Abbot Jeremy presents Mount Angel Seminary’s curriculum at the Vatican

In early February, Abbot Jeremy traveled to Rome to participate in a plenary assembly of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Those in attendance included cardinals, archbishops, and bishops from around the world. One of 3 main speakers at the assembly, Abbot Jeremy spoke about the curriculum at Mount Angel Seminary, which is centered on Communion Ecclesiology and emphasizes the liturgical formation of seminarians.

“We have had in place here [at Mount Angel Seminary], for some thirty years in our curriculum, the kind of seminary curriculum that Pope Francis calls for in paragraph 37 of that apostolic letter [Desiderio Desideravi].” —Abbot Jeremy, from an interview on Mater Dei Radio

A new generation of monastic leadership

Abbot Jeremy appointed Fr. Teresio Caldwell, OSB, as prior and Fr. John Paul Le, OSB, as subprior, and this transition to new monastic leadership was complete in June. Abbot Jeremy expressed his gratitude for the many generous years of service of Fr. Vincent Trujillo, OSB, the former prior, and Fr. William Hammelman, OSB, the former subprior. Fr. Vincent serves the Hilltop as guest master, while Fr. William serves as postulant master and in groundskeeping.

Speaking about Fr. Teresio and Fr. John Paul, Abbot Jeremy said, “This is a wonderful generation in which I have a great deal of confidence.”

Growth in propaedeutic seminarian program

In July 2024, the largest group of propaedeutic seminarians since the beginning of the propaedeutic stage three years ago arrived at Mount Angel Seminary. Under the guidance of the Coordinator of the Propaedeutic Stage, Fr. Michael Niemczak of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, there are 24 propaedeutic seminarians from 11 (arch)dioceses.

RENEW Facilities Campaign

Phase II of the RENEW campaign was completed in summer 2024, which included the major project of replacing the entire roof of Anselm Hall. This labor-intensive process involved removing the clay tiles, repairing underlayment damage and installing new felt, and reinstalling the clay tiles, one section at a time.

Anselm Hall is a seminary residence hall that also has offices, classrooms, and a chapel.

Passing of the torch: Mount Angel Seminary

The 2023-24 academic year marked the conclusion of Msgr. Joseph Betschart’s 12 years of service as president-rector of Mount Angel Seminary. The Mount Angel Abbey and Seminary community honored Msgr. Betschart and his generous service through various events in the spring, including the 2024 Commencement Exercises with the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Christophe Cardinal Pierre.

On August 26 at the Mass of the Holy Spirit, Abbot Jeremy installed the Very Reverend Jeff Eirvin, a priest of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, as the 10^th president-rector of Mount Angel Seminary. Ordained in 2012, Fr. Eirvin served as Vocations Director for the Archdiocese of Portland from 2014 to 2022. He also served in leadership positions in the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors (NCDVD), including as president. Fr. Eirvin taught at Mount Angel Seminary as an adjunct professor and served as vice rector from January 2024 until assuming the role of president-rector in the summer.

Growth in oblates of Mount Angel

Thanks to God’s grace, we continued to see more people attracted to the Holy Rule of St. Benedict who desire to live out Benedictine spirituality in the world as oblates of Mount Angel Abbey. Among our oblates, we have two language tracks, English and Spanish, and both tracks have seen growth in 2024:

• Those who became oblate novices (English-speaking): 40
• Those who became oblate novices (Spanish-speaking): 17
• Those who made final oblation (English-speaking): 24
• Those who made final oblation (Spanish-speaking): 16
• Total number of oblates of Mount Angel (English and Spanish): 668

50^th jubilee of monastic profession of
Abbot Jeremy Driscoll, OSB, Br. Claude Lane, OSB, and Fr. Nathan Zodrow, OSB

On December 15, Abbot Jeremy celebrated a Pontifical Mass of Thanksgiving for his, Br. Claude’s, and Fr. Nathan’s 50^th anniversary of monastic profession. The Mass included a renewal of their monastic vows followed by a reception for all who attended.

These three monks have greatly shaped the legacy of Mount Angel Abbey and impacted the larger Church and world:

• Abbot Jeremy: The 12^th abbot of Mount Angel since his election in 2016, Abbot Jeremy has taught theology at Mount Angel Seminary and Sant’Anselmo in Rome for many years. He has been a consultor for the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments at the Vatican under three popes: Pope St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis. Abbot Jeremy has also published several books on theology, liturgy, Evagrius Ponticus, and poetry.
• Br. Claude: At the encouragement of Abbot Bonaventure, Br. Claude began learning iconography in the 1980s and was instrumental in establishing the Mount Angel Abbey Iconography Institute. The Classical Iconography Institute based in Portland, Oregon, has its origins in Mount Angel’s Iconography Institute. Br. Claude’s icons, both on the Hilltop and in several (arch)dioceses and parishes, have led countless souls to a deeper relationship with Christ, Our Lady, and the saints. Br. Claude has also mentored many monks and non-monks in iconography, which has led to a renewal of iconography in the larger Church.
• Fr. Nathan: The 10^th abbot of Mount Angel from 2001 to 2009, Fr. Nathan established the Abbey Foundation of Oregon, the Abbey’s Child Protection Program, and guided a renewal of the physical landscape of the Hilltop with the construction of Annunciation (2006) and the Bell Tower of the Visitation (2007). Fr. Nathan also served in the Seminary and as pastor of St. Agatha Parish and currently serves as the Abbey’s Art Curator.

Encountering Christ: Saint Benedict Guesthouse and Retreat Center

In 2024, many people came to Mount Angel to encounter the Lord more deeply and be spiritually refreshed and renewed.

• Total number of Abbey-sponsored or co-sponsored retreats: 22
• Total number of non-Abbey sponsored or co-sponsored retreats: about 80 groups
• Total number of retreatants for Abbey-sponsored or co-sponsored retreats: about 750
• Total number of retreatants for any retreat: about 2600