Father Eric Deitchman
(1934-1997)
Only a book, and that one lengthy and well researched, could do justice to the life of Father Eric, known in Brazil to whose people he gave his life as "Don Eriky." He came to our community as a camper at Camp St. Maur, stayed around summer after summer as a Senior camper and later, Junior Counselor, became one of the few actual winners of the Grand Sachem Award, the highest in the hierarchy of honors in the camp honor system.
Known as Jim Deitchman, he entered the community as a lay brother postulant after graduation from Rockhurst High School, and made first vows in 1954. As Brother Philip it was already apparent that his mind was full of ideas and projects. Of course he showed some of this when on the Camp Staff. With the help of others including Brother Raymond Pfeiffer, he rejuvenated the abbey vineyards, put in new French varieties of purple and white grapes for table and Mass wine, made a sweet mead for Christmas pleasure that allowed confreres to "run the way of God's commandments with expanded hearts."
Brother Philip, feeling that God was calling him to be a ordained member of the community became Frater Eric when he entered the Clerical Novitiate of the abbey, went back to school and earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from St. Benedict's College in 1959. He was ordained priest June 1,1963, and then taught mathematics at Maur Hill Prep School, 1963-65. He volunteered for St. Joseph's Priory, Mineiros, Goias, Brazil, and went there with Luke Wenzel later that same year.
Despite his genuine love, enthusiasm, and generosity, the transition from the United States to Brazil was not an easy step to take. His many ideas, at the first attempt to share them, defied being shared because of the language barrier. He mentioned to one monk that at one point after an embarrassing situation when he felt "put down" by a parishioner, he nearly returned to the United States. He was convinced to remain in Brazil and the rest is history as the saying goes.
His death notice in the abbey archives devotes three paragraphs to his career in Brazil. He was pastor of the "matriz," the Mother Church and a large city parish for ten years. Prior of the Benedictine Community for nine years, business manager of the community as well. During that time he brought Marriage Encounter to the area, and agricultural experts from the University of Missouri who helped transform "chapadao" plate-land into lush soybean fields and pastures for a thriving cattle industry. Father Eric taught in the Mineiros Public schools for 30 years. In 1995 the Catholic University of Goias, the state where the priory is located, conferred on him Professor Benemerento (Well deserving teacher degree) "in recognition of scientific, educational, and humanitarian work." Father Eric was an honorary citizen of the State of Goias.
While giving himself to all these projects Father Eric founded a cooperative in Mineiros to promote local agriculture, and he also might be called the founder of the Brazilian national park, The Parque das Emas – the Park of the Emus – famous on the circuit of ecological tourism parks around the world. The emu is an ostrich type bird.
Father Eric was diagnosed with liver cancer, faced an operation in the United States, returned to Brazil, and maintained a high level of activity. During that time he even brought a group of people from Mineiros to the United States and to Atchison. The cancer later returned, was treated in Brazil but later brought him to the God he served so well, faithfully, and courageously. He is buried in the Municipal Cemetery in Mineiros to await the final judgment among the people he loved. He is listed on a large marker in Saint Benedict's Abbey Cemetery in Atchison, KS that notes members of the community buried elsewhere.
(1934-1997)
Only a book, and that one lengthy and well researched, could do justice to the life of Father Eric, known in Brazil to whose people he gave his life as "Don Eriky." He came to our community as a camper at Camp St. Maur, stayed around summer after summer as a Senior camper and later, Junior Counselor, became one of the few actual winners of the Grand Sachem Award, the highest in the hierarchy of honors in the camp honor system.
Known as Jim Deitchman, he entered the community as a lay brother postulant after graduation from Rockhurst High School, and made first vows in 1954. As Brother Philip it was already apparent that his mind was full of ideas and projects. Of course he showed some of this when on the Camp Staff. With the help of others including Brother Raymond Pfeiffer, he rejuvenated the abbey vineyards, put in new French varieties of purple and white grapes for table and Mass wine, made a sweet mead for Christmas pleasure that allowed confreres to "run the way of God's commandments with expanded hearts."
Brother Philip, feeling that God was calling him to be a ordained member of the community became Frater Eric when he entered the Clerical Novitiate of the abbey, went back to school and earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from St. Benedict's College in 1959. He was ordained priest June 1,1963, and then taught mathematics at Maur Hill Prep School, 1963-65. He volunteered for St. Joseph's Priory, Mineiros, Goias, Brazil, and went there with Luke Wenzel later that same year.
Despite his genuine love, enthusiasm, and generosity, the transition from the United States to Brazil was not an easy step to take. His many ideas, at the first attempt to share them, defied being shared because of the language barrier. He mentioned to one monk that at one point after an embarrassing situation when he felt "put down" by a parishioner, he nearly returned to the United States. He was convinced to remain in Brazil and the rest is history as the saying goes.
His death notice in the abbey archives devotes three paragraphs to his career in Brazil. He was pastor of the "matriz," the Mother Church and a large city parish for ten years. Prior of the Benedictine Community for nine years, business manager of the community as well. During that time he brought Marriage Encounter to the area, and agricultural experts from the University of Missouri who helped transform "chapadao" plate-land into lush soybean fields and pastures for a thriving cattle industry. Father Eric taught in the Mineiros Public schools for 30 years. In 1995 the Catholic University of Goias, the state where the priory is located, conferred on him Professor Benemerento (Well deserving teacher degree) "in recognition of scientific, educational, and humanitarian work." Father Eric was an honorary citizen of the State of Goias.
While giving himself to all these projects Father Eric founded a cooperative in Mineiros to promote local agriculture, and he also might be called the founder of the Brazilian national park, The Parque das Emas – the Park of the Emus – famous on the circuit of ecological tourism parks around the world. The emu is an ostrich type bird.
Father Eric was diagnosed with liver cancer, faced an operation in the United States, returned to Brazil, and maintained a high level of activity. During that time he even brought a group of people from Mineiros to the United States and to Atchison. The cancer later returned, was treated in Brazil but later brought him to the God he served so well, faithfully, and courageously. He is buried in the Municipal Cemetery in Mineiros to await the final judgment among the people he loved. He is listed on a large marker in Saint Benedict's Abbey Cemetery in Atchison, KS that notes members of the community buried elsewhere.
Father Eric Deitchman
(1934-1997)
Only a book, and that one lengthy and well researched, could do justice to the life of Father Eric, known in Brazil to whose people he gave his life as "Don Eriky." He came to our community as a camper at Camp St. Maur, stayed around summer after summer as a Senior camper and later, Junior Counselor, became one of the few actual winners of the Grand Sachem Award, the highest in the hierarchy of honors in the camp honor system.
Known as Jim Deitchman, he entered the community as a lay brother postulant after graduation from Rockhurst High School, and made first vows in 1954. As Brother Philip it was already apparent that his mind was full of ideas and projects. Of course he showed some of this when on the Camp Staff. With the help of others including Brother Raymond Pfeiffer, he rejuvenated the abbey vineyards, put in new French varieties of purple and white grapes for table and Mass wine, made a sweet mead for Christmas pleasure that allowed confreres to "run the way of God's commandments with expanded hearts."
Brother Philip, feeling that God was calling him to be a ordained member of the community became Frater Eric when he entered the Clerical Novitiate of the abbey, went back to school and earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from St. Benedict's College in 1959. He was ordained priest June 1,1963, and then taught mathematics at Maur Hill Prep School, 1963-65. He volunteered for St. Joseph's Priory, Mineiros, Goias, Brazil, and went there with Luke Wenzel later that same year.
Despite his genuine love, enthusiasm, and generosity, the transition from the United States to Brazil was not an easy step to take. His many ideas, at the first attempt to share them, defied being shared because of the language barrier. He mentioned to one monk that at one point after an embarrassing situation when he felt "put down" by a parishioner, he nearly returned to the United States. He was convinced to remain in Brazil and the rest is history as the saying goes.
His death notice in the abbey archives devotes three paragraphs to his career in Brazil. He was pastor of the "matriz," the Mother Church and a large city parish for ten years. Prior of the Benedictine Community for nine years, business manager of the community as well. During that time he brought Marriage Encounter to the area, and agricultural experts from the University of Missouri who helped transform "chapadao" plate-land into lush soybean fields and pastures for a thriving cattle industry. Father Eric taught in the Mineiros Public schools for 30 years. In 1995 the Catholic University of Goias, the state where the priory is located, conferred on him Professor Benemerento (Well deserving teacher degree) "in recognition of scientific, educational, and humanitarian work." Father Eric was an honorary citizen of the State of Goias.
While giving himself to all these projects Father Eric founded a cooperative in Mineiros to promote local agriculture, and he also might be called the founder of the Brazilian national park, The Parque das Emas – the Park of the Emus – famous on the circuit of ecological tourism parks around the world. The emu is an ostrich type bird.
Father Eric was diagnosed with liver cancer, faced an operation in the United States, returned to Brazil, and maintained a high level of activity. During that time he even brought a group of people from Mineiros to the United States and to Atchison. The cancer later returned, was treated in Brazil but later brought him to the God he served so well, faithfully, and courageously. He is buried in the Municipal Cemetery in Mineiros to await the final judgment among the people he loved. He is listed on a large marker in Saint Benedict's Abbey Cemetery in Atchison, KS that notes members of the community buried elsewhere.
(1934-1997)
Only a book, and that one lengthy and well researched, could do justice to the life of Father Eric, known in Brazil to whose people he gave his life as "Don Eriky." He came to our community as a camper at Camp St. Maur, stayed around summer after summer as a Senior camper and later, Junior Counselor, became one of the few actual winners of the Grand Sachem Award, the highest in the hierarchy of honors in the camp honor system.
Known as Jim Deitchman, he entered the community as a lay brother postulant after graduation from Rockhurst High School, and made first vows in 1954. As Brother Philip it was already apparent that his mind was full of ideas and projects. Of course he showed some of this when on the Camp Staff. With the help of others including Brother Raymond Pfeiffer, he rejuvenated the abbey vineyards, put in new French varieties of purple and white grapes for table and Mass wine, made a sweet mead for Christmas pleasure that allowed confreres to "run the way of God's commandments with expanded hearts."
Brother Philip, feeling that God was calling him to be a ordained member of the community became Frater Eric when he entered the Clerical Novitiate of the abbey, went back to school and earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from St. Benedict's College in 1959. He was ordained priest June 1,1963, and then taught mathematics at Maur Hill Prep School, 1963-65. He volunteered for St. Joseph's Priory, Mineiros, Goias, Brazil, and went there with Luke Wenzel later that same year.
Despite his genuine love, enthusiasm, and generosity, the transition from the United States to Brazil was not an easy step to take. His many ideas, at the first attempt to share them, defied being shared because of the language barrier. He mentioned to one monk that at one point after an embarrassing situation when he felt "put down" by a parishioner, he nearly returned to the United States. He was convinced to remain in Brazil and the rest is history as the saying goes.
His death notice in the abbey archives devotes three paragraphs to his career in Brazil. He was pastor of the "matriz," the Mother Church and a large city parish for ten years. Prior of the Benedictine Community for nine years, business manager of the community as well. During that time he brought Marriage Encounter to the area, and agricultural experts from the University of Missouri who helped transform "chapadao" plate-land into lush soybean fields and pastures for a thriving cattle industry. Father Eric taught in the Mineiros Public schools for 30 years. In 1995 the Catholic University of Goias, the state where the priory is located, conferred on him Professor Benemerento (Well deserving teacher degree) "in recognition of scientific, educational, and humanitarian work." Father Eric was an honorary citizen of the State of Goias.
While giving himself to all these projects Father Eric founded a cooperative in Mineiros to promote local agriculture, and he also might be called the founder of the Brazilian national park, The Parque das Emas – the Park of the Emus – famous on the circuit of ecological tourism parks around the world. The emu is an ostrich type bird.
Father Eric was diagnosed with liver cancer, faced an operation in the United States, returned to Brazil, and maintained a high level of activity. During that time he even brought a group of people from Mineiros to the United States and to Atchison. The cancer later returned, was treated in Brazil but later brought him to the God he served so well, faithfully, and courageously. He is buried in the Municipal Cemetery in Mineiros to await the final judgment among the people he loved. He is listed on a large marker in Saint Benedict's Abbey Cemetery in Atchison, KS that notes members of the community buried elsewhere.
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