Belmont Abbey College - Spire Yearbook (Belmont, NC)

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SUCCESSION OF ABBOTS Abbot Leo Haid, 1885 Abbot Vincent Taylor, 1924 Abbot Walter Coggin, 1959 Abbot Edmund McCaffery, 1970 Abbot Jude Cleary, 1975 Abbot Peter Stragand, 1978

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His Holiness Pope John Paul II, born Karol Wojtyla in Poland, was elec- ted to the Papacy on Oct. 16, 1978 — the 263rd successor to St. Peter. At age fifty-eight, John Paul II is the youngest pope to be elected in over a hundred years, and also has the distinction of being the first non-Italian pope since 1522. Pope lohn Paul II began his priestly studies in 1943 in an underground seminary during the time of the German occupation of Poland and was ordained four years later in 1946. He gained recognition for his hard work and contributions to the church and was designated Archbishop of Crakow in 1962. After achieving international prominence at the Second Vatican Council his popularity increased and finally led to his present position as head of the Roman Catholic Church. In 1979 the United States was honored by a seven day visit from the pope during which he visited a number of cities. Catholics and non- Catholics alike traveled hundreds of miles to view the newly elected pope and make him welcome. Among those travelers were twenty-two Abbey students who went to Washington, D.C., October 7, 1979 to see him. His messages to the youth of the United States were particularly welcomed and in his special message to the Youth of American at Madison Square Garden Pope John Paul II said When you wonder about the mystery of yourself, look to Christ who gives you the meaning of life. When you wonder what it means to be a mature person, look to Christ who is the fullness of humanity. As a Catholic institution, therefore, we are proud to include Pope John Paul ll ' s picture in the hope that it will serve as an inspiration to the stu- dents and friends of Belmont Abbey College through the years. Pope |ohn Paul II Abbot Peter Stragand was elected to his present position in Belmont Abbey Monastery in November of 1978. Abbot Peter has served his con- stituency at Belmont Abbey in the roles of student, professor and monk. That he served and serves well was acknowledged by his election as Ab- bot only nine years after his ordination. In 1961-62 Abbot Peter attended Belmont Abbey College for a year and a half and then transferred to Illinois Benedictine College at Lisle, III., where he graduated majoring in mathematics. Returning to the Abbey in 1965 he joined the seminary and in the fall began teaching in the Mathematics Department. Fr. Peter remained at Belmont Abbey College until the Spring of 1968 when the seminary was closed and he transferred to SI. Vincent ' s Arch Abbey in Pennsylvania to complete his spiritual training. One year later he returned to North Carolina where he was ordained a priest in May of 1969 at the Belmont Abbey Cathedral. Thereafter he continued his studies at Chapel Hill and from there received his Masters Degree in Mathematics. Fr. Peter has been recognized for his talent and hard work by the members of the monastery and his contributions have led to his position as Abbot of Belmont Abbey Monastery and spiritual leader of Belmont Abbey College. Ad multos annos! Abbot Peter Stragand, O.S.B.

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ABBEY In the fall of 1872, the Reverend Jeremiah J. O ' Connell purchased the Caldwell Plantation In Gaston County. He gave the land to the Diocese of Richmond in 1875, which in turn gave it to the Benedictine Monks of St Vincent ' s Abbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. On January 19, 1876, the monastic community of St. Vincent ' s voted in favor of accepting the land for the purpose of building a college. Fr. Herman Wolf and two boys from Richmond, the first two Ab- bev students, arrived at the planta- tion on April 21, 1876, since designated as Founder ' s Day . The name of the pl antation was then changed to Maria Stein . On the 25th of April, five lay brothers arrived from St Vincents and the work began. In the fall of 1876, in a log cabin built by four students, the two from Richmond plus two from Charlotte, the first classes were held. The of- ficial opening of St Mary ' s College took place In September of 1878. By the next year the enrollment had increased to thirtv-nlne stu- dents. On Bastille Day of 1885, the Reverend Leo Haid was elected the first Abbot For the next fifteen years, the college and the Abbey both grew so that by 1900 there were fifty-nine in the monastic community and 120 students. On May 19, 1900, a fire broke out in the new west wing of the college. A mass was hurriedly said in the Abbey Church with all vest- ments and chalices packed for a speedy removal. However, during the sacrifice of the Mass the wind changed and the rest of the college was spared. Through much hard work, a new building was up before the end of the year. In 1906, St Leo ' s Hall was begun. The name Belmont Abbey College was decided upon for the Institution and on Thanksgiving Day, 1913, it was offlciallv changed from St. Mary ' s College to Belmont Abbey College. Abbot Vincent Taylor became the second Abbot of Belmont Ab- bey on August 20, 1924, shortly af- ter the death of Abbot Leo Haid Abbot Vincent supported the academic program, and launched a program of higher learningfor the teachers at the college. The old sub-academic studies and the old rules were dropped in favor of newer, more liberal ideas and a junior college was established. During 1929 and 1930, an athletic field was graded and the most modern design in athletic building for its time was construc- ted, the Leo Haid Gymnasium. The ground floor of St. Leo ' s, which had formerly been the gymnasium, was converted into a library of some 30,000 volumes in 1930. The books were gathered from the monastery, and die new facility was staffed by .,