Special to The Message
Four Benedictine monks of St. Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad, Indiana, observed anniversaries of their monastic profession in July. Father Denis Quinkert, Father Lambert Reilly, and Father Meinrad Brune marked their 70th anniversary of profession, and Father Anthony Vinson celebrated his 25th anniversary. They were honored during Mass on July 26.
Father Denis Quinkert is a native of New Albany, Indiana. In 1950, he came to St. Meinrad to study at St. Placid Hall, a high school for those interested in becoming monastic brothers. He joined the Benedictine monastery at Blue Cloud Abbey in Marvin, South Dakota, in 1954, and professed his vows on Feb. 10, 1956.
As a Benedictine brother, he worked on the abbey farm, helped with the construction of the monastery and farm buildings, and served as a prefect at the Indian schools staffed by Blue Cloud Abbey.
He later studied theology at Pope John XXIII Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts, and was ordained a priest on May 25, 1976. He served as a pastor at Fort Totten in North Dakota and at Wagner and Milbank in South Dakota, as well as at St. Paul Parish in Marty, South Dakota. He was a chaplain to the Benedictine sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery and the students at Mount Marty College in Yankton, South Dakota.
Father Denis was elected abbot of Blue Cloud Abbey two times, serving from 1986–1991 and again from 2009 until the abbey closed in 2012. At that time, he joined the St. Meinrad community.
He has served as a commuting chaplain for Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, Indiana, and assisted with transportation at St. Meinrad. He is a Mass celebrant for the St. Meinrad Infirmary.
Father Lambert Reilly is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He made his profession of vows on Aug. 15, 1956, and was ordained a priest on Sept. 20, 1959.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. Vincent College, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, in 1955. He also holds Master of Divinity and Master of Religious Education degrees from St. Meinrad School of Theology, as well as a Master of Science in Education from Duquesne University.
In addition, he did graduate studies at The Catholic University of America, Georgetown University, University of Evansville and Arkansas State University.
Father Lambert served as the archabbot of the monastic community from 1995 to 2004. He then returned to his work of preaching and giving retreats. For more than 40 years, Father Lambert has been a retreat director and speaker on issues of spirituality and prayer.
Father Lambert also taught Latin and education courses at St. Meinrad College, Mount Sacred Heart College in Hamden, Connecticut, and Penn State University. In addition, he served as principal of St. Elizabeth High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and as a consultant to the Diocese of Peoria’s Office of Education.
He also has assisted in parishes, worked in public relations, and served as guest master, assistant oblate director, assistant to the novice master and pro-prior. He is the author of two books, “Because There Is Jesus” and “Latin Sayings for Spiritual Growth.”
Father Meinrad Brune grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. He made his profession of vows on Aug. 15, 1956, and was ordained a priest on May 7, 1961. He has a Master of Arts degree from Butler University, a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from The Catholic University of America, and a Master of Divinity from St. Meinrad School of Theology.
Following ordination, Father Meinrad taught at St. Meinrad High School and College for 16 years. For the next seven years, he served as pastor at St. Meinrad Parish in St. Meinrad, Indiana, and St. Mary Parish, Huntingburg, Indiana.
In 1984, he began work in St. Meinrad’s Development Office as an associate director and then as alumni director for nine years. He served as director of the Benedictine Oblate community from 1995–2017. He was the archivist for the St. Meinrad Archives and for the archives of the Swiss-American Benedictine Congregation from 2017 until 2023, when he retired from official work in the monastery.
Father Meinrad currently offers Mass in the Infirmary chapel, hears confessions in the Guest House, School and monastery, writes letters, gives conferences and retreats, and helps in the monastery Vestry.
Father Anthony Vinson is a native of Cedar Falls, Iowa. He professed vows as a Benedictine monk on Aug. 6, 2001, and was ordained a priest on June 5, 2005. He earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Northwest Missouri State University before completing a Master of Arts in Catholic Thought and Life and a Master of Divinity at St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology.
Following ordination, Father Anthony served in a variety of leadership and formation ministries at St. Meinrad. He was director of monastery vocations, associate spiritual director and director of pastoral formation for the seminary. He was also director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Formation, overseeing the “One Bread, One Cup” (OBOC) summer liturgical leadership conferences for high school youth and the College Ministerial Internship Program. He has long served as a spiritual director and retreat facilitator for priests, religious, seminarians, dioceses, and other organizations.
From 2009 through September 2025, Fr. Anthony was administrator of St. Boniface Parish in Fulda, Indiana, and St. Meinrad Parish in St. Meinrad, Indiana. He also served the Archdiocese of Indianapolis on the Council of Priests and, later, on the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council.
From 2007–2013, he served on the National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC) Board of Directors. He is a founding member of the National Fund for Catholic Religious Vocations (NFCRV) and currently serves as chairman of the board.
Locally, he serves on the Board of Directors of Lincoln Hills Development Corporation Inc., and as president of Cooperative Action for Community Development Inc. (CACD). He previously served on the Catholic Charities Advisory Board and on the Board of Directors for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Children in Spencer County.
Father Anthony assists with hospitality in the St. Meinrad Guest House and Retreat Center and with donor visits through the Development Office. He serves as student chaplain at St. Xavier High School in Louisville, Kentucky, as a spiritual director for priests and religious, and as a Mass celebrant for the monastery infirmary.