How does one Abbot feel, when he presides at the Golden Jubilee of profession of another Abbot who first received him into the monastery some 23 years previously? 

Well, I was to have this experience on Tuesday, January 15 at the Benedictine Monastery in Bartica, Guyana. 
I was overwhelmed and yet humbled. What goes around comes around! At least, so the old people say! And, it certainly did come around that day!

I was a young monk on Thursday, July 27, 1989, when, at the Abbey Church, Mount St Benedict, Abbot Adelbert van Duin, Fr John Osborne and Fr Ildefons Schroots marked 50 years of priesthood and Abbot Hildebrand Greene celebrated his 25th year of ordination.

Archbishop Anthony Pantin began his homily in these words: “It is reported that in the Acts of the Apostles the apostle Peter said to a sick man: ‘I have neither silver nor gold …’ but today we have plenty of gold and a little silver.”

Well, at St Benedict’s Monastery, Mora Camp, Bartica, there was no silver in January to distract from the gold of Abbot Hildebrand Greene, who renewed his monastic profession during a wonderfully noble celebration of the Eucharist in the remoteness of the Guyanese Interior.

It was the Feast of Sts Maurus and Placid, two of the earliest disciples of St Benedict and their story was fittingly displayed on the front and back covers of the well-designed booklet to make the occasion. 

Born in 1938 in Georgetown, Guyana, Abbot Hildebrand was educated at the Ursuline Convent School and St Stanislaus College before joining the Abbey in Trinidad at the age of 18.

As a young monk, he was sent to Rome to study sacred liturgy at the Benedictine Institute of San Anselmo. Fr Hildebrand also obtained an Arts degree at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine.

The versatility of Abbot Hildebrand has been manifest throughout his varied monastic life. He served for several years as novice master of the Abbey.

It was as chaplain of the University that he made a notable impression on many of the students, including Bishop Francis Alleyne, OSB, who at the time was pursuing a degree in Engineering. Partially under the influence of Abbot Hildebrand, Francis left the University and became a monk of the Abbey at Mount St Benedict. 

Abbot Hildebrand has taught courses in Liturgy and Comparative Religion for several years at the Regional Seminary, and is well known for his work among prisoners as Chaplain of Golden Grove State Prison. This ministry he continued in Bartica at the Mazaruni Prison across the river from the Monastery. 

At the Abbey in Trinidad he did yeoman service in building up the Retreat Ministry of the monks. He has also spent several hours counselling pilgrims and had often offered himself for pastoral assistance in Central Trinidad. 

He has always felt very strongly about inter-religious dialogue and his tenure as Abbot of Mount St Benedict enhanced greatly the reputation of the Abbey as a place of welcome to peoples of all faiths. 

For several years, before he was elected Abbot, Fr Hildebrand had administrative responsibilities, not only as novice master, but also as sub-prior and claustral prior assisting the Abbot.

He served two terms as Abbot from 1979 to 1995. His time at our monastery in Guyana has enabled him to share his talents with the people of Guyana and particularly with those of the neighbouring town of Bartica.

St Benedict’s Monastery, Mora Camp, although situated within walking distance of the fastest developing town in Guyana, Bartica, maintains a sense of apartness, of stillness and of peace that is conducive to a life of prayer and work, watchwords synonymous with the Benedictine way of life. 

It is here that Abbot Hildebrand has been living out his monastic life for several of the years since his retirement as Abbot of Mount St Benedict. He has endeared himself to the people as he acts as pastor, friend, monk and confidant.

Fr Christopher Theunissen, OSB, accompanied me on this journey, which was both pleasant and exciting. Fr Christopher was making his first trip to Guyana and our arrival was made even more pleasant by the Superior of the community, Bro Paschal Jordan, OSB, who received us with all the warmth of a true Benedictine brother. 

Abbot Hildebrand signs his chart of profession as celebrant Abbot John Pereira, Benedictine monks and others look on.

The speed boat along the Essequibo River did not show any regard for the newcomer, who had to undergo the journey as if her were a veteran of the river.  We were also received with brilliant sunshine, not very typical for this time, we learnt. 

A boatload of friends and family of Fr Hildebrand arrived from Georgetown the following morning for the ceremony, which took place at 10:30 am. Among those arriving from Georgetown were Fr Hildebrand’s aunt, Carole Andrade, her daughter Gina and her grandson, Nicholas. 

Also from Georgetown were Fr John Persaud, the Vicar General, Fr Malcolm Rodrigues and Sister Beatrice Fernandes. Four Benedictine Oblates were present as well as three Parish Council members from Bartica. 

Fr Wilfred John, parish priest of Cedros and a close friend of Fr Hildebrand, did the First Reading of the Mass and Fr Christopher Theunissen proclaimed the Gospel.

The highlight of the morning was the renewal of vows of the jubilarian, who signed his chart of profession and sang a versicle from the psalms, asking the Lord to continue to support him in this way of life. 

After praying over Fr Hildebrand, I presented him with the “baculum senectutis” or “staff of old age”, a tradition in the monastery honouring the recipient for his faithfulness and as a symbol of the Cross, a support and comfort in times of darkness.

After the rite of Communion, an excerpt from a cassette was played which was recorded at the time of Abbot Hildebrand’s solemn profession on January 15, 1961.

The chanting of the monks in Latin, the prayers of Abbot Adelbert van Duin, and the singing of the psalm versicle in Latin by Fr Hildebrand all brought the celebration to a point of deep emotion. 

Abbot Hildebrand could not contain himself and had to vacate the chapel for a brief moment. This was indeed a fitting climax to a wonderful celebration of love, of life and of joy!

After the ceremony there was a sumptuous and tasty meal prepared by Nazeema, the resident cook, and friends. All the guests enjoyed themselves to some good in-house entertainment, which included music, dancing, song and jokes.  The boat returned at 3:30 pm and the Georgetown contingent bade farewell reluctantly to Abbot Hildebrand and the monks.

Thank you, Abbot Hildebrand, for your life as a monk!  Thank you for your dedication and for your years of leadership!  May God grant you many more years of faithful service in His vineyard!