We’re excited to share the “Meet Saint Vincent” series — a look into the rich history and roots of the Saint Vincent community.  The IMF is built on the strong foundation of Saint Vincent Archabbey and Seminary, and we’re honored to be part of this community. We can’t wait to share its story with you.

In the early autumn of 1846, the parish of St. Vincent near the town of Greensburg received a Benedictine monk by the name of Fr. Boniface Wimmer. That same year, Fr. Boniface was allowed to use this place to build what would become Saint Vincent Archabbey and establish the fourth oldest Catholic seminary in the United States. Though the Pope officially established the seminary only in 1855, the education of seminarians for the priesthood commenced just days after Fr. Boniface arrived with his monks in 1846. The goal of the monastery and seminary was to educate and foster German-speaking priests and religious who could then minister to the growing number of German immigrants arriving in the New World.

Though the seminary’s mission has changed over time, the importance of forming others to go out and address the spiritual needs of the wider world has not been forgotten. Nearly 175 years after Boniface Wimmer established the seminary at St. Vincent, another monk, Fr. Boniface Hicks, O.S.B., established the Institute for Ministry Formation—an extension of the seminary’s call to form priests, laity, and religious to be missionaries to those God places in their lives. Fr. Boniface Hicks, O.S.B., and Fr. Thomas Acklin, O.S.B., taught the first IMF course on Spiritual Direction in 2019, and the IMF has been growing ever since. When the IMF began, it was only possible to receive a certificate in Spiritual Direction from the school. As of today, certificates in Catechetics and Theology are also possible, as well as a Master of Arts in Ministry. We are very grateful to our donors, students, faculty, and staff who have helped make the IMF a reality.

While we are grateful to each person who has made the IMF possible, there would be no Institute for Ministry Formation without the firm foundation of St. Vincent Archabbey and Seminary. In light of this fact, we would like to pay tribute to the Archabbots who have sustained Saint Vincent since its founding almost 180 years ago. We are endeavoring to do this by posting a series of articles on each Archabbot and their role in making Saint Vincent what it is today. Stay tuned for our next article, which will be about Boniface Wimmer and the early growth of Saint Vincent monastery.