Albert Paul-Marie Loriers; Helped Found Abbey

Albert Paul-Marie Loriers, 81, one of the founding monks of the 40-year-old St. Andrew’s Abbey in the Antelope Valley. Born and raised in Brussels, Loriers was forced to interrupt his clerical studies to serve in the Belgian military during World War II. He was present at the Battle of Dunkirk and, imprisoned by the conquering Germans, tended the wounded on a train, tearing up his own robes for bandages. He was ordained to the priesthood as Father Gaetan on Sept. 21, 1940. After the war and further studies in Paris and New York, he was assigned to Cheng-du, China. The Communist Chinese expelled him after their takeover and Loriers began advocating a new monastery in California. The Order of St. Benedict purchased the Hidden Springs Ranch in Valyermo in 1955 and, with Loriers and four others, established St. Andrew’s Abbey in October of 1956. On Tuesday in Valyermo, Calif.