A Letter From Cate and Arnold Swanson
Dear Friends of the Society of Saint John:
It is three years ago this month when we first visited the Society of Saint John. Our hope was to return to the Traditional Latin Mass. We heard of the Society through a newspaper article, and requested to be a guest at their Sunday Mass.
As we made our way down a path sheltered by tall trees from the light falling snow, we crossed over the stream by way of a wooden bridge, and continued our walk up the hill toward the simple Chapel converted from a stable.
This short walk awakens the spirit, and it continues to breathe new life into us each and every Sunday we attend Mass. If you remain still, the voice of God could be heard through the whisper of its trees; through the rushing waters of its creek, and in the still of its night.
On that Sunday, we only heard the snow crunch beneath our feet, and the sounds of the river greeted us as new participants of this Holy Hill. We did not know at the time that we would be forever changed, and our lives continually blessed through our friendship with Society of Saint John.
That Sunday, and for the weeks which followed, Fr. Eric Ensey officiated at Mass, while the remainder of the Society stayed on in France to study. There was a deep reverence in which he approached the Altar and handled the Divine Host. The Mass instantly inspired us to become a part of the Society’s mission.
Afterwards, a simple brunch was served. Invited guests brought baskets of food. We soon learned that many, as ourselves, thirsted for a better way of life; and for God to be an every day part of that life.
Since that time, we have spent many Sundays with Fr. Ensey, both religiously and socially. We were drawn to his calm and compassion. He is a priest of sincerity and integrity, and we look forward to a long friendship.
Shortly afterwards, we met Father Carlos Urrutigoity. At the time, his English was not very good. We fondly recall laboring through his sermons, looking at each other and questioning; “Who is this priest, and where did he come from?” Nevertheless, it did not take long to discover he was the visionary, the driving force behind the dream for a City of God. His faith in the vision never falters. He believes that God has lead the Society to this Holy Hill, and that Our Lady of Loreto had answered his prayers. There is a natural grace and elegance about him. He is a man of honesty, straightforwardness, and an enormous zest for life. We have worked together on many projects at the Society, and found him abundant in faith and he possesses uncompromising integrity.
When the remainder of the members returned, we found them to be equally as warm and interested in the smallest of concerns. None of the Society members are ever too busy to offer assistance. Every kindness given is embraced by them and is never taken for granted.
In these three years we have been privy to much of the Society’s daily lives. Through God’s good grace, we have assisted in small ways with their mission. We handle the Chapel floral designs, and perform repairs and carpentry work. We have been benefactors to several projects, and assist with holiday dinners. Due to our close and personal involvement, we are in and about the property all hours of the day and most evenings. We seldom announce ourselves, and appointments are only made for meetings. We are around their rooms to repair or retrieve one thing or another. Members are always up and about doing business, and move without concern from room to room. Due to the fact that quarters are extremely tight, most of the members are not afforded much privacy. Computers are placed wherever possible. Fax machines are tucked in corners. Beds are neatly made, but rest on the floor. Priests prefer any additional space for altars to perform their daily private mass. We have never at any time experienced anything other than appropriate behavior by all members of the Society.
Superior General Fr. Urrutigoity’s private chamber is like Grand Central Station. People are always busy and about; both day and night.
His secretary works long hours, arriving early in the morning and can be found laboring away in the late hours of the night. When the property was overflowed with guests, they slept on floors, couches, and porches, and in any one of the member’s rooms. There was no immoral plan, no secret invitation. The arrangements were simple; If there was space to be found, they flopped for the night. One must remember that all of these boys forged close bonds with these men; they are considered brothers, confidants and life-long friends.
We have witnessed Society members greeted with such enthusiasm and manly embraces from St. Gregory Students; it fills your heart and lifts your spirit. We have watched these same boys kneel for hours on the hard tile floor of the Chapel in respect for the Host, or labor for hours in the hot sun to erect a flagstone patio for a community gathering with our beloved Bishop Timlin.
To read anything differently into a simple display of affection is rubbish. We will not dignify ourselves, Father Urrutigoity, Father Ensey, or any other member of the Society with discussion on the hideous accusations, allegations and sad state of affairs of this disgruntled terminated employee.
Let us just reassure any one who is interested in knowing the truth that Dr. Jeffrey Bond, himself, advised in the Spring of 2001 that he was terminated from the Society due to the fact that they could no longer afford to pay him. However, the Society agreed to continue his salary until September to allow him enough time to seek other employment. How coincidental, his smear campaign did not start until that September.
It is just as coincidental that his persistent harassment of the property owner generated the Society’s eviction from the Saint Joseph House, forging the way for his associate Father Richard Munkelt and his friend Russ Buss to conveniently move in days later.
We are bewildered that Father Munkelt traveled and lived with the Society here and in France; was ordained into the Society in the Spring of 2001, and had never reported episodes of moral misconduct.
Society members are all too busy attending to the day-to-day responsibilities, and attending Mass, lectures, traveling on fund-raisers, and answering emails; to have little time for the "wild life" as fantasized by their accusers.
We have observed the Society’s growth this past year, and as in any organization, we learn from our mistakes. Mistakes are part of the growth process. The Society is no exception. They have learned from their financial errors, and are exercising much caution with expenditures.
We have been invited guests for meals at one time or another for the past three years. The meals are simple, served at appointed hours, eaten in silence, and one member reads to the group aloud. Members assigned to serving and clean up eat after all members are finished.
Meals brought in are just as simple, and provided only to avoid additional strain on overburdened volunteer staff and overworked kitchen appliances.
Dishes are washed by hand, and the tables are set for the next meal. Members enjoy an hour of group social discussion, song, verse, and they are off to Chapel for Compline.
The Society’s vision has always been one of beauty, music and nature. Their dream is to generate a community, which embraces all of the above in relationship with God and the Holy Order of Mass.
Nature has already provided the setting for them. The music can be experienced through their Gregorian Chant. Beauty and refinement was intended for the housing, which would generate culture, art and good taste. It is ironical that Dr. Bond did not object to any of the furnishing when one of the houses was earmarked for his future residence as president of the college, and in which he and his family would enjoy the lovely surroundings.
Anyone who attends Mass, strolls the grounds, interacts with its members, or chats with the faithful will determine for themselves what is fact and what is fiction.
We continue to support our dear friends at the Society, and offer daily prayers for Bishop Timlin during this difficult time, and that God’s Will be done.
Yours in Christ and his beloved Mother,
Cate and Arnold Swanson
http://www.friendsofssi.com/letters/swanson.html
"The Society’s vision has always been one of beauty, music and nature. Their dream is to generate a community, which embraces all of the above in relationship with God and the Holy Order of Mass."
I was myself, as a traditionalist, at first attracted to the dream of this Society to build a traditional Catholic community from the ground up. I even supported it, contributing money periodically. But after a short while I began to realize these men were primarily aesthetes uninterested in traditional Catholicism per se. I was especially put off by the elaborate jewel-toned brochures they sent out--far in excess of what seemed appropriate for so penurious an outfit.
Then the scandal broke--which I followed closely. The boys involved--all in their early teens and on retreat at St. John's from a traditionalist prep school--received their "spiritual direction" from Fr. U by sharing his bed. The claim was there were too few beds at the site to supply retreatants, so there were some unorthodox sleeping arrangements. Yeah-sure. There was also some drinking. This is the same Fr. U. that Bishop Fellay warned Bishop Timlin about--as a possible homosexual.
It is not unusual that most of the boys denied anything "happened" since the stigma of engaging in homosexual sex would have been very great among their peers. But one boy did come forward and Bishop Timlin consequently suspended Fr. U. and the other priests involved. But he tried to fight the accusations at the same time, claiming the Society of St. John is legitimate and should be supported. I have no doubt he was motivated by the millions of dollars at stake should the enterprise eventually collapse. As it is, it is hanging on by its finernails.