Four Benedictine monks celebrate golden jubilees of priesthood

Criterion staff report

The Benedictine monks of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad celebrated the 50-year priesthood jubilees of Archabbot Lambert Reilly, Father Augustine Davis, Father Boniface Hardin and Father Vincent Tobin on May 31.

Archabbot Lambert was born on April 18, 1933, in Pittsburgh. He made his profession of vows on Aug. 15, 1956, and was ordained on Sept. 20, 1959.

He earned a bachelor’s degree at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., and a master’s degree at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. He completed his theological training at Saint Meinrad School of Theology.

Archabbot Lambert taught Latin in the seminary at Saint Meinrad following his ordination. He also taught at Penn State University and Mount Sacred Heart College in Connecticut.

At the monastery, he held a number of ministry positions, and also served as assistant pastor of St. Mary Parish in Huntingburg, Ind., in the Evansville Diocese.

Archabbot Lambert was also engaged in retreat work and parish missions for more than 30 years. He was a frequent retreat master for Blessed Teresa of Calcutta’s Missionaries of Charity in the United States and India.

He was elected archabbot of the Benedictine monastic community in 1995, and served in that leadership position until he resigned in 2004.

Since his resignation, he has resumed his retreat work across the United States and in several foreign countries. He did parish work for several years in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. He currently resides at a Carmelite monastery in Des Plaines, Ill.

Father Augustine was born on Sept. 21, 1930, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He professed his vows on July 31, 1954, and was ordained on May 11, 1959.

He earned a bachelor’s degree at the former Saint Meinrad College in 1955 and a master’s degree in industrial arts at Indiana State University in 1966.

Father Augustine taught religion, mathematics and industrial arts courses while serving as assistant director of St. Placid Hall from 1959-66.

He served in various capacities at San Benito Priory and Seminary in Huarez, Peru, from 1967-79. Following the Peru earthquake of 1970, he oversaw the construction of the priory’s physical plant. From 1979-86, he was the physical plant director at Saint Meinrad.

Father Augustine served as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in South Pittsburgh, Tenn., from 1986-96. The following year, he ministered at a priory in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico.

From 1997 until 2005, he was in charge of mail delivery for Saint Meinrad. He currently helps in the archabbey’s Physical Facilities Department, and celebrates Mass and provides pastoral assistance for local Hispanic communities.

Father Boniface was born on Nov. 18, 1933, in Louisville. He professed his vows on July 31, 1954, and was ordained on May 11, 1959.

He earned a bachelor’s degree at the former Saint Meinrad College in 1955 and a master of divinity degree at Saint Meinrad School of Theology in 1959.

From 1959-65, Father Boniface served as assistant treasurer at Saint Meinrad Archabbey.

In 1965, he was named associate pastor of Holy Angels Parish in Indianapolis.

He became involved in the civil rights movement, and founded the Martin Center in Indianapolis. Later, he co-founded the Indianapolis Sickle Cell Center and Human Relations Consortium.

In 1977, Father Boniface founded what is now Martin University in Indianapolis, a liberal arts institution designed to educate older and minority students. He served as its president until 2007, and continues to serve as president emeritus.

He has received numerous awards and honorary degrees in recognition for his many contributions to education, community service, public health and global understanding.

Father Vincent was born on Jan. 28, 1933, in Pittsburgh. He professed his vows on July 31, 1954, and was ordained on May 11, 1959.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in history at the former Saint Meinrad College in 1956 and a master of divinity degree at Saint Meinrad School of Theology. He also earned a master’s degree in Latin at St. Louis University, and a Sacred Theology Licentiate at Gregorian University in Rome in 1979.

From 1960-64, Father Vincent taught Latin and English at the former Saint Meinrad High School. He joined the former Saint Meinrad College faculty in 1965, and taught Latin and Greek until 1991. He was appointed assistant dean of students in 1964 then was named vice-rector and dean of students in 1966. In 1971, he was appointed spiritual director.

Father Vincent was the first director of the Midwest Association of Spiritual Directors in 1971, and the first president of the National Federation of Spiritual Directors in 1973.

From 1996 to 2006, he held various teaching and administrative positions at Sant’ Anselmo and the Pontifical North American College, both in Rome. He is currently the director of Saint Meinrad’s Archabbey Guest House and Retreat Center. †