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FIFTY-TWO YEARS ON THE HILL OF HAPPINESS
Br. Dismas Seward
Transitions, passages or stages of life, whatever we call them, they are important but often challenging times in the life a friar and in the life of a community. So it was for our brother Dismas Seward and the St. Lawrence Community when on March 26th, 2008 Dismas left St Lawrence Friary,
Mt Calvary after 52 years. He had arrived at Marathon in army khakis on March 28th, 1956. The majority of these years he spent ministering on the faculty and staff of St. Lawrence Seminary as infirmarian, spiritual director, Dean of Students, Vice Rector and finally as a study hall supervisor. He touched permanently so many of the alumni, who still call, write or visit with him.
We friars always knew him as a challenging spiritual presence and forthright expresser of his views on discipline, spirituality and Capuchin living. His prayerful life was with us always in his deep devotion to Mary and the Schoenstatt movement. This rubbed off on us all and the student body.
While much less active among the students in the past years, this past January, when the students of St Lawrence celebrated their 35th Winter Carnival, the student council leaders believed it would be fitting to dedicate the day to Bro. Dismas or Brother "D", as he was known. A statue of Our Lady of the Snows was purchased and has now been placed permanently on display in the hallway between the friary and the chapel. A plate at the base of the statue reads: "In gratitude to Br. Dismas Seward, who in 1974 began the SLS Winter Carnival tradition under the patronage of "Our Lady of the Snows on the occasion of the 35th Winter Carnival, January 26. 2008."
A proud southerner and Korean and World War II Veteran, it is not surprising that George Seward was originally given the name Michael as a Capuchin Secular Franciscan and later requested the name "Dismas" to live out his life as a friar. In 1984 he professed his first vows as a Capuchin and in 1987 Dismas professed his solemn vows as a Capuchin.
On March 25th, the usual date of his name day, the St Lawrence Community celebrated his nameday and said farewell with the Irvin Udulutsch rendition of "May the Lord bless you, May the Lord Keep you " The following day Dismas became a resident of St. Paul Villa, Kaukauna, WI, Assisted Living Unit, in the section designated for the Capuchin friars. The Elder Care facility is sponsored by the Manitowoc Franciscans . Our prayer and support are with him. Praise the Lord!
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Br. Dismas Seward, Capuchin
312 E. 14th St.
Apt. 303
Kawkauna, WI 54130
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