Benedictine Father Michael Sawyer, 83, was born Bertram Gerald Sawyer in Stratford, Wis. He and his two sisters and one brother grew up in Rhinelander. In 1943, he joined the Army and was wounded twice fighting in Europe. After World War II, Sawyer studied engineering at college before being called to the religious life. He joined St. Benedict’s Abbey in Benet Lake, Wis., in 1948, professing vows in 1950 and taking the name Michael. From 1960-65 he served in El Salvador and Costa Rica before returning to Wisconsin and involving himself in the Charismatic Movement. In 1969, Father Sawyer and four other monks started a new foundation in Pecos, N.M., with a charismatic focus that became the Our Lady of Guadalupe Monastery. In September 1983, Father Sawyer came to Hawaii through the invitation of Bishop Joseph Ferrario to start another foundation. On March 21, the Benedictine Monastery of Hawaii celebrates 25 years.

1. What is your favorite childhood memory?

I looked upon my dad as another St. Joseph – hard-working, gentle and loving. During the Great Depression there was no money. At Christmas one year, I received a baseball bat Dad had made, carved out of a stick of wood and smoothed with a piece of broken glass. What a prize, joy and love!

2. Who have you admired most in your life?

Father Bernard Burbach, my novice master. He was a saint! When I joined the monastery I was a brother for 25 years. I had charge of the farm, milking cows and feeding pigs. He frequently helped on Sundays and feast days.  He was the Brother Master and the happy, young, hard-working, joy-filled brothers were the foundation of the monastery.

3. What is your favorite Bible passage?

I have many! First among them is probably 2 Corinthians 3: 17-18: “Now, this Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, with unveiled faces reflecting like mirrors the brightness of the Lord, all grow brighter and brighter as we are turned into the image that we reflect; this is the work of the Lord who is Spirit.”

4. Do you have a favorite sports team?

The Green Bay Packers, what else? Not just because I’m from Wisconsin, but because the Packers aren’t owned by a rich man, who moved them to a big city. It’s Vince Lombardi’s team and always will be.  It’s the Cheeseheads against Goliath!

5. Who is your favorite saint?

The Virgin Mary must be all priests’ favorite saint. She is truly our mother, protecting us from Satan — especially in our vow of chastity — correcting, encouraging, and molding us even as she did the humanity of Jesus. At Medjugorje, she gave us the name of our monastery, “Mary, Spouse of the Holy Spirit.” As she gave her “yes” to the Father, we need to give our “yes” to bring forth Christ in our lives.

6. Do you have any hobbies?

I don’t seem to have time. When I first joined the Benedictines I would get up early and run a trap line for muskrat and weasel and sell the pelts.  Today, I guess it’s fixing things at the monastery like switches, lawn mowers and toilets.

. What’s the Church’s biggest challenge today?

For me, how to open our hearts to experience the personal love of Jesus. We need saints, people filled with joy, hope and life, who can help others do this. We need people alive with the love of God.

8. What makes you happy?

The joy of my life in Hawaii has been working with the Basic Christian Community, experiencing how God’s love changes people’s lives, watching them grow, and growing with them too as the people of God. For this I give thanks to the Lord!