Abbot Gerhard Hafner interim administrator of St Paul's Abbey

Tuesday, 7 May 2024

Press release of the Austrian Benedictine Congregation / Benedictine Abbey of St Paul St. Paul im Lavanttal (Carinthia)/Michaelbeuern (Salzburg)/Admont (Styria), on 6 May 2024

Gerhard Hafner, Abbot of Admont Abbey, also appointed interim administrator of St Paul's Abbey

Gerhard Hafner OSB, Abbot of the Benedictine Abbey of Admont, was appointed interim administrator of the Benedictine Abbey of St. Paul im Lavanttal on 6 May 2024. His term of office runs until the beginning of 2026. The previous administrator, Fr Marian Kollmann OSB, has resigned from his position as head of the monastery for personal reasons. Abbot Johannes Perkmann OSB, in his capacity as Abbot President of the Austrian Benedictine Congregation, has appointed a new head of the abbey following a decision by the Congregation's Presidium and has entrusted Abbot Gerhard Hafner OSB from the Benedictine Abbey of Admont with this task until the beginning of 2026. The 59-year-old will be supported in his leadership duties and in his dual role as abbot of Admont Abbey and administrator of St Paul's Abbey by his prior, Mag Dr P. Maximilian Schiefermüller OSB.

Abbot President Johannes Perkmann: "I would like to thank Abbot Gerhard Hafner for taking on the role of administrator at the Benedictine Abbey of St Paul. His most important tasks will be to preside over the confreres as their superior, to accompany them and to seek ways for the future with all those involved."

Abbot Gerhard Hafner: "I see the interim administration of St Paul's Abbey as a service to the community there. Together with my prior, I will try to clarify in discussions with the monks how their future as a monastic community can be organised. To prevent any rumours: my monastery in Admont will not take over St. Paul's Abbey in any way, neither in terms of personnel nor financially."

Abbot Gerhard Hafner
Abbot Gerhard Hafner was born in 1964 in Trieben, Styria. He studied theology in Graz and was ordained a priest in 1990. He joined the Benedictine Abbey of Admont in 1994 and made his solemn profession in 1999. He has been Abbot of Admont Abbey since January 2017.

Benedictine Abbey of St Paul
The Benedictine monastery of St Paul in Lavanttal was founded in 1091 and is the only monastic monastery in Carinthia. The monastery looks after four parishes of its own and provides chaplains for diocesan parishes and chaplaincies. Around 45 employees are responsible for the St. Paul Abbey Grammar School with over 600 pupils, forestry and agriculture as well as the abbey's museum, which is known far beyond Carinthia.