www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News 2 MONKS SHOT AND KILLED

Another update from Conception Abbey

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Well the monastic community is beginning the long slow process of healing and reconciliation. The cleaning and recovery crew is gone - we have our monastery cloister and church back. They did an excellent job, things appeared to be just as they were (only cleaner!). Only upon close examination could I see the bullet holes that are the remaining signs of this brutal act. This afternoon, all the monks participated in a ceremony of blessing and cleansing of the common living spaces affected by the attack. Fr. Abbot led us in prayer to all the areas where are beloved brothers were slain or wounded. We prayed and sprinkled holy water to exercise the demons. During this my thoughts turned to a discussion I took part in on this forum some time back concerning the nature of evil. Well this whole incident has only strenghtened my belief that there is more to evil than mere abscence. There is an active presence, how else to explain this monstrous senseless tragedy? We really can't harbor any great feeling of outrage or hatred toward the shooter - it appears from all accounts that he was a very disturbed and troubled person. The authorities have gone over everything connected with this man and still find no link or reason why he did this. I am afraid that if there was a reason, he took it to his grave.

Tomorrow morning we reconsecrate the church. The local bishop granted faculties to our abbot to do this so it can be done as soon as possible. This evening we prayed Vespers together for the first time as a community since the shooting. We did so in the monastic refrectory. It was so meaningful to hear our familiar chants once again! A Capuchian friar who teaches psychology at our seminary came over tonight to lead us in some group work to attempt to process some of the feelings and emotions connected to this event. That session was very helpful.

Those of you who asked about the funeral arrangements they are: Office of the Dead [Vespers] followed by wake service @ 7 PM June 13, Mass of the Resurrection @ 11 AM June 14. If you are coming know that many, many others will be here. This is not to disuade you but to let you plan better if you might need lodging. The number of our guest facility is (660) 944-2809. Our web address is www.conceptionabbey.org [conceptionabbey.org] Please join us in prayer, wherever you are, at that time.

Once again thanks for allowing me to keep this online journal. It is helping me to cope with this all.

Continuing in prayer...

Br. Elias

[ 06-11-2002: Message edited by: Benedictine ]

Br. Elias,

I cannot express my sorrow for you and your community.

Axios

Glory to Jesus Christ!
Glory to Him Forever!

Dear Br. Elias

I am currently "writing" an ikon of Christ the High Priest. I am painting you and your community and your brother monks who were taken to the Father into the ikon.

I will light candles for them and for your community at Divine Liturgy on Sunday.

the least servant of the servants

the ikonwriter
mark

We will continue to pray for you an the community, Br. Elias.

Our hearts and prayers are with you.

Rich

Dear Benedictine,

PAX!

We have all taken you and your community into our hearts where they will stay!

For my part, I am praying the psalter the Benedictine way and invoking our Father among the Saints Benedict of Nursia and Scholastica.

Shared suffering is more bearable . . .

Alex

Brother Elias,

As a young man who aspires to the monastic life within the Byzantine Catholic Church, the events that happened at your holy Abbey a few days ago are especially saddening to me. I assure you of my prayers for yourself and your entire brotherhood, and for the repose of the servants of God, Philip and Damian. May they have a blessed repose and be kept in eternal memory!

Yours humbly in Christ,

Timothy, servant of God and future monk

Dear Brother Elias,

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and feelings over these last most painful days. When reading them we are able in our own small ways to share in the suffering of your Community.

Speaking for myself [ and allowing for the time difference, which I have still to work out ]I will join the Community in Vespers on the 13th and offer my prayers whilst you are all offering the Mass of the Resurrection the following morning.

May God be with you all at this time.

Angela

Continuing News from Conception...

Dear brothers & sisters in the Lord,

Today was a difficult day. Many of the monks who were away from the abbey working on mission or summer assignments came home to be here for the funeral liturgies. They are just beginning to experience some of what we who were home felt on that fatal day. It is hard for them, and us, as the events of the shootings are related again and again for each arriving monk, friend, alumnus, etc. It is very draining emotionally.

This afternoon we recieved the bodies of our slain brothers. It really hit home to those who weren't present since for them they were only "missing" or "gone" till now. Loads and loads of flowers are filling the basilica church. And we have been swamped with cards, calls and e-mails from all over the world. The most touching display was a simple bouquet of garden flowers in an old coffee can covered with aluminum foil with a hand written note from a neighbor family. Now that's a "monastic" flower arrangement - even though we still appreciate the professional ones we received too!

There so much that has to be done before the Funeral Mass tomorrow. Extra chairs need to be set out, the cloister cleaned for all the important dignitaries coming etc. But it helps to keep busy. I'm was supposed to be study for my master's degree when all this erupted, but now I am more content scrubbing the bathrooms as I did this morning. The impact and loss of our brothers was underscored when we realized all the different things they regularly do that we had to pitch in to take care of. For example, Damian was our groundskeeper. He would be very upset if the lawns weren't mowed before all those guests get here. So some took turns on the tractor, asking: "Now, how do I do this?" Fr. Philip had a little garden where he grew strawberries that were always a treat at our table in the summer. He swore that store-bought ones are just tasteless and I believe him. He would be fussing if we let them rot out there. I can hear him say: "That's food the good Lord gave you, it's a sin to let them go to waste." So I volunteered to pick out in the berry patch, gathered over 3 pints.

Well, I got to go. It's time for my shft keeping vigil with their bodies. Again thank you for your prayers and support.

PAX

Br. Elias

[ 06-13-2002: Message edited by: Benedictine ]

PAX VOBISCUM, FRATRE!

LAUDETUR IESUS CHRISTUS!

Alex

Brother Elias,

Thank you for helping us to keep vigil with you and the others in your community there through this community here.

Pray for us as we pray for you and yours.

Steve

Brother Elias,

What more can I say - the others have said it for me.

All I can offer is my prayers and that I do most willingly

God be with you all now, tomorrow and always

May Our Blessed Lady, Mary ever Virgin Mother of us all , my Mistress keep you all in Her most tender care.

Angela

Brother Elias, I am only now returning from work in a rural area of Iowa to discover this horrific act.

As a former member of a cloistered community, I understand what 'community' means. I have read your posts, and those of our internet-parish here on the forum, and as I read, my eyes filled with tears.

Please be strong in assurance that Our Lord is still the Lord of All and that He will use this in some way to His glory. Be free to experience your grief at the loss of two beloved friends and brothers. Weeping is not weakness, but a sign of love and affection. Sublimate your anger; it is naturally human, but can be a evil source of hatred.

Christ has risen from the dead -- and by His death He has trampled down ALL death. And to those who come to their graves: HE has granted life everlasting.

Lord, mercy upon us all.

Dear All,

The funeral is over now by several hours. As expected we had the largest crowd ever in the history of our Abbey. The number is estimated @ about 1100 people. The church was so packed that we erected a tent outside with a PA system to handle the overflow.

If you are interested in a fitting tribute to our deceased confreres the text of their eulogies is posted on our website: www.conceptionabbey.org [conceptionabbey.org] I could not even attempt to do better.

Once again thank you for allowing me the opportunity to tell our story and share our burden with all of you. Your prayer and words of encouragement are most appreciated. Tomorrow I leave for school to complete my theological studies, so I probably won't be posting for a while. Now the hard task comes of returning to some kind of normalcy.

The Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.

Br. Elias

[ 06-14-2002: Message edited by: Benedictine ]

[ 06-14-2002: Message edited by: Benedictine ]

[ 06-14-2002: Message edited by: Benedictine ]

And with you and your Brothers. May His angels guide Brother Damian and Father Phillip safely home.

John
Pilgrim and Odd Duck

[ 06-14-2002: Message edited by: Two Lungs ]

And with your spirit, dear brother. And may our Lord who loves mankind keep the dear departed in the place with no sorrow, no pain, but eternal life. Memory eternal.