Kansas monks record compact disc as fundraiser for Benedictine abbey

ATCHISON, Kan. (CNS) - Benedictine Abbot Barnabas Senecal -known as "the singing abbot" - is renowned throughout the Kansas City Archdiocese for his rich tenor and his a cappella renditions at Masses, weddings, confirmations and other liturgies.

To the delight of his longtime fans, his singing has been captured on a compact disc that also features the musical talents of other members of St. Benedict's Abbey in Atchison. The CD of liturgical music, "On a Musical Journey," celebrates 150 years of monastic life in Kansas. The varied collection recorded last summer at the abbey also features the monastic schola. The abbey's schola, the core choir of any Benedictine monastery, is in this case comprised of seven monks. Father Blaine Schultz, another monk of the abbey, is the organist and choirmaster for the recording, with Brother Ambrose Nelson directing. "We sing every day in our common prayer and not very many people are witnesses to that," Abbot Senecal said. "This CD gives them a touch of the way we do choral prayer, both in Latin and in English." The CD is more than an expression of faith. It is also a fundraiser for capital improvements to the church, monastery and guesthouse. The three-phase project, to be carried out over five years, includes the replacement of the 75-year-old monastery roof and 885 windows, as well as improvements to the abbey's accessibility. "The church was built in 1957, and the structure reflects the times," Abbot Senecal told The Leaven, the archdiocesan newspaper. "Every entrance has steps." The renovations will include the construction of handicap-accessible entrances with ramps, ground-floor restrooms and a two-story elevator. Located at the north end of the Benedictine College campus, the abbey church has been serving students and visitors in Atchison and the surrounding area for 50 years. People frequent the abbey for Mass, to receive spiritual direction, and to attend retreats and concerts. It serves the community, said the abbot, and the monks would like to ensure that it remains a welcoming refuge. The capital campaign, which began in 2006, is the first for the religious community. Money raised through sales of the CD will go directly into the campaign fund. Mary Easterday, a member of Corpus Christi Parish in Lawrence, described the CD as "just beautiful," and she is especially fond of Abbot Senecal's rendition of "Hail Mary, Gentle Woman." Mary Sayers, of Cure of Ars Parish in Leawood, concurs. "I have listened to the CD many, many times since I got it," she said. "The whole CD is beautiful, but 'Hail Mary' is the best." Both women have been fans and friends of the abbot for years and have enjoyed his singing at church events. They have been encouraging him for years to record some of his songs. Now, they say, they can listen to him at their leisure. Along with five solos by Abbot Senecal there are three original compositions by Father Schultz. One, an all-organ piece composed four years ago, features an abbey organ with a tale to tell. When the church was built in the 1950s, said Father Schultz, only two-thirds of the original design of the organ was completed because of a lack of funds. "The idea was that they would finish it in a few years, but that didn't happen," he said. "So more than 40 years later, we finally were able to finish it." The upgrade included adding wooden pipes in five different locations, resulting in a better distribution of sound. "When you pull out all the stops, it has such a wonderful sound," said Father Schultz, "not only because of the instrument that it is, but also because of the acoustics of the room." Father Schultz is pleased as well with the range of selections featured on the CD. "The CD represents a mixture of the old and the new -- Gregorian chants that are over 1,000 years old, plus new pieces," he said. - - - Editor's Note: The CD sells for $25 and is available at the Benedictine College bookstore's Web site, http://ravenstore.benedictine.edu, or by calling St. Benedict's Abbey at: (913) 367-7853.

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Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops