On 30 September 2026, following a serious illness and strengthened by the Sacraments of the Church, the Reverend Father Martin Mayrhofer OSB, Benedictine monk of Seitenstetten Abbey, passed away in the abbey’s infirmary. Born Leopold Mayrhofer in 1942 in Loosdorf near Melk, he entered the Benedictine novitiate after completing his secondary education at Seitenstetten Abbey School, taking the religious name Martin. He studied philosophy and theology in Rome and Salzburg and was ordained a priest in 1966. His years in Rome during the Second Vatican Council broadened his vision of the universal Church and deepened his appreciation of art and culture.
Father Martin devoted his life to education, pastoral ministry and the arts. As a teacher of art at Seitenstetten Abbey School, he inspired generations of students through his artistic knowledge, high standards and dedication. Appointed curator of the abbey’s art collections in 1984, he played a significant role in their preservation and presentation, contributed to the abbey’s restoration and helped prepare the 1988 Lower Austrian Provincial Exhibition. An accomplished artist himself, he explored sculpture, graphic arts, watercolour and tempera painting, presenting his work in numerous exhibitions. Alongside his artistic pursuits, he served faithfully as a priest, becoming parish priest of Krenstetten in 1999, where he left a lasting mark through the renovation of the parish and pilgrimage church and his devoted care for the Fatima pilgrimages.
Following the onset of cancer in 2026, his strength gradually declined, and he withdrew from his public ministry. In his final months, he was lovingly cared for by his monastic community, finding comfort in visits and quiet walks along the cloister. With the passing of Father Martin, Seitenstetten Abbey loses a distinctive personality, a devoted pastor and an artist whose work has profoundly enriched its cultural and spiritual heritage. His legacy will endure in the lives he touched, the students he inspired, the art he created and preserved, and the faith he served with unwavering dedication. May he rest in the peace of the Lord.