Michael Matthias Farrier also known as Brother Matthias (inset) celebrated 40 years service as a Benedictine monk early January.

Born on December 28, 1936 to Franklyn and Stella Farrier, he was raised in McDoom Village in Meadow Bank parish. He was the older brother of three siblings, Francis Quamina, Donald and Averil.

Following his secondary school education, Brother Matthias spent two years with the Jesuits in Brickdam. While working at the Daily Chronicle newspaper, he experienced a greater desire to work with the people of God in a religious vocation.

He turned to Fr John Bridges, SJ of the Minor Seminary at Vryheid's Lust then began to pursue studies to become a diocesan priest. This training was cut short, however, when Fr Francis Fenn, SJ discerned a monastic vocation.

Brother Matthias began a new train of studies at the Benedictine Abbey, Mount St Benedict, Trinidad. He professed his monastic vows on the Feast of the Epiphany, Janaury 6, 1966.

At Mount St Benedict Brother Matthias took up Graphic and Applied Arts, majoring in bookbinding. He also worked as a teacher at St Bede Vocational School run by the monks.

He was a member of Schola Cantorum of the Abbey, worked as the Abbey Bookbinder and served as Spiritual Director to a prayer group. He would live and work in the Abbey for 34 years before returning to Guyana to serve in the recently founded Benedictine Monastery on the Mazaruni River outside of Bartica.

There he is responsible for the Monastery roadworks and serves as Cantor in the Liturgy. He also serves, with special care, the sick and shut-ins—greeting, interacting, and praying with them and bringing them Holy Communion.

Later this year he celebrates 10 years service at the Guyana Monastery. When asked what keeps him going, Brother Matthias said simply, “The Lord! He is in the driver's seat!”

The Catholic News joins the religious community in extending prayerful congratulations to Brother Matthias on his Ruby Jubilee.