St Benedict's Abbey
Staff & Leaders

Abbot James Albers

Abbot James Robert Albers, a native of Ost, Kansas, grew up in St. Benedict's Parish of Bendena, Kansas. He went on to graduate from Midway-Denton High School, Denton, Kansas, in 1990. Abbot James graduated from Benedictine College in 1994 with a degree in Mass-Communications and Theology. He entered the novitiate in December 1995 and made his First Profession on December 8, 1996, and his Solemn Profession on October 2, 1999. After having studied at the Pontifical University of Sant’Anselmo, Rome, Italy, from 1997-2000, he was ordained to the priesthood on July 1, 2000. Following his ordination he did a pastoral year at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Seneca, Kansas, and served as Alumni Director at Benedictine College from 2000 until his appointment as Prior of the St. Benedict’s Abbey community in July 2002. From 2005 to 2012, he served as the Abbey’s vocation director. On December 28, the monks at St. Benedict’s Abbey elected Father James as their ninth abbot. During his monastic life, Abbot James has been an able and well-respected Prior and sought-after spiritual director. He is widely regarded as an even-keel man who shares helpful spiritual counsel and possesses a charitable disposition and a pastoral concern for others.