LATROBE, PA – On Friday, July 10, Most Rev. Edward C. Malesic, Bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg, presided at the Mass for Blessing of the Twelfth Archabbot of Saint Vincent Archabbey, Archabbot Martin de Porres Bartel, O.S.B., at the Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica.

A monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey for 40 years, Archabbot Martin previously served as the 14^th president of Saint Vincent College from 1995-2000. Most recently, he served as administrator of the MACH1 (Monaca, Aliquippa, Center, Hopewell) Parish Grouping in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Previously, he has served in the Diocese of Greensburg as pastor of Saint Martin Parish, New Derry (2001-08), while from 2008-13, he was pastor of Saint Bruno Parish, South Greensburg, and administrator of Saint Benedict Parish, Marguerite.

With his appointment of archabbot, he will also serve as chancellor of Saint Vincent College and Saint Vincent Seminary.

The archabbot is the spiritual head and Father of Saint Vincent Archabbey, the first Benedictine monastery in the U.S. The Saint Vincent monastic community is comprised of more than 150 monks, who are priests or brothers. They serve at Benedictine Priory in Savannah, Georgia; Wimmer Priory in Taipei, Taiwan; and São Bento Priory in Vinhedo, Brazil. Saint Vincent Benedictines also operate Benedictine Military School in Savannah and the Roman Catholic campus ministry program at Penn State University, while they serve in parishes in Georgia, Virginia and Maryland as well as the Pennsylvania dioceses of Greensburg, Altoona-Johnstown, Pittsburgh and Erie.

An archabbot is an ordinary of self-governing monastery, in the tradition of Saint Benedict and his Rule for Benedictine monasteries. His role to the monks is equivalent to that between a bishop and his people. The archabbot is a prelate in the Roman Catholic Church and is entitled to wear a ring, pectoral cross and mitre, and is entitled to carry the crozier (or the pastoral staff).

A native of Barberton, Ohio, Archabbot Martin earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a major in accounting and minor in computer science, from Temple University in 1978. He went on to earn an MBA from Bowling Green University (1984), a master of divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary (1984) and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School (1989).

He made his simple profession of vows as a monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey on July 10, 1980, and solemn profession of vows on July 11, 1983. He was ordained a deacon on Aug. 11, 1984 and was ordained a priest by the late Bishop William G. Connare of Greensburg on May 25, 1985.

Along with the Abbatial Blessing of Archabbot Martin, three additional events will be streamed live by Saint Vincent Archabbey Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11.

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PHOTO: Archabbot Martin de Porres Bartel, O.S.B.

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