Special to The Message
Two Benedictine monks of St. Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad, Indiana, observed anniversaries of their priesthood ordination in May. Father John McMullen reached his 60th anniversary of priesthood ordination, while Father Denis Quinkert marked his 50th anniversary of ordination. They were honored during Mass on Sunday, May 31.
Father John McMullen is a native of Vincennes, Ind.. He became a monk of Blue Cloud Abbey, Marvin, SD, on Aug. 1, 1960, and made his first profession of vows Aug. 15, 1961.
He studied at St. Meinrad’s high school and college from 1955-60, completing college at Blue Cloud Abbey. He studied theology at St. Bede Abbey, Peru, Illinois, and was ordained a priest on May 29, 1966. He completed graduate studies at The Catholic University of America from 1967-69 and holds a master’s degree in library science.
As a monk of Blue Cloud Abbey, he held various assignments, including 40 years as the abbey librarian. He also ministered in area parishes and worked as the abbey treasurer. He served the Native Americans at St. Ann’s Indian Mission, Belcourt, ND, for three years. When Blue Cloud Abbey closed, Fr. John transferred to St. Meinrad Archabbey in 2013.
From 2016 until June 2021, Father John served as prior (second in leadership) in the monastery. He was an adjunct priest at St. Meinrad Parish in St. Meinrad and St. Boniface Parish in Fulda, Ind., and a commuting chaplain for Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, Ind., from 2013 until 2021. He currently serves as a confessor for the seminary, monastery and Guest House.
Father Denis Quinkert is a native of New Albany, Ind. 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, SD, 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, Mass., and was ordained a priest 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, SD. He was a chaplain to the Benedictine sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery and the students at Mount Marty College in Yankton, SD.
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 and assisted with transportation at St. Meinrad. He is a Mass celebrant for the St. Meinrad Infirmary.