Saint Andrew Abbey

Benedictine Order of Cleveland
10510 Buckeye Road   Cleveland, OH 44104-3725

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     New Abbot Elected for St. Andrew Abbey

 

     This morning, June 10, 2008, the 28 voting members of Saint Andrew Abbey elected Fr. Christopher Schwartz, OSB, 61, as the sixth abbot of the community succeeding Abbot Clement Zeleznik, OSB who has retired for health reasons.

 

      Abbot Christopher is the son of the late Frank and Gertrude Schwartz.  He attended St. Charles Elementary School in Parma and graduated from St. John Cantius High School (now Cleveland Central Catholic).  He studied for the diocesan priesthood and earned his B.A. in history from Borromeo College Seminary in Wickliffe.

 

      He entered the Benedictine order and professed his first vows at St. Andrew Abbey in 1973.  He was ordained a priest in 1974.  From 1974 - 1991 he served as a history teacher on the faculty of Benedictine High School.  He was the moderator of five classes, Student Council moderator, school chaplain, and athletic team chaplain. During this time in the monastery he also held the positions of prior, director of junior professed monks, and vocation director. 

 

      From 1991 until 2004, he served as pastor of Assumption Parish in Broadview Heights. He then moved to Incarnate Word Academy and Convent in Parma Heights, Ohio as chaplain until March, 2006 when he returned to the abbey and was named subprior (third superior). 

 

      The new abbot assumes immediate jurisdiction as superior of the monastery and as chancellor of Benedictine High School.  He will be solemnly blessed as abbot by the bishop at a later date. (Courtesy of Fr. Gerard Gonda, OSB)

 

 

Founded in 1922, continues the tradition of Benedictine monastic life, following the Rule of St. Benedict.  The monastery is located in southeast Cleveland on sixteen acres of wooded land.  The monks, priests and brothers, through vows of obedience, stability and conversion and under the direction of an Abbot, live a Gospel inspired apostolic communal life.  The Community integrates contemplative elements of common prayer, lectio, silence and asceticism with active ministry in the Church through hospitality, secondary education, parochial ministry in parishes and chaplainries. Benedictine, an all male high school, is operated by the monks on the Abbey grounds.

Mission Statement

We are monks who wholeheartedly choose to seek and depend upon God the Father as disciples of Christ in the Holy Spirit.  

We do this by living the Rule of Saint Benedict under the Abbot of Saint Andrew Abbey.

We give witness to Christ's Kingdom by conversion and obedience in community life of praising God through liturgy, lectio, silence, work and fellowship.

We share the word of God and our Benedictine presence by fostering an environment for others to encounter God. 

We do this through such work and service that is supported by our community and compatible with its apostolates: hospitality, Catholic education, parish ministry and pastoral service to the Church.

 

 

 

Last modified: November 2, 2008