Five Saint Meinrad monks celebrate jubilees
Friday, May 26, 2023
Five Benedictine monks at Saint Meinrad Archabbey, St. Meinrad, IN, observed anniversaries of monastic profession in May.
Fr. Ephrem Carr and Fr. Noël Mueller reached their 60th anniversaries of monastic profession, while Fr. Guy Mansini and Br. Jacob Grisley marked their 50th anniversaries of monastic profession and Fr. Joseph Cox celebrated his 25th anniversary.
They were honored during Mass on Sunday, May 28.
Fr. Ephrem, a native of Toledo, OH, professed his monastic vows on August 15, 1963, and was ordained a priest on September 24, 1967. He received a licentiate in Eastern Church studies in 1970 from the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome. In 1978, he received his doctorate in theology from Sant’Anselmo in Rome.
In addition to teaching at Saint Meinrad from 1970-78 and 1981-87, he served as academic dean of the School of Theology for six years. He also served as subprior (third in leadership) of the monastery from 1978-86.
Fr. Ephrem was on the faculty at Pontifical Athenaeum Sant’Anselmo from 1986-2013, where he taught courses in Oriental liturgy, Oriental monasticism and Syriac. From 2008-12, he served as president of the Pontifical Institute of Liturgy in Rome.
After serving on the faculty of Institutum Liturgicum in London, England, he returned to the monastery. Fr. Ephrem is also the author and editor of many books and scholarly articles.
Fr. Noël is a native of Louisville, KY, and he professed his monastic vows on August 15, 1963. He was ordained a priest on September 22, 1968.
From 1969 to 1980, he served at Saint Meinrad’s mission in Huaraz, Peru, teaching English and religion and serving as coordinator of both the Office of Liturgy and the Office of Marriage Encounter in the Diocese of Huaraz, as well as other duties.
He earned a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Louisville in 1985 and taught for 13 years at Saint Meinrad College. He has also served as monastery guest master, and as associate director of continuing education and the associate dean for housing and food services for the School of Theology.
Other assignments have included secretary to the archabbot, seminary formation dean, spiritual director and retreat director.
Fr. Guy, a native of Indianapolis, IN, professed his vows as a Benedictine monk on August 24, 1973. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 1, 1977.
He graduated from Saint Meinrad College in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. He earned a Master of Divinity from Saint Meinrad in 1977, a master’s in philosophy from Marquette University in 1978, a master’s in religious studies from Indiana University in 1976, and a doctorate in theology from Gregorian University in 1984.
Fr. Guy taught for many years at Saint Meinrad College and Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology. Currently, he is the Max Seckler Chair of Theology at Ave Maria University. He also serves as the abbey forester.
Fr. Guy also is the author of Promising and the Good, The Word Has Dwelt Among Us: Explorations in Theology, and Ecclesiology (Sacra Doctrina).
Br. Jacob grew up in Indianapolis, IN. He professed his vows on August 24, 1973. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Saint Meinrad College.
For many years, Br. Jacob has worked in information technology for the Archabbey, doing computer programming, systems analysis and support work. Other assignments have included assistant novice and junior master for the monastery, director of candidates, choirmaster, and secretary to both the Archabbot’s Council and the Monastic Chapter.
In addition to his work in computer services, he is the director of transportation.
Fr. Joseph, a native of Bloomington-Normal, IL, earned a bachelor’s degree in international business from Quincy University and a Master of Divinity from Saint Meinrad School of Theology. He was ordained a priest on May 25, 1991, for the Diocese of Peoria, where he served as assistant pastor and pastor in parishes until 1997.
In 1997, Fr. Joseph joined the monastery at Saint Meinrad and made his first profession of vows on August 6, 1998. He then earned a master’s degree in library science from Indiana University.
He is the subprior (third in leadership) of the monastery, library cataloger in the Archabbey Library, and chaplain for the Benedictine Oblate community. Previously, he served as secretary for the Archabbot’s Council and the Monastic Chapter and as assistant refectorian.
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Photo: From left are Benedictines Fr. Noël Mueller, Fr. Joseph Cox, Br. Jacob Grisley and Fr. Ephrem Carr. Fr. Guy Mansini was absent when the photo was taken.