Visiting Bishops

November 7th, 2009

Bishop Robert Kurtz

Mepkin is pleased to welcome Bishop Robert Kurtz, the bishop of Bermuda, who has come to spend five weeks with us. It has been over four years since we have seen the bishop who made a retreat with us at that time. A native of Chicago, Bishop Kurtz studied for the priesthood as a member of the Resurrectionists. His seminary and administrative responsibilities led him to duties in Rome and he was elected the General Superior of his congregation. Completing his term he went to Mexico to serve in pastoral ministry when after only one and a half years he was notified that the Holy Father had selected him to be the bishop of Bermuda. Having completed fourteen years of service as the diocesan bishop, he has come for a brief sabbatical with us and will return to Bermuda on December 9th. We are blessed in his presence with us.

Bishop Susaimanickam

On Wednesday, November 4th, the reception center called up to the administration building to say that there was a bishop who dropped by and was asking for the abbot. Informing him that the abbot is away on sabbatical, the staff asked the prior to come and welcome Bishop Jebamalai Susaimanickam of the Diocese of Sivagangai in South India. On a trip to visit the priests of his own diocese who are serving in various areas of the United States, Father Antony Benjamine who serves as the administrator of Saint Mary’s Parish Yonges Island had brought Bishop Susaimanickam to visit the Trappist monastery located in the Diocese of Charleston. Having already seen the gardens, the prior took our visitors to see the monastery church and library and offered them some of the history of Mepkin.