Father Andrew Campbell OSB

Father Andrew Campbell, O.S.B.
A monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey
Born: September 26, 1951
Professed: July 10, 1977
Ordained: May 23, 1981
Died: February 28, 2021

Father Andrew S. Campbell, O.S.B., a monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey, died Sunday, February 28, 2021 after a brief illness. He was born September 26, 1951 in Mexico, Maine, a son of Warren J. Campbell, Mexico, Maine, and the late Yvonne M. (Turbide) Campbell. He was one of five children, including Jeffrey Lee Campbell, Boston, Massachusetts; Paula Jean Campbell, Mexico, Maine; Daniel Campbell, Tilton, New Hampshire, and Kit Campbell, Mexico, Maine.

He was a 1969 graduate of Mexico High School. He attended Orange County Community College, Middletown, New York, and received a bachelor of arts degree in history from the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., in 1973. He attended Washington Theological Coalition, Silver Springs, Maryland. He earned a master of divinity degree with highest honors from Saint Vincent Seminary in 1980, and a master of arts degree in speech/ communication from Pennsylvania State University in 1983. He received a doctorate in 1989 from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, in the College of Speech.

Father Andrew made simple profession of monastic vows on July 10, 1977 and solemn profession of vows on July 11, 1980. He was ordained a priest on May 23, 1981 by the late Bishop William G. Connare of Greensburg at Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica.

At Saint Vincent Archabbey his various roles through the years included assistant master of ceremonies and sacristan, assistant director of lay retreats, and junior master for the Archabbey for nine years. He taught in the communication program at Saint Vincent College. He worked with the American Benedictine Academy as videographer, and became communication workshop coordinator at Saint Vincent Archabbey. He served weekend ministry at various parishes in the dioceses of Greensburg and Altoona-Johnstown.

He joined the Saint Vincent Archabbey Public Relations staff in 2007 and served as a videographer and producer of lecture DVDs for the Archabbey, primarily with the Oblates of Saint Benedict program. He was involved with the Archabbey website and he developed the initial website for the Saint Benedict Education Foundation, which is affiliated with Sant’ Anselmo in Rome, the international Benedictine university in Rome. He also served as archivist of Saint Vincent Archabbey for 12 years.

Most of Andrew’s confreres would readily equate him with a couple of trademark words or phrases. AMEN is one of them. ALLELUIA! Is another and probably the one most closely associated with him. But there is another phrase that was a favorite of his years ago: He delighted in saying in Greek, DOXA TO THEO / GLORY TO GOD!

It may at first seem incongruous to talk about God’s glory when we grieve the death of one beloved among us. Death may come to us as an example of God’s defeat, not God’s victory. And yet, God’s glory in Jesus is a symbol that Andrew’s life with us — even to the end — truly reflected God’s glory.

The body of Father Andrew was received Friday, March 5, 2021, at Saint Vincent Archabbey, and a vigil service was held that evening. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Saturday, March 6, 2021 by Archabbot Martin de Porres Bartel, O.S.B., in the Archabbey Basilica. The rite of committal followed in the Mary, Mother of Wisdom Mausoleum Chapel at Saint Vincent Cemetery.

We ask for your charity and customary suffrages. It is consoling to know that every monk of our monastery offers three Masses for the repose of Father Andrew’s soul, and that he will be included among those confreres for whom all professed monks of our Congregation offer Mass monthly.

MAY FLIGHTS OF ANGELS SING THEE TO THY REST

Saint Vincent Archabbey Latrobe, Pennsylvania
+Martin R. Bartel, O.S.B. Archabbot