DismasElection

The Election of Abbot Dismas

Throughout the past year, and especially during the autumn months, the community held a number of meetings intended to help the members ponder the future direction they would take in electing a new abbot. On the afternoon of Sunday, December 29, the election process formally began, with Abbot Timothy Kelly, president of the American Cassinese Congregation, presiding.

The first step was the nomination of candidates. After discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the various candidates, the monks proceeded to the election itself. Each monk received and marked a ballot with the name of the man he considered best-qualified. By the rule of the Congregation, up to six ballots could be held

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After receiving the required number of votes, Father Dismas was asked by Abbot Timothy if he would accept election. When he stated that he would do so, several concluding ceremonies were held, including the profession of faith that the Church requires of major superiors. The monks then gathered in the Abbey Church for a liturgical rite welcoming their new father in Christ. A more formal blessing will be held at a later date, but this ritual acknowledged the fact that, from the time of his acceptance of election, the new abbot holds all of the rights and responsibilities of his office.

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Born a member of St. Joseph’s Slovenian Parish in Joliet, Illinois, on January 1, 1929, Bertrand Kalcic graduated from Joliet Catholic High School and served in both the Army and the Air Force before coming to St. Procopius College. He joined the monastery in 1954 and professed vows on June 26, 1955. He taught English at St. Procopius Academy for several years and also served as a residence hall director at the College.

Father Dismas was ordained to the priesthood at St. Raymond Nonnatus Cathedral by Bishop Martin McNamara on May 27, 1961. He completed his master’s degree in Economics from the University of Notre Dame the following year. He continued graduate study at Johns Hopkins and Washington Universities, from the latter of which he received his Ph.D. in 1974.

Father Dismas also during this time taught economics at the College, serving for some time as chairman of the department. From 1973-1974, he was the school’s executive vice-president. In 1975, he was appointed executive vice-president and vice-president for academic affairs at St. Francis College, Joliet.

Two years later, Father Dismas began eleven years of service at Benet Academy, first as Business Manager, and then as Director of Finance and Electronic Learning Systems Director. He did much in these positions to advance the use of computer learning at the Academy.

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Abbot Dismas with his classmate, Fr. Michael

In 1988, Father Dismas was appointed pastor of St. Mary Parish in Phillips, Wisconsin. Three years later, he took charge instead of two nearby parishes, St. Paul in Catawba and St. John in Prentice. In 2001, he returned to the Abbey, where he taught economics at both Benedictine University and Benet Academy during the year prior to his election as abbot.

Abbot Dismas also becomes by his election the ex officio chancellor of both Benet Academy and Benedictine University.