Five Benedictine monks celebrate priesthood jubilees

Benedictine Fathers Columba Kelly, from left, Harold Hammerstein, Simeon Daly, Rupert Ostdick and Damian Schmelz pose for a photograph after celebrating their priesthood jubilees on May 25 at Saint Meinrad Archabbey Church in St. Meinrad. (Submitted photo)

Criterion staff report

The Benedictine monks of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad celebrated the

60-year priesthood jubilees of Fathers Simeon Daly, Harold Hammerstein and Rupert Ostdick as well as the 50-year jubilees of Fathers Columba Kelly and Damian Schmelz on May 25.

Father Simeon was born on May 9, 1922, in Detroit. He professed vows on Aug. 10, 1944, and was ordained on May 18, 1948.

He attended high school, college and seminary at Saint Meinrad, and later earned a Licentiate in Sacred Theology and a master’s degree in library science at The Catholic University of America in Washington.

Father Simeon taught religion and liturgy at Saint Meinrad, and served as assistant librarian for two years. In 1951, he was appointed head librarian.

He also served as monastery subprior—third in leadership—for three years from 1975-78.

He served the American Theological Library Association as a board member from 1973-76, as president from 1979-81 and as executive secretary from 1985-90.

After almost 50 years, Father Simeon retired as librarian on Aug. 1, 2000.

He currently helps the staff in the Archabbey’s Development Office.

Father Harold was born on Oct. 13, 1923, in Evansville, Ind. He professed vows on Aug. 10, 1944, and was ordained on July 10, 1948.

A physical education teacher in the former minor seminary at Saint Meinrad for many years, Father Harold also served for a time as a chaplain at the federal penitentiary in Terre Haute.

From 1975-78, Father Harold was the pastor of St. Augustine Parish in Leopold, Ind.

Since 1978, Father Harold has resided in Evansville and assisted at St. Benedict Cathedral.

Father Rupert was born on Nov. 14, 1921, in Elgin, Ill. He professed vows on Aug. 10, 1944, and was ordained on May 18, 1948.

He completed his college and seminary studies at Saint Meinrad.

Father Rupert served for a year as assistant treasurer of the Archabbey then as treasurer from 1948-79.

During those years, he also served as assistant spiritual director, spiritual director, master of novices and instructor of clerics.

In 1972, Father Rupert assumed the role of the Archabbey’s business manager and treasurer. In 1979, he was appointed general manager of Abbey Press.

Father Rupert served the monastic community as subprior from 1986-96.

In 1991, he began working with employees’ health claims in the Archabbey’s Human Resources Department. He currently serves as the co-worker pastoral liaison.

Father Columba was born on Oct. 30, 1930, in Williamsburg, Iowa. He professed vows on July 31, 1953, and was ordained to the priesthood on July 5, 1958.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at the former Saint Meinrad College, and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Sacred Music from the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome.

Father Columba was the Archabbey choirmaster for many years, beginning in 1964. During that time, he began composing English-language chants based on the principles used to create original chant repertory.

He taught summer sessions at St. Joseph College’s liturgical music program in Rensselear, Ind., from 1964-72.

Father Columba was prior—second in leadership—of the monastery from 1978-84. From 1984-89, he was a professor at the former Saint Meinrad College.

In addition to composing, he gives workshops and publishes extensively in scholarly journals.

Father Columba is a commuting chaplain for Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, Ind., and a member of the adjunct faculty at Saint Meinrad School of Theology.

Father Damian was born on May 7, 1932, in Georgetown. He professed vows on July 31, 1953, and was ordained on May 3, 1958.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at the former Saint Meinrad College, a Bachelor of Sacred Theology at The Catholic University of America, and master’s and doctorate degrees at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.

Father Damian began his teaching career as a biology instructor at Saint Meinrad in 1959. He was named the assistant dean of students at Saint Meinrad College in 1971, a college trustee in 1974 and college academic dean in 1975, positions he held until the college was closed in 1998.

Father Damian has served as pastor of St. Henry Parish in St. Henry, Ind., since 2001. †