Two monks from the United States visited St  Peter’s Abbey Nov. 11-14 to conduct a visitation. The visitors were Prior Bradley Jenniges of St. John’s Abbey (Minnesota), centre left, and Abbot Placid Solari of Belmont Abbey (North Carolina).  A visitation is a periodic examination of monastic life as lived at St. Peter’s. They discussed their report with the community on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 14.

November is the traditional month to pray for the dead. During the month the pictures of the deceased monks of Saint Peter’s Abbey are displayed in church. Fr. Paul and Fr. Joseph were the monks who died this past year.

The St.  Peter’s College students had a contest for the best carved pumpkin in preparation for Halloween on Oct. 31.

Br. Denys arrived at Saint John’s Abbey on August 26 to study for the priesthood.  It is located in Collegeville, Minnesota. He is taking several classes at Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary, including New Testament, moral theology, and Christian history.  He is featured in the photo below with Fr. Michael Patella, the Rector of the Seminary.  Br. Denys says “hello” to his confreres and friends back in Saskatchewan, and cannot wait to see them at Christmas.

St. Peter’s Cathedral parish, Muenster, celebrated a Memorial Mass for Fr. Paul Paproski Sunday, Oct. 10, Thanksgiving Day. Bishop Mark Hagemoen presided and Fr. Paul’s parents, sister, and brother-in-law attended, along with pastor Fr. Demetrius.

Joseph Do arranged a beautiful Thanksgiving Day display at St. Peter’s Abbey Church. The monks have a lot to be thankful for this year on Thanksgiving Day, October 11 2021.

Oblate Br. Don Claerhout came to the Abbey Sept. 22 and volunteered to cut down some dead trees and trim dead branches. The trees were planted some 80 years ago.

Abbot Peter gave out $108,000 in scholarships and bursaries to students of St. Peter’s College the week of Sept.  20. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the annual Scholarship Awards ceremony and banquet was cancelled for the second year in a row. One of the recipients was Harry Salmon.

Fr. Joseph Ackerman, OSB, died in the Humboldt Hospital in the early morning of Sept. 22.

Baptized Peter at his birth in Balgonie on Sept. 20, 1924, Fr. Joseph was one of 15 children in the family of Andrew and Emilia Ackerman. His father was employed by the Canadian Pacific Railroad Co., which necessitated moving to various locations. He received his early education in Wolseley, Estevan and Regina. After a brief period of employment, Fr. Joseph enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, serving oversees in the Second World War from 1943-45.

A new direction was taken by Fr. Joseph from 1947-51 when he attended St. Peter’s College in Muenster and then entered the Order of St. Benedict where he received his name “Joseph.”  He took his seminary studies at St. John’s Abbey, Collegeville, Minn. and was ordained to the priesthood, June 8, 1958 at St. Peter’s Cathedral, Muenster. Following ordination Fr. Joseph taught at St. Peter’s High School, assisted in various parishes, served as assistant business manager at St. Peter’s Abbey and became pastor of the Muenster and St. Gregory parishes.

In 1970, he went on a sabbatical where he studied at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., and then at Duke University, Durham, N.C. In 1971 he was appointed pastor of St. Anthony and St. James parishes, Lake Lenore. His next assignment was the Pilger and Middle Lake parishes. He then served the parishes of Bruno and Peterson. He retired as a full-time pastor in 2016 at the age of 91. The next year, Fr. Joseph moved to Prairie View retirement home in Bruno.

Known for his sense of humour and gentle disposition, Fr. Joseph was well well liked by his parishioners. Wherever Fr. Joseph served, he was active in parish and community groups. He joined them at coffee row and at sports events. A local park in Bruno was named in his honour. Fr. Joseph loved reading and sharing his knowledge and wisdom in his homilies. He enjoyed the outdoors having a fondness for hunting, fishing, skating, hockey and golf.

Abbot Peter inspects the controls of the Solar Garden at Saint Peter’s Abbey. The solar panels were activated on Sept.13.

August brought an end to summer with a raucous thunderstorm with lots of thunder and lightning on Aug. 31. It amounted to 3 inches of rain which was about the amount we received all summer.

The monks had a good harvest of potatoes this year. The potatoes were picked on August 19 and have been stored in the cellar for use during the winter.

Both the monastic community and our neighbours were happy when the U-pick corn season opened the weekend of Aug. 8.

We are pleased to announce the latest edition of the St. Peter’s Abbey Newsletter is out. Please click the PDF.

The 99th annual pilgrimage at Mt. Carmel was celebrated Sunday, July 18. It turned out to be a beautiful, cool day with more than 300 pilgrims present. Bishop Mark Hagemoen presided at the festive Mass.

Br. Denys Janiga professed temporary vows at Sts. Peter and Paul Abbey Church on July 10, 2021. He has completed his novitiate year and is looking forward to priesthood studies at Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary in Minnesota this fall.

The monks made their annual retreat with Fr. Ron Rolheiser via Zoom July 5-8. The theme of the retreat was “Wrestling with God — resistance and surrender within our journey.” It was the second year we made our retreat via Zoom because of the pandemic.

The summer heat spell and the drought had the Abbey crew set up the garden irrigation system on June 29. It was the first time in many years we had to irrigate.

The new abbey solar garden, with its three rows of solar panels, was completed June 19. It awaits a hook up to Sask Power net metering.

Vincent Nguyen and Lydia Mai accompany their daughters, Lan and Chi, to the school bus. They are in Grades 3 and pre-school respectively. The Muenster school bus has been coming to the abbey for the past two years to pick them up.  June 28 is the last day of school.

The discovery of over 750 unmarked graves at the former Marieval Indian Residential School at Cowessess First Nations led to the flags at the entrance to the Abbey being lowered to half-mast June 24. This is in solidarity with the Saskatchewan bishops who are committed to walk in solidarity with the residential school survivors and their families and communities.

Br. Denys prepares some wind protection for the tomato plants in the garden. The community hopes for an abundant crop of tomatoes this fall.

A beautiful spring rain that started on May 23, Pentecost Sunday, ended a spring drought in Saskatchewan. Farmers and gardeners are rejoicing. This rain gauge shows the amount of rain at the Abbey which also resulted in a slight frost the morning of May 26.

On May 14 Sundawg Solar company crew started assembling the mounting structure that will hold the solar panels in place when they are installed in a few weeks.

The supports for the solar panels at St. Peter’s Abbey arrived on May 7. The first row of piles was driven into the ground that afternoon. 

Candidate Joseph repaints the names on the tombstones in the Abbey cemetery. This will make it easier to identify the monks who are buried here.

It is early May and our Saskatoon bushes appear to be showing signs of buds that are greening.  We look forward to harvesting in late June or early July.  Last fall we did some major pruning of the bushes.

On April 27, Abbot Peter’s niece, Theresa, made a surprise visit to the abbey with a delicious homemade birthday cake.  We had a good time celebrating.

The monks and oblates of St. Peter’s Abbey extend a warm congratulations to Archbishop Donald Bolen who has won the Higgins Award. Don has been an oblate of our community for many years and we always look forward to his visits.

For more information please click the link below:

https://archregina.sk.ca/news/2021/04/12/2021-higgins-award-winner-archbishop-donald-bolen

Joseph Do made a display of homemade flowers for the Engaged Encounter weekend April 16-18 at the Abbey.

This is the last snowbank on the Abbey grounds. Photo taken on Saturday, April 17.

Just when we thought the warm weather might be here to stay a low pressure system dumped some snow throughout April 11 and 12. The farmers’ fields will benefit from the moisture.

Br. Pierre received the Pfizer vaccine at St. Augustine’s parish centre on April 8. He was the sixth community member to receive the vaccine.

Br. Kurt and Br. Basil check out the tomatoes they transplanted into the greenhouse April 5. Br. Kurt promises lots of tomatoes for this fall.

The abbey church has been decorated to celebrate the season of Easter.

Joseph Do arranged this Easter display in the Abbey dining room on Easter Sunday.

Fr. Richard got his vaccine shot on March 31 at St. Augustine Church in Humboldt. The first community members to receive the shot two weeks earlier were Frs. Daniel and Joseph.

On the solemnity of St. Joseph, March 19, St. Joseph’s statue was moved into the Abbey church. St. Joseph was proclaimed patron of the universal church 150 years ago and Pope Francis has written a special letter honouring him. He proclaimed this the year of St. Joseph.

Our monastic community voted March 11 to move forward with installing a 100 KW solar energy system for St. Peter’s Abbey. It is anticipated that the sun will provide half of the power the Abbey uses over the year. Stay tuned for updates.

With the snow melting the deer are looking for grass close to the Abbey.

Two banners and a cactus beside the altar mark the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday at the St. Peter’s Abbey church.

After a relatively mild winter a cold spell hit the Prairies Feb. 7. This is the temperature the morning of Feb. 8

Some of you have asked for a copy of Abbot Peter’s homily that he delivered at Fr. Paul’s funeral.

Homily Fr. Paul’s Funeral

A life in full bloom in our community was struck down suddenly at the age of 57. Without warning, Fr. Paul Paproski was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease Nov. 27, 2019. It cleared up the mystery of why he was limping that summer with his left leg and unable to get up when he fell. After many months of suffering, he died on Jan. 28 in the Humboldt Hospital.

Fr. Paul was pastor of St. Peter’s Parish in Muenster for five years. Ordained on Aug. 12, 2006 at the same Muenster cathedral, Fr. Paul lived at St. Peter’s Abbey and served in a number of surrounding parishes as pastor or assistant. Muenster was his last assignment and during his term the chapel in Muenster was sold and he celebrated daily mass at the Wolverine Heights retirement home.

Born in Lanigan to Ardel and Freda Paproski in 1963, he moved with his family to Hudson Bay, Sask. in 1971. He grew up there with his brother Perry and his sisters Gwen and Glenda. Fr. Paul took a degree in journalism after high school. He then worked as editor of the Hudson Bay Review for seven years before joining St. Peter’s Abbey in 1998.

He was the first St. Peter’s monk to study philosophy and theology at St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, PA. St. Vincent’s is the mother abbey of the St. Peter’s community that was first founded in 1892 near Wetaug, Ill. and transferred to Muenster in 1903. In his studies he specialized in monastic history.

At St. Peter’s Abbey, Fr. Paul put his talents to work in a variety of ways. His artistic photographs adorn many rooms and hallways. He taught in the formation program and served as junior master for many years. He became involved with engaged encounter weekends at the abbey. He got his master’s degree in Canadian history from the University of Saskatchewan. He headed the abbey Oblate program and published a newsletter for them and also edited the abbey newsletter. He worked as campus minister in the Men in Black program for the students at St. Peter’s College.

Fr. Paul had a quiet and shy personality which attracted many people to his ministry.

Visitors to St. Peter’s Abbey are greeted with this contemporary Christmas creche depicting men and women of various trades and cultures that Jesus came to announce the good news for.

The Abbey church was decorated Dec. 24 afternoon for the Christmas season with a Christmas tree, flowers and banners.

Fr. Paul continues to be taken care of at St. Peter’s Abbey. He is suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease. Since December 3, his cousin Theresa has been providing volunteer support during the night. Monks provide assistance during the day.

Br. Basil hangs up two Advent banners in the Abbey church to remind us of the season preceding Christmas.

Br. Kurt lights the Advent wreath before the meal to remind the community that it is Advent season.

We are excited to publish our 2020 Newsletter. We hope you enjoy catching up on all the Abbey news.

2020 Abbey Newsletter

Beautiful hoarfrost on Sunday, Nov 22, displays the beauty of nature in winter time at the Abbey.

Monks of St. Peter’s Abbey appreciated seeing these Sun dogs on Nov.12 gracing the grounds with their presence. 

A major snowstorm hit Saskatchewan the weekend of Nov. 8. Brother Basil had to get up early to clear out the snow.

Brother Basil cleans off the sidewalk Nov. 7 during the first major snowfall this winter season.

November is a special month to pray for the deceased. Friday, November 6, is a special day for praying for the deceased of our community. Their pictures will be displayed in our church this month.

St. Peter’s Abbey kitchen celebrated Halloween with a festive dessert for the monks.

The Abbey has acquired a new wheelchair-accessible van.  It will make it easier for Fr. Paul to visit people and attend meetings.  Fr. Demetrius is shown here assisting him into the van for his upcoming trip.  

During the month of November, the Village of Muenster is honouring veterans who served in the war.  Among them are three Benedictine monks: Fr. Cosmas Krumplemann, who served in World War I; Fr. Al Herriges, who served as a Chaplain in World War II; and Fr. Joe Ackerman, who also served in World War II.  The banners are hanging around the village.

St. Peter’s Abbey held an abbatial election on October 27.  It was a first in that Abbot President John Klassen of St. John’s Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota, presided over the election via Zoom.  Archbishop Don Bolan, an oblate of St. Peter’s Abbey, was present to assist in the election, which saw Fr. Peter Novecosky re-elected as abbot.  He had resigned upon reaching the age of 75 in April.  Also shown is Fr. Daniel Muyres who was secretary of the election process.

This beautiful Thanksgiving display was created by Joseph Do at the entrance to the Abbey church.

The U-pick corn season opened at the Abbey on August 29. Many neighbours look forward to coming and picking their own fresh corn.

We came across this humbling prayer and would like to share it:

On August 12 Fr. Paul was joined by family and friends to celebrate the 14th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. Congratulations Fr. Paul!

Br. Basil checks out the solar street light he installed on Saturday, August 1.

Picking this year’s crop of Saskatoon berries begins on July 22. Freda and Ardel Paproski came for the annual event, assisted by residents of St. Peter’s Abbey.  Abbey guest Joseph washes the berries before they get packaged and frozen.

Renovations have begun to the foyer of the St. Peter’s College gym and arena. The new roof is being put on the flat roof and is expected to be completed in a month’s time.

The Muenster Parish had a farewell celebration for Fr. Paul on Sunday afternoon July 12 at St. Peter’s Abbey. Fr. Paul has been Pastor at the Muenster Parish for five years and is being replaced by Father Demetrius.

The celebration included a ride to the Parish for morning mass in a special convertible car and a come-and-go tea in the afternoon. The car was manufactured in 1963, the same year Fr. Paul was born.

Abbey guest Joseph served the Canada Day supper to the Abbey Monks and guests on July 1.

In the week before Christmas special “O” antiphons are used at Vespers. Each day celebrates a particular title of Jesus. Brother Basil shows Theo some symbols made by Sister Rita of the Ursulines of Bruno which were donated to the Abbey a few years ago

The Monks held their annual Christmas get together with the staff of the Abbey on the afternoon of Dec. 19.

A heavy fog on the day and evening of Dec. 6 created a picturesque scene on the Abbey grounds on Dec. 7.

An Advent wreath was set up Dec. 1 to celebrate the Advent season in the dining room. The candle is lit at each meal. Here Br. Kurt does the honours.

The Abbey garden produced good pumpkins this year. David, a kitchen cook, prepares them for making pumpkin pies. The monks are looking forward to pumpkin pie this year.

November is the month of the dead and on Nov. 8 the monks had special prayers for the deceased members of the community who have their pictures displayed in the church.

Benedict Oblate Craig Larson made a donation of Haskap berries during his visit to the Abbey on Oct. 26. Receiving the berries gratefully are Abbot Peter, Br. Basil, and Fr. Demetrius. The berries will be made into jams and jellies which have become very popular.

Fr. Cosmas Epifano, right, agreed to become chaplain for Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Nova Scotia for a group of Augustinian contemplative nuns. He will live in a hermitage on their grounds. He left St. Peter’s Abbey Oct. 16 and is shown with Br. Basil.

Lydia Mai and her husband, Vincent, and two children join Abbot Peter and Joseph for their first supper at St. Peter’s Oct. 7. Lydia will be working in the Abbey business office

Vietnamese guest Joseph poses amid the first snowfall of the season on Oct. 1.

Abbot Peter Attended the ATRI meeting in Calgary Sept. 27-30. It’s an annual meeting for religious superiors and treasurers. There were 180 at the meeting room from across Canada.

Abbot Peter attended the annual meeting of the Canadian bishops in Cornwall Sept. 23 – 27. He is secretary of the Western bishops.

Father Joe turned 95 on Sept. 20. He’s the oldest monk of Saint Peter’s Abbey. He had a double celebration, first at dinner with a group of friends at Prairie View Home in Bruno and at supper with the monks at Saint Peters Abbey.

Donna Remenda, manager of St. Peter’s Abbey kitchen, serves cake at a social in honour of her 10th anniversary as kitchen manager.
Some Benedictines and friends gathered, September 15, for the special occasion.

Br. Luis helps Fr. Joe get his food ready to eat at dinner in the abbey dining room.

Mushrooms appeared plentiful on the Abbey lawn on Sept. 12 after the rain this week.

Br. Luis Cruz, left, Br. Benedict Van Ginkel and Br. Denys Janiga, OSB visited the former train station in Rosthern where the first settlers arrived in 1903 to St. Peter’s Colony.
The first settlers arrived in 1903 by rail to Rosthern and traveled by foot or horse to their new homesteads some 100 kilometres away.
The train station is now an arts centre.

Brs. Luis Cruz, OSB and Benedict Van Ginkel, right, visited Batoche National Historic Site on August 16.
Behind them is St. Antoine de Padoue Church.
Fr. Paul Paproski, OSB, taking the photo, accompanied them.

Abbot Peter joined the Saskatchewan KC delegation at the KC supreme convention in Minneapolis August 5-8.

Abbot Peter visited the 25-acre Solar Field at Saint John’s Abbey on Aug. 5 during his visit to the Abbey the first week of August.

Scenes from Mount Carmel Sunday on July 21.

Bishop Mark Hagemoen joined the Benedictines for lunch after Mass, July 21, on Mount Carmel Sunday.
Bishop Mark was the celebrant for Mass.
St. Peter’s Abbey Oblate Annette Zawada gives some baking to Abbot Peter Novecosky, OSB and Bishop Mark.

Joseph started picking the annual Saskatoon berry crop the afternoon of July 18. The berries look good and abundant this year.

Fr. Paul washes the berries and packages them for use in the winter.

David Nguyen, in the blue shirt, and his family arrived July 18 and will be living at Saint Peter’s Abbey. David was a chef in Hanoi, Vietnam. He is the brother of Father Thuy, in white shirt, of the archdiocese or Regina.

Abbot Peter Novecosky, OSB, and Bishop Mark Hagemoen of the Diocese of Saskatoon visit with Fr. Demetrius Wasylyniuk, OSB.
They were among the participants of the annual Knights of Columbus Clergy Sports Day.
Fr. Demetrius, guest master of St. Peter’s Abbey, helped facilitate the event.

Bishop Mark Hagemoen kicks the ball past Br. Denys Janiga, OSB at the Annual Knights of Columbus Clergy Sports Day.
The event was held July 15 and 16 at St. Peter’s Abbey.
Soccer was one of the popular activities.

Abbot Peter Novecosky, OSB was the celebrant, July 13, at Oblate Day Mass.
Richard Leuschen, left, Kathy Tumback of Humboldt and Margaret Meckelborg of Muenster became Oblates.

Br. Denys Janiga, OSB gave a presentation, July 13, to the Oblates on St. Anselm.

St. Peter’s is a favourite location for writers to come and write their books. More than 30 writers were here at the beginning of July. They find the peace and quiet conducive to their location.

Abbot Peter and Fr. Paul were among the abbots and delegates from 19 Abbeys attending the 53rd general chapter of the American Cassinese Congregation at St. Anselm’s Abbey in Manchester, New Hampshire. It was held June 15 to 21.

Fr. Paul and Abbot Peter attended the general chapter of the American Cassinese congregation June 15 to 21. Abbots and delegates from 19 abbeys were present at St. Anselm‘s Abbey in Manchester, New Hampshire.

The Abbey and area received a beautiful gentle rain on June 15 that amounted to 3 inches. This will make the farmers and gardeners very happy. This was the first rainfall of this summer.

Fr. Cosmas (standing), Brs. Luis and Denys (right front) and two visitors to the abbey cut rhubarb.

*Abbot Peter attended the convocation at the University of Saskatchewan June 6. Sister Agatha of Nigeria graduated with her doctorate in nursing. She is a friend of the Abbey.

Abbot Peter and Father Lawrence attended the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the Prelate Ursulines in Saskatchewan. The celebration took place June 1 at the Holy Family Cathedral in Saskatoon

Abbot Peter Novecosky, OSB stands with Abbot Primate Gregory Polan, OSB.
The abbot primate conducted the 2019 monastic retreat, May 26-30, at St. Peter’s Abbey.

The Benedictines of St. Peter’s Abbey celebrate Vespers, May 28, in the abbey cemetery.
The office is held in the cemetery, each year, on one day of the annual abbey retreat.
Abbot Primate Gregory Polan, OSB is the retreat master for 2019.

St. Peter’s Abbey hosted a coffee social, May 23, for Kathy Tumback who is retiring as business office manager. Staff and friends of St. Peter’s Abbey and College attended.
Kathy has been employed in the abbey business office for 13 years.
Fr. Demetrius Wasylyniuk, OSB helps Kathy serve cake.

Here is Br. Kurt planting strawberries in the Abbey Greenhouse. The cuttings were provided by Br. Benedict’s sister.

Here is the state of our tomatoes. The first crop should be ready about Canada Day.

When Abbot Peter celebrated Sunday mass at Biggar and Landis May 12, he visited the site of the major Prairie grass and bush fire there at the end of April.