Presider’s Chair

The Abbatial Blessing is now just two weeks away, and many here at Portsmouth have been at work with the preparation. No sooner had the official news gone out that Fr. Michael Brunner had been elected the fourth abbot of Portsmouth Abbey on January 17, 2022, than the wheels began turning for setting a date and making plans for his abbatial blessing. As announced, The Most Reverend Thomas J. Tobin of the Diocese of Providence will confer that blessing on Saturday, May 7, in the Abbey Church. The liturgy will be attended by the entire student body and School community, along with members of Abbot Michael’s family, Portsmouth Oblates and friends, representatives of the diocesan religious communities throughout Rhode Island, PAS alums, the Board of Regents, and other invitees. General plans for this historic occasion fall into three broad categories: the episcopal needs which are necessary whenever a bishop pays an official visit to a parish or religious house within his diocese; the monastic and ecclesial requirements especially given the context of what would normally be a full morning of school classes, some taught by monks; and the campus logistics, including overnight housing for guests, parking control and security, and the food and beverage choices for the receptions. 

The first category has been coordinated with the bishop’s office through the assistance of Fr. Nathan J. Ricci, Vice Chancellor and Administrative Assistant to the Bishop. He will accompany Bishop Tobin, serving as his Master of Ceremonies, and will work side by side with myself as the monastic M.C. Eight altar servers have been recruited from the student body and each will be assigned specific duties. Fr. Ricci will visit the campus on the evening of April 27 and, following dinner with the monks, will conduct the one and only rehearsal with the altar boys. 

 

 

Blessing of Abbot Matthew Stark

With logistics, we are greatly assisted in planning having to do with the monastery and the School by staff in all areas. Dr. John Perreira, Assistant Headmaster for Operations, and Jennifer Dring, Operations Administrative Assistant and Functions Coordinator, have been key in making recommendations based on previous events, such as annual commencements and the 2019 Centennial Anniversary of the monastery. Advice on such aspects of the event as photographers, printers, mass mailings and a dedicated RSVP e-mail address has come from the Development, Information Systems (IT), Communications, and Special Events offices, among others. The task of menu-planning and prepping for separate receptions following the Mass would be a big challenge in itself. However, factor in the over 300 students who expect three hot meals per day to fuel their energy requirements, and the demands on the in-house kitchens and staff become daunting. Sarah Rodrigues, the Director of Dining Services, has recommended healthy menus to accommodate the student reception which will be only slightly separated across the grassy lawn from the area where other guests will assemble. 

While protocol requires that invitations be sent to abbots and abbesses in Benedictine houses located throughout the world, the time away from their communities, to say nothing of the expense of travel at that time, will preclude many from attending in person.  The Mass will be livestreamed thus making it available to anyone unable to attend. Still, Portsmouth Abbey, one of three monasteries in the United States of the English Benedictine Congregation, will be joined by representatives of the other two houses. Abbot Gregory Mohrman of St. Louis Abbey will be present to concelebrate, as will Fr. Gabriel Myers of Washington, D.C., standing in for the superior of St. Anselm’s Abbey, Abbot James Wiseman. Fr. Henry Bodah, longtime friend of the Portsmouth monks and recently retired in the Diocese of Providence, has accepted his invitation as have Fr. Daniel Gray of St. Anthony’s Parish in Portsmouth and Fr. Paul J. Rourke, S.J., of Fairfield University in Connecticut, a St. Louis Priory alum from 1990. 

We might also note that Abbot Michael has been happily involved in most areas of planning.  Having enjoyed a long career in hotel management and hospitality in New York City, Washington D.C. and Miami, his special touch is expected to be evident on May 7.