Abbot Justin Brown, left, and former rector and newly-elected Abbot Gregory Boquet.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Saint Joseph Abbey<\/a> in Covington, Louisiana, U.S.A., is celebrating two milestones in its history: the election of former Abbot Justin Brown as abbot president of the Swiss-American Congregation<\/a> on 25 June and the election of Father Gregory Boquet<\/a>, former rector of Saint Joseph Seminary College<\/a>, as the sixth abbot of the monastery on 14 July.<\/p>\n The two abbots attended Saint Joseph Seminary College together in 1976 and became friends. Abbot Gregory made first profession to the monastery in 1983; Abbot Justin first professed in 1984. Similarly, Abbot Gregory was ordained in 1988 and Abbot Justin in 1990.<\/p>\n After the resignation of Abbot Patrick Regan<\/a> in 2001, Abbot Justin was elected the fifth abbot of Saint Joseph. Almost immediately afterward, he faced his first crisis, a fire in the monastery that necessitated an extensive, year-long renovation of the building. A few years later, in 2005, Hurricane Katrina damaged buildings and leveled many of the trees on the farm, threatening a source of income for the abbey. Then, in 2016, the Abbey suffered a major flood<\/a> that caused $30 million in damages to all 31 buildings on the property.<\/p>\n Through the grace of God and under Abbot Justin’s leadership, the abbey not only weathered these catastrophes, but began new business initiatives to meet the challenge. Abbey Woodworks<\/a>, which overcame a lawsuit argued successfully in the United States Supreme Court<\/a>, gained the right to produce and sell caskets and urns; Abbey Cemetery<\/a> offers plots and columbariums for perpetual care; Abbey Art Works<\/a> hosts art retreats and ongoing lessons by renowned artists; and MonkSoap, Abbee Honey, MonkSweets and MonkCandles, artisanal products hand-crafted by monks and volunteers, are sold in the Abbey Gift Shop<\/a>.<\/p>\n After these 22 challenging and fruitful years, on 31 May, Abbot Justin announced that he would resign his post<\/a>. A few weeks later, during the General Chapter held at Saint Meinrad Archabbey in Illinois, he was elected Abbot President of the Swiss-American Congregation.<\/p>\n Abbot Gregory Boquet served as rector of the seminary college for 25 years. During his tenure there, he oversaw the doubling of enrollment; the renovations of two dorms<\/a> and an auditorium; the construction of a three-story, state-of-the-art library<\/a>; the installation and expansion of digital equipment and infrastructure; the renovation of the administration building after a fire<\/a>; and the restoration of the entire seminary physical plant after the flood of 2016.<\/p>\n