Ivan Flaherty was born and reared on a farm about seven miles north of Bardstown, Kentucky. The road near his home was called Irish Ridge. This was because several families, including his own, immigrated from Ireland in the early 19th century and settled here. The Flahertys by the time Ivan was born were members of St. Michael's Parish in Fairfield. He went through grade school there, taught by the Ursuline Sisters.

After grade school Ivan followed his older brother to St. Joe Preparatory School in Bardstown. He was a "day-hop", a term used for students who did not board at the school. There were some adjustments to be made by a student leaving a school taught exclusively by Sisters to one taught only by Brothers. The years at St. Joe were a maturing experience for Ivan intellectually and perhaps spiritually also. Some of the Brothers were particularly good educators. And the dedication of their lives to a religious ideal made a deep impression on the student even if not always conscious.

Upon graduation in 1942 Ivan was still uncertain about his path in life. It happened that a neighbor spoke to his mother about a book she had read at this time. She enjoyed it very much. It was on the bestseller's list of Catholic books. The title alone was intriguing; it was The Man Who Got Even With God, about the life of John Green Hanning, a fellow Kentuckian, who was known in religion as Brother Joachim. He entered the monastery at Gethsemani and became a lay brother and died there in the early part of this century. The community thought very highly of him and venerated him as a very holy man. Ivan borrowed and read the book. He was at once attracted to the kind of life Brother Joachim had lived: one of silence, solitude, prayer, and penance. He had never been to Gethsemani before so he made a retreat there in the summer of 1943. The retreat strengthened Ivan's growing conviction that God wanted him to be a monk.

After interviews with the abbot and the fulfillment of other requirements, Ivan entered the community in December, 1943. It was usual in those days to be given a new name when entering religious life. Ivan was given the name Malachy, an Irish Saint of the 12th century. There were tow categories in the monastery: choir monks and lay brothers. The superiors decided Ivan, or Malachy, should be in the choir. There was a great influx of vocations at that time, so Gethsemani made two foundations soon after Ivan's entrance: one to Georgia (1944) and another to Utah (1947). Malachy was included in the latter group that came to Utah and founded the monastery of Our Lady of the Holy Trinity.

In the years following the foundation Malachy went through the usual course of studies for the priesthood and was eventually ordained. In the monastery Malachy had been entrusted with various offices and duties over the years. Finally in January 1983, he was elected abbot of the community. It is perhaps not necessary to say that being abbot is not the goal of becoming a monk. But the Lord has His own plans for each of us.

We find or true lasting happiness to the degree we accept and try to fulfill His plans for us. Father Malachy is old enough now to look back and begin to count some of the manifold blessings God has bestowed on him over the years. Beginning with his family and home, he has so much to be thankful for-dear devoted parents and brothers; the example and sacrifice of his teachers in school and the fellowship and friendship of companions along the road of life, and the gift of faith. Last but not least, grace of monastic vocation and priesthood.

After his election as abbot, Father Malachy's life in most respects remained pretty much same-the usual observance of monastic practices of prayer, work, silence, and solitude. In one respect, his life did change quite noticeably. Whereas before, he only left the monastic property perhaps once a year to go to the dentist. Now he was expected to attend the yearly meeting of Trappist Superiors held in one of the monasteries in the American region. And every three years he traveled to the General Chapter, a meeting of all the Superiors of the Order, held usually in Rome. This experience made him aware of the worldwide nature of the Order, how it embraced all the five continents and their cultures. It made him conscious of the nature of faith which is Catholic and embraces men and women of every land.

Father Malachy is grateful for the honor St. Joe has conferred on him and wishes each and every one of the alumni: Ad multos anos!