Prior, former headmaster now abbot of Subiaco Abbey

Published: March 24, 2015

Abbot Leonard Wangler

Father Leonard Wangler, OSB, was elected the seventh abbot of Subiaco Abbey March 24, succeeding Abbot Jerome Kodell, who has served in the position for 25 years.

Abbot Leonard was elected by the monastic chapter by secret ballot. Thirteen monks were eligible to be considered. Abbots, according to Church law, must be priests with five years of perpetual profession and at least 35 years old.

After the election, Abbot Leonard immediately took over leadership of the abbey. Abbots are elected for an indefinite period of time.

Most recently, Abbot Leonard has been the abbey’s prior.

Abbot Jerome will be given a community assignment and be known again as Father Jerome.

Abbot Leonard, 71, made his profession of vows on Sept. 8, 1963, and was ordained a priest on June 6, 1970. He was born Sept. 16, 1943, in Fort Worth, Texas, and is a 1961 graduate of Laneri High School, a Benedictine school in Fort Worth.

He attended St. Joseph Abbey Seminary in Covington, La., St. Bernard College in Cullman, Ala., and Immaculate Conception Abbey Seminary in Conception, Mo. He studied theology at Subiaco Abbey Seminary for one year in 1966 and concluded them at St. Louis University in 1970.

Following ordination, Abbot Leonard was assigned to Sacred Heart Church in Muenster, Texas, where he served as associate pastor and taught religion in Sacred Heart School. He returned to Subiaco in the summer of 1973 and was assigned to work in Subiaco Academy where he served many years as a residence hall dean and math, science and religion teacher. From 1975-1981, he was abbey and academy infirmarian, while still teaching and “deaning” in the academy.

During the summers of 1981-1983, Abbot Leonard worked toward earning his master's degree in educational administration at St. Louis University. Upon completion of his master's degree, he was assigned as dean of men in the academy from 1983-1986, 1988-1989 and 1991-1999, in addition to his teaching duties.

Abbot Leonard also served as academy headmaster from 1986-1988 and interim headmaster from 2010-2011. He served as academy store manager (1988-1990), academy chaplain (1990-1991), and for many years as a school bus driver. In August 1999, Abbot Leonard was appointed director of monastic formation by Abbot Jerome. He served in this ministry until 2007, while teaching part-time in the academy.

Abbot Leonard was appointed the prior in 2012 by Abbot Jerome, a position he held until his election as abbot.