P. Koloman Viertler OSB
After a fulfilled life as a religious and priest, the good Lord has called the Reverend Mr GR KR P. Koloman Viertler OSB Benedictine of Admont Abbey home to himself.
The Life and Work of Father Koloman Viertler
Our brother was born Anton Viertler on 18 September 1938 in Pichl-Gsies (South Tyrol). He grew up surrounded by his many siblings and cherished by his parents. This bond with his family remained a matter close to his heart throughout his life.
Amid the turmoil of the Second World War, the family moved to Deutschfeistritz (Styria). After completing his compulsory schooling, he went on to the seminary in Admont, where, following his school-leaving examinations, he took the monastic vows at the Benedictine Abbey on 14 August 1957. Upon entering the novitiate, he was given the religious name Koloman – as the first novice of the then newly elected Abbot Koloman Holzinger OSB. He subsequently completed his studies at the University of Salzburg. In 1961, he made his solemn profession, and on the Feast of St Hemma, 27 June 1963, he was ordained a priest in the abbey church at Admont.
His musical talents also meant that he served as a cantor in our community for decades, as director of the Admont Church Choir (1980 to 1983) and the Mautern Church Choir (1993 to 2013). He also worked as a professor of music at our Abbey School and at the seminary.
Vicar in the Liesing Valley
From 1983 until his retirement in 2013, he served as parish priest of the parish of Mautern in the Liesing Valley, which is incorporated into Admont Abbey. In addition to this role, he served as parish priest for the parishes of Kalwang (1988 to 2013), Kammern (2001 to 2013) and Wald am Schoberpass (2009 to 2013), and served as deputy dean of the Leoben deanery (1989 to 2002). This long-standing and blessed ministry in the Liesingtal valley, so dearly loved by Father Koloman Viertler, ultimately led to him being awarded honorary citizenship of the market town of Mautern, the Ring of Honour of Kalwang and the Golden Medal of Honour of the market town of Kammern.
Return to Admont
In 2013, he returned to his monastery in Admont, where he soon afterwards took up the post of Rector of the Oblates. Within our community, in everyday life, Fr Koloman was a faithful and dependable reciter of the Liturgy of the Hours, always a deeply devout celebrant of Holy Mass, and, through his willingness to help, a kind-hearted confrere. In recent months, due to his advancing age, he had become increasingly frail; however, Fr Koloman always bore this with patience and serenity. Following an operation for a femoral neck fracture, his weak heart ceased to beat. The Abbot and the monastery express their gratitude for the loving care provided by the relatives of Fr Koloman Viertler, our convent ladies, and in particular Silvia Ruschitzka.
God, the Lord of life and death, finally spoke his Amen over the fulfilled life of our confrere on Monday, 2 June 2025.
Laying out, requiem and burial
From Pentecost Sunday, 8 June 2025, 13:00, our confrere will be laid in state in St Joseph's Chapel in Admont Abbey Church.
The vigil, which leads into the solemn choral vespers, will take place on Pentecost Sunday at 5.00 pm in Admont Abbey Church. We will celebrate the Holy Requiem on Whit Monday, 9 June 2025, at 2.00 pm in the Admont Abbey Church followed by the funeral at Admont Cemetery.
