Eleven Monks Celebrate Anniversaries
of Priestly Ordination in 2008
Release Date: June 1, 2008
COLLEGEVILLE, MINN. — In 2008 eleven monks of Saint John's Abbey mark significant anniversaries of their ordination to the priesthood.
The monastery will formally acknowledge their jubilees at Mass during the Abbey's annual retreat on Thursday, June 5, 2008, 7:45 a.m.
50 Years Ordained
Father Thomas Thole OSB
Born: 11 June 1932; professed: 11 July 1952; ordained: 7 June 1958.
Father Thomas studied at the Catholic University of America and Columbia University before his role as assistant professor of sociology from 1969 to 1999. He became much loved during the 15 years he served as advisor to foreign students. In 1994 he was an early
advocate of the World Wide Web. He founded and maintains several lists and bulletin boards.
Father Mathias Spier OSB
Born: 5 August 1931; professed: 11 July 1952; ordained: 7 June 1958.
Father Mathias spent most of his monastic life engaged in pastoral service before his return to the abbey in 2005. Some of his longer-term assignments include Seven Dolors Parish, Albany;
St. Boniface Parish, Minneapolis; St. Bernard's Parish, St. Paul; Holy Name of Jesus, Medina; and Sts. Peter and Paul, Richmond.
Father Julian Schmiesing OSB
Born: 25 September 1931; professed: 11 July 1952; ordained: 7 June 1958.
Father Julian began his apostolic life teaching German and Spanish and serving as a prefect in the Preparatory School.
He founded the still-running exchange program with Melk Abbey School in 1966. From 1969 to 1976 he was either principal or prior at San Antonio Abad, Humacao, Puerto Rico. At home he
served as director of vocations, subprior, prior, and part-time chaplain at St. Benedict's Monastery. In 1990 he began a second career in pastoral work leading to his present
position as pastor at St. Martin and Farming, Minnesota.
Father Meinrad Dindorf OSB
Born: 1 January 1932; professed: 11 July 1952; ordained: 7 June 1958.
Father Meinrad has consistently combined scholarship with pastoral service. He earned advanced degrees at Georgetown University, Union Theological Seminary,
and St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary. Even as a student he served as associate pastor at Corpus Christ Parish in New York City. He returned to Saint John's
in 1970 as acting manager of Worship magazine, teacher of theology, and theological bibliographer until 1978. At that time he was named
pastor at Jacobs Prairie. Subsequent assignments included service at St. Mary's Mission, Red Lake; St. John's, Nebish;
and St. Mark's, Shakopee. From 1987 to 1989 he served as director of Indian Ministry for the archdiocese. Certified as a clinical pastor, Father Meinrad has served as
a chaplain since 1989. In 2004 he was named vicar of parishes and chaplaincies.
Father Thomas Wahl OSB
Born: 23 November 1931; professed: 11 July 1952; ordained: 7 June 1958.
Father Thomas was and is a student of the Bible. He earned academic degrees in Scripture and Old Testament at Catholic University of America, the Pontifical Biblical Institute, and Union Theological Seminary.
He advanced from instructor to associate professor in the School of Theology from 1967 to 1990. He founded the Jerusalem Studies Program in 1974. In 1990 he began a second career as
a missionary in Japan, both at Tokyo and Fujimi. He has worked for Liturgical Press writing and editing since 1961.
Father Gordon Tavis OSB
Born: 28 August 1925; professed: 11 July 1956; ordained: 7 June 1958.
Father Gordon earned a masters in management from Massachusetts Institute of Technology after ten years as a successful administrator. In 1962 he was named assistant business manager. Subsequently he served
as bursar, director of financial aid, physical plant manager, head of business data processing, and director of planning for the abbey. Returning from MIT, he
became vice-president of administrative services and manager of auxiliary enterprises in 1972. From 1975 to 1980 he served as monastic prior. From 1980 until 1996 he
served as treasurer and liaison for buildings and grounds. At the hardy age of 73 he accepted nomination as president of Saint
John's Preparatory School for eight years. In 2002, the Prep School gave Father Gordon its prestigious Armor of Light Award.
Father Raymond Pedrizetti OSB
Born: 30 August 1930; professed: 11 July 1954; ordained: 7 June 1958.
Father Raymond earned a degree in classics from Catholic University of America in 1961 that led to his becoming associate professor of philosophy and classics until his
retirement from teaching in 2000. For 20 years he was a faculty resident in the university. In the turbulent 60's he served
as the abbey's master of clerics. In 2001 he agreed to serve as the new abbot's prior until 2007. Father Raymond spends his
well-earned retirement reading and writing.
Ordained for 25 Years
Father Martin Rath OSB
Born: 9 June 1922; professed: 21 March 1950; ordained: 4 June 1983.
From 1950 until 1979, Father Martin lived the life of a non-ordained brother. His assignments were varied including work in the
print shop, the garden, the refectory, the bookstore, and the US Post Office. He was sacristan from 1967 to 1969. He qualified as
Postmaster and served in the Collegeville office as such from 1971 to 1979. Realizing a call to the priesthood, he completed philosophical
study at Saint John's in 1979. He was ordained in 1983 after completing theological studies at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Wisconsin and a CPE course at Willmar State Hospital.
From 1983 until his return to the abbey in 2007, Father Martin combined his interest in small basic Christian communities with
service as pastor and chaplain in St. Paul, New Hope, Ogema, Waubun, Freeport, and Winsted.
Father Dominic Ruiz OSB
Born: 24 May 1944; professed: 11 July 1965; ordained: 4 June 1983.
Before discerning a call to priesthood, Father Dominic, served in a variety of positions that included work in the registrar's office and teaching Spanish at Benilde-St. Margaret High School.
Having earned a master of divinity in 1983 from Saint John's University, his first assignment after ordination was as associate pastor in St. Augustine's Parish, St. Cloud.
His first pastorate was St. Francis Xavier, Lake Park, twinned with St. Andrew, Hawley. He then taught high school Spanish at the prep school and Shanley High School in Fargo. He served as pastor
of Sts. Peter and Paul, Richmond, from 1992 to 2003. His present work as chaplain at St. Scholastica Convent, St. Cloud, began in 2005.
Father Nathanael Hauser OSB
Born: 5 May 1952; professed: 29 June 1977; ordained: 16 October 1983.
Father Nathanael, a native of California and a monk of Oceanside Priory until 1988, studied at Institute Catholique, Paris; Centro de Mosaici, Ravenna; San Anselmo, Rome; and San Diego State University. In 2003 he earned a doctorate
in ancient art and archeology from the University of Minnesota. He both creates and teaches art, especially calligraphy. He has been intimately involved
with the St. John's Bible Project. The Abbey Banner (winter 2006) featured his colorful and imaginative creche figures.
Father Luke Mancuso OSB
Born: 17 November 1956; professed: 15 August 1979; ordained: 11 June 1983.
Father Luke began his monastic life wearing a white Benedictine habit as a member of the Olivetan Congregation. He exchanged it for a black one at Saint John's in 1986. He started teaching English and
Freshman Symposium at Saint John's University in 1987. After earning a doctorate in English from the University of Iowa, Father Luke was named assistant professor in 1994.
The university accepted him for tenure and promoted him to associate professor in 2001. He served four years as faculty resident. In May 2000 the university gave Father Luke the Robert
L. Spaeth Teacher of Distinction Award.
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