Father Koloman Viertler, born Anton Viertler in 1938, in South Tyrol, passed away on June 2, 2025. Deeply connected to his family, he experienced the upheaval of World War II, which led his family to relocate to Styria. After completing school, he entered the Admont Abbey boarding school and joined the Benedictine order in 1957, receiving the name Koloman. He pursued theological studies at the University of Salzburg and was ordained a priest in 1963.
Father Koloman was a gifted musician who served for decades as cantor and choir conductor in both Admont and Mautern. He taught music at the Abbey’s school until 1983, when he became parish priest in Mautern. Over the next three decades, he also ministered to the communities of Kalwang, Kammern, and Wald am Schoberpass, while serving as deputy dean in the Leoben deanery. His devoted pastoral work earned him multiple honors, including honorary citizenship and regional awards.
After retiring in 2013, Father Koloman returned to Admont Abbey, where he became Oblate Director and continued to live a life of prayer, service, and quiet dedication. He will be laid to rest following a series of liturgical celebrations at Admont Abbey, beginning with a vigil on Pentecost Sunday, June 8, and concluding with a Requiem Mass and burial on Pentecost Monday, June 9. His memory lives on in the gratitude and love of the monastic community and the many people he served.