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| Photo taken on the occasion of the election of Abbot Lawrence Stasyszen, O.S.B., on January 6, 2006. Seated: Fr. Timothy Malony, OSB, retired abbot Fr. Philip Berning, OSB. First row standing: Br. Damian Whalen, OSB, Br. Andrew Raple, OSB, Fr. Manuel Magallanes, OSB, Fr. Matthew Brown, OSB, Fr. Charles Buckley, OSB, Abbot Lawrence Stasysen, OSB, Fr. Eugene Marshall, OSB, Abbot President Timothy Kelly, OSB, Fr. Joachim Spexarth, OSB, Prior Patrick McCool, OSB. Second row standing: Br. George Hubl, OSB, Fr. Louis Vander Ley, OSB, Fr. Paul Zahler, OSB, Br. Kevin McGruire, OSB, Fr. Basil Keenan, OSB, Fr. Brendan Helbing, OSB, Br. Boniface Copelin, OSB, Br. Isidore Harden, OSB. Back row standing: Fr. Maurus Jaeb, OSB, Fr. Daniel Suellentrop, OSB, Fr. Charles Massoth, OSB, Fr. Nicholas Ast, OSB, Fr. Martin Lugo, OSB, Br. Benet Exton, OSB, Fr. Adrian Vorderlandwher, OSB. Not pictured: Br. Ambrose Sontag, OSB, Br. Dominic Ramirez, OSB. |
Get to know our Community!
A monastery in not really a complex of buildings, but is rather a living community made up of very diverse members. Currently, our community consists of 28 members, most of whom reside at our monastery in Shawnee. Some of our monks reside in parishes in the area, where they devote much of their time and energy to pastoral duties. One of our monks is currently pursing graduate studies.
Our Benedictine life can be described as an ongoing search for God while seeking a balance between prayer and work, community and solitude, silence and dialogue. Our community gathers four times a day for the Liturgy of the Hours, plus daily Eucharist. We structure the rest of our day around this framework of public prayer and liturgy, and include periods for various work activities. Some of the monks work or teach in the university we sponsor, while others devote themselves to pastoral duties, to manual labor, or to work with mentally and physically disabled children and adults. In addition to this, we take our meals in common, and each evening share a period of common "recreation" or relaxation as a community.
Here is a little personal information about our members of our monastic family:
Rt. Rev. Lawrence Stasyszen, OSB
Tenth Abbot of St. Gregory's Abbey
Born in Tecumseh, OK
Professed Vows: July 11, 1985
Ordained: August 6, 1994
Elected and Confirmed: January 6, 2006
Abbot Lawrence resides at the abbey. He is a 1984 graduate of St. Gregory's College, and completed a bachelors degree in English from St. Anselm College in Manchester, NH. He holds a doctorate in sacred theology (STD) from the Pontifical Athenaeum of Sant'Anselmo, the Benedictine university in Rome. His specialization was Monastic Studies, with his doctoral dissertation having concentrated on the writings of John Cassian. He served as the president of St. Gregory's University from May of 2000 to April of 2007. He now serves as Chancellor of St. Gregory's University and as an instructor of theology.
Rev. Adrian Vorderlandwehr, OSB
Seventh Abbot of St. Gregory's Abbey
Born in Kingfisher, OK
Professed Vows: June 24, 1961
Ordained: August 19, 1967
Elected Abbot: March 14, 1979
Retired as Abbot: October 15, 1988
Fr. Adrian currently serves as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in McLoud, OK, which is located about eight miles west of St. Gregory's Abbey. He serves as abbey business manager, as a member of the Board of Directors of St. Gregory's University and as treasurer on the Board of Trustees for the St. Gregory's University Endowment Foundation, putting to use his skills as a CPA and as financial advisor. He has taught various business courses in the past and is an avid fisherman.
Rev. Charles Massoth, OSB
Eighth Abbot of St. Gregory's Abbey
Born in Piqua, KS
Professed Vows: February 25, 1946
Ordained: April 7, 1951
Elected Abbot: January 3, 1989
Retired as Abbot: January 5, 1994
Fr. Charles currently resides at St. Gregory's Abbey. He serves on the Board of Trustees for the St. Gregory's University Endowment Foundation as as Guest Master for the Monastery. He is known for his gentle manner and his beautiful singing voice. Request him to sing "Scarlet Ribbons" someday.
Rev. Martin Lugo, OSB
Ninth Abbot of St. Gregory's Abbey
Novice Master, effective October 2006
Born in Los Angeles, CA
Professed Vows: August 15, 1956
Ordained May 1, 1962
Elected and Confirmed Abbot on February 5, 1997
Resigned as Abbot on January 4, 2006
Former Abbot Martin served as superior of St. Gregory's Abbey for eleven years, first as Prior Administrator and then as Abbot until his resignation on January 4, 2005. Fr. Martin now resides at the monastery. He serves as Director of Oblates and as Novice Master for the community, and assists in a variety of ways including weekend pastoral ministry. Bi-lingual in English and Spanish, he is often requested to assist with Mass in Spanish.
Very Rev. Louis VanderLey, OSB
Prior of the Monastery
Born in Chicago, IL
Professed Vows: July 11, 1960
Ordained: May 29, 1966
Fr. Louis resides at the monastery. He serves as Campus Chaplain for St. Gregory's University and travels to St. John the Baptist Parish in Edmond, OK, each week where he assists in the ministry outreach of the parish. He is especially involved in hospital ministry. Prior Louis holds a degree in economics and has taught at both St. Gregory's and at Bishop McGuinness High School in Oklahoma City. He is an avid sports fan, and is a never-flinching fan of the Cubs. On occasion (always too seldom for him) he enjoys playing a round of golf.
Rev. Joachim Spexarth, OSB
Subprior of the Monastery
Born in Colwich, KS
Professed Vows: July 11, 1960
Ordained: May 23, 1965
As Subprior Fr. Joachim looks after the "environment" and maintenance of the monastery. He also sits on the Senior Council of the Monastery. Fr. Joachim coordinates and participates in our community's weekend assistance to parishes throughout Oklahoma, and teaches communications in the St. Gregory's University. Along with these duties, Fr. Joachim finds time for ornamental gardening on the monastery grounds, trash pick-up on the roads surrounding the monastery, and other forms of outdoor exercise.
Rev. Charles Buckley, OSB
Abbey Vocation Director
Born in El Dorado, AR
Professed Vows: August 15, 1966
Ordained: June 20, 1970
As Vocation Director, Fr. Charles assists those who are discerning whether or not God is calling them to live the monastic life in our community, as well as speaking to various groups on the nature of discernment and the monastic life. This includes supervision of our community's monastic Observation Program for University Students (OPUS). Fr. Charles sits on the Abbey Senior Council and usually serves as cantor during the Sunday Eucharist. He works in the university as a full-time professor of mathematics and as an advisor to the to the SGU Buckley Retreat Team, which was named for his parents. He also serves as a member of the SGU Board of Directors. He enjoys plants, puzzles and plays the guitar very well.
Picture of Father Charles Buckley
Rev. Matthew Brown, OSB
Born in Fletcher, OK
Professed Vows: July 11, 1943
Ordained: March 19, 1949
Fr. Matthew is currently pastor of Sacred Heart Parish near Konawa, OK, and provides pastoral care to St. Mary's Parish in Wanette, OK, and St. Joseph Church in Wewoka, OK. He resides at Sacred Heart Parish, which is located about 35 miles south of St. Gregory's. He is a member of the University Board of Directors. Fr. Matthew has a sister who is a Benedictine of St. Joseph Monastery in Tulsa - her name is Sr. Eugenia.
Rev. Eugene Marshall, OSB
Born in Harrah, OK
Professed Vows: July 11, 1944
Ordained: February 25, 1950
Fr. Eugene currently keeps very active with several assignments and hobbies. In residence at the monastery, Fr. Eugene keeps bees, grafts pecan trees, maintains the abbey vegetable garden in the summer and makes notepads out of scrap paper that he collects around campus. He also serves part-time in the Abbey Office and provides weekend assistance as needed at parishes in the area. Fr. Eugene served for many years as Novice Master for the abbey and as head librarian in the college.
Rev. Timothy Maloney, OSB
Born in Tulsa, OK
Professed Vows: July 11, 1944
Ordained: February 25, 1950
Fr. Timothy served in parish ministry in both Oklahoma and California for much of his monastic life. He has now returned to the monastery, where most recently served as Oblate Director for our community. Although he has had to entrust that ministry to others due to limited mobility, he maintains an active interest in the oblates of our community. Fr. Timothy enjoys making good use of information age technology to keep in touch with friends, former parishioners and oblates.
Rev. Daniel Suellentrop, OSB
Born in Colwich, KS
Professed Vows: February 25, 1946
Ordained: April 7, 1951
Fr. Dan resides at the monastery after many years of successful service in parish ministry and as a chaplain in the U.S. Army. He served in many leadership positions in the educational mission of St. Gregory's Abbey. He is greatly admired by generations of alumni of St. Gregory's High School and College for the care that he had for students under his charge, particularly in his role as a coach for various sports programs at St. Gregory's. He remains a great sports fan, but is even more devoted to the alumni who were once under his care.
Br. Andrew Raple, OSB
Born in Andale, KS
Professed Vows: July 2, 1951
"Br. Andy" has been one of the most familiar faces to generations of students at St. Gregory's as he served in the abbey food service for over 45 years - helping to prepare and managing meals for both the monastery and the student body. He is an expert baker, noted for his breads and cakes. He also is incredibly talented in the greenhouse, where he raises orchids, long-stem roses, lilies for Easter and poinsettias for Christmas. He is also a craftsman of wood - making many special designs for clocks, wall-hangings, crucifixes and various other items. Finally, he keeps busy with a small menagerie of animals - including geese, turkeys, fish and a canine companion.
Rev. Paul Zahler, OSB
Born in St. Michael, MN
Professed Vows: August 15, 1956
Ordained: May 1, 1962
Fr. Paul's name is most closely associated with his tireless work for persons with handicapping conditions, especially children and adults with developmental delays or mental retardation. He has dedicated over 40 years to his work, and has founded the National Institute on Total Development, working closely with international experts in this field. Fr. Paul also teaches in the university's psychology program. He is also one of the greatest sports fans in the monastic community.
Rev. Patrick McCool, OSB
Born in Kansas City, MO
Professed Vows: July 11, 1957
Ordained: May 25, 1963
In residence at the monastery, Fr. Patrick serves as a full-time chaplain at Tinker Air Force Base in nearby Midwest City. Fr. Patrick is a member of the University Board of Directors and is the sponsor for the university council of the Knights of Columbus. He served for many years as prior of the community and as head librarian at St. Gregory's College and University.
Br. Kevin McGuire, OSB
Born in Oklahoma City, OK
Professed Vows: July 11, 1958
Br. Kevin loves the outdoors and has worked tirelessly to beautify the grounds of St. Gregory's Abbey and St. Gregory's University by planting hundreds of trees and building a campus irrigation system. He also loves being creative in the auto-shop, the machine shop or in the maintenance of the grounds of the abbey and university. He is noted for his many inventions - especially for the motorcycle he built and aptly named "Recycled Grace."
Rev. Maurus Jaeb, OSB
Born in St. Michael, MN
Professed Vows: July 11, 1958
Ordained: May 27, 1995
Fr. Maurus is currently pastor at St. Benedict Parish in Shawnee, OK, where he makes his residence. In the past he has served as manager for the St. Gregory's Bookstore and in the Business Office at St. Gregory's. He also began the Student Alumni Association on campus. He currently serves as a monastic representative to the Board of Directors for the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art.
Rev. Brendan Helbing, OSB
Born in Tulsa, OK
Professed Vows: July 11, 1959
Ordained: May 23, 1965
Fr. Brendan has served for many years in parish pastoral ministry. Currently he is assisting with the care of his mother in Kansas City while continuing in pastoral ministry at parishes in the urban area, particularly with Spanish-speaking populations.
Rev. Basil Keenan, OSB
Born in Oklahoma City, OK
Professed Vows: June 24, 1961
Ordained: May 27, 1967
Fr. Basil is currently residing in Seminole, OK, where he is pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish. For many years Fr. Basil was an instructor of chemistry at St. Gregory's. He is deeply committed to providing comprehensive pastoral care to the Spanish-speaking population of central Oklahoma.
Br. Joseph Niichel, OSB
Born in Aston, IA
Professed Vows: June 24, 1962
Br. Joe is currently living in retirement at the abbey. For many years he
was a familiar face at St. Gregory's basketball games, where he has taken tickets and greeted fans.
He devoted much of his life to service in the monastery farm and cattle
operation.
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Br. David Downey, OSB
Born in Dodge City, KS
Professed Vows: July 11, 1963
Transferred to St. Gregory's Abbey: September 3, 2006
Entered Eternal Life: January 9, 2008
Rev. Manuel Magallanes, OSB
Born in Los Angeles, CA
Professed Vows: June 24, 1964
Ordained: June 25, 1976
Fr. Manuel lives at the abbey, having completed master's degree in Pastoral Ministry at Loyola in Los Angeles. While enjoying life with the community, Fr. Manuel serves as an Associate Chaplain in the Office of Campus Ministries at St. Gregory's University. In this role, he provides a ministry of presence, assists with the celebration of the sacraments, and reaches out in a particular way to our university athletic programs. He has also recently assumed some duties as an assistant chaplain at Tinker Air Force Base. In his spare time, Fr. Manuel seeks to assist local Spanish speaking persons and newly arrived immigrants.
Br. Damian Whalen, OSB
Born in Yreka, CA
Professed Vows: August 20, 1976
Br. Damian resides at the abbey, where he serves in the community as Choir Master and organist, as well as the abbey Food Service Liaison. He holds a Masters Degree in Choral Conducting and is currently working toward a doctoral degree in Organizational Change Management from Capella University. He also serves as Director of Assessment and as a full-time member of the faculty at St. Gregory's University. He teaches a variety of courses in the university's traditional programs as well as in the SGU College for Working Adults. Br. Damian is talented at several hand-crafts, enjoys bird watching, and has a passion for cooking. The community often benefits from his skill in the monastery kitchen, especially on special holidays.
Br. Dominic Ramirez, OSB
Born in Oklahoma City, OK
Professed Vows: August 20, 1979
Br. Dominic holds a degree in Pastoral Ministry from Newman University in Wichita, KS. He spent fourteen years in parish ministry, first at St. Benedict Parish in Montebello, CA, and then at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Chickasha, OK. He now resides at the abbey where he currently works as an assistant in the monastery office and as a host at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art.
Br. Isidore Harden, OSB
Born in Flushing, NY
Professed Vows: August 20, 1981
Br. Isidore resides at the abbey and pursues a variety of interests. His primary
responsibility as that of Abbey Health Coordinator. In this role he
manages the Abbey Health Care staff, oversees medical appointments for the
monastic community, and coordinates the assistance that members of the community
receive from various local health agencies. In addition to this,
he ministers to persons with physical and mental disabilities. As a
certified Red Cross instructor, he teaches life-safety and rescue courses for
the Red Cross and other organizations in the area. In the past he has
worked closely with Fr. Paul's Institute for Total Integration, is a director for therapeutic horseback riding, and
has served as a home-care provider for clients in the Shawnee area. Br.
Isidore has bachelor's degree in architecture and a master's degree in computer
science. He also has a passion for collecting and playing Native American flutes
and is the member of several flute circles in the area.
Br. Benet Exton, OSB
Born in Cushing, OK
Professed Vows: July 11, 1986
Br. Benet resides at the abbey, where he serves as sacristan and as archivist for St. Gregory's Abbey. Br. Benet is a 1984 graduate of St. Gregory's College and holds a master's degree in library science from the University of Oklahoma. He serves on the library staff at St. Gregory's University. He regularly reviews books for a number of on-line services and print publications - including for a regular column ("Brother's Books") in The Sooner Catholic, a newspaper published by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.
Picture of Brother Benet
Rev. Nicholas Ast, OSB
Born in Colwich, KS
Professed Vows: July 11, 1990
Ordained: June 22, 2001
Fr. Nicholas resides at the monastery where he serves on the monastery Senior Council and as a member of the "Vocation Team" for the community. Fr. Nicholas holds a master's degree in history from Wichita State University, and teaches a variety subjects in history at St. Gregory's University. On most weekends, Fr. Nicholas travels to various parts of Oklahoma to assist in parishes and to make appeals for scholarship funds for students at St. Gregory's. When he has a chance, he spends a great deal of time during the summer caring for flower gardens on the abbey grounds, particularly in front of the Abbey Church.
Br. George Hubl, OSB
Born in Oklahoma City, OK
Professed Vows: August 6, 1999
Br. George attended St. Gregory's College and became a postulant for St. Gregory's Abbey in January 1998. He currently serves as Photographer and Web-Master for St. Gregory's University. In the monastery, Br. George continues his education at St. Gregory's University. He also keeps our community room snack bar stocked with fresh supplies. He has many hobbies, including gardening and computers, and is an avid football fan.
Br. Boniface Copelin, O.S.B.
Born in Marietta, Georgia
Professed Vows: September 14, 2001
Br. Boniface spent most of his childhood in Oklahoma City and attended St. Gregory's College. He completed a degree in philosophy at St. Anselm College in Manchester, NH, and a master’s of science at The Ohio State University. He has also studied at Loyola University of Chicago. Br. Boniface has served in various capacities, including as an instructor in the life sciences labs, through his beautiful work in the abbey carpenter's shop, and as a cantor in the abbey liturgy. He is currently pursuing graduate studies in theology at the Pontifical Athenaeum of St. Anselm, the Benedictine university in Rome.
