New Monastery in Morristown 

New Monastery in Morristown

The successes of the building programs notwithstanding, there were many who wondered what the change in status between Morristown and Newark had, in fact, accomplished. Many believed that the only real solution to the question of unity within the community would be, paradoxically, separation. It was clear, however, that the transfer of the abbacy in Morristown would presage significant growth there. In 1961 the Chapter approved the hiring of an architect, Victor Christ-Janer, to design a grand new monastery and church in Morristown. In January 1963, the Chapter authorized the borrowing and expenditure of up to $2 million for the project.

But when Abbot Patrick came to the Chapter the following November with a request for additional funds, over his strong objection, a petition was presented for the independence of Newark, signed by seventeen monks resident there. To the abbot’s insistence that this was not relevant to the matter before the Chapter, the petitioners responded that the projected number of monks and their location was clearly relevant to determining the size of the new monastery buildings in Morristown. When Abbot Patrick rejected the petition and insisted on proceeding with the funding resolution, the Chapter proceeded to reject it. Shocked silence filled the room and the meeting was quickly adjourned.

Thus, a month later, on 10 December 1963, Abbot Patrick was forced to present the resolution he most abhorred, a request to Rome for the independence of the priory in Newark. This resolution received the overwhelming approval of the Chapter. Meetings began and committees were formed to plan for the independence of the Newark priory, but, without the endorsement of Abbot Patrick or of Archbishop Thomas Walsh of Newark, the petition was doomed. Indeed, the Holy See rejected the separation of the Newark priory as inopportune because of the lack of facilities there. To his credit, Abbot Patrick pursued the enquiry as to what specific remedies might serve to alter the decision, but there the matter rested for the next five years.