Our faithful chaplain, Father Robert Dwyer, entered into eternal life early this morning. He was on his way to pray in our chapel at 6:00 a.m., as was his custom, and fell next to the driveway. When Sr. Donald found him, at 6:25, he was trying to sit up, was saying, “Help,” but otherwise couldn’t speak. By the time the ambulance arrived, 15 minutes later, there was no heartbeat. The EMTs gave him CPR for what seemed like a long time and were ready to give up, when they detected a faint pulse, and so decided to keep trying and take him to the hospital. He died shortly thereafter, or perhaps on the way. We weren’t given any further information because we weren’t family.

We feel extraordinarily privileged to have had Fr. Dwyer as our chaplain for the past 10 years. Thanks to his presence, we have been blessed to have had daily Mass, the grace of which we have felt even more strongly since March, when so many have been denied the Eucharist because of COVID. Father was devoted not only to us, but to the wider community of Windsor and nearby towns where there is no parish priest. Although retired and in his 80’s, he often said Sunday Mass in three different parishes, in addition to the Saturday night Vigil Mass of Sunday at the monastery. He was always available for visiting the sick and funerals. His ministry was nourished by a deep life of prayer. Twice a day, he would spend an hour praying in our chapel, reading his breviary in silence or out loud, and often walking up and down and praying in tongues.

Yesterday, Father was out visiting people in his car and digging in his garden. Although we are glad he didn’t suffer, his departure is a huge loss for all of us.