Father Ignatius (John) Smith, O.S.B., died the afternoon of April 27, 2013, at the Atchison Hospital, having received the sacraments of the Church and apostolic pardon from Abbot James Albers, O.S.B.  He was born on August 31, 1926, in Wilmore, Pa. the son of Peter Joseph and Florence (Beyer) Smith. He was the oldest of three children.   

Father Ignatius grew up in the heart of Benedictine territory in Pennsylvania, a short distance from Carrolltown, where Father Henry Lemke, OSB, the first Benedictine monk to come to Kansas is buried. Six first cousins went on to the priesthood, including several who became monks at Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, PA. Father Ignatius followed them and professed his vows as a monk at the Archabbey on September 23, 1946.  During his time in simple vows, Father Ignatius transferred his stability to Holy Cross Abbey, Cañon City, Colo. a foundation of Latrobe. He was ordained to the priesthood on December 18, 1954 as a monk of Holy Cross Abbey.

We continue the April 27 celebration honoring Abbot Barnabas Senecal. In this exciting conclusion to the festivities we learn a little more about the Abbot, we hear a poem from a friend, the Abbot speaks and sings about his career and much more.