Fr. Gerald Mesmer (1915-1995)

Father Gerald John Mesmer was one of the several vocations to our community from St. John’s Parish, Burlington, Iowa.  Others have been Eugene Dehner, Alfred Koestner, Peter Beckman, Albert Hauser, Anthony Vorwerk, and Paul Steingraeber. 

He received his education in Burlington up to a year in junior college.  Then he transferred to St. Benedict’s College, made first profession July 11, 1937, and received a bachelor’s degree in 1939 in history, cum laude.  After theological school at the abbey he was ordained May 30, 1942.  He earned a master’s in political science at the University of Michigan, and a masters in library science from Emporia State University.  He also studied at Ottawa University, Ottawa, Canada. 

Father Gerald taught for seven years at Maur Hill School and from 1950-1983 taught at St. Benedict’s College and Benedictine College.  He was librarian at Benedictine College from 1977-1980, and later was assistant at St. Benedict’s Parish, Atchison.  Amid all this activity Abbot Thomas Hartman chose Gerald as Prior of the community from 1964-1971.  Father Gerald was a generous and warm-hearted monk ready to work for the good of the community and of anyone who asked his help.