Abbot Douglas Mullin, OSB Elected Eleventh Abbot of Saint John's Abbey
Abbot Douglas succeeds Abbot John Klassen, OSB, who, completed his tenure of over twenty-three years at midnight on January 7 as he was approaching his 75th birthday.
Upon receiving the required number of votes on Tuesday, January 9, and assenting to the will of the monastic community, Abbot Douglas immediately assumed the office of Abbot of Saint John’s Abbey. The election was overseen by Abbot Augustine J. Curley, OSB of Newark Abbey in New Jersey.
Abbot Douglas was born on September 30, 1954, took vows as a monk on July 11, 1979, and was ordained to the priesthood on August 4, 2007. He has a bachelor of arts in elementary education, a master of arts in religious education and school administration, a master of divinity, and a doctorate of education in educational leadership.
Abbot Douglas has served the community and the Church in several ministries since his profession: he worked at Saint John’s Preparatory School as Dean of Students. In higher education, Abbot Douglas taught and served as department chair in the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University Education Department and served as Vice President of Student Development at Saint John’s University. He also served as the subprior of Saint John’s Abbey. He was certified for hospital ministry and has served as chaplain at the Saint Cloud Veteran’s Medical Center until his election as abbot this week.
In his capacity as abbot of a community of ninety-eight Benedictine monks, Abbot Douglas assumes duties as abbot of a monastic community that sponsors Saint John’s University, Saint John's Preparatory School, and Liturgical Press, and serves in various parishes and chaplaincies in central Minnesota.
Looking ahead, a public Mass of Blessing and Thanksgiving will be offered at Saint John’s Abbey on Sunday, January 28th, at 4 PM in the Abbey and University Church of Saint John the Baptist in Collegeville, MN. Bishop Patrick Neary, C.S.C., Bishop of the Diocese of Saint Cloud, Minnesota, will preside. Bishop Neary will confer on the new abbot the abbatial blessing, affirming the support of the Church.
The abbatial blessing contains an exquisite phrase that asks God’s grace upon the newly elected abbot: “Give him a heart full of compassion, wisdom, and zeal, so that he may not lose even one of the flock entrusted to his charge.” Abbot Douglas will no doubt bring such a loving heart to his new responsibilities as he continues in the long heritage of faith and holiness that has marked the life of the monastery of Saint John’s Abbey.
Please remember Abbot Douglas in your prayers that his abbacy will prove a blessing not only upon the wider Saint John’s community but upon the Church as a whole.