Ordination of Fr Matthew Konieczny OSB

Sunday, 21 May 2023

On the afternoon of 21 May 2023, Diocesan Bishop Dr Wilhelm Krautwaschl ordained Father Matthäus Cassian Konieczny as a priest in Admont Collegiate Church. In his welcoming address, the bishop said: "It is wonderful that we can accept and celebrate vocations." He began his sermon with the words: "All life is relationship." He linked his train of thought to the signal word "relationship": "Relationship is the very basis of life. When you are ordained a priest, you become a man of relationship." In the Gospel of St John in particular, there are many statements of relationship between God the Father and Jesus Christ. Benedictines testify: "Without living an intimate relationship with God, life is not possible." Regarding the tasks of the priest, the bishop said: "Celebrate the relationship of God's love to people. You lead people into a relationship with God." Through what you do for poor people in particular, an encounter with God takes place. - In his words of thanks at the end of the priestly ordination, Fr Matthew said: "God leads and guides - me to Admont. He thanked Abbot Gerhard for his always open hands and his open heart. 

The now 32-year-old wrote about his life story in the local parish magazine when he came to Admont: "I was born in 1990 in the state of Indiana (USA) and grew up in the city of Lafayette with a younger brother. As a teenager, I was always active in my parish community, so I decided to study theology and philosophy. After completing my master's degree, I worked for a year as a programme coordinator at Purdue University. While there, I was attracted to the Benedictine way of life, so in 2018 I joined St Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Alabama. For a year and a half, I taught religion and information technology at the abbey school. I came to Admont in the summer of 2020, got to know and appreciate our abbey and the community and decided to transfer my vows here." On 21 March 2022, the new priest took his solemn religious vows. - Fr Matthew chose a sentence from Chapter 72 of the Rule of St Benedict as his motto for his first vows: "Prefer nothing at all to Christ. May he lead us together to eternal life.

Abbot Gerhard Hafner and the monastic community of Admont were joined by the new priest's family (his parents, an uncle and an aunt), his friends, many members of religious communities and many Christians from the abbey parishes (especially from the parish of Admont, where he had completed his pastoral internship) in celebrating this great event in the 949th year of the existence of the Benedictine Abbey of Admont.

Especially in the days leading up to Pentecost, many Catholics pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the so-called Pentecost Novena. May these gifts be given to the new priest in his life as a priest for all the tasks with which he is entrusted! 

Photos: Thomas Sattler