June 11, 2010
Two celebrate priesthood jubilees at St. Meinrad
The Benedictine monks at St. Meinrad Archabbey celebrated the 50-year priesthood jubilee of Father Germain Swisshelm and the 25-year priesthood ju-bilee of Father Louis Hacker on May 30.
Father Germain, a native of Orrville, Ohio, made his profession of vows Aug. 15, 1957, and was ordained Sept. 25, 1960. He has BA degrees in philosophy and history from St. Meinrad Seminary. He also did graduate studies at Indiana University, Oklahoma Univers-ity and San Carcos University, Lima, Peru.
From 1960-62, Father Germain taught at St. Meinrad’s St. Placid Hall. In 1962, he was a founding member of St. Meinrad’s mission, Los Pinos, in Huaraz, Peru. He taught in the seminary and high school in Huaraz and was an associate pastor at San Juan de Lurigancho parish in Lima. Father Germain served for four years as prior of Los Pinos.
Since 1979, Father Germain has been working in the carpenter shop and is custodian of Mass intentions for the Archabbey.
Father Louis is a native of Caldwell, Idaho. He transferred from Corpus Christi Abbey to Saint Meinrad in 2008.
He made his profession of vows in 1977, and was ordained Dec. 28, 1985. Father Louis attended St. Joseph Seminary College in Louisiana and St. John’s School of Theology, Minn.
At Corpus Christi, he served as a contract chaplain in the Navy, monastery guest master, librarian, editor of the monastery newsletter and cook. He also provided pastoral assistance.
In 1997, Father Louis was elected abbot of Corpus Christi Abbey; he resigned in 2002 after the closing of the monastery.
Since joining the St. Meinrad community, Father Louis has been assisting in the Liturgical Music Office and is editor of the monastery’s weekly bulletin.