“ Selected by the Spirit...”
40 th
We have been reminded that this year marks the 40th anniversary of, as Abbot Melvin calls,“ the closing and resurrection of St. Benedict’ s.” On November 14, 2012, during the Eucharist at St. Mary’ s Church, Abbot Melvin Valvano gave this homily on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Fr. Edwin’ s election as the Headmaster of the school. We print this text in gratitude for and recognition of Fr. Edwin’ s service to us and all of the other graduates of St. Benedict’ s Prep. Thank you, Fr. Edwin!
“ Selected by the Spirit...”
Anniversary as Headmaster
Tonight, at this Eucharist, I dare to venture into a realm extraordinarily marked and filled by the mystery and miracles of the past forty years.
Father Edwin’ s entire life- and surely during each and every day of the last forty years as our Headmaster- is marked by persons, events and decisions that demonstrate that God is truly present in this holy place and in all of you here tonight, along with many more who are with us this evening in the Communion of saints, Abbot Martin, Bill Leahy, Abbot Ambrose, Joe Kasberger, Celestine, Dennis, Benedict, Theodore and Casimir, Bernard Shanley and John Magovern, and so many more.
How can we begin to comprehend Edwin’ s remarkable achievements as Headmaster and friend of so many young men apart from the all-defining, magnificently cooperating monastic community of common meaning?
This is the community that Abbots Martin and Ambrose helped forge in the unsure but somehow hopeful days following the closure of St. Benedict’ s? Or again who is this man, monk and priest today if not the 1965 novice mate of Father Philip whose novice master, Father Martin, soon was elected our Abbot. This great monk guided many of the Newark community to a new vision of Christian Social Justice and to independent status on November 21, 1968 as a New Ark in our City? Must we not sense and see in Martin’ s election, Edwin and Philip’ s coming to Newark, and the March 21, 1968 celebration of St. Benedict’ s 100th anniversary, where Abbot Martin elaborated his vision
86 Telolog 2013 | Strength In Community