On 29 July 2026, bells rang out across the campus of Saint Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Alabama, to announce the election of the Right Reverend Brendan J. Seipel OSB as the eleventh abbot in the community’s 135-year history. The election chapter was presided over by the Right Reverend Jonathan R. Licari OSB, Abbot President of the American-Cassinese Congregation. The proceedings commenced on 15 June with a Mass of the Holy Spirit and were temporarily recessed for canonical recourse to the Holy See before Abbot Brendan was formally elected and confirmed.

Following the chapter, the monks gathered in the abbey church for a service of thanksgiving at which Abbot Brendan presided. The community was joined by the Most Reverend Steven J. Raica, Bishop of Birmingham in Alabama, and the Most Rev. Robert J. Baker, Bishop Emeritus, alongside diocesan priests, Benedictine sisters from Sacred Heart Monastery and lay guests. Abbot Brendan assumes responsibility as spiritual and temporal leader immediately, with a formal blessing to take place in the coming months.

A native of Lanesville, Indiana, Abbot Brendan entered Saint Bernard Abbey in 2002 and professed monastic vows on 21 March 2004. Prior to his election he served the community in numerous administrative and pastoral capacities. His previous assignments include guest master, director of the Saint Boniface Retreat Center, director of the abbey farm, member of the senior council, subprior and prior.

Saint Bernard Abbey was established in 1891 by monks from Saint Vincent Archabbey in Pennsylvania, continuing a monastic lineage tracing back to eighth-century Metten Abbey in Bavaria. Today the monks maintain an active educational and pastoral apostolate. They operate Saint Bernard Preparatory School, welcome visitors to the historic Ave Maria Grotto created by Brother Joseph Zoetle OSB in 1934 and host guests at their retreat and conference centre.