The late Italian medievalist, philosopher, and novelist, Umberto Eco (1932-2016), once described Benedictine monks as the true "Custodians of History." For almost 1,500 years, monks have been saving, cataloging, preserving, restoring, and now digitizing the documents, books, artifacts, and photographs of our cultural history. From deep within the recesses of our previously hidden monastic archives in ancient monasteries throughout the world, new discoveries are being made daily. Since Subiaco Abbey's founding in 1878, we monks in Arkansas have sought to likewise serve as Custodians of History. Sadly, fires at our Abbey in 1901 and 1927 decimated many of our archival materials, but we have sought to preserve what remained and restore missing items through the generosity of donors who had retained those same items separately. Over the course of the next decade we hope to undertake our own digitization that will make available to the public much of our history and the history of the German Catholics in Arkansas. Where we are today is owed to the generosity of God and the abiding commitment of over 200 monks of Subiaco that have gone before us. Through the intercession of these, our monastic brothers, we move forward into the future. UIOGD!

From our founding in 1878, the monks of Subiaco have not only continued the monastic commitment to communally pray the Liturgy of the Hours each day, but have also fostered our Swiss commitment to a decidedly "missionary" outreach as monks. We founded parishes across Arkansas and Texas, and then have entrusted them to the care of dioceses. The parish of St. Benedict's in Subiaco itself was begun when Fr. Wolfgang Schlumpf served as the first Pastor in 1878 caring for the German speaking populace of the rural region. We also undertook service in South Texas with the establishment of Corpus Christi College and Corpus Christi Abbey. In the 1960's we undertook missionary work in Nigeria and Belize. We are slowly gathering photos and information on each of these foundations, so check back here regularly as we develop this section. 

Archival News from Our Past