Our Br. Stephen Batchelor passed away on 20 July 2009. Born in 1962 in Indianapolis, Indiana, he obtained his Master's degree in Library Science before entering the community of Gethsemani on 1 May 1994. He made his solemn profession on 13 November 1999.

Br. Stephen was intellectually gifted and was widely read in a number of areas and loved to share his ideas. Of particular interest for him was ecumenical dialogue and he had a fascination for Eastern and Orthodox rites and practices.

He had struggled with cancer for the past year or so. He was cheerful in the face of his coming death and told a number of people that he was going to jump up into Jesus' arms when he saw him and give him a great big hug.