Saint Bede Academy - Via Baeda Yearbook (Peru, IL)

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Three-Quarters Of A Century Of On the banks of the Illinois River, on Easter Sunday of 1675, Father Marquette established the first mission in the present state of Illinois. He brought the faith to the Indians and led the way for other missionaries who made the new cities and towns throughout the valley, strong- holds of Catholicism. Two cen- turies after the visit of Mar- quette, other blackrobes came down from Lake Michigan to establish a lasting home for Christianity, St. Bede. In 1889 the noted writer and orator, Archbishop John Lancas- ter Spalding, invited the Bene- dictines to establish an institu- tion of higher learning in the Peoria diocese. Accordingly, the Rt. Rev. Andrew Hintenach, O.S.B., Archabbot of St. Vin- cent’s, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, purchased a portion of the fa- mous Daniel Webster farm in Bureau County, Illinois. Construction of the main building started in 1889. Two years later, some fifty stu- dents and a faculty of six were on hand for the dedication of St. Bede College by Archbishop Spalding, October 12, 1891. For twenty years, the school grew in size and in reputation. In August, 1909, the monks of St. Bede made a formal request of independence from the motherhouse, St. Vincent's Arch- abbey in Pennsylvania. Permis- sion came from the Sacred Con- gregation of Religious in Rome, February 12, 1910. Thirteen charter members formed the new community and they unani- mously elected Rt. Rev. Vin- cent Huber, O.S.B., as their first abbot. For the next twenty-six years, the community of St. Bede made progress under Abbot Vincent’s wise and prudent direction. Dur- ing these years the north wing of the school, a new power house and a gymnasium were built. Rt. Rev. Justus Wirth, O.S.B.,

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St. Bede —a six hour registration, introducing a completely new and different way of life to freshmen: studies: a Homecoming, with everything from bon-fires to beef dinners: Nauvoo day, a visit from St. Mary’s Academy bringing 200 girls to an all male campus: stud- ies: planned and unplanned assem- blies: a Mission Bazaar: a science fair: a day of recollection: a prom: studies: in a seventy-five year-old building with a seventy-five year- old tradition —Bedan life. Life at St. Bede can be fully appre- ciated only by those who live it. Few grow to loathe it, most grow to love it, but those who graduate and leave it —will never lose it. Campus Activities

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Growth: Physical, Moral, Mental became St. Bede's second abbot on June 10, 1926. Through his administrative skill, he freed St. Bede of financial debt. Abbot Justus began the construction of a new abbey building in 1941, but did not live to see its completion. In 1942, St. Bede received a new abbot and a new abbey building. Rt. Rev. Lawrence Vohs, O.S.B., became the mon- astery’s third abbot and under his leadership St. Bede has grown to what we know it today. The monastery is a three floor structure with a fourth added in 1957. On the various floors are chapels, living quarters, utili- ty rooms, class rooms, refectory and tailor shop. In 1962 the new abbey print shop was erected northwest of the monastery. In this setting the monks live according to the Benedictine rule, “Work and Pray.” Their day begins at 5:20 with Matins. Teaching, manual labor and pray- er constitute the monks activi- ties. Vespers and Compline sig- nal the end of the day and the opportunity for solitude. Both the junior college and academy are situated in the ad- ministration building. Located in this building are the living quarters, class rooms, and chap- el. Joining it to the monastery is the refectory and library. When fire destroyed the old gym, the new Abbot Vincent Gymnasium was built in 1955. It contains a two court basketball floor, and athletic quarters. Free time can be spent in the swim- ming pool, TV room, ping pong room and clubrooms. Room for outdoor exercise is provided by an expansive athlet- ic field. There are the football field, baseball diamond, tennis court and intramural fields on which the students participate in various sports.