Dear friends,
This annual report contains updates and news about so many good things happening at Mount Angel Abbey and Seminary. I want to acknowledge first of all, though, our sincere gratitude to all those who support this place with prayer, good works, and financial assistance. We would not be here without you.
A group of people I want to acknowledge in this report are the past and present members of the Abbey Foundation of Oregon (AFO), all good friends of Mount Angel Abbey and Seminary. The AFO was founded in 2002 as an independent 509(a)(3) nonprofit with the sole duty of supporting the mission and works of Mount Angel. Over the years, the wonderful, talented, and faithful members of this group have carried out their role with love, intelligence, charity, and generosity. The current board, led by John Limb, board president, continues to do so.
This report reflects a recent and significant change in how we are reporting our financials. With the 2021-22 fiscal year, following an extensive review completed by a dedicated task force composed of representatives of both the AFO and the Abbey, practices and protocols were put in place to improve the operational relationship between the two entities. As a result, having a combined audit to provide a consolidated statement of the financial position of Mount Angel Abbey and the Abbey Foundation of Oregon was adopted.
Another significant change is that, previously, fundraising activities were managed by the AFO and donations for operational and capital expenses primarily flowed directly to the foundation. The AFO than allocated monies back to the Abbey depending on each year’s budgetary needs. Mount Angel now has direct responsibility for fundraising activities. This means that your monetary donation goes to Mount Angel Abbey and Seminary to directly pay for the operating needs of the Abbey’s programs and capital projects. The AFO continues to maintain endowment funds, long-term investments, real properties, and certain other assets. In their various professional capacities, the board members continue to provide invaluable help, guidance, and support for all the works of Mount Angel.
If you have questions or want more information, please send us a note. But most importantly, please know that we both – the monks of Mount Angel and the members of the AFO – are here for you. We are striving to share the riches of our Benedictine charism and life of prayer and works with you.
Please accept my pledge of deepest gratitude to you and to all the past and present members of our AFO board. We remember you in our daily celebration of the Eucharist.
Abbot Jeremy Driscoll, OSB
Abbot and Chancellor
Abbot and Chancellor
Mount Angel Abbey and Seminary
Hard copies of the annual report are available upon request. Simply call 503.845.3030.
Seek Things Above
– Colossians 3:1
MONASTIC COUNCIL
Abbot Jeremy Driscoll, O.S.B.
Mount Angel Abbey & Seminary
Fr. Vincent Trujillo, O.S.B.
Prior
Prior
Fr. William Hammelman, O.S.B.
Subprior
Fr. Paul Thomas, O.S.B
Council Member
Fr. Philip Waibel, O.S.B.
Council Member
Fr. Andrew Schwenke, O.S.B.
Council Member
Fr. Teresio Caldwell, O.S.B.
Council Member
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
John Limb, President
Oregon Catholic Press (retired)
Jim Zuiches, Vice President
Professor of Sociology and University Administrator (retired)
Donald Williams, Secretary
Chief Operating Officer (retired), Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt P.C.
John Meek, Past-President
Managing Member, Arcadia Consulting
Rev. Martin Grassel, O.S.B., Treasurer
Procurator, Mount Angel Abbey
Abbot Jeremy Driscoll, O.S.B.
Mount Angel Abbey & Seminary
Mount Angel Abbey (the Abbey) is a Benedictine monastic community, founded in 1882, that strives to implement the 1500-year-old Benedictine tradition of prayer and work as it serves the spiritual needs of the community in Western Oregon and beyond, especially through its monastic life, Mount Angel Seminary, the St. Benedict Guest House and Retreat Center, the Mount Angel Abbey Library, and its bookstore. The financial statements of the Abbey include accounts for each of these activities. Mount Angel Abbey, an Oregon nonprofit corporation, is the civil incorporation of the Abbey, governed by the abbot and a council of monks who serve as its board of directors.
The Abbey Foundation of Oregon (the Foundation) was established in 2002 to support Mount Angel Abbey and its works. Although closely affiliated with the Abbey, the Foundation is a separate Oregon nonprofit corporation with Mount Angel Abbey as member, and a Board of Trustees that manages its business affairs, including management of the assets of the Foundation.
Portraits of Benedictine Peace and Community illustrates how we monks of Mount Angel Abbey live and share the spiritual richness of our monastic life with all who come. Peace and community are integral to the centuries-old monastic Rule of St. Benedict, built around a rhythm of prayer and work. At Mount Angel, we cultivate this life with intention and respect for the hilltop on which we dwell.
Immerse yourself in the rich and poetic text of this video, narrated by Abbot Jeremy Driscoll, OSB, and enjoy the beautiful photography and music evocative of the monastic tradition of St. Benedict, as lived at Mount Angel since 1882.
THE YEAR IN REVIEW
The consolidated financial statements represented below include the accounts of Mount Angel Abbey and the Abbey Foundation of Oregon.
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Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
– PSALM 106:1
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Mount Angel Abbey and the Abbey Foundation of Oregon is audited annually by independent certified public accountants whose examination complies with generally accepted auditing standards. This annual report reflects the audited financial statements for the most recent fiscal year. The Foundation files its IRS Form 990 each fiscal year, available at our website, the Development Office, or upon request.
WE HOPE YOU WILL STAY
CONNECTED WITH MOUNT ANGEL
Follow us for daily Mass, Midday Prayer and Vespers, live streamed on our website: mountangelabbey.org, or the Mount Angel Abbey YouTube channel.
Would you like to stay up-to-date on what’s happening at Mount Angel? Just send us a note or sign up online and your email address will be added to our list.
WHAT YOU CARE ABOUT CAN LAST FOREVER
ENDOWMENT FUNDS
Endowed gifts to Mount Angel provide annual financial support for generations to come and make a difference that is nothing short of eternal. Thanks to the individuals, families, and foundations listed below, the Abbey Foundation of Oregon was able to provide approximately $1 million to support the education and formation of seminarians and monks, the monks’ spiritual ministries, and the Hilltop facilities. Endowed funds are prudently invested by the Abbey Foundation, with 3-5 percent of the earned income provided to Mount Angel each year. Any remaining earnings are added to the original principal, which continues to grow and support Mount Angel’s mission in perpetuity.
OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH IN THE FUTURE
LEGACY SOCIETY
The Legacy Society includes the generous friends listed below. Legacy Society members have chosen to create a significant, lasting impact by including the Abbey Foundation of Oregon in their estate plan. They have told us that they have named the AFO in their will, living trust, retirement plan, life insurance policy, bank account, or as a remainder designation in a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust. Thank you!
Each of us leaves a legacy — through our faith, family, friendships, work and simple interactions with others every day. We offer prayers of thanksgiving for the hundreds of generous people who care deeply about Mount Angel’s mission and have taken special steps to include it in their legacies.
A Year of Generosity, Impact, and Faith
Thanks and blessings to each and every benefactor! The monks, seminarians, faculty, employees, alumni, oblates, volunteers, guests, and friends of Mount Angel offer prayers of gratitude for the joyful generosity shown.
what you have made possible. . .
Monastery
The heart and soul of Mount Angel Abbey is our vibrant community of monks who follow the Rule of St. Benedict. We have lived on this hilltop in Oregon’s Willamette Valley since 1882 and maintain a monastic tradition that has been a vital part of the Roman Catholic Church for more than 1,500 years. We welcome all to our hilltop home and the sanctuary of our church and the resources of our guesthouse and library. Please join us in the rich, ancient rhythms of monastic prayer, liturgy, and hospitality.
MONASTIC MILESTONES
January – December 2022
Professed simple vows
Br. Ambrose Stewart Fr. Michael Shrum
Professed solemn vowsBr. La Vang Nguyen
Ordained to the diaconateBr. Charles Gonzalez
Celebrated jubilees of monastic professionAbbot Peter Eberle (60 years)
Br. James Bartos (60 years) Br. Simon Hepner (50 years)
Passed away to the LordBr. Mark Parker († February 2, 2022)
Studying for advanced degreesFr. Israel Sanchez – Augustinianum, Rome
License in Patristics
Fr. Timothy Kalange – Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit
License in Sacred Theology (STL) in the New Evangelization
Br. Albert Klotz – Dominican University, Illinois
Masters of Library and Information Science
UPDATES
Although the beginning of 2022 began with some pandemic restrictions, the lifting of the majority of those in spring 2022 resulted in a new degree of normalcy and the sense that the worst of the pandemic was behind us. We decided to resume activities in person that we had held virtually for the past two years, including the Saint Benedict Festival and the Abbey Bach Festival. More guests frequented the Hilltop for our liturgies, retreats, and other events. Some noteworthy initiatives included the following:
- A Solemn Way of the Cross on Good Friday which welcomed around 300 participants.
- Several events sponsored by the Mount Angel Institute at Mount Angel Abbey, including a production of Tolton: From Slave to Priest by Saint Luke Productions and an All Saints’ Day relic display.
- A full church for the Paschal Triduum, Easter, simple and solemn professions, and Christmas.
We continue to offer heartfelt prayers of gratitude for so many friends and benefactors who support Mount Angel through friendship, prayers, or financial contributions.
FESTIVALS
For the first time since 2019, the Saint Benedict Festival and the Abbey Bach Festival were held in person in 2022, welcoming more than 2,000 attendees between the two festivals. The enthusiasm of our guests who attended these festivals inspires us to build upon the successes of the past year as we plan these festivals moving forward.
Seminary
Mount Angel Seminary was established as a “school of the Lord’s service” by the pioneer monks of Mount Angel Abbey in 1889, making it the oldest and largest seminary in the western United States. It is the only seminary in the West, and one of only a few in the nation, that offers degrees at all levels, baccalaureate through the doctorate. Students receive exceptional academic instruction in a profoundly faithful, prayerful, and formative environment.
Mount Angel Seminary currently offers these fully accredited degree programs: Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts (Philosophy), Master of Arts (Theology), Master of Divinity, Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology, offered in affiliation with the Pontifical Athenaeum of Sant’ Anselmo in Rome, and Doctor of Ministry. The Master of Arts (Theology) and Doctor of Ministry programs are open to non-seminarians and lay students
Seminary Life
With the lifting of most pandemic restrictions in March 2022, life at the seminary experienced a new vigor and energy. Many visitors and guests came to celebrate Commencement 2022 in the Abbey church. The Mass of the Holy Spirit in August 2022 also welcomed more guests than in previous years. While restrictions have been lifted, some of the side effects of pandemic life have benefitted the lives of seminarians. For the fall 2022 theological symposium, Professor William Desmond, an Irish philosopher who teaches at Villanova University, was unable to come to Mount Angel in person, but he did present his lectures with live Q&A to the seminarians and seminary faculty via ZOOM. The communication technologies that were heavily utilized at the height of the pandemic continue to play a positive role in seminary life.
Surrounding the Seminary with Support
The first in person Seminary Benefit Gathering on the Hilltop occurred on March 10, 2022 in the Saint Benedict Guesthouse & Retreat Center with great success. On November 6, 2022, monks, seminarians, and guests enjoyed each other’s company at a second Seminary Benefit Gathering in Aquinas Hall. Benefactors having the opportunity to interact with monks and seminarians on the grounds of the Hilltop has proven to be highly beneficial for deepening those relationships.
Library
Housed in a world-renowned building designed by the famous Finnish architect, Alvar Aalto, the Mount Angel Abbey Library is one of the Abbey’s principal works of Christian service. Patrons of the Abbey’s library include the students, faculty and staff of Mount Angel Seminary, the monks of Mount Angel Abbey, scholars and religious professionals of many denominations, and any interested person who requests user and borrower privileges. The library provides access to a large collection of books and other materials in a wide range of subjects. Open to guests, visiting scholars, and the general public, the library is home to one of the most significant theological libraries in the Pacific Northwest.
Library operations & Highlights
The library has been operating at normal hours with access to the public throughout 2022. On May 16, 2022, the University of Oregon hosted its annual Reynolds Symposium at the Mount Angel library in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of its completion in 2020. The symposium marking this milestone had been delayed for two years due to the pandemic. Abbot Jeremy was one of the speakers for this event and spoke about his experience seeing the library constructed as a young monk and how being in the library has formed him over the years.
The Mount Angel library has also hosted many speaker events sponsored by the Mount Angel Institute in 2022 in its auditorium, and it will continue to do this in the coming years.
Saint Benedict Guesthouse & Retreat Center
While every touchpoint of Mount Angel Abbey expresses St. Benedict’s vision of welcoming all who come as Christ, the mission of the Saint Benedict Guesthouse and Retreat Center is directly oriented toward this goal. Whether for day visits, retreat weekends, conferences or personal retreats, guests discover a spiritual atmosphere of hospitality where they can be renewed by Christ’s love poured out for them in the liturgy, personal prayer, holy reading, and silence.
What’s new | Who Comes
The guesthouse continues to offer a robust calendar of retreats throughout the year, sponsored or co-sponsored by Mount Angel Abbey. A number of retreats fill up months in advance, showing the spiritual hunger of those who come as well as the high caliber of retreat speakers.
Outside groups also host retreats and
conferences at the guesthouse throughout the year, so the large conference
rooms (Engelberg and Westminster) experience a lot of activity on a rotating
basis. With this constant workflow, the custodial team is diligent in their
cleaning and making each room presentable for each new group.
The guesthouse is a hub of hospitality for Catholics, non-Catholic Christians, and religious seekers alike. All who come are warmly welcomed as Christ.
ABBEY BOOKSTORE & COFFEEHOUSE
At the Abbey Bookstore & Coffeehouse, visitors can find a wealth of spiritual items and books to purchase while enjoying craft coffee and specialty drinks in the recently renovated coffeehouse. For many visitors who wander into the building, the bookstore and coffeehouse are often a first point of contact for guiding visitors to other parts of the Hilltop, sharing with them maps, guides, and general information about Mount Angel Abbey.
What’s new
Under the direction of Br. Alfredo Miranda, OSB, the coffeehouse celebrated its grand reopening on July 8, 2022 after more than two years of closure. Monks, employees, and other friends of Mount Angel gathered for the event as Abbot Jeremy blessed the newly renovated space. The coffeehouse has a new menu with specialty coffee and drinks inspired by monasticism. The walls of the coffeehouse also include large photos of Mount Angel Abbey and its monks from earlier days, showing visitors a rich visual history of this place and its roots.
In addition to the regular stock of books, the bookstore also features selections based on the liturgical year, helping patrons enter more into the liturgical season that the Church is celebrating at that time.
Benedictine Brewery
The Benedictine Brewery and St. Michael Taproom express the Benedictine values of work, prayer, and hospitality. Led by Fr. Martin Grassel, OSB, the monks continue to be the exclusive brewers of their own beer, working hard to serve the fruits of their labor with guests. The taproom has a regular stream of local patrons, but it also regularly welcomes first time visitors from farther away. A number of these visitors hear about the Benedictine Brewery even before they learn about the monastery, so their experience of hospitality at the taproom serves as an inviting entry point to encounter the rest of the Hilltop.
At a glance
BY THE BARREL
2019: 146.36
2020: 178.32
2021: 216.8
2022: 231.02
AVERAGE SALE
$23.72
A typical sale for food
and drink for two people.
TOTAL TRANSACTIONS
24,270
Taproom: 23,828
Bookstore: 442
DAILY TRANSACTIONS
The taproom is open five days per week — roughly 260 days. That’s an average of 91.65 transactions per day!
MOUNT ANGEL ABBEY OBLATES
Formed by the Benedictine monastic tradition, oblates of Mount Angel Abbey seek God in Christian discipleship in the world. By obedience to Catholic teaching, faithfulness to liturgical prayer and continual conversion of life according to the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict, oblates seek union with God and growth in charity toward one’s neighbor. This work is undertaken in spiritual communion with the monks of Mount Angel Abbey with the desire that in all things God may be glorified, and that together we may come to life everlasting.
What’s new
- John Paul Le, OSB, has replaced Fr. Odo Recker, OSB, as Director of Oblates.
- The number of oblates continues to grow, especially among the Spanish-speaking oblates guided by Fr. Ephrem Martinez, OSB.
- The number of digital resources for oblates to connect to each other and with the monks of Mount Angel is increasing.
- The conferences for the fall 2022 oblate retreat were recorded and posted on Mount Angel’s oblate webpage, Vimeo channel, and YouTube channel.
- A Facebook group for Mount Angel oblates, which has over 70 members, was created in fall 2022 to help oblates connect and share prayer requests with each other.
- John Paul sends out a weekly email to oblates with spiritual reflections as well as updates on events happening at Mount Angel Abbey.
ST. MARY PARISH IN MT. ANGEL
Formed by the Benedictine tradition since 1881, St. Mary Parish in Mt. Angel is a vibrant Catholic community. The parish is made up of approximately 1182 households and 3871 individuals coming from 26 zip codes around the Willamette Valley. The sacraments are celebrated in both English and Spanish, reflecting the rich diversity of the community. Fr. Ralph Recker, OSB, serves as pastor, and other Benedictine priest-monks and brothers assist at the parish.
What’s new
St. Mary Parish frequently connects its parishioners to participate in the life of Mount Angel Abbey & Seminary. Its parish bulletins have included and continue to include flyers and event listings from the Mount Angel Institute.
CONTACT US
We’d love to hear from you! Contact the Development Office at 503.845.3030 or development@mtangel.edu.
Thank you for considering a contribution to Mount Angel Abbey and Seminary! The monks offer prayers of gratitude every day for you and all our generous benefactors.
Our Mission
Mount Angel Abbey, a Benedictine monastic community founded in 1882, is dedicated to a life of prayer, work, pastoral ministry, hospitality and education. Mount Angel Seminary, the largest seminary in the West, forms men for the Roman Catholic priesthood. The Abbey Foundation of Oregon supports the monastic community’s mission of service to the Church.
The Abbey Foundation of Oregon promotes the financial vitality of Mount Angel Abbey by seeking funding for current projects and long-term endowments for the monastery, seminary, guesthouse, and library. The trustees of the Foundation work collaboratively with the Abbot of Mount Angel Abbey to implement the monastic community’s Benedictine vision of prayer and work in service to the Church in western Oregon and beyond.
The Abbey Foundation of Oregon is an independent 509(a)(3) nonprofit organization that exists solely as a supporting organization for the work of Mount Angel Abbey and Seminary.
Box 497, Saint Benedict, OR 97373-0497