Requiescat in pace

Br. Terence



Fr. Scott

Saint Meinrad Archabbey gave up two gentle souls to their eternal rewards this week. Late Sunday evening, the monastery’s Br. Terence Griffin, passed away at age 84. Early this morning, seminarian Scott Carroll passed away at age 46 after struggling with cancer. Both will be missed by monks, seminarians, co-workers, family members, and friends. All of us long—at the proper time—to be brought together by Christ to everlasting life.

If I had to choose one word to describe both of these persons, it would be gentle. And if I could choose two more applicable to each, those would be generous and gracious.

Br. Terence, whose funeral Mass was held Wednesday, served in many capacities during his monastic life. More recent guests and employees of the Hill likely encountered him as assistant guest master in the Archabbey Church and as custodian of the Monte Cassino Shrine’s rosary pilgrimages. He was also quite a singer (a tenor to the max). Although quite astute, Br. Terence approached life simply, and with a healthy sense of humor. Like anyone, he had his faults, but to me, he personified the word “monk.” In my own way, I hope to follow his good example.

Scott was a seminarian, not a monk. Still, we were nearly the same age (I’ll be 48 in September), were from the same diocese (Toledo), and both lived in the city of Maumee, Ohio, before coming to Saint Meinrad—Scott to the seminary, and myself to the monastery. He had been in formation here since I was a novice, and we were in several classes together. A genuinely good person, he told me a month or so ago that whatever the future held, he only hoped to be ordained and to receive his first pastoral assignment. Those hopes were realized on Wednesday, when he was ordained by Toledo Bishop Leonard Blair at his parents’ home, and was officially named associate pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Maumee (originally, he was to be ordained along with his classmates on June 22 after graduating from Saint Meinrad). Fr. Scott is now a priest forever.

May Br. Terence and Fr. Scott, along with all the souls of the faithful departed, rest in peace—and may God comfort and strengthen those who mourn their passing.