Pennings, Abbot Bernard H. O. Praem

Other Events:

• Biography: From Premonte.org
• Biography: From the web site
• Reference Number: 4266
• Religious Vows: Abt 1879; Order of St. Norbert
• Occupation: Aft 1885; Roman Catholic Priest
• Ordained: 19 Jun 1886, Heeswijk, , Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
• Immigration: 13 Nov 1893, New York, New York, New York, USA; on the ship Veendam from Rotterdam
• 1900 Census: 1900, Green Bay, Brown, Wisconsin, USA
• Naturalization: 28 Jun 1904; Brown Vol F Page 42
• 1910 Census: 1910, De Pere, Brown, Wisconsin, USA
• International Arrival/Departure: 17 Apr 1914, New York, New York, New York, USA; on the Rotterdam (returning from abroad)
• 1920 Census: 1920, De Pere, Brown, Wisconsin, USA
• Obituary: 17 Mar 1955; Green Bay Press gazette
• Obituary: 18 Mar 1955; Kaukauna Times

Notes:

Biography:
Our brother Bernard Pennings was born In Gemert, Holland in 1861. After attending the gymnasium (gim-NA-zi-um) in Gemert, he entered the Order in 1879 and was solemnly professed in 1884.

In 1889, Bernard was made circator,(sir-CA-tor) professor of philosophy and theology, and master of novices at the abbey.

On November 1, 1893, he left Holland for the United States as founding-superior to the American mission, along with confreres Lambert Broens (BRUNS) and Servatius Heesakkers(HE-sake-ers). They embarked at Rotterdam on the S.S. Veendam and arrived in Hoboken, New Jersey, on November 13, the Feast of All Saints of the Order. Father Pennings immediately set forth with his confreres for his first mission in Delwich, on the Belgian Peninsula.

On September 28, 1898, Bernard established the first Norbertine foundation in the United States at the National Shrine of St. Joseph in DePere. On October tenth of that year, three inquisitive youths formed by Pennings, became the beginnings of St. Norbert College.

A papal brief, dated November 5, 1902, officially separated the United States foundation from Berne Abbey, and Bernard was named the first prior. St. Norbert Priory was raised to the status of an abbey in 1925, with Bernard being blessed as abbot on May 27th.

Abbot Pennings opened Monona Priory Novitiate in Madison, on the golden anniversary of his vestition, October 26, 1929. On October 12, 1932, he founded Archmere Academy in Claymont, Delaware. And on June 6, 1934, the golden jubilee of his solemn profession, Abbot Pennings, by papal decree, was vested with the cappa magna and founded Southeast Catholic in Philadelphia. On June 19, 1936, the golden jubilee of his ordination, he was granted the privilege of wearing the purple biretta.

A Doctor of Laws degree, honoris causa, was granted to him by Marquette University, on May 12, 1937. In September of 1941, he solemnly opened Central Catholic High School in Green Bay.

The "Cross of Officer of the Order of Leopold II" medal was bestowed on Abbot Pennings by Baron Silvercruys, the Belgian Ambassador to the United States, from the Prince Royal of Belgium, in recognition of his many years of service to the Church, on his 90th birthday in 1951.

The feet of this honorable, faithful, dedicated founder-leader ceased shuffling, and this quiet, challenging and affirming voice, ceased speaking Thursday, March 17, 1955, the day the Lord called him home. No more scotch would pass his lips; no more cigar smoke wreath his head. He was 93.

Biography:
Our brother Bernard Pennings was born In Gemert, Holland in 1861. After attending the gymnasium (gim-NA-zi-um) in Gemert, he entered the Order in 1879 and was solemnly professed in 1884.
In 1889, Bernard was made circator,(sir-CA-tor) professor of philosophy and theology, and master of novices at the abbey.
On November 1, 1893, he left Holland for the United States as founding-superior to the American mission, along with confreres Lambert Broens (BRUNS) and Servatius Heesakkers(HE-sake-ers). They embarked at Rotterdam on the S.S. Veendam and arrived in Hoboken, New Jersey, on November 13, the Feast of All Saints of the Order. Father Pennings immediately set forth with his confreres for his first mission in Delwich, on the Belgian Peninsula.
On September 28, 1898, Bernard established the first Norbertine foundation in the United States at the National Shrine of St. Joseph in DePere. On October tenth of that year, three inquisitive youths formed by Pennings, became the beginnings of St. Norbert College.
A papal brief, dated November 5, 1902, officially separated the United States foundation from Berne Abbey, and Bernard was named the first prior. St. Norbert Priory was raised to the status of an abbey in 1925, with Bernard being blessed as abbot on May 27th.
Abbot Pennings opened Monona Priory Novitiate in Madison, on the golden anniversary of his vestition, October 26, 1929. On October 12, 1932, he founded Archmere Academy in Claymont, Delaware. And on June 6, 1934, the golden jubilee of his solemn profession, Abbot Pennings, by papal decree, was vested with the cappa magna and founded Southeast Catholic in Philadelphia. On June 19, 1936, the golden jubilee of his ordination, he was granted the privilege of wearing the purple biretta.
A Doctor of Laws degree, honoris causa, was granted to him by Marquette University, on May 12, 1937. In September of 1941, he solemnly opened Central Catholic High School in Green Bay.
The "Cross of Officer of the Order of Leopold II" medal was bestowed on Abbot Pennings by Baron Silvercruys, the Belgian Ambassador to the United States, from the Prince Royal of Belgium, in recognition of his many years of service to the Church, on his 90th birthday in 1951.
The feet of this honorable, faithful, dedicated founder-leader ceased shuffling, and this quiet, challenging and affirming voice, ceased speaking Thursday, March 17, 1955, the day the Lord called him home. No more scotch would pass his lips; no more cigar smoke wreath his head. He was 93.

Religious Vows:
Founded the Norbertine Order in the US and St. Nornert's College in DePere.

Occupation:
Roman Catholic Priest

Immigration:
Name:Rev. H Pennings
Arrival Date:13 Nov 1893
Birth Year:abt 1861
Age:32
Gender:Male
Port of Departure:Rotterdam
Port of Arrival:New York, New York
Ship Name:Veendam

1900 Census:
Peter A Van Susterin 35
Bernard Penning's 40
Mary Van Handel 24
William Hocks 16
Nellie Van Susterin 8

Naturalization:
Name: Bernard H. Pennings
Year: 1841-1978
Place: Wisconsin
Source Publication Code: 3015.5
Primary Immigrant: Pennings, Bernard H
Source Bibliography: HELMS, KATE, and GENE LUNDERGAN. "Index to the Naturalization Papers of Brown County [Wisconsin], Located at the Area Research Center, The University of Wisconsin, Green Bay." In Wisconsin State Genealogical Society Newsletter, vol. 25:3 (Jan. 1979), pp. 131-132 (Brown County, pp. 37-38); vol. 25:4 (Apr. 1979), pp. 185-186 (Brown County, pp. 39-40); vol. 26:2 (Sept. 1979), pp. 75-76 (Brown County, pp. 41-42); vol. 26:3 (Jan. 1980), pp. 133-134 (Brown County, pp. 43-44); vol
Page: 79

Name:Bernard H Pennings
Birth Date:1861
Birth Place:Holland
Age at event:43
Court District:Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa
Year of Arrival:1893
Date of Action:28 Jun 1904

1910 Census:
Bernard Pennings 48

International Arrival/Departure:
Name: Bernard Pennings
Arrival Date: 14 Jul 1914
Estimated birth year: abt 1861
Age: 53
Gender: Male
Port of Departure: Rotterdam
Ship Name: Noordam
Search Ship Database: View the Noordam in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Line: 13
Microfilm Serial: T715
Microfilm Roll: T715_2347
Page Number: 100

1920 Census:
Bernard H Pennings 59

Obituary:
Abbot Bernard H. Pennings, O.Praem., founder-president of St. Norbert College and oldest member of the Norbertine Order in the world, died this morning in St. Vincent's Hospital. He was 93 years old. The cause of the abbot's death was old age and a cold that required hospitalization last Friday. It ends a career which spanned three-quarters of a century in the Norbertine Order and 61 years of work in Northeastern Wisconsin, which brought him ecclesiastical and civic honors.
Abbot S.M. Killeen, O.Praem., who was named coadjutor abbot in 1947 to assist Pennings, upon the latter's death immediately assumed the powers which were held by Pennings as head of the Norbertines in America.
The only survivors of the deceased abbot are nephews and nieces in Holland, including the Rev. Ambrose Pennings, also a member of the Norbertine order.

Obituary:
The Rev. Bernard H. Pennings, founder-president of St. Norbert's College and the first Norbertine Abbot in North America died at the age of 93 years of age.

Buried:
he and all other Norbertines were exumed from Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery in West De Pere (just over the bridge) and moved to the Abbey Cemetery in 1966.