What A Man
FROM HIS OBITUARY:
Rt. Reverend Philip A. Berning, O.S.B., Fifth Abbot of St. Gregory's Abbey, died peacefully at home at St. Gregory's on Saturday, November 17, 2007, sustained by prayer and strengthened by the sacraments of the Church.
Father Philip was born Anthony Bernard Berning on June 8, 1915, in Ashton, Iowa, to Joseph and Elizabeth Haverkamp Berning. He had four brothers and five sisters, all now deceased.
After grade school in Ashton, Father attended St. John's University Preparatory School, Collegeville, MN, and college at Trinity College, Sioux City, IA, for two years. He entered the novitiate of St. Gregory's Abbey in 1935, receiving the name of Philip. He made his simple monastic profession at St. Gregory's on July 11, 1936, and solemn monastic profession on July 11, 1939. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from St. Benedict's College, Atchison, KS, in 1938. Upon completion of theological studies at St. John's Seminary, Collegeville, MN, Father Philip was ordained to the priesthood at St. John's on June 7, 1942, at which time he returned to St. Gregory's Abbey in Shawnee. He received an honorary LL.D. from St. Vincent College, Latrobe, PA, in 1956.
Father Philip was elected Coadjutor Abbot to Abbot Mark Braun on March 12, 1953, and received the abbatial blessing from Bishop Eugene McGuinness on May 6, 1953. He succeeded Abbot Mark on the latter's death on April 2, 1954. Father Philip led the community as Abbot for the next 16 years, through the times of the Second Vatican Council, until he resigned on February 16, 1970.
During his tenure, St. Gregory's experienced great growth. The monks built a new monastery building as many young men entered the community. The community assessed its ministries and made the decision to close St. Gregory's High School and place increased emphasis on St. Gregory's College. During that period, many of the present buildings on campus were constructed. The college administration building, Benedictine Hall, was completely reconstructed. Bernard Murphy Hall, housing the student and monastery food service, Duperou-Degrasse and Mark Braun residence halls, the Commons, and the aquatic center were all completed during his term as Abbot.
Before he was elected Abbot, Father Philip served in several positions in the monastery, including as procurator, director of scholastics, and novice master. He served as Prefect of Discipline for St. Gregory's High School, where he also taught religion, history and typing. His pastoral assignments included two terms as pastor of St. Joseph's Church in Ada, Oklahoma, and many years as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in McLoud, Oklahoma. After his tenure as abbot he served as pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Chandler, Oklahoma. In his later years he served as porter and procurator at St. Gregory's Abbey.
He was a positive example to all in his gentility, humility, quiet service and devotion to prayer. He greeted all with a shy smile and welcoming eyes. He remained a faithful witness of monastic observance and ministry for seventy-one years and bore the increasing effects of Alzheimer's disease with great faith and patience.
PERSONAL NOTE:
Father Phillip was, as many of us at St. Greg's at the time called him, precious. At first sight you saw that he was a kind, gentle and very holy man.
He loved the world God has given us and found great joy in nature. We spent many a time sitting outside on a lovely day just looking at the trees, clouds, sky... whatever there was to look at.
He also took joy in the not so lovely days. One of his jobs in the Abbey was to go to the University mail room and get the mail for the Abbey. As long as I have known him Fr. Phillip has looked frail (probably looked frailer than he actually was).
I will never forget one COLD morning early in my days at St. Gregory's. There was ice everywhere! I was sitting outside the fine arts building and I see Fr. Phillip coming out of the house. He took a few steps and looked ahead at the walkway. Suddenly he started walking faster (running as best he could) and did a little jump sliding about 3-5 feet on the ice. My heart stopped as I realized I was about to see this elderly man fall on the ice and shatter into a million pieces! He did not fall. His sliding stopped and a smile came to his lips as he gently giggled and went about his way to the mail room. It was his little game. It was a very special moment to me to have witnessed this little private moment of joy. I saw it a few other times but never worried... but still stuck around and watched just in case.
requiescat in pace
Rt. Reverend Philip A. Berning, O.S.B., Fifth Abbot of St. Gregory's Abbey, died peacefully at home at St. Gregory's on Saturday, November 17, 2007, sustained by prayer and strengthened by the sacraments of the Church.
Father Philip was born Anthony Bernard Berning on June 8, 1915, in Ashton, Iowa, to Joseph and Elizabeth Haverkamp Berning. He had four brothers and five sisters, all now deceased.
After grade school in Ashton, Father attended St. John's University Preparatory School, Collegeville, MN, and college at Trinity College, Sioux City, IA, for two years. He entered the novitiate of St. Gregory's Abbey in 1935, receiving the name of Philip. He made his simple monastic profession at St. Gregory's on July 11, 1936, and solemn monastic profession on July 11, 1939. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from St. Benedict's College, Atchison, KS, in 1938. Upon completion of theological studies at St. John's Seminary, Collegeville, MN, Father Philip was ordained to the priesthood at St. John's on June 7, 1942, at which time he returned to St. Gregory's Abbey in Shawnee. He received an honorary LL.D. from St. Vincent College, Latrobe, PA, in 1956.
Father Philip was elected Coadjutor Abbot to Abbot Mark Braun on March 12, 1953, and received the abbatial blessing from Bishop Eugene McGuinness on May 6, 1953. He succeeded Abbot Mark on the latter's death on April 2, 1954. Father Philip led the community as Abbot for the next 16 years, through the times of the Second Vatican Council, until he resigned on February 16, 1970.
During his tenure, St. Gregory's experienced great growth. The monks built a new monastery building as many young men entered the community. The community assessed its ministries and made the decision to close St. Gregory's High School and place increased emphasis on St. Gregory's College. During that period, many of the present buildings on campus were constructed. The college administration building, Benedictine Hall, was completely reconstructed. Bernard Murphy Hall, housing the student and monastery food service, Duperou-Degrasse and Mark Braun residence halls, the Commons, and the aquatic center were all completed during his term as Abbot.
Before he was elected Abbot, Father Philip served in several positions in the monastery, including as procurator, director of scholastics, and novice master. He served as Prefect of Discipline for St. Gregory's High School, where he also taught religion, history and typing. His pastoral assignments included two terms as pastor of St. Joseph's Church in Ada, Oklahoma, and many years as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in McLoud, Oklahoma. After his tenure as abbot he served as pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Chandler, Oklahoma. In his later years he served as porter and procurator at St. Gregory's Abbey.
He was a positive example to all in his gentility, humility, quiet service and devotion to prayer. He greeted all with a shy smile and welcoming eyes. He remained a faithful witness of monastic observance and ministry for seventy-one years and bore the increasing effects of Alzheimer's disease with great faith and patience.
PERSONAL NOTE:
Father Phillip was, as many of us at St. Greg's at the time called him, precious. At first sight you saw that he was a kind, gentle and very holy man.
He loved the world God has given us and found great joy in nature. We spent many a time sitting outside on a lovely day just looking at the trees, clouds, sky... whatever there was to look at.
He also took joy in the not so lovely days. One of his jobs in the Abbey was to go to the University mail room and get the mail for the Abbey. As long as I have known him Fr. Phillip has looked frail (probably looked frailer than he actually was).
I will never forget one COLD morning early in my days at St. Gregory's. There was ice everywhere! I was sitting outside the fine arts building and I see Fr. Phillip coming out of the house. He took a few steps and looked ahead at the walkway. Suddenly he started walking faster (running as best he could) and did a little jump sliding about 3-5 feet on the ice. My heart stopped as I realized I was about to see this elderly man fall on the ice and shatter into a million pieces! He did not fall. His sliding stopped and a smile came to his lips as he gently giggled and went about his way to the mail room. It was his little game. It was a very special moment to me to have witnessed this little private moment of joy. I saw it a few other times but never worried... but still stuck around and watched just in case.
requiescat in pace
posted by Q 5 Go at 9:34 PM
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