On August 15, 2010, on the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the monks of Assumption Abbey held a celebration for friends and benefactors heralding the Abbey’s 60th anniversary.
These friends included Bishop John Liebrecht from Springfield. Bishop Liebrecht offered the Mass of Thanksgiving for a “standing room only” congregation.
He spoke of the Abbey’s history and the monks that he remembered. Bishop Leibrecht recalled the hardships faced by the original monks, how they persevered and stayed with the Abbey that they founded.
He remembered the monks and friends of the Abbey that were buried in the small Abbey cemetery. Joe Pierson was remembered for his donation of the land that became Assumption Abbey.
The celebration was followed by a dinner and a gathering for memories of days gone by.
Mrs. Mary Garrick, the 90-year-old daughter of Joe Pierson, and her sons, Fr. David and George, added their memories as the day went on.
A beautiful rendition of “Happy Birthday” was sung to Bishop Leibrecht at the gathering. He remarked that, being 80 years old, he has been around longer than the monastery.
Assumption Abbey will host a reunion of Alumni Monks on September 23 & 24 of this year.
September 24, 1950 is when the first monks arrived in Ava to lay the foundation for what would become Assumption Abbey.
