From St. Andrews Abbey...
Fr. Eleutherius Winance, O.S.B.
St. Andrew's Abbey announces the death of the last of the Belgian fathers, Fr. Eleutherius Winance age 100, who died Saturday August 15, 2009 of a heart attack. During his last hours, Father Eleutherius was surrounded by brother monks who talked to him, prayed with him, and sang hymns for him. It was a beautiful, peaceful death. His mind was clear, he was able to converse coherently with those who were with him, and he reassured them that he was not in any pain. He is greatly missed. May he rest in peace.
The funeral Mass for Fr. Eleutherius is Friday, August 21 at 12:00 noon at St. Andrew's Abbey.
The Life of Fr. Eleutherius Winance, O.S.B.
Belgium
Born: Mons, Belgium on July 10, 1909
Parents: Emile Winance and Gabrielle Reumont
Brothers: Gerard, Andre, Pierre (all deceased)
Entered St. Andre monastery (Belgium): October 2, 1927
Professed monastic vows: Jan. 15, 1929
Ordained a priest: July 28, 1935
Received doctorate (Ph.D) at University of Louvain: 1934
Topic of Dissertation: on the Cursus Philosophicus of Dom Ludwig
Babenstuber, O.S.B.
He won the Prize of Philosophy, National Concourse in Belgium 1935.
Survived by: 3 nieces, 3 nephews; 17 grand nieces and nephews; 21 great nieces and nephews.
Missionary Work in China
Sent to China (from Belgium): September 5, 1936
Taught at Seminary in Si-Shan: 1937-1942; also taught young monks in the monastery 1937-1945
Taught at the University of West China, Chengdu: 1945-1952 and also at the School Fine Art in Chengdu.
In 1952 he was tried and condemned to expulsion by the communist government. He was expelled for being a member of the Legion of Mary (a Catholic organization of lay people) and for being an imperialist against the National Church.
He left China February 5, 1952; arrived in Hong Kong February 22, 1952.
Rome
Taught at Sant’ Anselmo, the international Benedictine University in Rome: October 1952 to June 1956.
[Went twice to the Far East (1954 & 1955) as interpreter (French/Chinese) for the International Commission against slave labor camps].
United States of America
Taught at St. John’s Collegeville, MN: 1957-1962
Came to St. Andrew’s Priory, Valyermo: 1961
Taught at Immaculate Heart College, Los Angeles: 1961-1966
Taught the Sisters of Social Service, Los Angeles: 1961-1969
Taught the Carmelite Nuns, Long Beach 1967-1972
Taught at Claremont Graduate School 1963-2001
Taught at St. John’s Seminary college, Camarillo, CA 1973-1981
Fr. Eleutherius traveled all over the United States preaching retreats:
St. John’s Abbey , Collegville, MN; St. Mary’s Abbey, Morristown, NJ; St. Mary’s Abbey, Newark, NJ; Prince of Peace Abbey, Oceanside, CA; Woodsied Priory, Portola Valley, CA; Our Lady of Gethsemani Abbey, Gethsemani, KY; Our Lady of Snowmass Abbey, Snowmass, CO; Our Lady of New Clairvaux, Vina, Ca
Up to the day he died, Fr. Eleutherius went to the Challenger Youth Detention Center in Lancaster every Saturday to celebrate Mass for the detained youth. He did this for at least 15 years. Also for at least 15 years, up to the day of his passing, he celebrated Mass every Thursday at the local convalescent home. In fact it was after he celebrated Mass at the convalescent home that he was taken to the hospital, where he died.
Mission Work in India
1974-1975: taught at St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore; taught the monks at the monastery of Asirvanam, Kengeri-Combaguld.
Missionary Work in Zaire
1981-1982; 1984: taught at St. Paul’s Pontifical Seminary, Lubumbashi; taught the monks at Monastere Notre Dame des Sources, Kiswishi.
Books Published
The Communist Persuasion (1959)
Questions D’Epistemologie (2002)
A Propos de Dieu (2004)
Instants Philosophiques (2007)
