Page 2 - Priorities 5

Good-bye, farewell, and
“...Until we meet
again, may God hold
you in the hollow of
his hand.”
—Traditional Irish farewell
The Very Rev. William J. Sullivan, Prior of the Woodside Priory School and the Benedictine Community for 12 years, left the campus in July to begin a sabbatical leave and a new assignment. He departed in a flurry of gifts and parties from students, faculty, parents and chapel friends.
He will be missed as Prior; even more, he will be missed as teacher and friend. People will miss the
uniquely skillful homilies at church, his avid reading and his ability to find just the right story to make a point. Students and his chapel friends will miss the depth and breadth of his scholarship and his Benedictine character. Everyone will miss Father William the Irishman, with his love of a humorous story, a good laugh, good food and drink, and good Celtic music.
Most of his going-away gifts left with him: a suitcase, a comfortable chair in which to study, a plaque commemorating his work, some extra cash in case he needs to buy his way free from a hostage situation while he is in the Middle East, an alarm clock to remind him when it is time to come back for a visit. One gift will stay behind: a scholarship to be awarded annually in his name to the student who best reflects the spirit Father William brought to the Priory.
Father William is in the Middle East doing biblical research with original documents. When his sabbatical leave is complete, he expects to be assigned to St. Anselm Abbey in New Hampshire. Fortunately, he has already made plans to come back for some of the Fortieth Anniversary celebrations this year. We hope this is the start of a long tradition of regular visits.
Tim Molak Headmaster
Peter Kasenchak and Rosemary Hewlett, good friends of Father William for many years, joined him at a going-away dinner.
Students enjoyed the traditional campus celebration — free bagels and doughnuts at brunch — during “Father William Week” last May.
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