Newsletter for alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St.
Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas, 29 of March 2022. No. 1051
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Dear Friends,
Here
are short essays on Don Basil Matthews, and Fr. Hilderbrand Greene
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https://catholictt.org/2022/03/23/swimming-again-at-the-mount/
https://www.facebook.com/mountstbenedicttrinidad/posts/2314049258710917
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Dom Basil Matthews
After attending St Mary's
College, he entered the monastery at Mount St Benedict’s where he pursued
studies for the priesthood.
1n
1935 he was one of the first Trinidadian to be ordained priest in the Order of
St Benedict.
Matthews,
an assigned counsellor at "the Mount" published Crisis of the West
Indies Family.
In
1955 he engaged in a famous intellectual debate with Dr Eric Williams.
In
1956 he established St Benedict's College in La Romaine.
St
Benedict's was the first composite school in the country, offering, in addition
to the usual academic subjects, commerce, accounts, typewriting and domestic
science.
Matthews
introduced music into the curriculum.
He
established a successful school football team producing national stars such as
Waren Archibald, De Leon, Steadman David, Cupid, Ruben and others.
He
also served as a vice-president of the T&T Football Association.
In
the 70's he went to the United States to work in educational systems in New
York archdiocese.
Matthews
developed an "intellectual academic base for the integration of black
experience into the curriculum" at Howard University.
He
was assigned to the Graduate School of Social Work.
After
eight years he returned to Trinidad, and in 1980 he announced the founding of
an Institute of Human Relation.
He
taught at the Abbey School at St Benedict, and was a lecturer for the Extra
Mural Departments of UWI St Augustine.
The
monk died at a nursing home in the United States on April 7,1999.
He
was 87.
(Excerpts from Trinidad Guardian April 16, 1999
written by Seigmund Assee)
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Fr Hildebrand Greene - Monk
with a compassionate heart
by Michelle Loubon
Sat Mar 16, 2013
Born in Georgetown, Guyana,
Fr Hildebrand Greene, former abbot, made Mt St Benedict, St John's, monastery
his home.
Greene,
74, passed away at 4.25 pm on Tuesday from kidney failure, at Mt St Benedict
where he had lived and taken his Vow of Stability.
Greene
had served as Abbott for 16 years (1979 to 1995).
Asked
about his contribution, Abbot John Pereira said Greene, a Benedictine monk, was
a strong advocate of inter-religious dialogue.
He
also made reference to an article published in the Catholic News–Abbot
Hildebrand Greene finds gold in Guyana–(January 27, 2008) in which he had
alluded to Greene's penchant for inter-religious dialogue.
Pereira
said, "He had a broad approach to spirituality.
He
would draw from different sources in terms of what was edifying.
He
was open to people of other faiths.
Therefore,
his readings and his approach to spirituality was informed by his openness.
"Not
only the Christian tradition, but he was open and appreciative of the real
truth that lies at the heart of several great religions including Hinduism,
Islam and Buddhism.
He
drew extensively from different traditions."
Mt St Benedict open to all
Pereira pointed out one of
outstanding legacies of his tenure as abbot was enhancing the reputation of the
monastery as a place that was accessible to people of all faiths.
He
said, "Mt St Benedict was seen as a sanctuary where people came to seek
God.
Although
it is a Catholic Benedictine monastery, it had the unique quality that people
from all faiths have found a sense of God there.
That
practice has been with us from day one.
We
have East Indians coming up here on pilgrimage and a long tradition of
Spiritual Baptists.
He
was close to members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
It
is a place where people from all different faiths can find peace with God amid
their joys and sorrows."
Compassionate heart
Pereira lauded Greene for
having a "compassionate heart."
For
several years, Greene served unofficially as a chaplain to Golden Grove Prison,
Arouca.
"Every
Sunday after Greene had celebrated the Eucharist, he would leave the monastery
and spend time with prisoners at Golden Grove.
Many
of them appreciated his approach to them.
They
found they could relate to him at a different level than a prisons
officer."
At
home, he worked closely with the officials and inmates at New Life Ministries
Drug Rehabilitation Centre.
Pereira
added, "There he exercised compassion.
Even
with his monks, he showed a compassionate heart.
I
think it was one of the hallmarks of his life."
Although
they have not decided on a tangible manner to honour his legacy, Greene's name
would be etched on a plaque and hung within the monastery.
"We
would place it where the monks pray.
We
want to remember the names of the deceased monks."
Thanks to Mt Hope
During the time he was
bedridden and had degenerated more from Parkinson’s disease, doctors from Eric
Williams Medical Sciences Complex took excellent care of Greene.
Pereira
thanked them for their yeoman service.
While
he thanked the entire medical team, he singled out Dr Neil Peters, Prof
Hutchinson and Dr Poon King at St Augustine Private Hospital for their
assistance which was done "gratis."
Pereira
even thanked fellow monks for their concern and care for Greene.
Greene's milestones
Born in 1938 in Georgetown,
Guyana, Hildebrand Greene was educated at the Ursuline Convent School and St
Stanislaus College before joining the Abbey in Trinidad and Tobago at 18.
As
a young monk, Greene was sent to Rome to study sacred liturgy at the Benedictine
Institute of San Anselmo.
Hildebrand
also obtained an arts degree at the University of the West Indies, St
Augustine.
It
was as chaplain of the university that he made a notable impression on many of
the students, including Bishop Francis Alleyne, OSB, who at the time was
pursuing a degree in Engineering.
Partially
under the influence of Greene, Francis left the University and became a monk of
the Abbey at Mount St Benedict. On January 15, 2008, Greene renewed his
monastic profession during a noble celebration of the Eucharist in the
remoteness of the Guyanese Interior at the Benedictine Monastery in Bartica.
Greene
has taught courses in Liturgy and Comparative Religion for several years at the
Regional Seminary.
He
is well known for his work among prisoners in Bartica at the Mazaruni Prison
across the river from the Monastery.
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From: "Guyana
Benedictines" <benedictines@solutions2000.net>
Subject: Circular No. 153 The Abbey School MSB
Date: Sun, 10 Oct 2004
Dear Laszlo,
Peace!
Thanks for your on-going articles about
the Mount.
Two notes:
1. Fr. John Chrysostom Lee Sing (notice,
no 'h' in the spelling of Sing; it's
Chinese not Indian).
2. Bro. Robert (Wilfred) John left the
monastery, got married, fathered a family. Then his wife died of cancer and he
went back to the Seminary
And was ordained a Diocesan Priest two
years ago. Isn't that something?
All the best,
Bro. Paschal Jordan, OSB
(Joined 17 Aug. 1964; professed 08 Sep. 1966; sent to Guyana to open a
new monastery, 16 Dec. 1988 together with Fr. Maurus Superville - who has since
left and married an Amerindian lady, and returned to Trinidad.)
---------------------------------------------------------------.
by Felix Edinborough
As you glance to the west,
across the two-mile wide Mazaruni River, you spy the setting sun gently dipping
behind the Guyana State Prison, where, on every second Sunday morning, Fr
Hildebrand Greene shares spiritual reflections with the eager inmates.
To
the south up river, you look toward a wide expanse of rusty-coloured fresh
water; and that mound you discern in the distance is an island in the middle of
it all.
Swing
your gaze in the opposite direction and you witness the tidal flow of the vast
Essequibo River wending its sometimes-choppy way towards the sea, widening as
it approaches the horizon.
Turn
to the east and you are confronted by a jungle trail, (barely wide enough to
accommodate a pick-up van) which vanishes into thick verdant tropical forest.
You
are here, at the Benedictine monastery in Bartica, Guyana, at the kissing of
the mighty waters of the Mazaruni, Essequibo and Cuyuni rivers.
In
1988, a small contingent of monks from Mount St Benedict, Trinidad, Br Paschal
Jordan and Fr Maurus Superville, bible in hand and mission in mind, set out to
find a new home in this infinite wilderness.
Their
goal was not to feed on locusts and wild honey, but to share their experiences
with the indigenous people and let their voices be heard in this virgin
territory.
They
settled on a promontory about forty miles up the Essequibo, a little more than
a mile away from the former gold mining town of Bartica.
Here
they erected a monastery and the Mora Benedictine Community was born. Since
then, many litres of water have flowed under the bridge and down the river.
Today
some things have changed but many things have remained the same.
Fr.
Superville no longer walks with the monks and has been replaced by Fr
Hildebrand who was formerly Abbot at Mount St Benedict and is now parish priest
of Bartica and extensive hinterland.
The
addition of Br Matthias Farrier to the hallowed fold completed the triumvirate.
For
the valiant pioneers the days are long, interesting and full of work and
prayer.
Before
the crack of dawn and the second crow of the cock, the monks can be heard in
harmonious psalmody, intoning their morning prayer in the prayer room.
Meanwhile
out in the yard, their faithful employee Suresh, a young strong local, joins in
meditative silence while he milks the cow with rhythmic lactose squirts. Then
follows daily Mass.
The
spiritual exercises are repeated at mid-morning, noon and mid-afternoon, ending
with night prayer.
But
this is only to energise body and soul for the performance of other diurnal
corporeal activities.
Their
motto is written in the book held in the hands of the statue of St Benedict
their saintly spiritual progenitor and reads, ‘Work, Pray.’ The monks live out
this dictum.
The
‘all-purpose’ handyman Br Matthias, a skilled bookbinder, tends to his craft in
his homely workshop located on the ground floor of their two-level edifice.
But
this is only a fraction of his duties; for he also assists Suresh with the care
of the livestock, namely cow calves and poultry, not to forget the vegetable
garden.
Like
his two brethren he also displays his talent in the kitchen, being adept at
culinary activities.
The
paternal Fr Hildebrand ensures the Eucharist is celebrated for the inhabitants
of the various communities under his spiritual care.
This
in addition to conducting classes of moral education in the secondary school, Lectio
Divina with prayer groups, domestic activities in the kitchen, bringing the
word of God to the prisoners, blessing their cars, vans and whatever needs some
sanctified sprinkling, counselling and generally giving much needed guidance to
the populace young and old.
The
ubiquitous Br Paschal attends to the accounts.
His
mystical excursions are not limited to the monastery, Bartica or the remote
Amerindian villages where some residents trek more than a mile through the
forest to intone the Morning Prayer during his visits.
He
directs retreats in Trinidad, Barbados and other islands of the Caribbean,
where his expertise in liturgical music is in great demand.
Modern
travel technology cannot keep up with him.
After
all this how wonderful it is to just relax in the cool waters of the Mazaruni.
In this secluded enclave, the river water laps with low soothing sounds against
pebbles placed as a miniature pathway by Br Matthias, who would readily invite
you for a refreshing bath.
The
pebbles may be harsh underfoot but the water is a balm to the entire physical
frame.
What
a magnificent place to dwell! You imagine a replica of the Transfiguration and
you hear a voice whispering, “Let us remain here.”
A
fitting career for the young and adventurous, a rewarding retreat for the
mature, a gratifying experience for the spiritually inclined, a Garden of Eden
willed to us by the Creator.
After
reading the above, should you have the inclination to experience this abundant
life, or feel you have a vocation to monastic life, you are welcome to contact
these progenies of St Benedict.
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EDITED by Ladislao Kertesz, kertesz11@yahoo.com, if you would like to subscribe for
a whole year and be in the circular’s mailing list or if you would like to
mention any old boy that you would like to include, write to me.
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Photos:
13LK6596FBGMAGRP, Glen Mckoy, Eion Oconnor
and Arthur Knaggs
22LK0394FBAAMWFE, Antonio Aman and wife
22LK3728FBEDIPOOL, Refurbished Pool
02UN0001FHIGRPMBA, Fr. Hildebrand Greene,
Bro. Paschal Jordan