cpbc News: St. Paul’s Abbey in Newton, USA, celebrates its 100th anniversary…embarking on a journey to the next 100 years -(E)

미국 뉴튼 성 바오로 수도원 설립 100주년… 새로운 100년 향한 여정 시작

Catholic Peace Newspaper

No. 1780 October 13, 2024

Vocation Plummets in the 1980s
Korean acquisition requested in 2002;
Korean ties deep, including Fr. Marinus LaRue as a branch of Waegwan Abbey

After a turbulent century, St. Paul’s Abbey in Newton, New Jersey, USA, celebrated its 100th anniversary Mass on Saturday.

The Mass, celebrated by Abbot Balsio (Hyundong) Park, abbot of the Waegwan Abbey, was attended by more than 100 people, including Oblates of St. Paul’s Abbey, who reflected on the past 100 years and looked forward to a new era of rebirth with God’s grace. Monks from Waegwan Abbey and the Joseph Monastery (in Korea) also visited the United States to celebrate the centennial.

St. Paul’s Abbey was founded in 1924 by Father Michael Heinlein of St. Ottilien Abbey in Germany, with St. Teresa of Lisieux/The Child Jesus as its patron saint. In the early years, many young people joined the monastery, which became a monastery in 1928, four years after its founding, and was elevated to a Conventual Priory in 1936. 1947 the monastery became the Abbey and was renamed St. Paul’s Abbey, with St. Paul as its patron saint. At one point, the monastery was a thriving community of more than 65 monks, but by the 1980s, the number of vocations began to plummet. Eventually, in 1997, Abbot Joel Macul, who was elected the fourth abbot of the monastery, became so concerned about the situation that he turned to the Congregation of St. Ottilien for help, leaving only about a dozen elderly monks.

Recognizing the potential for the future of religious life in Korea’s Waegwan Abbey on the other side of the world, the Congregation requested the acquisition of St. Paul’s Abbey. Abbot Simon Lee, who passed away, visited St. Paul’s Abbey in 2001 and found a deep connection to Waegwan Abbey. Br. Marinus LaRue, who joined St. Paul’s Abbey after saving 14,000 evacuees as a captain in the Heungnam evacuation during the Korean War; Abbot Bishop Bonifacio Shin of the Servant of God, Tukwon Abbey, the roots of Wagwan Abbey; and Fr. Timothy Bitterli, who founded Wagwan Abbey and served as its first Prior, stayed at ST. Paul’s Abbey to prepare for its founding.

Because of this connection and the opportunity to serve Korean immigrants and believers living in the United States, Father Kim and five monks were sent on December 13, 2001, and St. Paul’s Abbey was officially declared a branch of Waegwan Abbey on January 25, 2002. Currently, six Koreans, one Tanzanian, and two American retired fathers live together in the monastery.

Abbot Blasio Park said in his homily, “As we look back on our 100-year history, we realize that when we stay in God, we will reap unexpected fruits and fruition.” “The fact that our Korean brothers are living here and serving the Korean and American communities makes us feel the providence and security of God’s care for 100 years,” he said.

“People from New York and other neighboring cities come to the monastery to find spiritual strength and experience the depth of spirituality,” said Bishop Kevin Sweeney, Bishop of the Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey, at a celebration following the Mass. ”We are grateful to the monastery for its longstanding care for the Korean American community in the United States.” “We hope that you will continue to do so for another 100 years and another 100 years.”

“It’s a big challenge for the Korean community to come and live with the American community,” said Abbot Justin Dzikowicz, the third abbot of Newton Abbey, ”but I think we’ve done an excellent job so far and I hope that we’ll continue to meet the challenges with new creativity.” “St. Paul’s Abbey was founded by Germans, run by Americans, and inherited by Koreans,” said Joel Abbot, the fourth and last Abbot of Newton Abbey. ”Its history speaks to the universality of the Catholic Church, which transcends borders and languages.”

Today, St. Paul’s Abbey serves as a spiritual home for the local community and Korean immigrants. It maintains a monastery building, retreat center, sacristy, and Christmas tree farm on more than 430 acres of forested land.

Nam Soon Choi (Clara), who has been associated with Newton Abbey for 10 years, said, “It feels like a home because it has Korean culture and sentiment.” “I hope that many vocations will come out and remain with the Korean faithful for a long time,” she said. “The monastery is more organized than before, and more believers are visiting,” said Choi Haengse (John) Choi, President of Oblate of St. Paul’s Abbey, ”and I will help spread the spirituality of the monastery as a consecrated member.”

The monastery is celebrating its 100th anniversary and will renovate and refurbish the church for the faithful. At the end of each day’s prayer, the monastery prays for Fr. Marinus’s beautification and is also working to find vocations.

New Jersey, USA=Min Kyu Park Reporter mk@cpbc.co.kr

Translated by Deepl.com and modified.

Original source in Korean:

cpbc News : 미국 뉴튼 성 바오로 수도원 설립 100주년… 새로운 100년 향한 여정 시작