Swiss-American Congregation

Last updated
Swiss American Congregation
AbbreviationPost-nominal letters:O.S.B.
Nickname Benedictines
Formation5 April 1881;142 years ago (1881-04-05)
Founders Fintan Mundwiler; Frowin Conrad
TypeBenedictine Congregation
Region served
North and South America
Members
447 monks as of 2020
Abbot President
Abbot Justin Brown
Main organ
Benedictine Confederation
Affiliations Roman Catholic Church
Website Official website

The Swiss-American Congregation is an association of Benedictine monasteries founded in 1881 in the United States, as a part of the international Benedictine Confederation of monasteries.

Contents

History

During the 19th century, a number of Benedictine monasteries had been founded in the United States by monks coming from monasteries in the German-speaking region of Switzerland. The fortunes of Roman Catholic institutions in Switzerland were turbulent, especially in the 19th century. All were dissolved as a consequence of the French Revolution in 1798, but were restored by Napoleonic decree in 1803, with the exception of the Abbey of St. Gall, where the Prince-Abbot refused to make the necessary political concessions. The anti-monastic policies of the Swiss cantons, however, later brought about the dissolution of monasteries in Pfäfers (1838), Muri (1841), Fischingen (1848) and Rheinau (1863).

The outlook for Swiss Roman Catholics during the Kulturkampf was so bleak that the ancient Abbeys of Einsiedeln and Engelberg began a program of establishing new monasteries in the United States, so that the remaining Swiss monasteries would have a refuge if they were all exiled. Those pioneer monks also were to serve the large number of German people who had emigrated there. As their offshoots, these new communities remained a part of the Swiss Confederation of Benedictine monasteries. [1]

By 1881 the number of such communities had grown that it was felt appropriate to separate them from the authority of the mother country. Accordingly, Pope Leo XIII authorized the creation of this congregation on April 5, 1881, under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. [2]

Current status

The Congregation, as of 2019, is composed of abbeys and priories throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Guatemala. The Congregation numbers about 447 monks. [3]

Current members

Dependent Priories

Former Presidents

These are the former presidents: [6]

  1. Rt. Rev. Fintan Mundwiler, O.S.B. (1881–1898)
  2. Rt. Rev. Frowin Conrad, O.S.B. (1898–1922)
  3. Rt. Rev. Philip Ruggle, O.S.B. (1922–1936)
  4. Rt. Rev. Columban Thuis, O.S.B. (1937–1957)
  5. Rt. Rev. Stephen Schappler, O.S.B. (1957–1961)
  6. Rt. Rev. Gilbert Hess, O.S.B. (1961–1965)
  7. Rt. Rev. David Melancon, O.S.B. (1965–1978)
  8. Rt. Rev. Raphael DeSalvo, O.S.B. (1978–1984)
  9. Rt. Rev. Jerome Hanus, O.S.B. (1984–1987)
  10. Rt. Rev. Patrick Regan, O.S.B. (1987–1999)
  11. Rt. Rev. Peter Eberle, O.S.B. (1999–2011)
  12. Rt. Rev. Vincent de Paul Bataille, O.S.B. (2011-2023)

Current President

The current Abbot President is Abbot Justin Brown elected in 2023. He resides at Saint Joseph Abbey (Louisiana) located in Saint Benedict, Louisiana. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benedictines</span> Catholic monastic order

The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict, are a mainly contemplative monastic religious order of the Catholic Church for men and for women who follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. The male religious are also sometimes called the Black Monks, in reference to the colour of their religious habits, in contrast to other Benedictine orders such as the Olivetans, who wear white. They were founded in 529 by Benedict of Nursia, a 6th-century Italian monk who laid the foundations of Benedictine monasticism through the formulation of his Rule. Benedict's sister, Scholastica, possibly his twin, also became a religious from an early age, but chose to live as a hermit. They retained a close relationship until her death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benedictine Confederation</span> International governing body of the Benedictine order

The Benedictine Confederation of the Order of Saint Benedict is the international governing body of the Order of Saint Benedict.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Meinrad Archabbey</span> Benedictine monastery in Ferdinand, Indiana

Saint Meinrad Archabbey is a Catholic monastery in Spencer County, Indiana, US, was founded by monks from Einsiedeln Abbey in Switzerland on March 21, 1854, and is home to approximately 79 monks. The Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology is also located on the premises.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Worth Abbey</span>

The Abbey of Our Lady, Help of Christians, commonly known as Worth Abbey, is a community of Roman Catholic monks who follow the Rule of St Benedict near Turners Hill village, in West Sussex, England. Founded in 1933, the abbey is part of the English Benedictine Congregation. As of 2020, the monastic community had 21 monks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subiaco Abbey (Arkansas)</span> United States historic place

Subiaco Abbey is an American Benedictine monastery located in the Arkansas River valley of Logan County, Arkansas, part of the Swiss-American Congregation of Benedictine monasteries. It is home to thirty-nine Benedictine monks. The abbey and the preparatory school it operates, Subiaco Academy, are major features of the town of Subiaco, Arkansas. It is named after the original Subiaco, Italy, where the first monastery founded by Saint Benedict was located.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Anselm's Abbey (Washington, D.C.)</span> Benedictine monastery in Washington, D.C.

St. Anselm's Abbey is a Benedictine Abbey located at 4501 South Dakota Avenue, N.E., in Washington, D.C. It operates the boys' middle and high school St. Anselm's Abbey School, which was ranked by the Washington Post as the most challenging in Washington, D.C., and as the most challenging private high school in the U.S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint John's Abbey, Collegeville</span> Benedictine monastery in Collegeville Township, Minnesota

Saint John's Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Collegeville Township, Minnesota, United States, affiliated with the American-Cassinese Congregation. The abbey was established following the arrival in the area of monks from Saint Vincent Archabbey in Pennsylvania in 1856. Saint John's is one of the largest Benedictine abbeys in the Western Hemisphere, with 110 professed monks. The Right Reverend Fr. Doug Mullin, OSB, serves as the eleventh abbot.

Blue Cloud Abbey was an American Benedictine monastery located near the town of Marvin, in Grant County, South Dakota. It was a member of the Swiss-American Congregation. The patron saint of the monastery was the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of the Snows, from which the abbey derived its name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conception Abbey</span> Benedictine monastery in Conception, Missouri

Conception Abbey, site of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, is a monastery of the Swiss-American Congregation of the Benedictine Confederation. The monastery, founded by the Swiss Engelberg Abbey in 1873 in northwest Missouri's Nodaway County, was raised to a conventual priory in 1876 and elevated to an abbey in 1881. In 2021 the community numbered fifty-eight monks who celebrate the Eucharist and Liturgy of the Hours daily and who staff and administer Conception Seminary College, The Printery House, and the Abbey Guest Center. Monks also serve as parish priests and hospital chaplains in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph and other dioceses. There is also a large postal facility attached to The Printery House, operated by lay employees, which includes package shipping and delivery facilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Marty (bishop)</span> Swiss-born Benedictine missionary and bishop

Martin Marty was a Swiss-born Benedictine missionary and bishop in the United States. His birth name was James Joseph Alois Marty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fintan Mundwiler</span>

Fintan Mundwiler was a Swiss Benedictine, who became Abbot of St. Meinrad Abbey, Indiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American-Cassinese Benedictine Congregation</span> Association of Benedictine monasteries

The American-Cassinese Congregation is a Catholic association of Benedictine monasteries founded in 1855. The monasteries of the congregation follow the monastic way of life as outlined by St. Benedict of Nursia in his early 6th century Rule of Saint Benedict. The congregation is one of 19 congregations in the Benedictine Confederation and includes 25 monasteries: 19 autonomous abbeys and 6 dependent priories, located across 15 states and Puerto Rico, as well as Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Mexico, and Taiwan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Anselm Abbey (New Hampshire)</span> Benedictine monastery in Goffstown, New Hampshire

Saint Anselm Abbey, located in Goffstown, New Hampshire, United States, is a Benedictine abbey composed of men living under the Rule of Saint Benedict within the Catholic Church. The abbey was founded in 1889 under the patronage of Saint Anselm of Canterbury, a Benedictine monk of Bec and former archbishop of Canterbury in England. The monks are involved in the operation of Saint Anselm College. The abbey is a member of the American-Cassinese Congregation of the Benedictine Confederation.

The Subiaco Cassinese Congregation is an international union of Benedictine houses within the Benedictine Confederation. It developed from the Subiaco Congregation, which was formed in 1867 through the initiative of Dom Pietro Casaretto, O.S.B., as a reform of the way of life of monasteries of the Cassinese Congregation, formed in 1408, toward a stricter contemplative observance, and received final approval in 1872 by Pope Pius IX. After discussions between the two congregations at the start of the 21st century, approval was given by Pope Benedict XVI in 2013 for the incorporation of the Cassinese Congregation into its offshoot, the Subiaco Congregation. The expanded congregation was given this new name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waegwan Abbey</span> Benedictine monastery in South Korea

Saint Maurus and Saint Placidus Abbey, Waegwan, Chilgok, North Gyeongsang, South Korea is a Benedictine monastery of the Congregation of Missionary Benedictines of Saint Ottilien. Established in 1952 by Korean monks who had survived the dissolution of the Territorial Abbey of Tokwon and Holy Cross Abbey in Yanji, the monastery is currently home to 131 monks. Fr Blasio Park is the current abbot.

St Benedict's Abbey, Pietersburg (Polokwane), Limpopo, South Africa, is a Benedictine monastery of the Subiaco Congregation. It began in 1911 as a mission territory; the community established a monastery in 1937. As an Abbey Nullius, the monastery governed what is now the Roman Catholic Diocese of Polokwane until 1989. As of 2022, the community numbers about 12 in various stages of formation monks. The community was given the Very Rev. Dominic Mohapi, OSB, as Prior Administrator on August 18, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Congregation of the Annunciation</span> Belgian Benedictine Catholic congregation

The Congregation of the Annunciation, formerly known as the Belgian Congregation, is a congregation of monasteries within the Roman Catholic Benedictine Confederation. Founded in 1920, the Congregation includes fifteen independent male monasteries spread throughout ten countries. Additionally, two female monasteries are members of the Congregation, while a further ten are affiliated with the Congregation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wolfgang Schlumpf</span> Swiss-born Benedictine monk and missionary

Wolfgang Schlumpf was a Swiss-born Benedictine monk and missionary in the United States who is credited as founder of Subiaco Abbey in western Arkansas. He immigrated to the United States in 1862 after being assigned to what became St. Meinrad Abbey in 1870 in southern Indiana..

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Martin's Abbey, Washington</span> Church in WA , United States

Saint Martin's Abbey is a community of Roman Catholic Benedictine monks who follow the Rule of St Benedict in Lacey, Washington, United States. First founded as a priory in 1895, the abbey is part of the American-Cassinese Benedictine Congregation and the Benedictine Confederation. As of 2020, the monastic community had 20 monks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Michael Abbey</span> Roman Catholic monastery in Nebraska, United States

Mount Michael Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Elkhorn in Nebraska. It is located in the Archdiocese of Omaha.

References

  1. Schenker, Lukas, Abt. "400 Jahre Schweizerische Benediktinerkongregation". Kirche in der Schweiz (in German).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. "The Swiss-American Benedictine Congregation". The Swiss-American Benedictine Congregation.
  3. "Summary of the Congregation" (PDF).
  4. "The Swiss-American Benedictine Congregation Catalog 2020, p. 24" (PDF).
  5. "The Swiss-American Benedictine Congregation Catalog 2020, p. 25" (PDF).
  6. "The Swiss–American Benedictine Congregation Catalog 2020, p. 3" (PDF).
  7. "News".