Abbot and school president known for his kindness and wisdom

Dom Peter Garvey, who has died aged 77, was a former abbot of Bolton Abbey, near Moone, in Co Kildare. He also had the distinction of serving for two terms – a total of 18 years – as president of Cistercian College, the boarding school established by the monks of Mount Saint Joseph Abbey, Roscrea, in 1962.

Although the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, or Trappists, have more than 200 houses worldwide, Mount Saint Joseph is the only one that operates a school. Unlike many other religious orders with an educational mission, the Trappists follow a regime, based on prayer, work and study.

Dom Peter’s primary calling was to the contemplative life. But when nominated to take charge of the school, from 1972 to 1984 and from 1999 to 2005, he proved himself to be a brilliant educator and leader. He was dearly loved and respected by the boys who passed through Cistercian College under his care, a fact attested to by the great numbers who remained in contact with him long after they had passed into adult life. There are innumerable stories of his kindness, his wisdom and his generosity.

Family tradition

Christened Patrick Vincent (he chose Peter as his monastic name) he was one of five children of the late Patrick Garvey and Maura (née Cunningham) who operated a family business at Ballyhard, Glenamaddy, Co Galway. No fewer than 18 members of the extended Garvey family were educated at Cistercian College between 1918 and 2012.

He followed in his father’s footsteps, enrolling in the school in 1950. In 1955, after completing his leaving certificate, he entered the monastery. He was ordained in 1963 and served as bursar and later as novice master. In 2006, the community at Bolton elected him to be abbot, a role he discharged for six years, after which he returned to his beloved Mount Saint Joseph.

His deep spirituality found expression in his love of Gregorian chant, the music in which Cistercians pray their daily office or lectio divina. On retiring from the abbacy of Bolton, he made an extended pilgrimage to the biblical sites of the Middle East, delighting his many friends with brilliant pen pictures and spiritual insights via regular e-mails.

He died at Mount Saint Joseph, in the loving and prayerful company of his family and his brother Cistercians. He is survived by his brothers, Sean, Michael and Tom, and by his sister, Kay. Another sister, Mary, a Salesian nun, predeceased him in April.