Abbot Jerome Kodell to step down after 25 years

Published: January 22, 2015

Abbot Jerome Kodell, OSB

Subiaco Abbey announced via social media Jan. 22 that Abbot Jerome Kodell, OSB, who has led the abbey for 25 years, will resign, effective March 24.

The monks will elect a new leader from their religious community on March 24 to replace the abbot, who is 75 years old. The abbey has 43 members. Of the 13 eligible candidates, 12 of them are 65 years old and older.

“He is in good health and has decided to resign at this time so that there will be a smooth transition of leadership while he is still able to help,” the abbey reported. “He will continue to live and work at the abbey, receiving assignments from the new abbot. The abbot of a Benedictine abbey has authority over the members of the religious community and all the community’s works and ministries.”

On a post on the countrymonks.org website, the abbot wrote, “After prayerful consideration, I have decided to petition the abbot president and his Council for permission to resign as abbot within the next few months, and I have received that permission. A new election will be held on Tuesday, March 24. I am not resigning because of health issues or burnout but in the interest of an orderly transition of authority in our monastery at this time. I have been very blessed to be abbot of this wonderful community and would gladly continue indefinitely. But a concern arises because of the requirements of Church law for the election of a new abbot and how they might impact the community in case of my sudden disability or death.
“According to Church law, eligibility for the office of abbot requires priestly ordination, five years in perpetual profession as a monk and 35 years of age. Because of the priesthood requirement, our pool of eligible candidates is very small and aging. Of the 13 eligible candidates in our community at this time, as of this spring 12 will be in their 70s and 80s and one will be 65.
“I am presently in good health and can help the new abbot with the transition and will also be able to accept assignments from him, but the longer I wait the heavier will be the burden for my successor, who even if younger than me will already be past the age customary for retirement in our culture. Another part of the reasoning is that over half of our present members have had no experience of the transition of authority here, and the experience of transition will be easier for them if it doesn’t come suddenly with my disability or death.
“The abbot president has also given me permission to return to my position in the community according to the date of my profession and, following the example of Abbots Michael and Raphael, to relinquish the title of abbot and the marks of abbatial office.”