Six Benedictine monks celebrate jubilees at Saint Meinrad

The Benedictine monks of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad recently celebrated the jubilee of monastic profession or priesthood jubilee of six monks.

Father Eric Lies and Father Donald Walpole marked their 70th jubilees of monastic profession.

Father Colman Grabert, Brother Raban Bivins and Brother Terence Griffin celebrated their 50th jubilees of monastic profession.

Father Germain Swisshelm was honored for the 50th jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood.

A native of Aurora, Ill., Father Eric Lies professed his vows on Aug. 6, 1940, and was ordained to the priesthood on Feb. 2, 1945.

He completed his theological education at Saint Meinrad Seminary.

Father Eric also earned a master’s degree in English at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Following his ordination, Father Eric taught English, geometry, religion, speech and homiletics at Saint Meinrad Seminary for 13 years.

Also during that time, he served as the associate editor and art director for Grail magazine at Abbey Press from 1950-58.

From 1958-68, he served as the general manager of Abbey Press.

For more than 25 years, Father Eric ministered at Saint Meinrad’s Development Office as the associate director of development for 12 years, director of public relations for nine years and graphic designer for five years.

For many years, Father Eric also presented retreats and created calligraphy artwork.

Father Eric lives at the monastery infirmary.

A native of St. Patrick Parish in Indianapolis, Father Donald Walpole professed his vows on Aug. 6, 1940, and was ordained to the priesthood on Sept. 21, 1943.

After completing his theological education at Saint Meinrad School of Theology, Father Donald earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and master’s degree in fine arts at the Chicago Art Institute.

From 1952-98, Father Donald served as an associate professor of art at the former Saint Meinrad College.

He also created religious artwork for parishes, religious communities and Saint Meinrad’s campus. His works include mosaics, murals, ceramics and wall hangings.

A native of Evansville, Ind., Father Colman Grabert recently served as the secretary to the archbabbot and as the monastery’s house prefect.

Father Colman professed his monastic vows on Aug. 15, 1960.

After completing his studies at the former Saint Meinrad High School, the former Saint Meinrad College and Saint Meinrad School of Theology, he was ordained to the priesthood on Sept. 5, 1965.

Father Colman earned a licentiate in sacred theology at the Collegio di Sant’ Anselmo in Rome in 1969.

He began teaching at Saint Meinrad School of Theology in 1967, and served as an assistant professor of systematic theology until 1994.

For many years, Father Colman was one of the archabbey’s principal organists.

A native of Orrville, Ohio, Father Germain Swisshelm works at the carpenter shop and is the custodian of Mass intentions for the archbabbey.

He made his profession of vows on Aug. 15, 1957, and was ordained to the priesthood on Sept. 25, 1960.

Father Germain earned bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and history at Saint Meinrad School of Theology. He completed graduate studies at Indiana University, Oklahoma University and San Carcos University in Lima, Peru.

From 1960-62, Father Germain taught at Saint Meinrad’s St. Placid Hall.

In 1962, he became a founding member of Saint Meinrad’s mission, Los Pinos, in Huaraz, Peru.

Father Germain taught at the seminary and high school in Huaraz, and was an associate pastor at San Juan de Lurigancho Parish in Lima. He also served as the prior in Lima for four years.

A native of Owensboro, Ky., Brother Raban Bivins came to Saint Meinrad to attend school at St. Placid Hall in 1957.

He professed his vows as a monk on May 7, 1960.

During the early 1970s, Brother Raban worked in various assignments at Saint Meinrad, including the shoe shop, as a volunteer fireman and as the house prefect for the monastery.

In 1965, Brother Raban was sent to Los Pinos, Saint Meinrad’s mission in Peru, where he served until 1979.

He also worked at Saint Meinrad’s physical facilities department, and has been a locksmith since 1984.

In 1996, Brother Raban was the first brother to be appointed subprior, or third in leadership, for the monastery. He served as the subprior until 2007.

Brother Raban currently assists the monks at the monastery infirmary, works as a locksmith, and serves as the archabbey’s almoner and director of community outreach.

A native of Pittsburgh, Brother Terence Griffin professed his vows on May 7, 1960.

Before joining the monastery, Brother Terence studied accounting at Robert Morris Business School.

He served at Saint Meinrad’s business office from 1960-77. For the next seven years, he was assigned to handle payroll and insurance at Abbey Press. He also worked for the Saint Meinrad Health Service.

Brother Terence works as an assistant to the director at Abbey Caskets, is the assistant custodian for the chapel at the Our Lady of Monte Cassino Shrine and serves as an assistant monastery guestmaster. †