Abbot Jonathan Licari elected 18th Abbot President

The American Cassinese Congregation is pleased to announce the election of Father Jonathan Licari, O.S.B. as Abbot President at the meeting of the 54^th General Chapter, held at Saint Benedict’s Abbey in Atchison, Kansas, June 19-24.  Abbot Jonathan brings a rich menu of experiences of leadership and service to this role of embodying and fostering a functional unity among the nineteen member monasteries.  

Originally ordained a priest in the Diocese of Duluth in 1976, Abbot Jonathan became a monk-priest of Saint John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota, making first profession on July 11, 1982.  He has a doctorate in canon law and has served as a pastor in a number of parishes in Minnesota, as well as prior, subprior, and formation director for the abbey. In addition he was headmaster of Saint John’s Preparatory for six years, from 2013-2019.  Most recently, he has served as administrator for the monks of Mary Mother of the Church Abbey, in Richmond, Virginia, for two and one-half years and will now become the administrator of Saint Mary’s Abbey in Morristown, New Jersey as they prepare for an abbatial election.  

The Abbot President presides at the election of an abbot in each of the nineteen member monasteries, organizes the program of visitations of all member members monasteries through a five-year cycle, and is a key canonical bridge to the Congregation for Religious in Rome.  In addition, the Abbot President is a member of the Synod of Presidents (nineteen of them), which meets regularly with the Abbot Primate at Sant’ Anselmo in Rome.  The Abbot President also reaches out to the leadership of other religious orders through participation in the work of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men and Union of Superiors General.

The American Cassinese Congregation is grateful for the election of Abbot President Jonathan and looks forward to his continued presence and leadership.