July 30, 2010
Five St. Meinrad monks celebrate jubilees of profession
The Benedictine community of St. Meinrad Archabbey celebrated the jubilees of monastic profession of five monks on July 25. Celebrating their 70th jubilees were Benedictine Fathers Eric Lies and Donald Walpole.
Benedictine Brothers Terence Griffin and Raban Bivins, and Father Colman Grabert celebrated their 50th jubilees.
Father Eric is a native of Aurora, Ill. He professed his vows Aug. 6, 1940, and was or-dained a priest Feb. 2, 1945. He received his theological education at St. Meinrad Seminary. He also holds a master’s degree in English from The Catholic University of America.
Following ordination, Father Eric taught English, geometry, religion, speech and homiletics at St. Meinrad Seminary for 13 years. Also during that time, from 1950-58, he served as associate editor/art director for Grail magazine at Abbey Press. From 1958-68, he was general manager of Abbey Press.
For more than 25 years, Father Eric served in St. Meinrad’s Development Office, as associate director of development for 12 years, as director of public relations for nine years and as graphic designer for five years. For many years, he also gave retreats and created calligraphy artwork. He currently resides in the monastery infirmary.
Father Donald is an Indianapolis native and he professed his Benedictine vows on Aug. 6, 1940. He was ordained to the priesthood on September 21, 1943.
After his theology education at St. Meinrad Seminary, Father Donald earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in fine arts from the Chicago Art Institute.
From 1952 to 1998, Father Donald was associate professor of art at St. Meinrad College. He also created artwork for parishes, religious communities and the St. Meinrad campus. His works include mosaics, murals, ceramics and wall hangings.
Brother Terence, a native of Pittsburgh, professed his vows on May 7, 1960. Before joining the monastery, he graduated at North Catholic High School in Pittsburgh and studied accounting at Robert Morris Business School.
He served in St. Meinrad’s Business Office from 1960 to 1977. For the next seven years, Brother Terence was assigned to handle payroll and insurance at Abbey Press. He also worked for the St. Meinrad Health Service.
Currently, he works as an assistant to the director at Abbey Caskets and is assistant custodian for the chapel at Monte Cassino Shrine. He is also an assistant monastery guestmaster.
Brother Raban professed his vows as a Benedictine monk on May 7, 1960. A native of Owens-boro, he came to St. Meinrad to attend school at St. Placid Hall in 1957.
In the early 1960s, he worked in various assignments at St. Meinrad, including the shoe shop, as a volunteer fireman and as house prefect for the monastery. In 1965, he was sent to the St. Meinrad’s mission in Peru, where he served until 1979.
He then worked in St. Meinrad’s Physical Facilities Depart-ment, where he has been a locksmith since 1984. In 1996, he was appointed as the subprior (third in leadership) for the monastery. The first St. Mein-rad brother to be appointed to the position, he served as subprior until 2007.
Currently, he assists in the monastery infirmary, works as a locksmith, and is the Archabbey almoner and director of community outreach.
Father Colman, a native of Evansville, professed his monastic vows on Aug. 15, 1960. After attending St. Meinrad High School, College and School of Theology, he was ordained a priest on Sept. 5, 1965.
He earned a licentiate in sacred theology from Collegio di Sant’ Anselmo in 1969. He began teaching at St. Meinrad School of Theology in 1967, where he was an assistant professor in systematic theology until 1994.
Father Colman was for many years one of the Archabbey’s principal organists. He also served recently as secretary to the archabbot and as the monastery’s house prefect.