| Volume 34, Number 3 |
Richardton, ND 58652
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July 2006
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 Fr. Francis Wehri, 50 years professed. |
JUBILARIANS FOR 2006
FRANCIS WEHRI Arthur Wehri was born in rural Haymarsh, North Dakota, in 1935. This parish was always served by the monks of this Abbey, and many boys from St. Clement’s attended the Abbey boarding school. Arthur spent the years 1949-55 in our school, where he excelled in the music department. No concert was complete without Art Wehri at the piano. In 1955, he became a monk of the Abbey, being given the name Francis. He professed first vows in 1956, so this is his golden jubilee. Fr. Francis did his philosophical studies at St. John’s in Collegeville, and then spent four years in the seminary at Assumption Abbey. After his ordination in 1961, he began to work in the Abbey School. He was principal of the school in 1965 when he underwent open-heart surgery in Washington, DC, for a congenital defect. Since this surgery was still in its beginning stages, his recovery was not taken for granted. The very next year, 1966, Abbot Ignatius Hunkler sent Fr. Francis to Bogotá, Colombia, to be rector of our boys school (San Carlos) in that South American city. Since Bogotá is located at 8,600 ft. above sea level, one might wonder how a heart patient would fare in the thin air. Just fine, it turns out, and our man has functioned as rector of this prestigious school for the past forty years! In an age when CEOs are considered to be under extraordinary stress, and are therefore lavishly compensated, Fr. Francis takes a monkish salary (nothing) and runs a serene establishment. He knows every student by name and takes a hands-on approach to every aspect of the school. He is one of those rare educators who have a practical, intuitive understanding of what makes a school work, and what makes students flourish. He also likes to pick up waste paper on the grounds. Mind you, this is a school of 1,300 boys, and most teachers bow out of this strenuous work at about age 50. In an important sense, Fr. Francis is probably the best-known monk in the history of this Abbey. Thousands of San Carlos alumni consider him the gold standard of integrity and fairness, and they continue to consult him as a mentor. If anything needs to be added, Fr. Francis has functioned in the past as Prior of Monasterio de Tibatí, our monastic community in Bogotá. He has always served as the community accompanist at the organ. He obtained an MA in education from the University of Alabama extension service in Bogotá. |
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 Fr. Basil Atwell, 25 years professed. |
BASIL ATWELL John Atwell arrived at the Abbey in 1979 from Glendive, Montana. He is the son of Genevieve and the late John Atwell, one of five children in the family. John was a member of Sacred Heart Church, where Abbey alumnus Fr. Joe Ponessa is pastor and Fr. Denis sometimes helps out. He graduated from Glendive High School and worked for the telephone company in his hometown before coming to the novitiate. He professed simple vows in 1981, making him a silver jubilarian in 2006. In his earliest years in the monastery, Bro. Basil worked as a potter. He obtained a degree in fine arts from St. John’s University, and inaugurated the Abbey Pottery upon his return from Minnesota. Although he produced some excellent pottery, Basil found himself more drawn to working with people, especially young people. Therefore, he began part-time teaching at the University of Mary. From 1994 to 1998 he worked as a chaplain on the Bismarck campus. Feeling a need for training in his chaplain work, Bro. Basil began theological studies at his old stomping grounds at St. John’s. Although it was not easy to go back to school at the “advanced age” of 40, he came through with flying colors and was ordained in 2002. He spent his first few years of ministry as an assistant priest at St. Wenceslaus Church, Dickinson. He was also made chaplain to Trinity High School in the same city. Fr. Basil received his first pastorate in 2004 at St. Mary’s Church, New England, ND. He also has a mission church at St. Elizabeth, Lefor, ND. His work at New England has a unique flavor since there is a women’s prison attached to the parish. Not just in the parish but occupying the same campus! He and his parishioners have found a good deal of satisfaction ministering to the spiritual needs of the women in the next-door prison. In this and his other pastoral duties, Fr. Basil finds ample scope for his gifts of rapport with people and enthusiasm for the Gospel of Jesus. He is one of those typical “JP II Priests,” dedicated to the traditions of the Church and a promoter of devotional life. For example, he has introduced Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Mary’s. |
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RAPHAEL STOVIK Fr. Raphael was ordained 50 years ago this year (May 20, 1956) so he will be feted with the other jubilarians at the community retreat in early June. Sad to say, he himself will not be present at the event, or even aware of it, since he has been a stroke victim for several years now. He currently resides in the Richardton Health Center just down the block from the Abbey. Raymond Stovik came from a big family of boys in Colville, Washington. His was a “Benedictine family”: his uncle Mark was Abbot of St. Gregory’s in Oklahoma, and his aunt Mary Mark was a member of Annunciation Priory, Bismarck. His brother Jordan was a monk of St. John’s and his brother Bart was a member of Assumption Abbey. Nevertheless, Ray did not enter the monastery at a young age. He grew up during the Depression and there was little money for education. Consequently, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1940. By the time he participated in the great invasion at Normandy in 1944, he was an army veteran. His long training served him well in the Battle of the Bulge the next winter. At least he survived, and talked about it the rest of his life. Upon his return to civilian life, Ray made use of the GI Bill to attend college at St. John’s, where he graduated in 1951. He was an excellent athlete in college, and a dedicated tennis player all his life. He also conceived a passionate devotion to the Philadelphia Phillies. For most of his life, they were a last-place team, but that never disturbed his loyalty. This tells a lot about his personality. After joining Assumption Abbey, Fr. Raphael made his first vows on July 11, 1952. He did his theological studies at the monastery, resulting in ordination in 1956. In the first years after becoming a priest, Fr. Raphael did some teaching in the Abbey School. His typing class was modeled on military boot camp and a fairly painful experience for many students. But all of them learned to type. Fr. Raphael spent most of his life in various pastoral assignments outside the monastery. He worked in many of the small parishes cared for by the Abbey, but his longest pastorate was at New Hradec, ND (1984-95). During that decade, he also served as chaplain of St. Joseph’s Hospital, Dickinson, ND. In all of his missions, Fr. Raphael was well-liked by the people. He was somewhat gruff, but always cheerful and positive. He was not a theologian, but he took good spiritual care of the People of God. q |
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