June 19, 2009
Father Christian, St. Meinrad monk, ordained June 7
Benedictine Father Christian Raab, a monk of St. Meinrad Archabbey, was ordained a priest on June 7 by Archbishop Daniel Buechlein of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. The ordination was held in St. Meinrad’s Archabbey Church
Father Christian, 34, is the son of Edward and Sharon Raab of Michigan City, Ind. He earned a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Indiana University in 1997 and a master’s degree in pastoral studies from Loyola University in 2003.
He worked for four years as a high school religion teacher in Chicago before coming to St. Meinrad. While in formation, he was co-editor of The Tradition of Catholic Prayer, published in 2007 by Liturgical Press.
He also worked in the Scholar Shop, Abbey Press and the Office of Group Ac-commodations. He frequently gives tours of the St. Meinrad campus and has had ministry placements at St. John Bosco Youth Group, Norton Hospital and Branch-ville Correctional Facility.
He earned a Master of Divinity degree from St. Meinrad School of Theology in May and serves as the associate director for monastic vocations at St. Meinrad.
Father Christian joined the monastery in 2004. He professed his solemn vows as a Benedictine monk on January 25, 2008.