New Major Superior

The Abbot President of our Congregation, Dom Ignasi Fossa, with his Council of Assistants, has appointed Father Simon Piątkowski as Prior Administrator of Pluscarden (and St. Mary's), until Pluscarden's next canonical Visitation: that is, June 2027. This decision was recommended to the President by our Abbot Visitor, Dom Cuthbert Brogan of Farnborough Abbey, who reached it together with his Provincial Council.

At the Abbatial election held at Pluscarden on November 14-15, 2024, no candidate emerged with sufficient votes to become Abbot. According to our Constitutions, in an Abbatial election only four ballots are held. In the first three ballots, a two-thirds majority is required for election. In the fourth ballot, only a simple or absolute majority is required. If no candidate at the fourth ballot gains sufficient votes, it is for the Abbot Visitor to propose to the Abbot President a Prior Administrator to govern the community for a set term.

Prior Simon is the youngest member of the Pluscarden Community in solemn vows. He was born in Warsaw, Poland in 1979. While at University there, he played volleyball to a semi-professional level. He later gained a doctorate from Essex University in England in the field of Ethnology. He also earned an online theology degree from the Dominican University while a monk. He made his first profession of vows in 2011 and was ordained in July of 2024.

Abbot Anselm Returns

Abbot Emeritus Anselm returned to St. Mary's and took up residence just before Christmas 2024 after 13 years as Abbot of Pluscarden.

New Building

Our new building is currently in progress and should be finished in the spring. It will house three workshops and have some bays for equipment. It was paid for by a generous benefactor.

Brother Jerome Leo RIP

Brother Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB passed away on July 3, 2023 at the age of 74. He was raised in Tampa, Florida. After a twenty year career in nursing and teaching he was a Diocesan Hermit in the Archdiocese of Boston. He joined our community in the mid 1990s and made his Regular Oblation August 3, 2001. For many years he was guest master. He was also oblate master, and his daily web postings on the Rule of St. Benedict had close to 5000 subscribers internationally.