Friends of Abbot Gregory, from left to right: P. Craig Morrison, OCarm; Douglas Marcoulliere, SJ; Mauritius Wilde, OSB; Edward Linton, OSB; Abbot Primate Gregory Polan, OSB, and P. Michael Kolarcik, SJ.
On 2 January, the Sant’Anselmo community celebrated 70th birthday of Abbot Primate Gregory Polan OSB. A monk of Conception Abbey, Missouri, in the United States, in 2016 he was elected Abbot Primate of the Benedictine Confederation by all the Benedictine Abbots of the world. He is therefore also Abbot of the Primatial Abbey of Sant’Anselmo all’ Aventino, in Rome, and Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical University of Sant’Anselmo. Prior P. Mauritius Wilde OSB highlighted in his greeting that Abbot Primate Gregory truly became a father to the Sant’Anselmo community and to all the monks of the Order of Saint Benedict.
Among his friends present, Abbot Gregory said:
“Father Craig Morrison, Carmelite, Canadian, who is both Dean and professor at the Biblicum, and a friend of thirty years.
“Father Michael Kolarcik, Jesuit, also from Canada, who is both Rector and professor at the Biblicum, also a friend of thirty years, having worked on our doctorate in the same period.
“Father Douglas Marcoulliere, Jesuit, from the East Coast of the United States, who was the Provincial of St. Louis, in whose region my monastery is located. He currently works for the Generalate of the Jesuits for the area of Canada and the United States.
“Father Edward Linton, Benedictine and monk of the St. Meinrad Archabbey, who worked as an officer here in St. Anselmo and is now the Director of the North American College Continuing Education Program.”
AD MULTOS ANNOS!