Special to The Message
Benedictine Father Simon Herrmann was appointed the new director of monastery vocations for St. Meinrad Archabbey by Benedictine Archabbot Kurt Stasiak, effective Dec. 14, 2024.
The role of the vocation director is to encourage young men in their discernment of monastic life, to share about monastic life in various capacities to various groups to spread awareness of the Benedictine monastic vocation and to ultimately help a young man with the next steps in joining the monastery.
Father Simon joined the monastic community of St. Meinrad in January 2015 and professed his solemn vows in 2019. He was ordained a priest in 2021.
He is a former resident of Findlay, Ohio, and a graduate of the University of Dayton, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in communication management in 2010. He earned a master of arts degree (Catholic Philosophical Studies) in 2017 and a master of divinity degree in 2021, both from St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology.
Father Simon worked as an associate editor for the national office of Beta Theta Pi fraternity from 2010-11 and then at St. Meinrad Archabbey as the director of alumni relations from 2011-14. He also served as a college intern for three summers in St. Meinrad’s “One Bread, One Cup” program.
In addition to his new role, Father Simon serves as the director of donor relations and young adult engagement in the Development Office at St. Meinrad.
The previous vocations director, Benedictine Brother Zachary Wilberding, served in the role for eight years. He will continue to serve the Vocations Office as vocations socius. In his new role, Brother Zachary will coordinate the visit of vocation guests to the monastery by making sure they know their way around the monastery, organizing their work assignments and encouraging them to get to know other monks.