Laurence Mancuso facts for kids
Laurence Mancuso (born Gabriel Richard Mancuso) was a special religious leader. He founded a community of monks called New Skete in upstate New York. This community belongs to the Eastern Orthodox Church.
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Early Life and Calling
Gabriel Richard Mancuso was born in Utica, New York, in 1934. He was raised as a Catholic. In 1957, he joined the Franciscan order, a group of Catholic monks. He became a priest in December 1960.
Starting New Skete
In 1966, Laurence Mancuso started the Monks of New Skete. He began with six other monks in a farmhouse in Cambridge, New York. A year later, they built a new monastery nearby. They also started a farm with animals.
New Skete Farms and Nuns
Under Mancuso's guidance, the monks built a smokehouse. They began selling farm products under the name New Skete Farms. In 1969, a group of nuns joined the monks. These Nuns of New Skete made delicious cheesecakes. These cheesecakes were also sold through New Skete Farms.
The Famous New Skete Dogs
In 1969, a dog kennel gave a German Shepherd dog to the monastery. This led to a very popular dog breeding program. The monks started raising German Shepherd puppies. These puppies became very famous. By 1998, people sometimes waited two years to get a puppy. The monks also trained dogs for their owners.
A Change in Faith
In 1979, the monks of New Skete made a big change. They switched from being a Catholic order to an Eastern Orthodox order. Laurence Mancuso had studied Eastern Orthodox beliefs for many years. He also translated old Greek and Slavonic religious texts into English. He even changed church songs so a few monks could sing them. He published a book of psalms and a collection of sermons.
Books on Dog Training
The monks of New Skete have written several books about dog training. Their book How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend was published in 1978. It has been printed many times. Another popular book, The Art of Raising a Puppy, came out in 1991.
Later Years
Laurence Mancuso retired as the abbot of New Skete in 2000. He went to live with his brother in Natick, Massachusetts. He passed away in June 2007 from injuries after a fall.
