The monks of Saint John’s Abbey in Collegeville have announced the election of Benedictine Father Douglas Mullin to serve as abbot. He replaces Benedictine Abbot John Klassen, the 10th abbot of Saint John’s, who has served the community in that capacity for more than 23 years.
According to the abbey website, it is the abbot’s responsibility to preside at all formal functions and liturgies of the monastery; take counsel from his senior monks when making major decisions; preside at all meetings when the monastic community assembles; and serve as the spiritual father of the community.
After months of discernment, the members of the monastic community gathered Jan. 8 to begin the process of electing a successor for Abbot John. Abbot Douglas was elected on the first vote Jan. 9.
As soon as he was elected, the bells of the Abbey Church rang, signaling everyone on campus to make their way there, even the students at Saint John’s Preparatory School were included.
“It was so hectic, there was a flood of people in the hallways,” said Isaac Miller, a tenth-grader at Prep. “It’s such a historic moment.”
Once everyone was gathered, Abbot Douglas received a blessing from Benedictine Father Jonathan Licari, who serves as abbot president of the American Cassinese Congregation of Benedictine Monasteries. He was then able to speak to the assembly.
“I want to offer my sincere gratitude to everyone here and around the world, who have surrounded our monastic community with prayers for the Holy Spirit to be with us to lead us to call forth one to serve as your abbot,” Abbot Douglas said in his address during the Thanksgiving service announcing his election.
“I’m deeply humbled and grateful that among all the bright, talented and faith-filled members of our community, my brother monks have chosen to call me to serve as your abbot.”
Abbot Douglas, who made his solemn profession as a monk of Saint John’s Abbey in 1992 and was ordained a priest in 2007, has most recently served as a chaplain at the St. Cloud VA Medical Center.
“I also need to acknowledge my feelings of grief and loss as I face saying good-bye to the amazing heroes that I’ve been serving and working with at the St. Cloud VA who’ve made their home in my heart,” Abbot Douglas said in his address.
Immediately after the Thanksgiving service, Abbot Douglas took time to visit the Abbey retirement center to meet with his brother monks that were not able to participate in the voting process in person.
Abbot Douglas has a bachelor of arts in elementary education, master of arts in religious education and school administration, a master of divinity, and a doctor of education in educational leadership.
He has taught and served as a principal at the elementary and high school levels. He also taught and served as department chair in the CSB/SJU Education Department and served as the SJU vice president of student development.
“It’s been emotional for me to see his appointment,” said Tonya Miller Hougen, executive assistant to the president at the College of St. Benedict and Saint John’s University. “I was his assistant when he worked as the vice president for student development. I’m very happy for him.”
The blessing of Abbot Douglas by Bishop Patrick Neary, C.S.C. of the Diocese of St. Cloud will take place on Sunday, Jan. 28 at 4 p.m. in the Abbey Church.
Staff writer Amber Walling contributed to this article.
I am so grateful this morning that Abbot Doug Mullin is the 11th abbot of St. John’s Abbey. In 1992 I went to St. John’s to get my degree in liturgy there and had some good visits with Abbot Mullin. I was there for 7 summers and I loved coming to St. John’s each summer. This morning I found out that Abbott Klassen was the abbot for 23 years. I will send you $10 to let you know that my time at St. John’s was an awesome gift, and I pray the you, Abott Mullin, will have many blessings in your new appointment. God bless you!