Br. Maurus Zoeller, OSB

Monk-Senior

Title: Retreat/Tour Director

Current Assignment: Tour director, retreat director and guest master for Saint Meinrad Archabbey

Professed date: August 10, 1952

Education History:Calvert High School,Tiffin,Ohio

Prior Work/Life Experience: Worked at Haefling Printing Co. inTiffin before joining the monastery. My first seven years in the monastery were spent in the bakery. I was asked to work at Abbey Press in 1958, where I was involved in the publishing and product development departments. Since 1990, I've been assigned to the Guest House, first as tour director and then adding the duties of retreat director.

Other Interests: I also enjoy taking people on pilgrimages. Recently, I have taken folks on pilgrimages to the Holy Land, Egypt, Greeceand the Canadian Rockies. I have five more planned right now.

What Attracted Me to Monastic Life: First of all, I believe it was the grace of God and the promptings of the Holy Spirit that urged me to try out the monastic life.

Secondly, it was the good example of my parents, who were daily communicants from the time they retired from the farm to the day they joined the Lord in the heavenly banquet.

And thirdly, I believe the support and prayers of my family, relatives and friends, over these past 60 years, have been very helpful for me to remain faithful to the Lord's calling.

Lastly, I could not find a better way to spend my life than serving others in the religious life. The promise of life everlasting has helped me through those tough times that we all go through in life. But as a religious, God upholds us - as He has promised - if we only hang in there and remain as faithful as we can.