Eight Monks Celebrate 80th, 60th, 50th and 25th Anniversaries of Priestly Ordination in 2006
Release Date: May 4, 2006
COLLEGEVILLE, MINN. — In 2006 eight monks of Saint John's Abbey mark significant anniversaries of their ordination to the priesthood. The monastery will formally acknowledge their jubilees at Mass on Thursday, June 8, 2006, during the Abbey's annual retreat.
80 Years Ordained
Father Angelo Zankl OSB
Father Angelo Zankl is celebrating a trio of anniversaries this year — his 105th birthday on April 19, the 85th anniversary of his first profession of vows on July 11, 1921, and the 80th anniversary of his ordination on May 29, 1926. He was born in Almena, Wisconsin in 1901. Father Angelo has been a monk longer than any other monk in North America.
In the 1940s he served as associate pastor of several parishes and as a convent and hospital chaplain. From 1951to 1967 he was the pastor of St. Clement's Church, Duluth. He later served as a teacher and chaplain at the former Corbett Junior College in Crookston and as chaplain of Assumption Nursing Home, Cold Spring. His last assignment was as chaplain to the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery, Duluth (1974-87). He now resides in St. Raphael's Retirement Center at Saint John's Abbey. Since as a novice Father Angelo knew Father Cornelius Wittmann OSB, one of the five founding monks, he is the sole remaining link to the pioneer beginnings of Saint John's.
60 Years a Priest
Father Edwin Stueber OSB
Father Edwin Stueber celebrates the 60th anniversary of ordination. He was born in Ramey, Minnesota, and professed vows as a Benedictine monk in 1941. After his ordination on June 30, 1946, he began his 37 years of pastoral ministry as an associate pastor of parishes and a hospital chaplain. He served at St. Bernard Church, St. Paul, Seven Dolors Church, Albany and St. Benedict's Church, Bronx, NY.
Father Edwin was also chaplain at St. Mary's Hospital, Duluth and Divine Redeemer Hospital, South St. Paul. His retirement in St. Raphael's Retirement Center, Saint John's Abbey, is occupied with the study of Hebrew, Greek, Russian and Swahili, and his enjoyment of classical music.
50 Years Since Ordination as Priests
Father Wilfred Theisen OSB
Father Wilfred Theisen celebrates 50 years of priestly ordination. He was born on September 5, 1929, in Wadena, Minnesota, and professed first vows on July 11, 1950. He was ordained on May 19, 1956. Fr. Wilfred taught in the Physics Department of Saint John's University for 47 years and at his retirement in 2005 he was named Professor Emeritus. His deep and abiding interest in physics, alchemy and the history of science has been an inspiration to his colleagues and his students for decades.
His most rewarding assignment outside of teaching, however, was his work as abbey liaison officer to the Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research that offered the opportunity to get to know more than 300 residents who expanded his spiritual and theological horizons considerably.
Father Daniel Durken OSB
Father Daniel Durken celebrates the 50th anniversary of his ordination. He was born on January 11, 1929, in Pemberton, Minnesota, and professed first vows on July 11, 1950. Father Daniel was ordained on May 19, 1956. He completed Master's degrees in speech at St. Louis University and religious education at The Catholic University of America.
He taught speech and theology to undergraduates and homiletics to seminarians. In 1969 he was exchange professor of theology at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa. For a decade (1979-88) he was the Director of Liturgical Press. He still enjoys working at the Press as a senior editor and writer.
Father Knute Anderson OSB
Father Knute Anderson celebrates 50 years of priestly ordination. He was born on May 28, 1929, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and professed first vows on July 11, 1950. Father Knute was ordained a priest on May 19, 1956. Always skilled at languages, he taught Latin in the preparatory school and the college. In 1957, Father Knute enrolled at the University of Nijmegen in the Netherlands for an extensive course in classical philology and antiquities, returning to Saint John's in 1962.
For 15 years he worked as a research assistant at the Hill Monastic Museum & Library. Father Knute continues to make himself available verifying and validating the classical translations and citations of his confreres.
Father Luke Steiner OSB
Father Luke Steiner celebrates the 50th anniversary of his ordination. He was born in Mandan, North Dakota, on August 27, 1930. He professed monastic vows on July 11, 1951 and was ordained in Rome on July 1, 1956. Father Luke earned the licentiate in theology at Sant' Anselmo in 1957 and completed the course in Sacred Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in 1960.
Returning to Collegeville, Father Luke taught Sacred Scripture at Saint John’s University and School of Theology for over 45 years. He served as dean of the graduate school from 1967 to 1969, directed the Jerusalem Study Program, and was rector of Saint John’s Seminary from 1999 to 2001. He was named Professor Emeritus in 2005. Presently he serves as pastor of Saint Augustine Parish, St. Cloud.
Father Kevin Seasoltz OSB
Father Kevin Seasoltz marks the 50th anniversary of his ordination. He was born on December 29, 1930, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He professed first vows on November 13, 1960, having already been ordained a priest on May 26, 1956. He earned the licentiate in theology from The Catholic University of America in 1956. In 1962 he earned both a licentiate in canon law from the Lateran University, Rome, as well as a doctorate in canon law from The Catholic University of America.
Father Kevin has been Professor of Theology since 1972 and served as Rector of Saint John's Seminary from 1988 to 1992. Author of numerous articles, his most recent book is A Sense of the Sacred: Theological Foundations of Christian Architecture and Art (Continuum, 2005). He received the prestigious Berakah Award from the North American Academy of Liturgy at the 2005 meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. He has been editor of the liturgical journal, Worship, from 1987 to the present.
Silver Jubilee of Ordination
Father Robert Koopmann OSB
Father Robert Koopmann celebrates the 25th anniversary of his ordination. Born in Waterloo, Iowa, on August 13, 1946, he made first vows on September 21, 1971. He was ordained a priest on June 6, 1981. Since 1975 he has been a professor of music at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University. Winner of a number of piano competitions, Father Robert holds D.M.A. and M.M. degrees.
Recent solo performances include concerts in South Africa; Kenya; Tanzania; Phoenix, Arizona; Washington, DC; Madison and LaCrosse, Wisconsin; St. Paul, Minneapolis, Rochester and Duluth, Minnesota; Dayton Beach and Orlando, Florida; and Nassau, The Bahamas. Father Robert is the Director of Music for Saint John's Abbey. He also serves as a Faculty Resident and coordinates a program for Benedictine Volunteers in East Africa.
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