St Norbert College - Des Peres Yearbook (De Pere, WI)

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THE DES PERES 1 I Xvl v £ e ■ s in the fall of the year 1893. The Fathers were immediately given pastoral work in the so-called Belgian Peninsula. Father Pennings and Brother Servatius, after a short rest after their arduous sea-voyage, betook themselves to Delwiche, Wisconsin, the place assigned to the Fathers. Father Broens remained with his brother at Sturgeon Bay for some time. Father Pennings found his church at Delwiche in ruins from a recent fire, and his flock more or less influenced by the nefarious work of the notorious “Bishop” Villatte. The church was quickly repaired, and the Pastor and the Brother made the sacristy their dwelling place. In 1894, Father L. Broens was made pastor of Martinsville and its missions. In the same year, two more Premonstraten-sians, Rev. R. Van Rooy, and Brother Michael arrived in Wisconsin from Berne Abbey, and were assigned to the church at Dykesville. In 1896 Rev. S. Mickers arrived, and he too was given pastoral care, namely the church at Rosiere. Bishop Messmer considered it an opportune time for the establishment of a house of the Order in this country. His Lord-ship offered the P'athers St. Joseph’s parish in I)e Pere, Wisconsin. The offer was accepted in 1898. In the same year, Father Pennings went to Kurope, with the intention of enlisting more priests from the Abbey of Berne, for missionary work in America. His efforts were successful and when he returned, he was accompanied by several Fathers and a Brother. On September 38, 1898, Bishop Messmer canonically established the Premonstratensian House at Dc Pere. Father Pennings was the superior of the little community, whose quarters were of the poorest. Less than two weeks after the installation, saw the beginning of St. Norbert’s college, in the person of Francis Van Dyke, now Father Van Dyke, the prefect of discipline at the college. Amazing success accompanied this venture, and in 1901, the number of students had grown so large, that a properly equipped school building was found necessary. By fall of 1903 the new building was ready for occupancy. In 1915. through the liberal munificence of Mr. H. Boyle of Fond du Lac, whose son, Francis, had been a student at St. Norbert’s, the Fathers received a sum of money sufficient to erect a thoroughly up-to-date structure which is known as the Francis Boyle Hall. This magnificent edifice was dedicated in September, 1916. In s I m I‘aye Sixteen

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 THE DES FEFES |l A Short Review of the Life and Works of The Right Reverend B. H. Pennings The history of any great institution is principally the history of its great men, so it will not be out of place to insert in this book a brief summary of the labors and successes of our president, the Right Reverend B. H. Pennings, Abbot. His solemn investiture on May 27, 1925 as Abbot, the first Norbertine Abbot in America, was an important event in the history of Wisconsin, and in the history of America in general in as much as it represents the reward of years of constant struggles against countless hardships. It was in 1893 that the Premonstratensian Fathers of Berne Abbey, Netherlands, came to Wisconsin. They had been invited by Archbishop Messmer of the Milwaukee diocese, at that time bishop of Green Bay. In that year, the need for priests familiar with the French and Flemish language had become imperative. Through the medium of Father Broens of Sturgeon Bay, whose brother was a professed religious and priest of Berne Abbey. Archbishop Messmer learned that Fathers from that Abbey could be induced to come to America. Correspondence passed back and forth and finally the Rt. Rev. Bishop paid a personal visit to the Abbey. As a result Very Reverend B. H. Pennings, Rev. Lambert Broens, and Brother Servatius came to America 1‘tnjr Fifteen

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jjt rfgfc THE DES FERES the same year, a central heating plant was erected. At the present time, the attendance at St. Norbert's is about 250. Among its graduates may be counted some fifty priests, and a large number of influential men in the various professions. During the rise and growth of the College the Fathers did not neglect their spiritual work. Missions in the Belgian peninsula were cared for, priests were sent to Canada, to Michigan, to Montana and to Chicago, to minister to the Catholic people of those communities. Others of the Fathers were sent to institutions of higher learning, such as the Gregorian College at Rome, the University of Louvain, the Catholic University of America, and Wisconsin University, to prepare themselves to present college courses at St. Norbert’s, on an educational par with those of the best colleges in the country. So phenomenal has the success of the work of the Premons-tratensians in America been, that the General Chapter of the Order has decided to erect St. Norbert's Priory into an Abbey, the only one in North America. The Holy Father, Pope Pius XI, has appointed Prior B. H. Pennings as the first Abbot. Although Father Pennings was not the first Premonstratensian to try to establish a house of his Order in America, an unsuccessful attempt having been made by Rev. Adelbert Inama in 1845, yet he was the first to succeed. Father Pennings was born in Gemert, Holland, June 9, 1861. He received the Premonstratensian habit on Oct. 26, 1879, and emitted the vows of religion on June 6, 1884. He was ordained to the priesthood in June, 1886, and seven years later, as has been mentioned before, was sent by his superior to America. He was appointed Prior of the American establishment in November, 1903. And as a fitting culmination to the fatiguing and zealous work he has done, he has now been consecrated the first Premonstratensian Abbot in North America. [!•' SerciilccH