At the opening of the Bahama Benedictine Centennial in January, 1991, Sir Henry Taylor, Acting Governor General of the Bahamas, paid tribute to the missionary monks of Saint John\u2019s with these words: \u201cThe work of the Benedictines in the Bahamas is beyond anyone\u2019s estimation.\u201d Key dates in the history of Benedictine monks in the Bahamas include:<\/p>\n
February 2, 1891
\nChrysostom Schreiner, OSB, arrives in Nassau and finds 65-70 Catholics at Saint Francis Xavier Church, built in 1885-86.<\/p>\n
April 4, 1892
\nFather Chrysostom is shipwrecked near San Salvador Island and vows to continue his work in the Bahamas if his life is spared. The ship\u2019s passengers and crew are rescued.<\/p>\n
June 23, 1893
\nChrysostom purchases Dunmore House (built in 1786) which, as \u201cThe Priory,\u201d becomes the headquarters for Benedictines who begin to arrive.<\/p>\n
December 29, 1921
\nAlcuin Deutsch, OSB, is elected fifth abbot of Saint John\u2019s Abbey. He begins to aggressively support the Bahama missions with personnel and money.<\/p>\n
January 3, 1928
\nChrysostom dies on San Salvador Island where he had retired. He is buried overlooking a probable site of Columbus\u2019 landing in 1492.<\/p>\n
December 21, 1933
\nBernard Kevenhoerster, OSB, is con- secrated first Bishop of the Bahamas.<\/p>\n
January 4, 1945
\nA school for thirty-five boys is started by Frederic Frey, OSB, with classes held on the grounds of the Priory.<\/p>\n
January 13, 1947
\nFirst classes are conducted at the newly constructed SAC in the Fox Hill section of Nassau.<\/p>\n
August 7, 1947
\nBenedictine monks occupy the newly constructed SAM adjacent to the college.<\/p>\n
December 9, 1949
\nBishop Bernard dies.During his tenure new parishes were founded in Nassau and missions were established on the Family Islands of Andros, Long Island, Cat Island, Grand Bahama, Eleuthera and Bimini.<\/p>\n
October 19, 1950
\nPaul Leonard Hagarty, OSB, is consecrated Bishop of the Bahamas.<\/p>\n
June 2, 1954
\nDavid Mather, OSB, is the first Bahamian to profess monastic vows at SAM.<\/p>\n
June 24, 1960
\nBoswell Davis, OSB, is the first Bahamian Benedictine to be ordained.<\/p>\n
December 11, 1960
\nThe Vicariate of the Bahamas is raised to the status of a diocese.<\/p>\n
1963
\nBurton Bloms, OSB, is appointed headmaster of SAC and a new era of expanded facilities and increased enrollment begins.<\/p>\n
1967
\nSAM becomes an independent priory. There is a gradual departure of community members. Xavier College, a girls\u2019 school operated by the Sisters of Charity, merges with SAC.<\/p>\n
1972
\nLeviticus Adderly, the first Bahamian layman to teach at SAC, is appointed headmaster.<\/p>\n
1981
\nJerome Theisen, OSB, eighth abbot of Saint John\u2019s Abbey, is named apostolic administrator of SAM and SAC. He sends five monks from Saint John\u2019s to assist the core community.<\/p>\n
July 17, 1981
\nBishop Paul Leonard, OSB, resigns and is succeeded by Lawrence Burke, SJ, of Jamaica. Bishop Leonard dies in 1984.<\/p>\n
June 4, 1990
\nSAM relinquishes its status as an independent community and is again affiliated as a dependent community of Saint John\u2019s.<\/p>\n
April 17, 1997
\nHenry Neely, OSB, the last of the original Bahamian members of SAM, dies.<\/p>\n
July 5, 1999
\nThe Diocese of Nassau is elevated to the rank of Archdiocese.<\/p>\n
June 27, 2003
\nMonsignor Patrick Pinder, graduate of SAC, is appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Nassau. On February 9, 2004, he is named Archbishop of the Nassau Archdiocese and Archbishop Burke becomes head of a Jamaica archdiocese.<\/p>\n
March 31, 2004
\nThe new Saint Francis Cathedral, costing six million dollars, with a seating capacity of 1300, is dedicated.<\/p>\n
May 7, 2004
\nThe Bahamian government approves the transfer of the governance of SAC to a lay board of directors.<\/p>\n
June 30, 2005
\nThe three remaining members of SAM begin to vacate the premises of the monastery.<\/p>\n
Source: The Abbey Banner Spring 2005 (Pages 20-21)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
At the opening of the Bahama Benedictine Centennial in January, 1991, Sir Henry Taylor, Acting Governor General of the Bahamas, paid tribute to the missionary monks of Saint John\u2019s with these words: \u201cThe work of the Benedictines in the Bahamas … Continue reading