History of Saint Michael's Priests
Father Michael Mertz
Father Michael was born in Bauler, in the parish of Rodershausen, Trier Diocese, Kries Bitburg-Pruem, Prussia in March 1827 (or 1829). He was ordained a priest in Speyer Cathedral in August 1853. He served in St. Peter’s Church in Gruenstadt, Speyer Diocese, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany beginning in February 1863. In September 1865 he attended the annual meeting of German Catholics in Trier. One of the topics discussed during that meeting was how to “help the many German emigrants to the U.S. who were living there without proper care their souls”. In August 1869 he resigned and left his parish to serve German Catholics in the United States. He was the first permanent pastor of St Michael, he came in the late spring of 1873. He died of smallpox on February 12 or 13, 1876. He is buried in St Michael's Cemetery.
Father Gabriel Guerster O.S.B.
Father Gabriel was born on August 2, 1832 in Lobmannswies, Bavaria. He died on June 2, 1892. He served as the first Benedictine priest at St Michael's from 1876 - 1877.
Father Benedict Menges
Father Benedict was born on July 31, 1840 in Obermohr, Rhenish, Bavaria. He died on July 11, 1904. He served as a priest for St Michael's from 1877-1878.
Father Matthew Shueremburg
Father Matthew was born on January 11, 1828 in Norden, Hannover. He died on April 28, 188. He served as a priest for St Michael's only in 1878.
Father Henry Hohman
Father Henry was born on November 15, 1856 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He died on June 6, 1903. He served as a priest for St Michael's from 1884-1885.
Father Joseph Keller O.S.B.
Father Joseph was born on September 14, 1847 in Obermohr, Rhenish Bavaria. He died on June 8, 1907. He served as a priest for St Michael's from 1878-1884 and 1885-1891.
Father Severin Laufenberg
Father Severin served as a priest for St Michael's from 1891-1892. Father Severin would return to serve the parish two years later.
Father Fridolin Meyer O.S.B.
Father Fridolin was born on July 6, 1854 in Saeckingen, Baden. He died on March 23, 1936. He served as a priest for St Michael's 1892-1894.
Father Severin Laufenbery
Father Severin returned back to served as a priest for St Michael's from 1894-1900. He was born on March 18, 1847 in Schneiderhoebe Rheno, Prussia. He died on April 29, 1929. He served as a priest for St Michael's from 1871-1872.
Father Leo Mayer O.S.B.
Father Leo was born on September 10, 1873 in Pfafferburg, Bavaria. He died on February 7, 1946. He served St Michael's only in 1900.
Father Placidus Becker O.S.B.
Father Placidus was born on February 26, 1873 in Stuckenbrock, Westphalia. He used his talent to fresco the church. He died on May 12, 1948. He served St Michael's from 1900-1902.
Father Dennis Stolz
Father Dennis was born on February 7, 1845 in Williamsburg, New York. He died on February 17, 1912. He served St Michael's 1902-1903.
Father Jacob Lauth O.S.B.
Father Jacob was born on April 16, 1845 in Bous, Luxenburg. He was a linguist and a zealous missionary, who in his younger years did convert two Lutheran ministers. He died on August 29, 1945. He served St Michael's on in 1903.
Father Augustine Palm O.S.B.
Father Augustine was born on March 29, 1875 in Oberhausen, Rheno-Bavaria. He was newly ordained and "great singer before the Lord" upon joining the parish. He died on January 20, 1961. He served St Michael's from 1903-1907.
Father Alphonse Klug O.S.B.
Father Alphonse was born on August 20, 1875 in Hamburg, Rheno-Bavaria. He served St Michael for 26 years and during his time the new Church and school were built. He died on June 26, 1984. He served St Michael's from 1907-1933.
Father Vincent Haegele O.S.B.
Father Vincent was born on January 16, 1874 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He only served five months due to ill health which was aggravated by the shock of seeing his parsonage burn. He died on November 3, 1935. He served St Michael's from 1933-1934.
Father Albert Hilger
Father Albert was born on December 5, 1881 in Deggendorf, Bavaria. He became a monk at St Bernard Abbey on July 2, 1899. He lived in the church sacristy until the new rectory was completed in December 1934. He died on April 29, 1973. He served St Michael's from March 22, 1934-1953.
Father Sylvester Fangman O.S.B.
Father Sylvester was born on July 10, 1887 in Dinklage, Estphalia. He had a Masters degree in the classical languages and was a talented musician playing the cornet and organ. He died on February 2, 1960 still as pastor of St Michael and is buried at St Bernard Abbey. He served St Michael's from 1953-1960.
Father Peter Diesel O.S.B.
Father Peter was born on February 21, 1900 in Millstadt, Illinois. He died on May 21, 1977. He served St Michael's from 1960-1961.
Father Fabian Hoffman O.S.B.
Father Fabian was born on January 13, 1900 in Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania. He died on January 22, 1989. He served St Michael's only in 1961 as a temporary administrator.
Father Damian Gusmus O.S.B.
Father Damian was born on October 30, 1911 in Florence, Alabama. He died on October 23, 1979. He served St Michael's from June 15, 1961-1974.
Father Gabriel Germann O.S.B.
Father Gabriel was born on July 25, 1909 in Ripley, Ohio. He died on June 23, 1978. He served St Michael's from 1974-1976.
Father Bernard Patterson O.S.B.
Father Bernard was born on January 3, 1918 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He served St Michael's from 1976-1979.
Father Roger Lott O.S.B.
Father Roger served St Michael's from 1979-1984.
Father David Morehouse O.S.B.
Father David was born on August 17, 1925 in Memphis Tennessee. He served St Michael's from 1984-1992.
Father Thomas O'Connor O.S.B.
Father Thomas was born on February 24, 1919 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He served St Michael's from 1992-1996.
Abbot Victor J. Clark O.S.B.
Father Victor was born on January 7, 1930 in Cullman, Alabama. He was ordained a priest on June 5, 1954 and elected as the eight Abbot of St Bernard on May 22, 1987. Victor retired as Abbot in 1995 and then came up to serve at St Michael's from 1996-2008. He resided at St Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Alabama until his death on January 27, 2024. He is buried at the Abbey cemetery.
Father Edward Markley O.S.B.
Father Edward was born on September 5, 1939 in Atlanta, Georgia. He professed his vows as a monk on June 12, 1960 and ordained to the priesthood on June 10, 1966. Father Edward served St Michael's from November 2008 til July 2014. He passed away on January 14, 2019 and is buried at the Abbey Cemetery.
Father Jacob Amos O.S.B.
Father Jacob served St Michael's from August 2014 - April 2016.
Father John O'Donnell O.S.B.
Father John was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 7, 1952. John made his profession as a monk on March 21, 1982 and was ordained a priest on October 24, 1998. He came to St Michael's in April 2016 and served til October 1, 2021. He resides and continues his monastic duties at St Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Alabama.
Abbot Cletus D. Meagher O.S.B.
Abbot Cletus was born in Cleveland, Tennessee on November 15, 1944. He professed his vows in 1965 and was ordained a priest in May 1971. In May 1995 Cletus was elected as the nineth abbot of Saint Bernard Abbey and retired as abbot in July 2019. Abbot Cletus was appointed pastor of St Michael's on October 1, 2021 and retired on June 9, 2025. He resides and continues his monastic duties at St Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Alabama.
Father Patrick Egan O.S.B.
Father Patrick was born in Florence, Alabama on September 17, 1949. He graduated from Coffee High School in 1967 and earned a bachelor of science degree in history and political science from the University of North Alabama. After college he served in the United States Army for 30 years. He retired from the Army as a full bird colonel in 2001. Shortly after retirement he joined St Bernard Abbey. He professed his first monastic vows in the spring of 2003 and was ordained a priest on June 5, 2006. Father Patrick was appointed pastor of St Michael on June 9, 2025.