Obituary of Father Germain Swisshelm, OSB
Father Germain Swisshelm, OSB, a monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey, died Saturday, January 24, 2025. He was 91, in the 68th year of his monastic profession and the 65th year of priesthood.
Father Germain was born in Orrville, Ohio, on April 6, 1934, to Paul G. and Ethel (Pinnicks) Swisshelm and was named William Oliver at his baptism.
He earned bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and history at Saint Meinrad in 1956 and pursued graduate studies at Indiana University, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of San Marcos in Lima, Peru. He was invested as a novice on August 14, 1956, professed his simple vows on August 15, 1957, and professed his solemn vows on that day in 1960. He was ordained to the priesthood on September 25, 1960.
Fr. Germain taught at Saint Meinrad’s St. Placid Hall (1960-62) and, in 1962, was a founding member of Saint Meinrad’s mission, Los Pinos, in Huaraz, Peru. He taught at the seminary and high school in Huaraz, served as associate pastor at San Juan de Lurigancho Parish in Lima, and was prior of Los Pinos for four years.
While in Peru, he studied Quechna and founded Estudios Culturales Benedictinos, producing a Quechua-Spanish dictionary and a nine-volume New Testament manuscript in Quechua.
Returning to Saint Meinrad in 1979, he worked in our Carpenter Shop and provided Mass assistance at our Monte Cassino Shrine. He also served as Mass secretary, coordinator of liturgical readings, and custodian of Mass intentions. He was involved in our outreach in Spanish ministry.
Father Germain was by all counts a master carpenter and there is an abundance of evidence of his skill in every building on our Hill. His frames (with your choice of wood) enhanced the beauty of countless photographs and artistic renderings. Many monks and students benefited from the simple but eminently functional lectern he designed and constructed with the explicit wish, as he advertised it, to assist his confreres in staying awake during their morning or afternoon lectio. His lecterns witnessed both his skill as a carpenter and his deep love for the Scriptures and the saints in our tradition.
Father Germain was not much one for small talk. He read constantly, had an excellent memory, and many interests. He enjoyed sitting with a group of confreres, listening carefully but saying little. When one in the group would pose a question, the answer to which would seem to require specialized knowledge and perhaps a reference book, Father Germain would answer thoroughly and clearly.
The Office of the Dead will be prayed at 7 p.m. Central Time on Wednesday, January 28, in the Archabbey Church. The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Central Time on Thursday, January 29, in the Archabbey Church, followed by burial in the Archabbey Cemetery. Services will be livestreamed at www.saintmeinrad.org/live.