Fr. Robert V. Zylla,O.S.C.

Fr. Robert V. Zylla, O.S.C., died on July 29, 2009, at a hospital near Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Maryland at the age of 82. Ending a difficult battle with cancer, Fr. Bob passed peacefully, surrounded by his friends and colleagues. Fr. Bob, a member of the Crosier Fathers and Brothers, led a life fully dedicated to the service of Christ. For the past 38 years, he has worked as a professor of moral theology and priestly formation at Mount St. Mary's Seminary. During these years, he taught almost 1,200 seminarian alumni, including four bishops. He received the highest academic honor Mount St. Mary's can bestow, the Doctorate of Divinity honoris causa in May 2007. He also received the 32nd Annual John Cardinal McCloskey Award, sponsored by the National Alumni Association, in October of the same year. Despite his battle with cancer, Fr. Bob continued teaching a full load of classes until two months before his death. In addition to his work in the seminary, he was a spiritual director for deacons and priests, preached innumerable retreats and was very active as a Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus. Fr. Bob was an extern member of the Crosier Community of Phoenix, Arizona. A Minnesota native, Fr. Bob attended the Crosier House of Studies in Hastings, Nebraska, and made his first profession of vows as a Crosier on August 28, 1946. On June 1, 1951 he was ordained a priest and soon thereafter took his first assignment at the Crosier Seminary in Onamia, Minnesota, as a teacher of Latin, Greek, and English. During his years as a teacher, he spent his summers studying in Rome and at the Crosier House of Studies in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, receiving his master's degree in classical languages in 1956. In 1963, Fr. Bob joined the faculty at the House of Studies as a professor of moral and pastoral theology and director of priestly formation. When the Crosiers opened Holy Cross Manor in Beallsville, Md., in 1971, Fr. Bob became one of the new monastery's charter members. There he began what would become 38 years of highly-respected work. Fr. Bob was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota, on January 22, 1927. He was one of 12 children born to Joseph and Lottie Zylla. A visitation will be held at Holy Cross Priory Church in Onamia, Minn., on Thursday, August 6 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Holy Cross Priory Church on Friday, August 7 at 10:30 a.m. The Mass will be followed by the burial in Crosier Cemetery in Onamia and a luncheon in Holy Cross Center. Services were held in Maryland August 3 and 4. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to the Crosier Fathers and Brothers, P.O. Box 500, Onamia, MN 56359-0500 or Mount St. Mary's Seminary, 16300 Old Emmitsburg Road, Emmitsburg, MD 21727-7797.