McNamara's Blog
Today marks the death of Abbot Boniface Wimmer, founder of the first Benedictine community in the United States. Born in Bavaria, he was ordained a diocesan priest before joining the Benedictines. He was interested in the German missions to the United States, and in 1846 he brought a group of Benedictines to Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The community grew to include a monastery, college, seminary, and brewery. This foundation evolved into St. Vincent Archabbey, college, and seminary. Throughout the nineteenth century Wimmer sent priests to work among the German immigrants. From Latrobe new Benedictine communities were established in Collegeville, Newark, Atchison, Covington, Texas, Alabama, and Belmont, North Carolina. For more on Wimmer check out this Youtube clip:
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