Monks of Saint Meinrad Archabbey mark significant anniversaries

Benedictine Father Raymond Studzinski, left, Benedictine Father Bede Cisco and Benedictine Father Jonathan Fassero, who pose in the Archabbey Church of Our Lady of Einsiedeln in St. Meinrad, marked this year significant anniversaries of their profession of vows. (Photo courtesy of Saint Meinrad Archabbey)

Criterion staff report

Three Benedictine monks of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad celebrated major anniversaries of profession of vows of religious life this year, while one celebrated a major anniversary of his priesthood ordination.

60-year jubilarian

Benedictine Father Raymond Studzinski was born in Detroit. He made his first profession of vows on Aug. 15, 1964. Ordained a priest in 1969, he earned a master’s degree in religious studies at Indiana University in Bloomington and a doctorate in historical theology at Fordham University in New York.

Father Raymond served on the faculty of Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology from 1973-77 and then served as a chaplain in Colorado for two years.

In 1981, he began teaching at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he currently serves as an associate professor of spirituality. He is the author of two books and several journal articles.

50-year jubilarians

Benedictine Father Bede Cisco was born in Indianapolis, where he was baptized at St. Therese of the Infant Jesus (Little Flower) Parish and was a 1969 graduate of the Latin School of Indianapolis, the former archdiocesan high school seminary.

He made his first profession of vows at Saint Meinrad on Aug. 24, 1974. Ordained a priest in 1978, he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the former Saint Meinrad College, a master’s degree in divinity at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology and a master’s degree and doctorate in education at Columbia University in New York. Father Bede later earned a certificate in spiritual direction from the Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis.

He served in the administration and on the faculty of Saint Meinrad College from 1979-82 and 1987-98. At Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, he ministered in its administration and faculty from 1986-92, 1999-2006, 2008-11 and from 2013-21.

Father Bede played a central role in the formation of the members of the first class of permanent deacons in the history of the archdiocese, who were ordained in 2008. He served as the first director of deacon formation for the archdiocese, ministering in that position from 2003-11. He also served as the first director of deacons in the archdiocese, ministering in that position from 2008-11.

Father Bede currently serves as prior, second in leadership of the archabbey and as a spiritual director in the seminary. He is the co-author of Lay Ministers and Their Spiritual Practices.
 

Benedictine Father Jonathan Fassero, a native of Mishawaka, Ind., made his first profession of vows at Saint Meinrad on Aug. 24, 1974. Ordained a priest in 1978, he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy at Saint Meinrad College, a master’s degree in divinity from Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology and a master’s degree in religious studies at Indiana University.

Father Jonathan served in the administration of Saint Meinrad College from 1978-97 and in Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology from 1978-85.

He currently serves as associate director of spiritual formation and director of diocesan relations at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology.

He also serves as associate director of spiritual formation at Bishop Simon Bruté College Seminary in Indianapolis, where he has ministered since 2009.
 

Benedictine Father Pius Klein was born in Aurora and was baptized at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish there.

He made his first profession of vows at Saint Meinrad on April 19, 1959, and was ordained a priest on March 31, 1974.

Father Pius worked in the monastery’s tailor shop and its infirmary until he was assigned to Saint Meinrad’s priory in Huaraz, Peru. He ministered there from 1964-84 except for a period when he returned to the monastery for priesthood formation.

In Peru, Father Pius ministered as a teacher, seminary disciplinarian and school principal, superior of the priory and as pastor of a parish in Lima.

Returning to the monastery in 1985, he served in the Evansville, Ind., diocese as a chaplain to the Benedictine Sisters of Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, Ind., director of food services in the monastery and pastor of St. Mary Parish in Huntingburg, Ind., from 1987-2008. †