Circular No 1051

 

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.)

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A Garden of Eden in Guyana

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