DeathNotices

We are sorry to announce the death of our confrere...

Fr. Paschal Honner, O.S.B.

Born: June 9, 1929

Professed: June 24, 1950

Ordained: May 3, 1956

Died: March 4, 2007

Death Notice follows

R.I.P.

The Father Paschal Memorial Fund for Music and Ministry

Our confrere, Rev. Paschal Honner, O.S.B., died on Sunday, March 4, 2007, at St. Patrick Residence in Naperville, Illinois, after a several-month struggle with cancer. Born in Tabor, South Dakota, on June 9, 1929, Donald Honner grew up in a rural Czech parish that enjoyed a notable spiritual revival after a monk of St. Procopius Abbey, Rev. Raymond Koman, was appointed pastor in 1941.

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Seeing the good done by “Father Ray led the young man to decide that, were he ever to enter religious life, it would be as a Benedictine. After a year at Creighton University, Donald came to St. Procopius College in the fall of 1948. The next summer, he entered the monastic novitiate.

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After professing vows on June 24, 1950, Father Paschal, already known for both enthusiasm and spiritual seriousness, was appointed socius of novices, a post he held for five years. Following his ordination to the priesthood by Bishop Martin McNamara at St. Raymond Nonnatus Cathedral on May 3, 1956, Father Paschal served as a residence hall prefect at the College and a Latin instructor at St. Procopius Academy. Assigned to study classics at the Catholic University of America, he obtained a master’s degree in that subject in 1961.

In 1965, he was appointed novice-master and in 1968 subprior of the monastery. He transferred his good cheer and desire to help others to Benet Academy in 1970, and there he served as chaplain and taught religion for the next eight years.

Eager to find ways to connect with youth, Father Paschal took up the guitar and for the rest of his life would always be ready to share his love for singing wherever there was an opportunity.

He also coached the men’s tennis team. In 1978, he began three years of joyful service as associate pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Lisle, after which he returned to the Abbey for another term as novice-master. He also resumed the teaching of Latin after a hiatus of seventeen years, but that posed no problem, for, as he assured everyone, “Latin hasn’t changed.” He continued to teach Latin at Benet until 1998.

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He also served at various times as chaplain at Sacred Heart Monastery and member of the campus ministry team Benedictine University. Leaving the classroom did not mean leaving Benet, where he continued to offer Masses during homeroom periods and in various ways share his love for sacred song with the students.

In his last years, he derived great satisfaction in taking part in Rachel’s Vineyard weekend retreats, a ministry to women who had had an abortion.

Ever more stooped and winded as the years proceeded, Father Paschal continued his activity at Benet and weekend service at St. Patrick’s Residence until the onset of cancer in the autumn of 2006.

A number of the Academy faculty members, monks included, made camero appearances in the Academy’s 2005 production of “Arsenic and Old Lace.” Fr. Paschal was one of them.

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