Memorials › Brother Walter Joseph “Mary Joseph” Szwedo
Brother Walter Joseph “Mary Joseph” Szwedo
12 Jul 1927 – 20 Jan 2023
| Birth | 12 Jul 1927 |
| Death | 20 Jan 2023 |
| Cemetery | Mepkin Abbey Monastic Cemetery Moncks Corner , Berkeley County , South Carolina , USA |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/248766346 |
Bio
MEPKIN ABBEY, SC - Brother Mary Joseph Szwedo, a monk of Mepkin Abbey, died on January 20, 2023. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Walter Szwedo entered Gethsemane Abbey in Kentucky when he was 17 years old in 1944. In 1952, he was asked to come to Mepkin Abbey because the community was struggling to establish their farming programs. Through his early years at Mepkin, he contributed his many talents and skills working with the forestry efforts and sawmill, as well as the brief effort at raising cattle. For an extended time, he oversaw the program milling feed or Mepkin's very successful egg industry. Possessing a beautiful tenor voice, he sang with the monastic schola giving praise to God at all the liturgies. Devoted in honoring Mary, he was often making rosaries, some of which were sold in the monastery shop. As aging brought physical diminishment, he continued to make rosaries even up to the week before his death. Daily, he could be seen feeding the squirrels as he spoke with them in Polish, which they obviously understood. Many monks and monastic guests learned from Brother Mary Joseph to recognize the great number of species of birds that visit Mepkin seasonally, all looking for the food he so thoughtfully and caringly provided for God's creatures. Having listened in his formation as a lay brother at Gethsemane that when you are not working you are reading - scripture, theology and spiritual authors - he was an example to all the men entering Mepkin that we are as Saint Benedict tells us life-long learners. Kindly join us in thanking God for this man of deep faith who responded generously to God's call to live a life of ceaseless prayer as a monk. He persevered for 79 years saying "yes" to God, as did Mary and Joseph, whose names were given to him as he took up the monastic life at Gethsemane almost 80 years ago. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Tuesday at 2 PM at Mepkin Abbey and Brother Mary Joseph's body will be laid to rest in the monastic cemetery. Published by Charleston Post & Courier from Jan. 21 to Jan. 22, 2023. ---------------- n the 1930 United States Federal Census Name: Walter Szweda Birth Year: abt 1928 [abt 1927] Gender: Male Race: White Age in 1930: 2 [2 8/12] Birthplace: Illinois Marital Status: Single Relation to Head of House: Son Home in 1930: Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA Map of Home: Chicago, Cook, Illinois Street Address: WEST AUGUSTA BOULEVARd Ward of City: 31 Block: 235 House Number: 1530 Dwelling Number: Continued 106 Family Number: 321 Attended School: No Father's Birthplace: Poland Mother's Birthplace: Poland Able to Speak English: Yes Household Members (Name) Age Relationship John Szweda51 Head Angeline Szweda40 Wife Frank Szweda18 Son Roman Szweda13 Son Lottie Szweda10 Daughter Casimir Szweda9 Son Walter Szweda 2 Son --------------- Suggested edit: Walter Szwedo in the 1950 United States Federal Census Name: Walter Szwedo Age: 23 Birth Date: abt 1927 Gender: Male Race: White Marital Status: Never Married (Single) Relation to Head of House: Monk Residence Date: 1950 Home in 1950: Nelson, Kentucky, USA Street Name: Buckner St Dwelling Number: 1 Farm: Yes Questionnaire Number: s Occupation: Farmer Industry: Farm Occupation Category: Working Hours Worked: 40 Worker Class: Without Pay Household Members (Name) Age Relationship James D Fox 54 Head John S Klinski 64 Mank John J Yates 57 Monk Jonas Wagner 70 Monk Edward G Knecht 65 Monk Anthony Xisereb 66 Monk William Archambeauth 55 Monk Joseph Graf 54 Monk Wenceslaus Titra 58 Monk Alphonse Vanoverbergh 51 Monk Contributor: Investigator (48335245) • [email protected] ------------
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