technology, e-mail, and the internet are all important developments for society. these technological advancements also influence the lives of monks. With this influence in mind, in mid-August of last year Abbot Philip asked me to come to his office. While there he reminded me that for many years the abbey had worked toward creating a web site for itself. He related that some of the items on the web site remained incomplete and for the most part the web site was not kept up to date. the abbot asked me if I were willing to look into the matter. I pointed out to him that I did not know much about web sites, but that I was willing to give it a try. the abbot gave me permission to enroll in a class at IVcc about web page design which was an independent course of study intended to introduce me to the basics of web site coding which stands behind the design. the second semester of the school year found me taking another class at IVcc about web page development which met every Monday evening and gave me the opportunity to review, while using a computer program used for web site codes, what I had learned the previous semester. Along the way we hired the firm 815 Media to collaborate with us toward our

goal of posting a new and improved abbey web site. Work continues on this goal, but I think I will be coming to a conclusion in the next few months. Some of the features of the new abbey web site include the following: information

about the community’s history and mission, community profiles and death notices, abbey publications, and news about individual monks and their activities.

Father Michael Calhoun

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Abbey ViewsVOLUME 18, NUMBER 2

Girls’ Freshman Basketball Boys’ Freshman Basketball

Girls’ Sophomore Basketball Boys’ Sophomore Basketball

Girls’ Varsity Basketball Boys’ Varsity Basketball

The Last Supper Club

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The Last Supper Club is the ‘brain-child’ of junior, Min Hwang, who is from South Korea. He thought it would be a great idea to go to dinner once a month to non-chain restaurants in the Illinois Valley. He approached Father Ronald with the idea. His idea took hold and now about 40 students and teachers are involved. The group has its own t-shirt, designed by junior, Kyle Kapraun. The group’s motto is: “Eat every meal like it’s your last supper.” The group also has a Facebook page and members do reviews of each of the restaurants. The group started in January and visited 5 restaurants: Amici Riastorante, Uptown Grill, Verucchi’s, Mark Allen’s and Cajun Connection. In the 2013-2014 school year plans are to visit 8 more restaurants: 2 Italian; 2 Asian; 2 Mexican and 2 American .

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the past five months have been a time of great blessing. Father Joseph who had been a member of the monastic community since he came here from Peoria in 1951 died peacefully on April 4th and I am sure he was greeted by the Lord with the words, “well done my good and faithful servant.” For many years he worked in the Academy trying to inspire artists and guide our aspiring golfers. He also served at Saint Joseph’s parish where he showed a genuine zeal and compassion for the sick and the suffering. In recent times he had struggled with dementia and had to enter the memory care unit of Saint Joseph’s nursing home in Lacon. Watching his memory and his ability to care for himself gradually disappear, I was privileged to be with Father Joseph and his family as he neared death and peacefully and painlessly journeyed home to God. So I rejoice that he rests now in the loving arms of our God.

congratulations to our Lady Bruins! they had a great season and went to the state tournament in Peoria as part of the final four. the other three teams all came to the tournament undefeated so our Lady Bruins faced a tremendous challenge. While they lost both games in Peoria they battled fiercely and both games ended with the tying runs on base. I had known since they were freshman that they had the potential to be an exceptional team, and to see them work hard to realize that potential was a source of great joy for me. As we used to say in an old cheer, “We’re proud to be from the Academy”! thank you ladies for making us proud! On May 25, the feast of Saint Bede two of our alumni from the class of 2005, Scott Potthoff and Jacob rose, were ordained to the Priesthood for the diocese of Peoria. Father rose will be serving at Saint Michael the Archangel Parish in Streator and Father Potthoff at Saint Joseph’s Parish in Pekin. We are most grateful that through our ministry of education at Saint Bede we were able to foster their desire to serve the Lord Jesus as Priests. A third member of the ordination group was a great nephew of our Father Alphonse Freehill whom some of you may recall from your years at Saint Bede. Let us continue to remember Father Potthoff and Father rose in our prayers. Last Fall Bishop Jenky asked me if I would be willing to confer the sacrament of confirmation in our diocese. I agreed but had little sense of the wonderful and blessed experience it would be. In a nine day period in April I conferred the sacrament of confirmation at Saint Patrick’s parish in Bloomington, Immaculate conception parish in Ohio, and Saint Mary’s parish in Kewanee. the students to be confirmed were full of zeal to receive the sacrament and to serve the church. I had some wonderful conversations with them and they were very attentive as I preached. Many of them showed that they even remembered some things I had said. In the future I will have more opportunities to confer the Sacrament and I suspect that I will again be filled with great hope and joy. Finally, we have been working on a host of projects at the Abbey. We continue to make progress toward providing Senior housing and both Assisted Living and Memory care. If all continues to go well, I will be able to share great good news with you within the next few months. Because our monastic community is smaller we are also reorganizing the spaces in the monastery to serve our needs and provide a greater sense of community. It is a lot of hard work because it involves change, and sorting through a lot of stuff. It is truly amazing how much stuff we monks have accumulated. By the time you receive The Bedan Record the monastery elevator will be modernized with the hope that we will have fewer breakdowns. With an aging community the elevator is a real necessity. All that we have done, and all that we will do is only possible because of the support of so many members of the Saint Bede Family. On behalf of all of us at Saint Bede I want to thank you and promise our continued prayers of blessing and gratitude.

A Time of Great Joy and Hope

Father Scott Potthoff and Father Jacob Rose

are pictured to the right of Bishop Jenky.

Saint Bede AcademyTop Ten2013 ILLINOIS

State Scholars

Yearbook Staff

Student Government

Spanish Club

Rocket Team

WYSE - World Youth in Science & Engineering

6 @ THE BEDAN RECORD @ @ SUMMER 2013 @ 23

If that indeed be the case (as clearly I believe it to be), then perhaps the oblates can be said to have had an excellent year, for it was precisely “defects,” their keenly felt and openly acknowledged difficulties in remaining attentive to God in their workaday lives–and their desire to redress the same–that determined the very focus of their study and reflection at this year’s monthly meetings: what is known in the monastic tradition as “mindfulness of God,” the continuous grateful awareness of God’s continuous loving presence, the fulfillment of Saint Paul’s injunction, “Pray without ceasing” (1 thes 5:17). A comprehensive article on that subject by Abbot claude, appearing as it did in the year’s first issue of Our Family News, the oblates’ bimonthly publication, well equipped them for their explorations. these commenced with an investigation into the inability of individuals to be mindful of anything –that is, their inability to be truly present to “the matter of the moment,” whatever it might be–that is so markedly a characteristic of contemporary Western society. the oblates discussed the phenomenon as it has emanated from the business world’s high regard for the ability to “multi-task” and, far more basically, from the media’s relentless bombardment of people with a battery of items that all clamor for their attention at the same time. there followed a consideration of mindfulness of God as it relates to others: the effect of being mindful of God on others when interacting with them, and the need

for being mindful of God in others when interacting with them, the latter particularly as elucidated by Saint Benedict in the rule. A consideration, actually, of the relationship between an individual’s mindfulness of God and the church and the world at large, it provided the necessary context for an ensuing ongoing reflection on seemingly purely personal concerns. that began with a guest presentation by Father ronald on achieving a balance in one’s daily life and continued with an examination of mindfulness of God as it relates to a variety of aspects of day-to-day existence. Foremost among these were the things that, in the experience of the oblates, most often and most compellingly vie with God for attention: work, especially, if one is employed, that which constitutes one’s occupation, and, more basically, concern with oneself, what constitutes for each of us, as a fallen creature, a preoccupation. discussion of these led, in turn, to discussion of preventives of and remedies for the distractions from God that they can cause, of things that the oblates thought could and should become integral components of their lives: a period set aside each day specifically for lectio divina (sacred reading) and prayer, spiritual practices that can be used throughout the day for the maintenance or recovery of mindfulness of God, and ways in which God can be found in the ordinary, in the people and “stuff” of everyday life. Sources of practical wisdom that the group found valuable in dealing with such matters ranged from the sayings of the desert monks

and nuns of fourth- and fifth-century Egypt to modern celtic invocations of God and the saints. the oblates also bravely delved into the more difficult matter of mindfulness of God in the midst of adversity, trial, and suffering, and in so doing grappled with the possible modes and meanings of his presence therein. the year ended with something of a turnabout, a consideration–a decidedly heartening one–of mindfulness of God in the sense of his mindfulness of us, succinctly expressed by Saint Paul in his quotation from an early christian hymn: “If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown his own self” (2 tm 2:13). the oblates can be said to have had an excellent year in other ways as well. Attendance at meetings was good, bolstered by the addition of new members–both men and women– from near and far. discussions were spirited and productive of some valuable insights. the group made good use of the new books on the psalms and on monastic spirituality that were acquired for their lending library last year, and their continued generosity permitted the purchase this year of a slew of new books on the Scriptures and on lectio divina. these latter, I hope, will prove to be valuable tools for the oblates next year, when, as an outgrowth of this year’s undertaking, the center of their attention will be, precisely, lectio divina.

Brother Nathaniel Grossmann, O.S.B.

“We succeed in enterprises which demand the positive qualities we possess, but we excel in those which can also

make use of our defects.”

Tocqueville once astutely observed,

I’m probably not a typical oblate. I’m not Catholic, for starters, and I’m a Protestant pastor, but the oblates of Saint Bede Abbey have become a hospitable, supportive, and nurturing community that reminds me to listen for God each day. In other ways, I am a typical oblate. I, along with my sister and brother oblates, strive to integrate the “the Rule of Benedict” into every aspect of our lives. We take the Benedictine “motto” work and prayer seriously and struggle to make our work become prayer, and our prayer become the work of God. Benedictine spirituality has come to inform and shape everything I am: Christian, husband, father, son, friend, and pastor. Indeed, I’m grateful for the spiritual growth I’m experiencing through the Saint Bede oblate community and our director.

Reverend Doctor Jim WarrenSenior Pastor of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Bloomington, IL

Willie Wonka & The Chocolate Factory

Saint Bede AcademyChorus

Saint Bede AcademyMusical

Singing the National Anthem at Progressive Field – Home of the Cleveland Indians.

24 @ Abbey Views @ @ SUMMER 2013 @ 5

Reverend Joseph Heyd, O.S.B. ~ May 1, 1930 - April 4, 2013 the reverend Joseph Heyd. O.S.B., monk and priest of Saint Bede Abbey, aged 82, died in the morning of April 4, 2013, at Saint Joseph’s Nursing Home in Lacon, IL, where he had been a patient since August of 2012. His body was returned to the Saint Bede Abbey church at 4:00 p.m. Friday, April 5. the wake service continued after the reception of the body until 8:00 o’clock that evening, with a prayer vigil celebrated by the monastic community at 7:30, and again on Saturday morning from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. the rt. rev. Philip davey, O.S.B., abbot of Saint Bede, presided at the funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, with burial following in the abbey cemetery. the Mueller Funeral Home of Peru was in charge of funeral arrangements. Father Joseph was born in Peoria, IL on April 1, 1930, the first of five children of Wilbert and Alice Martin Heyd. He was baptized as James Wilbert at Saint Bernard’s Parish, where he also attended the parish grade school, then staffed by dominican sisters. His high school years were spent at Spalding Institute, which was at that time staffed by monks of Saint Bede Abbey. two of his maternal uncles, rev. Boniface Martin (1888-1974) and rev. Patrick Martin (1896-1968) had been monks of Saint Bede, a third uncle, rev. charles Martin, was a priest of the Peoria diocese who had served as pastor of Saint Mary’s Parish, Peru, and a fourth Martin brother, James, had been ordained for the diocese but died of influenza less than a year afterward. two of his mother’s sisters had become nuns. Father Joseph was an outstanding student at Saint Bede Junior college from 1948 to 1950, and then entered the monastic community, making his first profession on July 11, 1951, after which he spent the next two years earning a BA degree at Saint John’s University in collegeville, MN. during the next three years he studied theology at Saint Bede and taught mathematics and Latin to academy students. After ordination to the priesthood on September 22, 1956 he did graduate work in theology for another two years at the collegio di Sant’ Anselmo, the international Benedictine university in rome, Italy, earning a licentiate degree. Already during his college years he had discovered that his principal talent was in art, and during the next decade he developed his techniques, first in calligraphy and painting and then in sculpture, for varying periods of time at several different institutions: the Art Institute of chicago (1958 and 1961-62), the University of Notre dame (1959), Webster college at Webster Grove, MO (1965-66), the Otis Art Institute at Los Angeles, cA (1968-69), and the San Francisco Art Institute (1971-72), where he earned the MFA degree. during much of this period and afterwards, until his retirement from teaching in 1994, he was also art instructor and chairman of the art department at Saint Bede Academy. Additionally, Father Joseph founded the golf program and coached for many years. After the abbey’s round cow barn became vacant following the sale of the monks’ dairy herd in 1970, he renovated it and turned it into a sculpture studio equipped with a kiln

for the production of both ceramic pieces and bronze sculptures. After it had served for some twenty-five years, this studio was ignited by a brush fire in 1997 and burned to the ground. It was later replaced by the current brick art building at Saint Bede, which contains a small gallery of some of Father Joseph’s art work. His major works, however, have a more prominent setting. these include the monumental bronze statues of internationally famous violinist Maud Powell, a native of Peru, which was commissioned by local citizens to decorate a new plaza downtown on Fourth Street, and the statue of Saint Mark the Evangelist and his symbolic lion that stands outside Saint Mark’s church in Peoria. He also created the bronze statue of Saint Francis of Assisi in the village park at Hennepin, IL, the outdoor statue of Mary, Mother of the church at Saint Monica’s Parish in East Peoria (a duplicate copy of which stands in the grass courtyard at Saint Bede next to the abbey building), and the steel statue of the risen christ in the Saint Bede Abbey church. In 1994, upon retiring from teaching, Father Joseph was assigned as part-time associate pastor of Saint Joseph Parish in Peru, where he resided for the next fifteen years, assisting in the parish while also continuing

his art work at the abbey on most afternoons. He had previously had some parochial experience for brief periods at Saint Joseph’s Parish in chicago in

1958, at Holy trinity Parish in cherry, IL in 1969, and at Saint Joseph’s in Peru in 1970. Upon the onset of Alzheimer’s disease in 2009, Father Joseph returned to Saint Bede Abbey, where he remained until his transfer to Saint Joseph’s Nursing Home. In addition to the monastic community of Saint Bede Abbey, Father Joseph is survived by his three sisters, Mrs. Joan Schaber and Mrs. Patricia callaway, both of Peoria, and Sister Mary Ann Heyd, O.P. of Sinsinawa, WI. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother, Attorney charles Heyd of cincinnati, OH.

In art class, Father Joseph shows Ed Giant a “coil”.

Kevin McCann, Dan Marenda, Rick Shinnick and Gene Baldini

watch Father Joseph finish a clay jar.

The Stars of The Academy were shining brightly, as 110 students generously donated their time to assist with this year’s 30th Anniversary “A Night at the Academy” auction gala. The true blessing of this star-studded evening is in understanding that the main objective is to raise money in an effort to support the hopes and dreams of our students! For the fourth year in a row, Bonnie Prokup & her remarkable team of volunteers created a fun, profitable event raising $185,000.00 for the students of Saint Bede Academy. This year’s auction ranks in the Top 5 most profitable years in 30 years of auction tradition!

30th Anniversary Auction Gala “A Night at the Academy”