May 7, 2010
Father Kurt Stasiak named prior
Benedictine Father Kurt Stasiak has been appointed as prior (second in leadership) at St. Meinrad Archabbey, effective July 9. He succeeds Benedictine Father Tobias Colgan, who has held the position since 1997.
Father Kurt is the director of spiritual formation for St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, a work of St. Meinrad Archabbey. He has been a Benedictine monk of St. Meinrad since 1974.
He attended St. Meinrad College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology. He earned a Master of Divinity from St. Meinrad School of Theology and was ordained to the priesthood in 1980. He then attended the Pontifical Anthenaeum of Sant’ Anselmo in Rome, where he earned advanced degrees in sacramental theology.
Father Kurt has been a member of the Seminary and School of Theology faculty since 1986. He will continue in his capacity as a professor of sacramental/liturgical theology.
Other assignments have included provost-vice rector of the School of Theology, vocation director for St. Meinrad Archabbey, chair of the Archabbey Church Renovation Com-mittee and assistant novice-junior master for the Archabbey.
Father Kurt is the author of several books, including “A Confessor’s Handbook” (Paulist Press, 2011, revised and expanded; and 1999); “Sacramental Theology: Means of Grace, Ways of Life” (Loyola, 2002); and “Return to Grace: A Theology for Infant Baptism” (Liturgical Press-A Pueblo Book, 1996). He has written numerous articles and book reviews for a variety of publications.
In August, Father Tobias will join the staff of the Seminary and School of Theology as director of the Together in One Place celibacy formation program. He will also work in the school’s English as a Second Language program and oversee the Spanish liturgy practicum.
A monk of St. Meinrad Archabbey since 1970, Father Tobias was ordained to the priesthood in 1982. He served as organist, assistant choirmaster and, later, as choirmaster for the monastic community. From 1977-93, he taught French and Spanish at St. Meinrad College.
He has written numerous musical compositions for use at the Archabbey and in Benedic-tine communities around the country, many of which have been published by Oregon Catholic Press and The Litur-gical Press.