Being a monk, one must embrace a “whatever it takes” attitude; that whatever the community needs, one must respond with a “can-do” approach for the good of his brothers. Since 1963 perhaps no monk has lived this attitude better than Fr. Maurice Haefling.

In his early years in the monastery he observed that as men completed seminary studies and were ordained, they would be promptly sent to serve in apostolates outside of the Abbey,

“I saw my brother monks getting ordained and disappearing. Whether it was to graduate school or a parish, they would be gone. Maybe, you would see them at retreat time. That’s not the life I wanted – I became a monk to live in community.”

It was this observation that prompted him to step away from seminary studies and ask the Abbot how he might best serve the community. The Abbey was in need of a full-time nurse to care for the elderly and infirm monks in the monastery, and with that (then Br.) Maurice began nursing school in Kansas City. After completing his studies he immediately set about his duties. As he continued to serve as the community’s nurse, Abbot Thomas Hartman appointed Br. Maurice as the first non-ordained subprior (third in command) in the Abbey’s history.

During the 70’s Br. Maurice got more involved in campus life at Benedictine College. “Bro-Moe,” as the students called him, served regularly at campus retreats and forged friendships that endure to this day. Pete Tulipana, a 1973 graduate of Benedictine College, is grateful for his friendship with Fr. Maurice,

“Fr. Maurice has always been a wonderful sounding board when you’re delving into your faith and trying to understand it. He is someone I could always talk to and never felt judged,” said Tulipana.

In 1987 Abbot Ralph Koehler recommended Br. Maurice to serve as the Business Manager of Benedictine College. After a couple of years, Br. Maurice was living in his office day and night, “My hair went from blond to white! But I felt they needed to find someone with a lot more experience, so in 1989 I resigned at the end of the school year.”

It was then the long-dormant call to the priesthood was re-ignited and he began seminary studies at St. John’s Seminary, in Collegeville, Minnesota, being ordained to the priesthood on June 4, 1994.

From that time on, Fr. Maurice served the Abbey as Business Manager and assisted with the Abbey’s apostolates in a variety of ways. Fr. Maurice’s fiscal aptitude was recognized by Abbot President Timothy Kelly; as Holy Cross Abbey in Cañon City, Colorado, began the process of closing, Fr. Maurice was placed in charge of all of Holy Cross’s operations. Most importantly, for more than 55 years we were blessed to call Fr. Maurice our brother in Christ, we ask that you support our prayer and work and celebrate his legacy with a gift to the Fr. Maurice Haefling Legacy Fund.