Kurt Stasiak elected 10th abbot of St Meinrad Archabbey

Father Kurt Stasiak elected the 10th abbot and 7th archabbot of Saint Meinrad Archabbey today by the capitularies. Until Father Kurt has been the Prior of the Community.

Abbot Kurt professed monastic vows in 1975, ordained in 1980 and was trained as a sacramental-liturgical theologian at Sant’Anselmo (Rome). Over the years he has served the community as provost-vice rector of the School of Theology, vocation director for Saint Meinrad Archabbey,and  assistant novice-junior master at Saint Meinrad Archabbey.

The monastic community under the patronage of Saint Meinrad was founded by Einsiedeln Abbey, Switzerland, on March 21, 1854; it was raised to an abbey on September 30, 1870. The Church bestowed the title of “archabbey” on March 21, 1954.

Archabbot Justin Duvall was elected the elected 9th abbot on December 31, 2004. His resignation was accepted by the community and it elected a new abbot.

Monks of this community prepare men for service in the Catholic Church as priests, deacons and lay ministers. They have a thriving retreat house and many monks serve the Church away from the abbey, for example in parishes, at Sant’Anselmo (Rome) or at Conception Seminary.