History of Saint Michael's Priests

Father Michael Mertz

Father Michael was the first priest to serve the Saint Florian community. He was born in Germany in 1829 and died of smallpox on February 12 or 13, 1876. He is buried in St Michael's Cemetery. 

Father Severin Laufenbery

Father Severin was born on March 18, 1847 in Schneiderhoebe Rheno, Prussia. He died on April 29, 1929. He served as a priest for St Michael's from 1872-1900.

Father Gabriel Guerster

Father Gabriel was born on August 2, 1832 in Lobmannswies, Bavaria. He died on June 2, 1892. He served as a priest for St Michael's from 1876 - 1877.

Father Benedict Menges

Father Benedict was born on July 31, 1840 in Obermohr, Rhenish, Bavaria. He died on July 11, 1904. He served as a priest for St Michael's from 1877-1878.

Father Matthew Shueremburg

Father Matthew was born on January 11, 1828 in Norden, Hannover. He died on April 28, 188. He served as a priest for St Michael's only in 1878.

Father Henry Hohman

Father Henry was born on November 15, 1856 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He died on June 6, 1903. He served as a priest for St Michael's from 1884-1885.

Father Joseph Keller

Father Joseph was born on September 14, 1847 in Obermohr, Rhenish Bavaria. He died on June 8, 1907. He served as a priest for St Michael's from 1878-1891.

Father Severin Laufenberg

Father Severin served as a priest for St Michael's from 1891-1892 and from 1894-1900.

Father Fridolin Meyer

Father Fridolin was born on July 6, 1854 in Saeckingen, Baden. He died on March 23, 1936. He served as a priest for St Michael's 1892-1894.

Father Leo Mayer

Father Leo was born on September 10, 1873 in Pfafferburg, Bavaria. He died on February 7, 1946. He served St Michael's only in 1900.

Father Placidus Becker

Father Placidus was born on February 26, 1873 in Stuckenbrock, Westphalia. He died on May 12, 1948. He served St Michael's from 1900-1902.

Father Dennis Stolz

Father Dennis was born on February 7, 1845 in Williamsburg, New York. He died on February 17, 1912. He served St Michael's 1902-1903.

Father Jacob Lauth

Father Jacb was born on April 16, 1845 in Bous, Luxenburg. He died on August 29, 1945. He served St Michael's on in 1903.

Father Augustine Palm

Father Augustine was born on March 29, 1875 in Oberhausen, Rheno-Bavaria. He died on January 20, 1961. He served St Michael's from 1903-1907.

Father Alphonse Klug

Father Alphonse was born on August 20, 1875 in Hamburg, Rheno-Bavaria. He died on June 26, 1984. He served St Michael's from 1907-1933.

Father Vincent Haegele

Father Vincent was born on January 16, 1874 in Johnstown, Pennsyvania. He died on November 3, 1935. He served St Michael's from 1933-1934.

Father Albert Hilger

Father Albert was born on December 5, 1881 in Deggendorf, Bavaria. He died on April 29, 1973. He served St Michael's from 1934-1953.

Father Sylvester Fangman

Father Sylvester was born on July 10, 1887 in Dinklage, Estphalia. He died on February 2, 1960. He served St Michael's from 1953-1960.

Father Peter Diesel O.S.B.

Father Peter was born on February 21, 1900 in Millstadt, Illinois. He died on May 21, 1977. He served St Michael's from 1960-1961.

Father Fabian Hoffman O.S.B.

Father Fabian was born on January 13, 1900 in Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania. He died on January 22, 1989. He served St Michael's only in 1961.

Father Damian Gusmus O.S.B.

Father Damian was born on October 30, 1911 in Florence, Alabama. He died on October 23, 1979. He served St Michael's from 1961-1974.

Father Gabriel Germann O.S.B.

Father Gabriel was born on July 25, 1909 in Ripley, Ohio. He died on June 23,1978. He served St Michael's from 1974-1976.

Father Bernard Patterson O.S.B.

Father Bernard was born on January 3, 1918 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He served St Michael's from 1976-1979.

Father David Morehouse O.S.B.

Father David was born on August 17, 1925 in Memphis Tennessee. He served St Michael's from 1984-1992.

Father Thomas O'Connor O.S.B.

Father Thomas was born on February 24, 1919 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He served St Michael's from 1992-1996.

Abbot Victor J. Clark O.S.B.

Father Victor was born on January 7, 1930 in Cullman, Alabama. He was ordanied a priest on June 5, 1954 and elected as the eight Abbot of St Bernard on May 22, 1987. Victor retired as Abbot in 1995 and then came up to serve at St Michael's from 1996-2008. He resided at St Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Alabama until his death on January 27, 2024. He is buried at the Abbey cemetery.

Father Edward Markley O.S.B.

Father Edward was born on Spetember 5, 1939 in Atlanta, Georgia. He professed his vows as a monk on June 12, 1960 and ordained to the priesthood on June 10, 1966. Father Edward served St Michael's from November 2008 til July 2014. He passed away on January 14, 2019 and is buried at the Abbey Cemetery. 

Father Jacob Amos O.S.B.

Father Jacob served St Michael's from August 2014 - April 2016.

Father John O'Donnell O.S.B.

Father John was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 7, 1952. John made his profession as a monk on March 21, 1982 and was ordained a priest on October 24, 1998. He came to St Michael's in April 2016 and served til October 1, 2021. He resides and continues his monastic duties at St Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Alabama.

Abbot Cletus D. Meagher O.S.B.

Abbot Cletus was born in Cleveland, Tennessee on November 15, 1944. He professed his vows in 1965 and was ordained a priest in May 1971. In May 1995 Cletus was elected as the nineth abbot of Saint Bernard Abbey and retired as abbot in July 2019. Abbot Cletus was appointed pastor of St Michael's on October 1, 2021.