Circular No 379

Newsletter for past alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.

Caracas, 7 of February 2009 No. 379

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Dear Friends,

Here is news on Paul Zeven, Gordon Walker, David Bain and more photos:

For those that have found photos in an old chest hidden somewhere in an attic, please remember to share it with the Circular, we only attach them if we get them.

If possible use a resolution of approx 500kb.

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Paul Zeven

16 Mar

Hi Jan,

I have been following all the correspondence on The Abbey School.

I think that you were there some years after me; I was there from 1959 till 1964, getting my O-Levels and an additional level.

I am not sure if I remember your name.

I was sent there from Venezuela, where our family lived so I went up-and-down to Caracas 3 times per year.

I have a huge amount of pictures, but they are all in storage in Holland (I have been away for the last ten years).

From the Abbey School, I went to International School Eerde in Ommen and then onto Nijenrode in Breukelen; should sound familiar to you......

I have been with Philips for 38 years, of which 4 in Chile and 6 in Brazil, as well as stints in Asia.

Currently I am in the US (since 2004), where I head up the North American operation.

I see that you live in Oosterhout: I am there quite often, as my father and his partner live there also. He is in De Bussel, in the centre of the town.

Maybe next time I am there, we can meet up and share memories.

Best rgds

Paul Zeven

p.s. I will retire in October , and my wife Carol and I will move to France, where we are building a house. I should have access to the pictures then (I hope that I still have them....)

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Gmail Jan

Wednesday, March 19, 7:33:00 AM

Dear Paul Zeven,

I am surprised that some old boy from Mount St. Benedict has connections with my hometown, amazing!

De Bussel is just in the centre of Oosterhout, I pas it frequently.

I came to the Abbey School in September 1963 and stayed there until july 1967.

I must have seen you on the schoolyard but I cannot remember it any more.

When I arrived I did not speak one word English, so the boys gave me the nickname Doetch, maybe you might remember that.

Nijenrode is a famous and well known business school in Holland.

If you have that degree you are indeed qualified to be the manager of a company.

Amazing that you have been with Philips for such a long time.

From 1980 on there was a lot of unemployment in Holland, it was hard to get a job from Philips.

Maybe that was different in the countries you stayed.

If you are in Oosterhout, please make contact.

Me and my wife would be happy to share some memories.

If you have old pictures of the Mount maybe Ladislao would like to have a copy for the circulars.

I would like to see them too!

I passed exams in 1967 to go to Form V but then that summer my dad decided to put me on a newly founded Dutch atheneum in Paramaribo which gave better access to the university in Netherlands.

It was a boy and girl school and I got a motorcycle to go to school.

All this freedom and the girls was too much for this Mount boy to cope with, so I had to do that year over again.

In 1970 I went to the Technical University in Delft to study architecture and finished in 1978.

I was meaning to go back to Suriname to work on the plantation of my father, but then the family decided to sell it so I stayed in Netherland.

I have been working with several companies but since 1997 I started on my own as an architect working my buts out.

Amazing too that you are building a house in France, we were aiming to look for a cheap little farmhouse in France or Germany as a second home.

If you have plans to come to Oosterhout, please send a mail so I can let you know if we are in Oosterhout.

Much greetings and thank you for making contact!

Jan en Berthy Koenraadt

Remy van Haanenstraat 4

4907 NR Oosterhout N-Br.

Netherland

Tel: 0031-162-456325

email jankoenraadt@gmail.com

----- Original Message --------------------------------------------------------------

Paul Zeven

Sunday, November 30, 2008 3:47:57 PM

Hi Ladislao,

The mails are coming thru nicely to the new address - Thanks very much.

At that time I will have access to a lot of MSB pictures from the period 1959-1964 (I hope - they have been in storage for 12 years...)

All the best y grande abrazo!

p.s. we have moved from the USA to France but will only move into the new house in June 2009.

paul.zeven@Gmail.com

website: paulzevencoaching.com

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On Sun, Nov 30, 2008 at 6:46 PM, laszlo kertesz <kertesz11@yahoo.com> wrote:

Dear Paul,

Hope that you are receiving the Circulars.

Please inform me.

God Bless

Ladislao

----- Forwarded Message ------------------------------------------------

From: Nigel P. Boos <nigelboos@eagles-wings.ca>

Sent: Monday, September 8, 2008 9:01:59 AM

Subject: Re: Abbey School Old Boys - change of address

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your kind note.

I certainly remember you, and look forward to meeting you again some day.

I'm passing your note on to Chris Knowles, who is on the Reunion Committee.

Regards.

Nigel P. Boos

P.S. Would you mind sending me a photograph of yourself and your family? (For future publication purposes via email to other Abbey School Old Boys.)?

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On 7-Sep-08, at 4:35 PM, Zeven, Paul wrote:

Hi Nigel,

I have seen a lot of correspondence in the past months ref Abbey School, including a lot of good work by yourself.

I remember you well (I think) from the Abbey School times - but you were an "older" class (I was there from 1959 till 1964).

I have all my Abbey School stuff back in Holland and will be able access when we are back home (we have been on the road since 1997).

My present assignment ends at the end of this month - can you change my address to the following

paul.zeven@gmail.com

Best regards,

Paul Zeven

CEO

p.s. I am afraid that I will not be able to make it this time - but I have plans to join next time!

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From: Nigel P. Boos [mailto:nigelboos@eagles-wings.ca]

Sent: 2008 Sep 05 9:15 AM

To all Abbey School Old Boys:

I have been asked to pass on this invitation to everyone whose names and email addresses I happen to have on file, and I do so with the greatest pleasure.

However, there are many other Old Boys regarding whom, for one reason or another, I have no information.

That being the case, please feel free to pass on the invitation to any others known to you, with whom I may not be in contact.

We'd all appreciate the help

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Gordon Walker

Nigel P. Boos

Monday, December 8, 2008 10:08:31 PM

To:Walker Alan

Dear Alan,

I wrote to your brother, Gordon, last week, seeking your email address, and it was only when I received a response from your sister in law, Rita, that I heard that he had died five months ago.

I have never met Gordon, nor you, and it was only with a view to updating our Abbey School Old Boys' Database that I had tried to contact Gordon in the first place.

Please accept my sincere sympathy on the loss of your brother.

I hope he did not suffer any pain, and that he was "ready to go", as they say.

May his soul rest in peace.

Perhaps you would be good enough to drop me a line and let me know some details about both yourself and Gordon, for the benefit of other Old Boys who may have been his and you peers.

We have identified 1100 Old Boys and have also collected some 400+ email addresses, through which we try to communicate regularly with our friends.

Undoubtedly, you will be able to find many of your old friends and classmates here too, and you might wish to establish some links with them, as time goes on.

With best wishes.

Nigel P. Boos

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From: Art & Val Knaggs

Sent : Wednesday, November 9, 2005 6:39 PM

Gord,

Was really great talking with you, and touching base after all these years.

Have copied Ladislao and he will put you into the system, and we can move from there.

If you are ever over this way, Nova Scotia, don't hesitate to look Val & I up at 2 Dubonnet Dr., Dartmouth, B2X 2V3, our ph # 902- 404-5845.

Wonderful pleasure,

Art

Ladislao,

Gord went Mount just after I left, he was there from 50 - 53, then finished schooling in Ireland, but he will give you all his data. Thanks for reviving me, and all the best. Send us some oil, our prices are out of sight these last few months!

As ever,

Art

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Ladislao Kertesz

31 Jan (6 days ago)

Dear Glen,

Sonny Blar??? please write something more about this SPARKS.

Are you sure of the spelling??

God Bless

Ladislao

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gevelyn1@bellsouth.net

3 Feb (4 days ago)

Lad,

You are correct --- spelt Blanc.

And I like your word SPARKS.

I will try and bring some memories out.

My father told me recently that Sonny is alive and living in POS.

Saludos Glen

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De: bainven@cantv.net [bainven@cantv.net]

Re: Invitacion a la cena MSB

Fecha: 08/05/2007 21:02:08

Ladislao:

Gracias por la invitacion.

Lamentablemente no podre asistir en esta ocasion.

Aprecio tus mensajes.

Yo soy de lo viejos, sali de MSB en Diciembre 1956.

Saludos,

David Bain

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Would like to get in contact with the following old boys:

Ramadhar, Dave

Ramlogan, Wayne (868) 645-2559 (Home)

That is for now, till the next one

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Photos:

08UN0647REUNION2008, photo with the names of ALUMNI on White Stones.

09AK2028FCH, Fr. Christopher Theunissen.

84JK0002EDICHB, Churchbell tower being built.

05PZ0001PZE, Paul Zeven as CEO of Philips.

Circular No 378

Newsletter for past alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.

Caracas, 31 January 2009 No. 378

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Dear Friends,

This is the third issue on Fr. Benedict, the emails that were received and did not fit into No. 375 or 376.

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Fr Benedict's article taken from Pax Abbey website

Fr Benedict finally joins the STARS!

The Abbot and Monks of the Abbey of Mount St Benedict report the sad news of the passing away of Fr Benedict Simons, OSB, on Thursday 01 January 2009 at 6:20 pm at the age of 89 years. Cornelius Benedictus Maria Simons was born in The Hague in Holland on 18 June 1919 and joined the Abbey of Mount St Benedict on 08 December 1947, where he was given the name “Benedict”. He was professed as a monk on 21 March 1949 and ordained to the Priesthood on 28 October 1952. Fr Benedict was one of the most loved and sought after monks at the Abbey and always radiated a spirit of joy. He will be greatly missed by the monks and by the many pilgrims who sought him out as a ready confessor, confidant, adviser and friend. Please remember him in your prayers. The funeral of Fr Benedict took place at the Abbey Church at 10:00 am on Saturday 03 January 2009. The funeral homily is given below:

Soon after Fr Benedict passed away on Thursday, we found a note in his room, written in his own handwriting. It read as follows: “Goodbye, Dear Brothers and Sisters! May God richly bless you and me, AMEN! (Signed) Fr Benedict”. He had actually shown one of the brothers this note before he was taken to the hospital on Wednesday and told him where to find it. Benedict knew that his time was fast approaching. Co-founder of the Trinidad and Tobago Astronomical Society and editor of the Astro News for several years, one may be tempted to say that he read his fate in the stars. However, Benedict always took time to clarify the difference between astrology, which he detested, and astronomy, which he loved dearly. He spent his entire life pointing out the stars to all who crossed his path.

His love for the stars and for astronomy was indicative of the man we are burying today. He always pointed away from himself. And he always pointed out the lovely - the beautiful - the true. In so doing Benedict was very much like John the Baptist in today’s Gospel, who pointed others away from himself and to Jesus: “Look, there is the lamb of God …”

And if there was no beauty, no truth, it made him very sad. On his last visit to his native Holland in 1976, Benedict was very disturbed about a trend towards materialism and hedonism that he had found there.So saddened was he, that when he returned from his vacation 33 years ago, he vowed never to return to “pagan” Holland. And this was but one of the vows that Benedict kept.

The word, Benedict, means “blessed”. And, indeed, he was blessed in many ways. Fr Benedict would always introduce himself to people whom he met for the first time, as the man after whom Mount St Benedict was named. He had a lovely sense of humour and a way of always pointing to the good, the true and the beautiful. This was most manifest in his great love for photography. At Mount St Benedict we have thousands of photographs that he had taken over his long life as a monk. And each of these photographs tell us a story. They tell us a story about God’s presence in our midst. Whether it was God in the midst of Liturgy School at Benet Hall, or in a group retreat at Mount St Benedict, or merely about the homely presence of a God who dwells with our community at the Mount in our prayer, our work and in our common recreation, there was Fr Benedict with his camera, capturing Jesus’ presence on film and pointing him out to others. This was the John the Baptist in our Community. Sometimes we wonder … if digital cameras were invented when he was in his heyday, what would have been the result – maybe millions and not thousands of photos left behind?

At the Abbey School, he was the great scientist, always up to some new invention. He was known to all the students as “Fr. Voosh”. Always up to something, never an idle moment, he took St. Benedict’s words to heart: “Idleness is the enemy of the soul.” In the waiting room at the Doctor’s Office, on his bed waiting for the nurse to bring his medication, his mind was always racing – always thinking and writing – never an idle moment!

Today’s Gospel from John is indeed very appropriate for our funeral celebration. John the Baptist was always seeking to decrease in importance so that Jesus could be more visible to others. This was the way of John, it is the way of the Christian, it is the way of the monk, it is the way of Fr Benedict. In all his varied interests and activities as a monk over the past 60 years, Fr Benedict was merely doing what John taught us to do – pointing the way to Jesus.

God has blessed the Mount with a beautiful person, with a beautiful life and with a wonderful example for the younger ones, like me, who have been left behind. Thank you, Fr Benedict, for a life well lived, thanks for the love, thanks for the passion, thanks for the energy and thanks for the witness! Yes, you have seen and you are the witness that Jesus is the Chosen One of God!

We have received messages from all over the world supporting us at this crucial time. The family of Fr Benedict in Holland have sent special greetings, and although they are unable to be present with us in person, they are supporting us in spirit, with their prayer and concern. May God bless them abundantly! The brothers at our monastery in Guyana are also with us in spirit. Unfortunately they also are unable to be present. We particularly regret the absence of Bro Paschal Jordan, who Fr Benedict always said was his best music student. May the music that Fr Benedict taught at the Abbey now echo in the heavenly choirs of angels!

And may God bless all of you who have taken time to be present here and to support us with your love and your prayer. God bless you all!

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tevelyn

Thursday, January 1, 2009 10:15:30 PM

Ladislao,

I today learnt of the death of Fr. Benedict and would let you know that he arrived at the Mount as a young cleric in 1948/49.

I remember him as a big guy and interested in science.

He along with all the others will be together again after all these years.

The wonderful memories I still have after 60 years it is a pity that we do not hear from some of the original students who are still alive today.

However my friend may GOD bless you for all you have to keep together the ones that care.

May I take this opportunity although late to Wish YOU and your family the very Best for 2009

Regards

Trevor Evelyn

1945 to 1949

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Re: Fr. Benedict RIP

Attila GYURIS

Friday, January 2, 2009 2:14:32 PM

Yes, May he rest in peace.

Good ol' Fr. Voosh... many of my Abbey School b&w photos were made by him, and also as my science teacher, he gave me a love for the sciences.

Attila Gyuris

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Fr Benedict's funeral - Picture

Nigel P. Boos

Monday, January 5, 2009 6:46:13 AM

From: Peter Tang <peter.a.tang@gmail.com>

Date: January 4, 2009 6:42:28 PM GMT-05:00

Peter,

Thanks for the picture of Rughead, Jon Golding and Anthony Lucky.

It's a shame that more OB's couldn't make it to the funeral, but such is life, I guess.

It must be very hard on the old monks now, to see their numbers dwindling, with few, if any, new postulates, and wondering what went wrong..... if anything.

Best wishes to you and yours.

Nigel

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On 4-Jan-09, at 6:40 PM, Peter Tang wrote:

A peaceful and healthy 09 to you and your family.

Fr Voosh had a good send off.

Was very hard for the old monks left behind.

They are all old now .

Too me its very sad.

Didn't see too many old boys there.

Here's a phone photo of old, Ruggead ( Fr Augustine) John Golding (young gunk) and Anthony Lucky ( Justice )

Can circulate it to others.

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Nigel P. Boos

Monday, January 5, 2009 9:30:15 PM

Thank you very much for your additional insights, Attila.

I agree entirely with you.

Fr. Benedict was certainly a child at heart, filled with the wonder of creation and he made a fantastic contribution to our education and love for science.

God rest him.

Nigel P. Boos

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On 5-Jan-09, at 7:52 PM, Attila GYURIS wrote:

Dear old Fr. Benedict,... one of the few priests at the Mount who was loved by all and hated by none.

May he rest in peace among his many experiments in his lab in heaven.

He was my general science teacher on Forms I and II / III. 1965-66 and 1966-67

Also he took the class pictures and special events photographs in black & white with a huge tripod mounted reflex camera.

He developed the film himself.

I still have several of those pictures he took and developed.

Really nice guy, always willing to help.

He inspired me to like the sciences.

He probably influenced my choice of major at the University also. (perhaps as much as Miss Kitty Marcus did) .

He had a child's wonderment and awe about science that was contagious.

Once I remember, during one of the science classes, I had a question about the limits of heat and temperature.

He invited to go to his lab in the Monastery to discuss with him my seemingly logical (but erroneous) thesis that "if there was an absolute zero temperature limit.. then there must be an absolute maximum temperature limit as well".

And we stayed up talking about this for hours.

Of course back then we both had no knowledge of quantum mechanics, plasma theory or string theory...It was all classical thermodynamics stuff, and I came away with my brain hurting, with more questions than answers, but wonderfully inspired nonetheless.

At another time and during another visit to his lab to find out why some magnets were stronger than others.

He showed me how to measure the strength of magnets, and I will never forget the term, the strength of small magnetic fields are measured in Gauss, He taught me that term.

Attila Gyuris

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
--- On Sun, 1/4/09, gevelyn1@bellsouth.net wrote:

Date: Sunday, January 4, 2009, 3:38 PM

I bet he is on the board of antique electronic devices in Heaven----

The only other to equal him was Sonny Blar--- A Mount boy.

Not as much passion as Voooooosh but had a home built HAM radio back in the early 60's.

Could fix anything that plugged in the wall

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Original message from Glen Mckoy <mckoy43glen@hotmail.com>:

Re: Fr. Benedict

Thank you for the email, best of the new year, I remember him as, a good man, always with a smile, even when we were not paying attention in class,

May God bless his soul, another light is out on our mountain, may the others shine brighter, Amen.

best regards,

Glen McKoy.

----- Original Message ------------------------------------------

From: Nigel P. Boos

Sent: Friday, January 02, 2009 1:00 PM

For all you OB's out there, perhaps you'd like to add your own memories as well.

Voosh's funeral is tomorrow - Saturday. Time - 10.30 a.m.

Nigel

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From: amickiew@comcast.net

Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 10:21:26 -0600

He was also a businessman.

He introduced us to the transistor radio when they were first introduced in Trinidad circa 1958.

He bought about 10 of them and then resold them at a small profit to some of us; I was one of his clients.

Pax Dominum.

May he rest in peace, forever and ever,

Amen.

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Re: Fr. Benedict's Heavenly Homecoming Photos‏

From: kazim abasali (kazim2u@gmail.com)

Sent: Wed 1/07/09 7:05 PM

Here is the last pic I took of Fr. Benedict at the last reunion we had after our church service.

Blessings to you...

Kazim

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Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 08:58:21 -0500

Hi Abbey School Alumni,

These are the pics I took this last Saturday at Fr. Benedict's funeral service which I called his Heavenly Homecoming.

Kindly share with others.

Blessings to you all.....

Kazim Abasali

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arthurxavierusa@aol.com

4 Jan (5 days ago)

Fr. Benedict died Thursday December 1st 2009 and was buried at the mount on Saturday 3rd.

All the best,

Arthur Xavier

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RE. Circular No. 373, The Abbey School MSB

Dear Ladislao,

Happy New Year.

A few minutes ago I received an e- mail from Nigel Boos.

He received the sad news from Peter tang. Fr. Benedict ("Voosh") died at 6.30 pm today at the Abbey, Mt. St Benedict, Trinidad.

May his soul rest in peace.

The funeral will take place on Saturday 3 January 2009.

Regards,

Anthony.

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Re: Memories of Fr. Benedict-Science Class

jongolding

Hey Ricardo

How 'bout if we go to the funeral tomorrow?

I have not been in the Ferrari yet!!

Let me know.

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That is for now, till the next one

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08DM5191REUNION2008, Norman Sabga and Jean De Meillac

09PT0002FAUGRP, Fr. Augustine, Jon Golding and Anthony Lucky.

08KA1183FBE, One of the last photos of Fr. Benedict.

09KA2012FBE, Final resting place of Fr. Benedict.

Circular No 377

Newsletter for past alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.

Caracas, 24 January 2009 No. 377

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Dear Friends:

Arise, Lionel, and talk

Nigel P. Boos

Sunday, November 16, 2008 5:32:47 PM

Dear Lionel,

Well, you've sure led us a merry chase, you know.

Rumours abound, concerning your recent departure from the land of the living, and thanks to some interesting detective work (I'd like to hear more about THAT!) from David De Castro and Ron Bento, it appears that those rumours must have been a little premature.

We are (and I'm sure I speak for all the Old Boys of MSB) very pleased to know that you're still "with us" and that the good Lord hasn't yet called you up yonder.

One thing however, remains, and that is to hear from you yourself, and if you would oblige us by writing a short note of confirmation that you haven't yet gone to glory, I guess there'll be a whole lot of smiles around the globe, wherever an Abbey School Old Boy is to be found.

Over to you, Lionel. Arise and talk.

Nigel Boos

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Resurrexit, sicut dixit!

Nigel P. Boos

Friday, November 21, 2008 11:14:04 AM

Ah yes!

The dead has arisen.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Welcome, Vince, to the land of the living; to the land of the MSB-Old Boys; to the land of immediate email connections and ol' blag.

Nice to have you with us.

We're happy to hear from you again, and happy too that you 'ent pushin' up daisies yet!

I'm sure that the OB's will be very happy to hear of your resurrection, and of your planned autobiography.

You have been an inspiration for many of us who were fortunate to be taken under your wing during our early days at MSB, and we wish you continued health, strength, faith and love in your Diaconate ministry.

May God bless and keep you and yours, always.

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On 21-Nov-08, at 9:43 AM, Lionel Roberts wrote:

Dear Nigel,

Greetings from beyond the grave!

I suspect that maybe I am one of a few persons who have had the opportunity of reading his own obituary in print.

Nevertheless it certainly had a huge deflationary effect on my ego.

For it appears that my apparent passing caused not even aripple or some expressions of shock on behalf of the MSB!

But enough of that! I thought that I would have some fun while it lasted.

No Nigel your dear “Brother Vince” had NOT died !

Thanks much for the concern, dear friends.

I think the misunderstanding might be partially due to my fault in as much as I had not corresponded with you or Ladislao for such a long time .

Yes, I have been receiving most of the newsletters; however I would glance through them and put them away until I have more time to read them.

You will be happy to know that I am contemplating beginning work on an autobiography, on the insistent urgings of my family.

In fact I have already begun writing snippets of it for I am no longer a Spring Chicken; I will be Eighty-three years of age next February 28^th.

One of the things I wanted to do was to give a brief overview or background of my life. Many of the “boys:” only knew a little bit about me, so these few lines will expand their knowledge, for those who care.

As you have seen from these lines Nigel, I am very much alive, and I believe, in fairly good health:, physically and. spiritually.

I am three times retired from different jobs and am now exceedingly busy mostly with ministry.

As many of you know, I am a catholic Deacon and this ministry, among other things occupy a considerable amount of my time here in St Petersburg ,Florida..

But more ot this later.

Many of you only knew me as Brother Vincent at the Mount.

However, I had a life before and after I had quite an eventful early Childhood.

I grew up in the jungles of then British Guyana, now Guyana.

I was taken there when I was nine months old, and eventually was taken to Georgetown around eight or nine years old.

All my friends were ‘bucs or aboriginal Indians.

Thus, my early childhood or lifestyle was exotic, to say the least.

So part of my youngest years was pent in The Northwest District on the Pomeroon and Moruca Rivers .

After my School days in Georgetown, Guyana I enlisted in the Royal Artillery of the British Army during World War II at around seventeen years of age, and served in Guyana and Trinidad until the end of the War.

Upon demobilisation, and about year after, I entered The Abbey of Mount St Benedict at the still tender age of twenty.

After one year of Postulancy and two years of the Novitiate, I made my first Trienniel vows for three years.

Culminating in Vows of Perpetual Profession three years later.

It was during the period of my first triennial vows, somewhere in 1950 or 1952 that I was appointed as The Bursar/Account of The Abbey School, taking over from Brother Anthony.

About three or four months after, I was asked to ‘hold on’ as Sport Master (Athletic Director) until a teacher (Mr Achong) returns from vacation in the United States, HE NEVER CAME BACK.

So it was that all students enrolling at The Abbey School at that time had the pleasure or misfortune to encounter the Brother Vincent.

This period at the Abbey was, to me one of the most fruitful, enjoyable and fulfilling period of my life.

It was hard.

I worked and prayed from sunset to sundown and beyond.

For I had to balance my monastic life, which took precedence, with the enormous duties of School Bursar/Accountant with those of the planning, developing and executing all the various sporting activities for the School.

But by the grace of God, I managed.

And I believe that the School benefited from it.

I also believe that this period was the golden era for Sports at the School.

One more point I want make before I leave this period.

One of the most important duties of the Bursar’s office that either fell to me or voluntarily appropriated by me was, for lack of a better word that of a Father/Mother relationship particularly with newly enrolled students.

Many of them leaving home for the first time , being in a strange country, some not able to speak English,.

Some arriving without clothes or required personal necessities and some terribly home sick .

You get the drift! Added to these situations were responsibilities for picking them up at the airport, returning them when its time to return home; booking Flights, obtaining visas, the whole nine yards!

Taking them in to the City to shop And oh yes !, keeping the canteen well stocked and more.

And you know what ?

I enjoyed it all And I derived much satisfaction from seeing them settling in and fitting in to normal school life.

In this process, I was able to make many, many life-long friends both among parents and students.

In April 1962, I obtained a dispensation from vows from Rome , after around Fifteen years as a Benedictine Monk and about twelve or thirteen years at the Abbey School.

It was one of the most wrenching separation of my life to say goodbye to the Monastery and goodbye to the School.

Of course I chose to leave while the School was on vacation, how could I do it otherwise?

Upon leaving, I arranged to emigrate to Brazil where I never visited and knew no one, not even a bird!

And to boot, the first time I heard Portuguese spoken was on the Varig Airline.

Also I did not speak nor understand the language.

Talk about a shot in the dark!

But by the grace of God upon whom I had complete trust I was able to survive.

By the end of April, I was able to get a job and two months later I managed to rent my own house.

And I was on my of becoming a full fledged Cariocan. (resident of Rio de Janeiro.)

Indeed God is good!

On December 22^nd ,1962 I was married to a beautiful, saintly, half-chinese girl from Trinidad .

God-willing, in four year’s time, we hope to be celebrating our golden anniversary of marriage.

We are presently parents of two wonderful sons.

Laurence ,who graduated from Princeton University as a Civil Engineer and works for the Xerox Corporation in Rochester, New York and Christopher, who graduated from Cornell University, New York as an Electrical Engineer and now works for JP Morgan-Chase as a Senior Architect..

Between them, Merlene (my wife) and I are blessed with six beautiful grand children.

In April (again) of 1965 we returned to Trinidad from Brazil, for about four years, finally emigrating to New York, USA where we lived until 1984 when I took retirement and moved to Florida where have resided ever since.

We were very active in New York .

While Merlene worked with the United Nations for eight years or more, I was busy working as Professional Pharmaceutical Representative in New York City for about fifteen years.

Additionally, during this time I worked almost day and night in completing my College degree .

I also studied intensively for five years in the seminary - weekends and nights – to prepare for ordination to Holy Orders - as a Deacon.

I was ordained for the Diocese of Brooklyn , on December 3^rd, 1977’

During these thirty-one years of service to the Church, I was blessed to have had the privilege to serve three dioceses here in the US, I also worked briefly with His Grace’ Archbishop Edward Gilbert Archbishop of Port of Spain, in the planning and laying the groundwork to begin the first Diaconate Program for Trinidad.

The first group of deacons will be ordained, hopefully, some time this coming year.

So as you may have noticed Nigel, The burst of energy that I displayed at the Mount continued since I left the Mount.

And you know what! I don’t think God is finished with me yet! .

So it was an enormous shock to have read of my own demise.

As I complete “these few lines” let me ask you please to give any of the Old Boys who still remember me, and would like write, E-mail or call me to do so.;

* Deacon Lionel Roberts

(home)_Telephone (727) 865-3993

2725 66^th Terrace South

St. Petersburg , Florida , 33712

Blessed Trinity Catholic Church

Telephone (727) 867-3663

1600 54^th Ave South

St. Petersburg , Florida, 33712

Formerly: Brother Vincent, OSB

Please feel free call me by any name Vince or just Lionel will do.

Nigel I will try and get this to Ladislao, but in any event you may forward this to him, as well

And Nigel, if you care, you may call me at any time, it would be great hearing from you

God bless you, my friend

Lionel

N.B. Incidentally, I do have a wealth of information about activities at the Mount and the Abbey School, from another perspective which I can share as time goes on.

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FW: BROTHER VINCENT--LIONEL ROBERTS IS VERY MUCH ALIVE

david decastro

HERE IS THE INFORMATION YOU REQUESTED. BRING HIM BACK TO LIFE.

"BANDIT"

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From: RBENTO@tampabay.rr.com

Date: Sun, 16 Nov 2008 10:23:39 -0500

Dave,

Here is Lionel's e-mail address:

lrober17@tampabay.rr.com

Please notice that the first letter is an "ell" as in Lionel.

It is NOT a one (1). OK, now go resurrect him, bring him back alive (smile).

RON

----- Original Message --------------------------------------------------------------------

From: david decastro

Sent: Saturday, November 15, 2008 11:54 AM

HI RON, WOULD YOU ASK LIONEL FOR HIS EMAIL AND SEND IT TO ME TO FORWARD TO BRING HIM BACK ALIVE

DAVE.

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From: nigelboos@eagles-wings.ca
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2008 07

David,

Have you been able to find any contact information as yet, to confirm that Br. Vince (Lionel Roberts) is still alive?

If so, would you please pass it on to me?

Thanks.

Nigel

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From: "Nigel P. Boos" <nigelboos@eagles-wings.ca>

Date: November 2, 2008 5:26:52 PM GMT-05:00

The first indication that Lionel Roberts had died was given, so far as I can remember, in Ladislao's Circular #360, of 27 September 2008 where he stated:

"Dear Friends

Before I continue with the second part of the tales, I am inviting those who knew "Short Pants" MacIntosh, Llewellyn, to listen to TALK CITY 91.1 FM Trinidad, through Internet, he is the moderator of the daily calypso talk programme, you can call him at (868) 622.4911 for a direct contact.

Today at 21:00 local time, he had an interview with Robert Elias "Mighty Trini" about calypso songs of our time (1960s).

He is promoting the rebirth of Calypso which has been run over by SOCA etc.

I decided to call him at the end of the programme, and to my surprise he picked up the telephone and we had about a 15 minute chat on Mount, and the Reunion in November and I even mentioned the JAM that Glen is trying to get going in Florida.

He give me a sad news, Bro Vincent, Lionel Roberts had died, maybe Salvador can get the details??

To my surprise I was put on the air and even though I never sang a song, I became a participant for at least of 15 minutes after calypso talk time.

If you have some information which would suggest that this is incorrect, I'm sure we would al be interested to know about it.

Please let us have his contact information.

Thanks.

Nigel Boos

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On 2-Nov-08, at 5:11 PM, david decastro wrote:

HI NIGEL,

WHO ADVISED THAT LIONEL ROBERTS HAD DIED?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------.

From: nigelboos@eagles-wings.ca

Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:26:05 -0400

David,

This is great news. Thanks for alerting us.

Can you get his contact information for us, please?

Nigel

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On 31-Oct-08, at 3:54 PM, david decastro wrote:

HI LADISLAO,

PLEASE ADVISE EVERYONE THAT BROTHER VINCENT--LIONEL ROBERTS, IS VERY MUCH ALIVE. LIVING IN FLORIDA.

"THE BANDIT"

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That is for now, till the next one

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Photos:

65UN0001DLRMAR, photo taken at the marriage ceremony.

06SC0009SCOGRP, Bro. Vincent and wife Marlene with Salvador Coscarart and Gina.

57LK0001BVIGRP, Bro. Vincent with kids at school.

57RB0001a6, Bro. Vincent with Isaias Farcheg.

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