September 18, 2026

Lanesville native elected 11th abbot of St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Ala.

Criterion staff report

Abbott Brendan SeipelIn an election that took place on July 29, the Benedictine monks of St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Ala., selected Benedictine Brother Brendan Seipel as the 11th abbot in the 135-year history of the monastic community, which is located in the Diocese of Birmingham, Ala.

Brother Brendan grew up as a member of St. Mary Parish in Lanesville in the New Albany Deanery. He entered St. Bernard Abbey in 2002 and first professed vows in 2004.

The election process began on June 15 with a Mass of the Holy Spirit celebrated by Benedictine Abbot Jonathan Licari, abbot president of the American Cassinese Congregation of Benedictine Monks. The monastic community temporarily recessed the election process until after the Holy See was consulted on matters related to canon law.

When the election resumed on July 29, Abbot Brendan was selected to lead the monastic community.

Prior to his election, Abbot Brendan, 64, previously served for periods as the monastery’s guest master, director of its St. Boniface Retreat Center and director of the Abbey Farm. He also has served on the monastery’s senior council and as its subprior and prior, respectively the third and second person in authority in the monastic community.

After the July election, the monastic community gathered in its Abbey Church for a thanksgiving service and were joined by Bishop Steven J. Raica of Birmingham, Ala., Bishop Robert J. Baker, bishop emeritus of the Birmingham Diocese, several priests of the diocese, Benedictine sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery in Cullman, and lay Catholics.

A formal blessing of Abbot Brendan will take place on Nov. 21. †

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