A significant transition has taken place at the Abbey of St. Felicitas in Münsterschwarzach. On Easter Monday, 21 April, the monastic community bid farewell to Prior Pascal Herold upon his retirement after 12 years of dedicated service. During a small ceremony, his confreres expressed their gratitude, remembering him as faithful, conscientious, always at the service of the abbot, possessing a great sense of humor, and a prior who prioritized the community ("we") over himself ("I"). He was also recognized as a good listener, helpful, modest, caring, and attentive to the elderly and sick. Abbot Michael Reepen particularly thanked Prior Pascal for his unwavering support and for always placing the entire community first, noting the pleasant and problem-free cooperation between him and the subprior.

Following Prior Pascal's retirement, Abbot Michael has appointed Br. Jeremia Martin Schwachhöfer as the new prior of the Abbey of St. Felicitas. Born in Frankfurt in 1968 and raised in Heusenstamm, Hesse, Br. Jeremia brings a diverse background to his new role. He studied mathematics at the Technical University of Darmstadt, earning a doctorate in natural sciences before working as a research assistant at the same institution. Br. Jeremia entered the monastery in 1997, made his temporary profession in 2000, and subsequently studied theology from 1999 to 2003, concurrently pursuing studies to become a secondary school teacher until 2004. Prior to his appointment, he served as the deputy director of the gymnasium associated with the abbey and is known as a passionate teacher.

The process of selecting a new prior involved consulting the community, where every monk with perpetual profession could suggest a name, and even younger monks, novices, and those with temporary vows were allowed to make proposals. Abbot Michael reviewed these suggestions, considered who he deemed suitable, and sought the opinion of the Seniorate before making his final decision. While the Rule of St. Benedict allows the abbot to appoint the prior alone, it is considered more prudent to have the support of the Seniorate and the broader community. Br. Jeremia himself was very surprised by the appointment and acknowledged the challenges of transitioning from his role as deputy headmaster. He will retain this role but will need to delegate some responsibilities. The few months leading up to the formal appointment were an important transitional period. Both Prior Pascal and Br. Jeremia share a similar fundamental understanding of being present and approachable within the community. Prior Pascal believes that Br. Jeremia, representing a younger generation, brings new potential and a fresh perspective to the role. Br. Jeremia noted that he is not someone inclined to make rapid changes, but recognizes that his different approach will naturally lead to some shifts.

Learn more about this transition in an interview with both Prior Pascal and the newly appointed Prior Jeremia Martin (in German) by clicking on the link below.