people person. He\u2019s able to bring people together for a common purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the same time, Niebauer has a playful side. He likes to joke, Lange said.<\/p>\n
One time, Niebauer blew fire in the monastery dining room.<\/p>\n
Everyone thought it was hilarious, Lange said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first time I saw it, especially when he\u2019s in a habit, it was startling,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Niebauer misses the circus, but he\u2019s happy at St. John\u2019s. And he can always visit when the circus comes to town.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s still welcome backstage.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe circus is a pretty small world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n