Dominicans in the Province of St. Joseph are rejoicing to hear that Fr. Austin G. Murphy, O.S.B., was elected on June 24, the Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist, as the tenth abbot of St. Procopius Abbey in Lisle, Illinois. After his solemn profession as a Benedictine monk in August 2000, he came to the Dominican House of Studies because of the Pontifical Faculty's Thomistic theological program. He lived-in a rather exceptional situation-on the third floor among our student brothers for the next four years. During that time, he earned an M.A. in Theology as well as the M.Div./S.T.B.

The Friars remember him not only for his keen theological mind and religious observance, but for many of his other contributions to the life of the community-including his athleticism in playing Thanksgiving Day football and his culinary skills in Sunday dinner. He has continued to support the Province, such as in showing hospitality to Friars in their visits to St. Procopius Abbey and in giving the 2010 Lenten mission to our St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Zanesville, OH. Now as abbot, "he is believed to hold the place of Christ in the monastery" (Rule of St. Benedict 2.2). Furthermore, he "is to lead his disciples by a twofold teaching: he must point out to them all that is good and holy more by example than by words, proposing the commandments of the Lord to receptive disciples with words, but demonstrating God's instructions to the stubborn and the dull by a living example" (Rule of St. Benedict 2.11-12). Within the American-Cassinese Congregation of Benedictine Monasteries, which includes St. Procopius Abbey, an abbot normally does not submit his resignation until 3 months before completing his 75th year of age, if he has held office for at least 8 years. Abbot Austin was elected at the age of 36. May the Lord bless the community of St. Procopius with many, many years of wise teaching from their new father!

Please see the link St. Procopius Abbey for the official announcement.