Father René Guesnier, OSB, enters eternal rest

On Wednesday, November 6, 2024, our beloved confrere, Father René Guesnier, OSB laid down the burden of earthly travail and entered the undying light of God’s glory. He had been a resident in our St. Stephen’s Infirmary since 2018 and, at the time of his death, was a Golden Jubilarian of both profession and priesthood. Attending him at his passing were his nephew, Bill Heinen, several of his confreres, and members of our devoted infirmary staff.

Jerome Delano Guesnier was born on April 18, 1933 in Seward, Kansas, the fifth of seven children of Joseph A. and Vina Marie (née Rickert) Guesnier. He was baptized at St. Francis Xavier Church in Seward and attended the parochial grade school there. He commenced studies at the public high school in nearby Radium, Kansas, but soon began to consider the possibility of a priestly vocation. He brought the matter to his pastor, who recommended that the young Jerome transfer to Our Lady of the Ozarks High School Seminary in Carthage, Missouri. He did so and graduated from Our Lady of the Ozarks in 1952. He then entered the college seminary at Conception as a student for the Diocese of Dodge City. While studying at Conception, Jerome began to recognize another layer to his vocation and sought release from his diocese to enter the novitiate of Conception Abbey. Having earned his Bachelor of Arts, he entered the novitiate in 1956. Upon profession of first vows a year later, he was placed under the patronage of the French Jesuit missionary and North American martyr, St. René Goupil. Frater René proceeded to complete his theological studies; he professed solemn vows and was ordained in 1961.

Upon ordination Fr. René was assigned to act as Associate Editor for Conception Abbey’s liturgical publication Altar & Home from 1961–63. He was then moved into pastoral ministry, first as Assistant Pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Springfield, Missouri (1963–64), then as Assistant Pastor at St. Aloysius Parish in Kansas City, Missouri (1964–67). At that time Fr. René became a Chaplain in the United States Army, a ministry to which he was dedicated for the next 20 years, and in which he ultimately achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His first assignment as an army chaplain was close to home at Fort Riley, Kansas from 1967 to ’68. He then did his first tour of duty in Vietnam (1968–69). After a year stateside at Fort Eustis, Virginia (1969–70), he did a second tour of duty in Vietnam from 1970 to ’71. He was then stationed in Thailand for a year (1971–72), after which he returned to the United States for three years at Fort Carson, Colorado (1972–75) and a year at Fort Hamilton, New York (1975–76). In order to enhance the teaching elements of his ministry, he undertook a Career Course, earning an M.A. in Education from Long Island University in 1976. He was then assigned to the American military installation at Ramstein, Germany, from 1976–79. A course in Clinical Pastoral Education at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas (1979–80) further enriched his ministry, preparing him for service at Fitzsimmons Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado from 1980 to ’82. He returned for another stint at Ramstein from 1982 to 1985. Approaching completion of two decades as a military chaplain, he completed a great cycle by returning to Fort Riley, Kansas in 1985, where he served until retirement from active duty in 1987.

Returning to Conception Abbey in 1987, Fr. René was happy to take on humbler modes of service as Gardener, Church Janitor, and Infirmary Assistant. He then returned to parish ministry as pastor of St. Joseph Church in nearby Parnell, Missouri from 1991 to 1993. At that time he accepted an invitation from his home diocese of Dodge City, Kansas, taking on pastoral duties at St. Boniface Church in Sharon, Kansas in 1993. In 1994 he was moved to St. Rose of Lima Church in Great Bend, Kansas, where he served as Associate Pastor from 1994 to ’95. In 1995, completing yet another great cycle of his life in the Church, he accepted an assignment as Pastor of his native parish of St. Francis Xavier in Seward, Kansas, concomitantly serving as Pastor of St. John the Apostle Church in St. John, Kansas.

As the years advanced, Fr. René began to recognize that his advancing arthritis was rendering active pastoral ministry ever more impracticable. In 2016 he returned to Conception Abbey, where he entered his final phase of service in Ministry of Prayer for the Community and the Church, with special consideration for the intention of Vocations to the Community. He remained as ever a humble monk ready to serve his brothers; he could often be seen pushing the wheelchair of a brother monk from the Infirmary to the Abbey Basilica for Mass or Adoration, so both could join directly with the ongoing prayer of the community.

Though as a military chaplain Fr. René had traveled to the far corners of the earth, he remained at heart a Kansas country boy, born and bred to Midwestern values of faith, fortitude and freedom to do the right. Indeed, he had emblazoned his profession document for solemn vows with the Latin phrase “Ad astra per aspera,” or “To the stars through hardships”—a suitable program for either monk or military man, the phrase also happens to be the motto of the state of Kansas. And though Father René did indeed encounter his share of hardship in life, he always maintained a cheerful and expansive outlook; he was fully prepared for this day, having awaited its coming with great longing. In keeping with the words of our Holy Father St. Benedict, Fr. René progressed in religious life and in faith, his heart overflowing with the inexpressible delight of God’s love. May he now know the fullness of that love!

Father René is survived by his brother Joseph (Della) of Great Bend, Kansas, and numerous nieces and nephews, special among whom were nephew Bill Heinen and nieces Bridget Kiehne and Rosemary Heinen. Vespers of the Faithful Departed will be prayed at 7:15 p.m. on Friday, November 8, 2024. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 9, 2024. We beg you to remember our confrere with the traditional prayers for the repose of his soul. May he find the fullness of repose and peace in God’s undying love!

Abbot Benedict and Community

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