CONYERS--Father Cyprian Carew, OCSO, one of the founders of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, died June 14. He was 78.

Father Carew, the son of a prize fighter who grew up in the tough neighborhood of Dorchester, Mass., entered the Trappists at the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani in Kentucky in 1938 and came with a small group of monks from that abbey to establish a foundation in Conyers in 1944.

He was ordained a priest June 7, 1947, by Bishop Emmet Walsh of Charleston, S.C., and had recently celebrated his golden jubilee.

At the monastery he held the office of prior and also served as infirmarian and retreat master. He earned a licentiate degree from the Pontifical University Angelicum in Rome in 1961 and for many years was professor of moral theology.

The funeral Mass was celebrated June 17 at the abbey church.

In his homily, Dom Bernard Johnson, OCSO, said Father Cyprian had a charism for friendship. People after meeting him would become devoted to him.

The abbot also said he regretted having to tell Father Cyprian to give up riding his motorcycle last year. His brother monks worried about him going into diabetic shock while out riding. He began with a war surplus version years ago and later was pleased to have a newer, larger motorcycle to ride into Atlanta.

Father Cyprian was hospitalized recently, but returned to the monastery infirmary where he was being cared for when he died. He was buried in the monastery cemetery by his brother monks.