Saint Meinrad monks celebrate
jubilees of profession

The Criterion staff report

The Benedictine monks of Saint Mein-rad Archabbey in St. Meinrad recently celebrated the 60-year profession jubilee of Father Camillus Ellspermann; the 50-year jubilees of Archabbot Lambert Reilly, Father Meinrad Brune, Father Alan McIntosh, Father Timothy Sweeney and Brother Andrew Zimmermann; and the 25-year jubilees of Father Guerric DeBona and Father Louis Mulcahy.

Father Camillus was born on Dec. 18, 1925, in Evansville, Ind. He made his profession of vows on Sept. 15, 1946, and was ordained on May 13, 1950. He earned a licentiate in sacred theology and a master’s degree at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

For 15 years, Father Camillus served as assistant professor of sociology at the former Saint Meinrad College. From 1961-65, he was assistant spiritual director at the former Saint Meinrad High School. He also served two years as novice master for the brothers.

From 1968-71, he served as the spiritual coordinator for Saint Meinrad School of Theology. He also was the director of the deacon internship program from 1968-75.

Father Camillus served as associate pastor of St. Benedict Parish in Evansville for a year then was named pastor in 1976 and served there for 14 years. In 1991, he was named pastor of St. Henry Parish in St. Henry, Ind. From 2001-05, he served at two parishes in Wyoming, after which he retired to the monastery.

Archabbot Lambert was born on April 18, 1933, in Pittsburgh. He made his profession of vows on Aug. 15, 1956, and was ordained on Sept. 20, 1959. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., then completed his theological training at Saint Meinrad School of Theology. He also earned a Master of Science degree at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

Archabbot Lambert taught Latin at the seminary at Saint Meinrad following his ordination. He also taught at Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pa., and Mount Sacred Heart College in Connecticut.

He later held a number of positions at the monastery and served as assistant pastor of St. Mary Parish in Huntingburg, Ind. He was also engaged in retreat work and parish missions for more than 30 years, and was a frequent retreat master for Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in the U.S. and India.

Elected archabbot of the monastic community in 1995, he served until his resignation in 2004. Since then, he has resumed his retreat work across the U.S. and in several foreign countries, and does parish work in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

Father Meinrad was born on April 14, 1934, in Indianapolis. He made his profession of vows on Aug. 15, 1956, and was ordained on May 7, 1961. He earned a Master of Arts degree at Butler University in Indianapolis and a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree at The Catholic University of America. He completed his theological training at Saint Meinrad School of Theology.

Following ordination, Father Meinrad taught at the former Saint Meinrad High School and former Saint Meinrad College for 16 years. For the next seven years, he served as pastor of St. Meinrad Parish in St. Meinrad and St. Mary Parish in Huntingburg.

In 1984, he began ministering at Saint Meinrad’s Development Office as an associate director then served as alumni director for nine years. He was appointed to his current position as director of the Benedictine Oblate Program in 1995.

Father Alan was born on Jan. 26, 1934, in Evansville. He made his profession of vows on Aug. 15, 1956, and was ordained on May 7, 1961. He completed his theological training at the former Saint Meinrad College and Saint Meinrad School of Theology.

He spent most of his years of ministry serving local parishes. From 1964-70, he was assistant pastor of St. Mary Parish in Huntingburg. For the next year, he was assistant pastor of St. Anthony Parish in St. Anthony, Ind., while serving as chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital in Huntingburg.

Father Alan then served as pastor of St. Boniface Parish in Fulda for 11 years. Since 1984, he has served at five parishes in the Diocese of Owensboro, Ky., as well as two parishes in Illinois and three southern Indiana parishes. Currently, Father Alan is assisting the Diocese of Evansville with its clergy needs.

Father Timothy was born on July 24, 1935, in Indianapolis. He made his profession of vows on Aug. 15, 1956, and was ordained on May 7, 1961. He earned a licentiate in sacred theology at the Pontifical International Institute of St. Anselm in Rome and a licentiate in philosophy at the Institute Catholique in Paris.

He taught at the former Saint Meinrad College for 10 years. From 1975-78, he was prior and second in leadership of the archabbey. On June 2, 1978, he was elected archabbot of Saint Meinrad and served in that role for 17 years.

Father Timothy served as administrator of two parishes following his resignation as archabbot. From 1996-2005, he served as pastor of Parish of the Immaculate in Owensboro, Ky. In January 2006, he was appointed pastor of St. Paul Parish in Tell City.

Brother Andrew was born on Dec. 23, 1934, in Richmond, Va. He made his profession of vows on March 11, 1956.

He worked in the monastery tailor shop until he was sent to assist at Saint Mein-rad’s former priory in Peru in November 1963. Seventeen years later, Brother Andrew returned to Saint Meinrad to work in the business office and mailroom/duplicating office.

From 1992-96, Brother Andrew worked in the monastery’s vestry and transportation offices then served in Guatemala at Marmion Abbey’s foundation from 1996-2004. He now works at the Guadalupe Center in Huntingburg.

Father Guerric was born on Jan. 30, 1955, in Jamaica, N.Y. He made his profession of vows on Aug. 15, 1981, and was ordained on May 4, 1986. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at the State University of New York in Stony Brook, N.Y., a Master of Divinity degree at Saint Meinrad School of Theology and a Doctorate in Philosophy at Indiana University in Bloomington.

From 1985-89, he served as the vocation director for the monastery. After receiving his doctorate in 1996, Father Guerric returned to Saint Meinrad as a professor of English and homiletics at Saint Meinrad School of Theology. He also serves as associate dean of formation for the School of Theology.

Father Louis was born on Jan. 26, 1928, in Lynn, Mass. He made his profession of vows on Sept. 8, 1981, and was ordained on May 20, 1989. He earned a Master of Divinity degree at Saint Meinrad School of Theology.

Following ordination, Father Louis was appointed coordinator of research at Abbey Press for six years. Since 1990, he has served as custodian of Monte Cassino Shrine as well as commuting chaplain at Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, Ind., and monastery guest master at the archabbey.

Father Louis also gives directed retreats and serves as spiritual director for a number of visitors to Saint Meinrad. †