Rev. Dom Benedict Lang, O.S.B., 1912-2006:  Rev. Dom Benedict Lang, O.S.B., a member of the Portsmouth Abbey monastic community for nearly 60 years and the well-known dispenser of blessings around campus, entered into eternal life October 22, at St. Clare's Home in Newport, RI, where he had lived since November of 2004.  He was 93.  Dom Benedict was a familiar face on campus, initially teaching several subjects and running Tin Box, and later assisting in the School's Business Office. He was perhaps best known, however, for freely giving out God's blessings, in Latin, to all whom he encountered-by one count, more than 1.6 million blessings. Dom Benedict's life was celebrated at a Mass of Christian Burial in Portsmouth Abbey's Church of St. Gregory the Great on Wednesday, October 25, followed by interment in the Abbey cemetery.  A full memorial will appear in the Winter 2007 Bulletin. For Dom Benedict's published obituary, visit News.

New Girls' Dorm Ground-Blessing:  A Blessing of the Ground for the School's new dormitory was held on Friday, October 27, on the construction site of the building.  Led by Dom Caedmon Holmes, O.S.B., who gave the blessing, the ceremony included remarks from Headmaster Dr. Jim DeVecchi, who spoke of the importance the new dorm represents for campus life and the future of the School.  He also acknowledged "the vision of our Board of Regents and Monastery, the extreme generosity of a few alumni and friends and our Monastery, and the hard work of our faculty building and Grounds Committee" in getting the dorm project to where it is today.  Paul Jestings, the School's Director of Operations and Project Manager for the building of the dormitory, spoke of the dorm's many "green" features and said that, led by the success of the wind turbine, which is now generating between 40-to-50 percent of the School's energy needs, "it makes sense for our School to find new ways to bring more sustainability and renewable energy projects to campus."  Corrigan Van Sant '08, a Fifth-Form boarder who will reside in the as-yet-unnamed dorm, talked of the dorm being "the most important aspect of Abbey life...in addition to being our home away from home, a place you can retreat to, it adds to the community morale and learning milieu."  The 22,500 square-foot, state-of-the-art dorm will house 36 female students, three faculty residences.  Construction of the dorm began in mid-September, and move-in is slated for the beginning of the 2007-08 School year. 

Fr. Joe Healey '56 Delivers Dom Luke Childs Lecture, Attends 50^th Reunion: On Friday, September 29, Maryknoll Missionary priest, writer, journalist and teacher Rev. Joseph Healey '56 delivered the Dom Luke Childs lecture to the School community. Father Healey's talk, the title of which was an African proverb, "We Create a Path by Walking," focused of the importance of creating and maintaining a dialog with youth in other cultures about their values and experiences.  Fr. Healey told the audience, "there is no single blueprint or map for our lives...our lives unfold and enrich as we go along and travel together."

Raised in Baltimore, MD, Fr. Healey developed a love for African-Americans at an early age.  Explaining that "the seeds of vocation were planted here at the Abbey," he decided to become an African missionary to combine his religious calling with his love for the African people. A long-time resident of Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania, Fr. Healey began his lecture by stating, "I am a student, a learner," calling the African people his "teacher."  Although he has been fully accepted as a member of the East African community-he was honored by being initiated into the Buffalo clan and given the name Ssentamu, which means "cooking pot" in Ugandan-he still considers himself "a guest, constantly listening and learning."

Fr. Healey spoke of the important role today's young people must play in not only keeping alive the cultures of their forbearers but of reaching out to other international communities.  He lauded the Portsmouth Abbey School community for its rich, international diversity, and invited international Abbey students to speak to those in attendance of their own upbringings and life experiences. Fr. Healey acknowledged the difficulty in keeping African youth, in particular, close to their elders and traditions-the result of a major exodus from small African villages to the cities-but challenged Abbey students to "find ways to bring values back to our youth...reinvent cultural traditions to fit into today's world."    

Fr. Healey's parting words to the students challenged them to combine the world of information technology with creativity and imagination "to set the pace and think outside the box" to help address critical global issues now facing the planet such as widespread disease and degradation of the environment. He also urged the audience not lose the wisdom of their forbearers to that technology.  "My wish for all of you at Portsmouth Abbey School is a good memory of your life experiences and traditions, and a good imagination to use and enlarge those experiences...for in enlarging those experiences, we enlarge our understanding of the world." 

He is currently the local superior of the Maryknoll Society House in Masaki, Msasani, and the editor of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers Africa Region Newsletter.  Fr. Healey has written extensively on small Christian communities and African oral literature, specifically proverbs, sayings, stories and communications.  He has authored numerous books in English and Swahili about the Gospel and African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories.

In addition to delivering the Dom Luke Childs lecture, Fr. Healey also taught CD class to Sixth-Form students during his stay.  The class discussed current tensions between Christian and Islamic societies and the critical need to create inter-religious dialogue.  Fr. Healey wrapped up his visit by celebrating his 50^th reunion with classmates before returning to Tanzania.

Reunion 2006: Great Turnout, Weather:  Blessed with quintessential fall weather, Reunion '06 was by all accounts a great success, as nearly 150 alumni and their families returned to Portsmouth Abbey School for a weekend of social gatherings, sports events, classes and lectures.  Travelers came from as far away as East Africa and Central America for the chance to revisit their alma mater and reconnect with old friends.  The Classes of 1981 and 2001 led with the largest numbers of attendees, with 23 and 24 returning class members, respectively. Reunion '06 wrapped up with Sunday morning with the promise by many alumni to stay in touch.  In all, more than 250 people participated in various events throughout the weekend.  For photos of Reunion '06, visit our on-line Photo Galleries.

Admissions Open House Enjoys Record Attendance:  The Admissions Office welcomed 258 visitors, 102 of them prospective students, to campus on Saturday, October 21, for the 2006 Admissions Open House.  With glorious autumn weather showing campus at its best, visitors toured the grounds, listened to an informative panel discussion among faculty and students, and had the opportunity to meet and speak with School representatives for a wide selection of campus organizations, teams, clubs and activities.  The largest-ever number of prospective boarding students-45-attended Open House, and six of those students had interviews with the Admissions staff before leaving campus.  To see photos of this year's Open House, click here.

Noted Author Nathaniel Philbrick Gives Annual Saint Elizabeth Seton Lecture:  This year's Saint Elizabeth Seton Lecture was given by acclaimed historian and maritime writer Nathaniel Philbrick, author of award-winning seafaring books In the Heart of the Sea and Sea of Glory.  Philbrick, whose gripping tales of America's first oceangoing explorers have provided an unflinching look at New England's hard-scrabble whaling industry, spoke to the School Community on October 2.  His lecture was entitled, "Writing about New England and the Sea."

Philbrick captivated the audience as he recounted harrowing sagas of life aboard the historic voyaging ships Essex and Mayflower.  He explained that, after moving to Nantucket, his interest in Nantucket's famed 18^th- and 19^th-Century whaling industry, and a family connection to the story itself, led him to pen his non-fiction narratives.  Philbrick allowed that as an adolescent he thought of the epic tome Moby Dick with great disdain until, after completing the novel only in order to graduate from high school, he "fell in love" with it, changing his life.

He explained that the "wilderness of the sea" experienced by the 102 passengers on board the Mayflower in 1620, and the daring fishermen who embarked on lengthy whaling voyages, pre-dated any wilderness Americans now identify with the western USA.  "They were America's first true global explorers," he explained.  "Their collective experience became the frontier, the first true wilderness. "

Philbrick also revealed that the story of the Mayflower and our origins as a country go far beyond "the third-grade version of the Mayflower Thanksgiving that most of us know."  He then discussed the 55 years of peaceful co-existence between English colonists and American Indians until King Philip and the son of Indian Chief Massassoit began what is known as King Philip's war (which, Philbrick noted, began on Aquidneck Island), a devastating encounter that forever changed New England and Anglo-Indian relations.  Philbrick likened the demise of the colonist-Indian relationship to our global community today, saying that the second generation of settlers and Indians "took each other for granted," and did not take the time to try to understand each other's culture or way of life, thereby creating disastrous conflict.  He cautioned Portsmouth students "to make the best of the legacy you have been handed.  It is not necessarily a heroic past, but look at it with an honest, open eye to help you navigate your global future."   

In addition to his award-winning books, Philbrick has also authored best-sellers The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex and his most recent work, Mayflower.    

Keith Stokes Lecture:  Returning for a repeat performance, on October 4, Keith Stokes, executive director of the Newport County Chamber of Commerce, presented a lecture to the U.S. History course entitled: American Irony: Religious Freedom and Slavery in Colonial Rhode Island. Mr. Stokes is a frequent national, state and local lecturer on community and regional planning, historic preservation, and early African-American and Jewish-American history. In his presentation he examined the important role that Newport County played in the slave trade, the various occupations slaves had, and the contrast between the nature of slavery here and in the South. He also emphasized the importance of viewing U.S. history as inclusive of groups such as African-Americans.

Athletics Off to Solid Start: The Raven teams have performed well in a number of areas on the athletic fields this fall, led by the undefeated Varsity Football team (5-0) and Boys Cross Country.  Sixth-Former Steve Garner '07 has finished first in three races so far to anchor the Cross Country team, and fellow classmate Rob Turner '07, football team captain, has lead the squad with seven interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and three touchdowns.  The JV Boys' Soccer team has also shown impressive offense and is 5-2-2. For a full listing of fall athletic highlights, click here.

Student Life:  Highlighted by a different theme and suggested attire for each day, School Spirit Week began on Monday, October 23, with a "Pants Revolution" that prompted the wearing of a wide, and wild, assortment of pants by many students. Fun, school spirit-building activities during the week included an outdoor evening movie, Golf Pro/Tennis Pro day (dress like your favorite golf or tennis celebrity), a school-wide dodge ball game, Abbey Pride Day, the ever-popular Egg Toss, Class Theme Costume Day, and a closing bonfire for all.  Check out pictures of School Spirit Week!

Third-Form elections were held on October 11, and the winning students were: Chidozie Onyuike '10, President, and Kathleen Timmons '10, Vice President. The Student Council held an open meeting to go over last year's Student Survey results; much positive discussion was generated. Other student activities in October included a dress-down day on Friday, October 6, to raise money for Juvenile Diabetes Research.  The fundraising drive was spearheaded by Marco DiMattino '08 and Libby Sacco '09.  On Saturday, October 14, St. Bede's had an outdoor movie and "all-you-can-eat" desserts and pizza feast to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Unique "Chalk Poem" Depicts Autumn at Portsmouth:  Under the tutelage of Rachel May, writer-in-residence, the creative writing class recently shared an assignment called "Snapshots: A Mosaic" - by inscribing their essays on a campus sidewalk in chalk. Of this intriguing writing assignment, May said, "I thought it would be a fun experiment in collaboration. The theme was "This October Afternoon: A Collaborative of Snapshots," and each student had to write a snapshot, or scene, of life on campus that captured a crucial single moment." Then, using colored chalk and the sidewalk leading to the Student Center, the students -- Priscilla Benkhart '07, Max Brown '07, Maeve Condon '07, Alley Curran '07, Liz DeMetro '08, Liz Dennis '08, Lilli Donahue '09, Caroline Johnson '07, and Han Soo Lee '08 -- illustrated their "snapshots"-some poems, some prose-of autumn at the Abbey.  For photos of this colorful exercise, click here.

New Summer English Program Announced:   In keeping with the School's strong tradition in English and our Humanities program, which steeps Portsmouth Abbey students in the Western Tradition's greatest writing, Portsmouth Abbey School is pleased to introduce the inaugural Portsmouth Abbey Summer English Program, to be held in July of 2007. The Summer English Program will give students entering grades 7 through 10 concentrated instruction in the language. The Program will offer two sessions: Session I, from July 1-14, 2007, and Session II, from July15-29, 2007. Students may sign up for one session or for both (two weeks or four weeks).

The Program will offer intensive introductory and advanced courses and small classes taught by Portsmouth Abbey School faculty. They will learn that a command of English can be the crucial academic advantage for them. Elective workshops will give students the chance to focus on specific English topics, and afternoon activities include a variety or sports and fine arts. Students will have "down time" for reading, making new friends, and attending evening Coffeehouse student readings and performances. If you'd like more information about our Summer English Program, click here.

Abbey Students Receive Merit Scholar Recognitions:  During the month of October, Portsmouth Abbey School announced that seven students have received academic distinctions in the 52^nd annual National Merit® Scholarship Program.  Lucas Zipp '07, of La Jolla, CA, has been named a National Merit Semifinalist and now continues in the competition for some 8,200 Merit Scholarship® awards, worth $33 million, that will be offered next spring.  In addition, six students have been named Commended Students in the Program.  They are: Joseph Chu '07, of South Korea; Alex Cusack '07, of Rumford, RI; Ryan DaPonte '07, of Bristol, RI; John Gallagher '07, of Little Compton, RI; Jeffrey Popham '07, of Bristol, RI; and Traver Tischio '07, of Brick, NJ.  The students were chosen from an original group of more than 1.4 million high school juniors who entered the prestigious contest.  For more details, see Merit Recognition.

11^th Annual International Student Dinner:  On Tuesday, October 17, more than 175 people from the Abbey community and invited guests celebrated our diversity at the 11th annual International Student Dinner in Stillman Dining Hall.  A special treat in this year's program was the presence of Chef Hak Joon Kim as part of Sodexho's Global Chef Exchange program (see following story).  Outside guests included nine international military officers and their families who are attending the Naval Command College in Newport.  Also in attendance were six Abbey families serving as hosts to international students this year.  In his remarks, Master of Ceremonies Dr. Fred Zilian, who serves as the School's International Student Advisor, emphasized the choice between conflict and cooperation that today's international community faces.  For the final portion of the evening, individual international students spoke of their respective countries, some with humor, but all with great affection and pride.  See more details about the International Student Dinner. For photos of the event, visit Photo Galleries.

Korean Cuisine Comes to the Abbey:  Students, faculty and staff at Portsmouth Abbey School experienced a new type of education this week when the School welcomed Korea's National Culinary Trainer, Chef Hak Joon Kim, to campus as part of the Sodexho Global Chef Exchange.  Chef Kim, an award-winning culinary authority in Korea, created and served several meals at the Stillman Dining Hall for students, faculty and staff on October 16 and 17 and was featured at the School's 11^th annual International Student Dinner on the 17^th. Thanks to Dining Services Director Bob Cicerone and his capable crew for orchestrating both the Korean Food Festival with Chef Kim and the very successful International Student Dinner!  For a full report of Chef Kim's visit, click here. Check out photo galleries, too.

College Counseling Update:  October has been a very busy month for the Sixth Form as they move through the college application process.  The first big early application deadline of November 1 is fast approaching and students have been honing their lists and making decisions about when and where they will apply to college. Lots of visits from college admission officers have helped the students' decision-making process because they have been able to talk with the admissions officers about their particular college and, in a few cases, the representatives have interviewed our students.

We were pleased to have Ana Saul-Sykes, Associate Director of Admission at Brown University, visit the School on October 18 to talk with the Sixth Form students about their college essay.  She gave them some salient tips about the process of coming up with an essay topic, how it should be presented and the importance of accuracy of the text.

The next big event along the way to college will be the students taking the SAT II on November 4.

Upcoming Alumni/Development Events: The Alumni and Development Office would like to invite all parents, alumni and friends to two upcoming events.  The first is the Boston Reception, to be held at Abe and Louie's, 793 Boylston St., Boston, on Monday, November 6, 2006, at 6:30 pm. The hosts for the evening are John and Mary Power, P '06, '08, and Ben '79 and Janet Howe. To all New York-area alums:  please mark your calendars for the Abbot's Reception, which will be held at the New York Yacht Club, 37 W. 44^th Street, in Manhattan, on Tuesday, December 5, from 6:00-8:30 pm. Our hosts for that evening are Bill Keogh '78, Don Dowd '84 and Tom Ruggieri '81.  Please contact Fran Cook at rsvp@portsmouthabbey.orgor 401-643-1281 to reserve your spot for both events. We hope to see you in Boston or New York!

Development News:  Do you have questions about estate planning? Or planned giving?  Each month, the Planned Giving page on the Portsmouth Abbey School Web site will feature new articles and interactive features that cover such topics. New this month, articles include: Use Your IRA as Never Before; Q & A: Creating a Better Will; Life Moves Fast: Keep Your Will Up to Speed Your with Life Changes; and IRS Wisdom For Year-End. There are other useful resource articles as well; we hope you will find them interesting and informative.

We Need Your Houseparent Stories!!  Last month we put out a call for your favorite (or not-so-favorite, as the case may be ...) memories and anecdotes of your Portsmouth houseparents.  Thanks to those of you who have shared your recollections with us...but we still need more!! Please, if you have a long-forgotten but still humorous or notable story of life with your houseparent, send it to us at communications@portsmouthabbey.org.  Look for an article on houseparents in the Winter '07 Bulletin.

DeVecchi's Trip to Asia:  Dr. and Mrs. DeVecchi will depart on November 4 for their second trip to Asia, a three-week journey with stops in Hong Kong, Manila, Seoul and Tokyo.  There, they will meet with Portsmouth Abbey alumni, current and prospective students and their families to further cultivate the relationships that were started, or renewed, during their successful initial trip in July of 2005.  Additionally, the DeVecchis will meet with school and educational consultants to continue to promote the School in Asia.  A full report of the DeVecchi's trip will be given in an upcoming Monthly Musings and a future issue of the Bulletin.     

September Question:  What year did Portsmouth Abbey School accept its first international student, and from what country was that student?  Answer:  The first international student to attend Portsmouth, just two years into the life of the School, was William L.S. O'Brien, in 1928.  He was from Outremont, Canada.  (Editor's Note: The first substantial international student presence at the School came in 1939 with Hitler's invasion of Poland and the subsequent start of World War II, and at times during the war grew to as much as nearly 20 percent of the student body.)

October Question:  Pietro Belluschi, the late architect who designed many of the School's buildings, most notably St. Gregory the Great Church and Monastery, was considered a leader of the modernist architectural movement.  What internationally recognized buildings did he also design? Please email your answers to communications@portsmouthabbey.org.

Corrigendum: Our Summer '06 Musings Question asked you how many years Portsmouth has held a summer school.  Well, it appears we need to go back to school ourselves on that one.  Several astute alums (and former summer-schoolers) wrote to correct us.  The first year a summer school was conducted at Portsmouth was actually 1943.  Thank you to those of you who set us straight (we are glad to see you are reading the entire Musings!). 

We Welcome Your Input:  If you have questions, comments or ideas for Monthly Musings, please send them to the School's Communications Department at communications@portsmouthabbey.org.