By Gretchen Keiser

The jubilees of seven members of the community at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers were celebrated Aug. 29 with a Mass of thanksgiving and a dinner afterward in the retreat house.

The celebration remembered differing anniversaries which occurred for the seven in 1981--from the 50th anniversary of solemn profession of vows for Father Lawrence Swartz to the 25th anniversary of priesthood for Father Matthew Torpey.

Father Lawrence, who entered the Trappist Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani in Kentucky in 1926, made his solemn profession of vows in 1931. He came to the Conyers monastery in August, 1945 and has, over the last 25 years, been one of the tour guides, overseen work in the monastery’s orchards and served as novice master for several years.

Father Francis Xavier Kavanagh, who entered the Gethsemani Abbey in 1931, celebrated the 50th anniversary of that entrance this year. Father Francis came to Conyers with the original group of monks who founded the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in 1944. He has been guestmaster for the Monastery for many years and, through his work guiding schoolchildren around the grounds, has gathered thousands of friends who corresponded after their visits.

Father Matthew Torpey, a native of New Jersey, celebrated the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood this year. In 11 years with the Conyers community he has served at different times as prior and novice master and been a spiritual counselor. Father Matthew, who originally entered the Gethsemani Abbey, said that after 25 years he would describe the priesthood as “a mystery that the community wraps around you” and in which the priest lives. “For that gift I am unutterably grateful,” he said.

Brother Alphonse Insalco had a double celebration Aug. 29--the 25th anniversary of his solemn vows of 1956 and his birthday. A native of Niagara Falls, N.Y., who grew up in Miami, Brother Alphonse served in the Air Corps in World War II. He made his solemn vows March 19, 1956.

Also celebrating the 25th anniversaries of their solemn vows were Brother Pius Laflin and Father Thomas Fidelis Smith. Brother Bill Reams, a native of Rocky Mount, N.C., celebrated the 25th anniversary of his entrance into the monastery of this year.

Brother Pius, the monastery’s gatekeeper, entered the Conyers monastery after a long career on Wall Street. Father Tom Fidelis, a native of Baltimore, has been among those in the monastery working with those on retreat.

Families and friends of the jubilarians joined members of the community for the day of celebration and savored the remarks of those who were coaxed temporarily into the limelight. Said Father Francis: “Fifty years seems very short. I hope I’ll get another 50 years.”