Jordan Bennett of Lynden, WA, admitted as Postulant at Saint Martin’s Abbey
August 23, 2023
On August 23rd, 2023, Jordan Bennett of Lynden, WA, was admitted by Abbot Marion Nguyen, OSB, to the postulancy at Saint Martin’s Abbey. He hails originally from Lynden, WA. After graduating high school, he entered Western Washington University, where he received a B.A. degree, and later received an M.A. in Theology and Leadership from Gonzaga University.
Postulancy in Benedictine monasteries typically lasts between six months to a year, giving the young postulant a chance to become acquainted with the rhythms and daily rigors of community life before placing the duties and responsibilities of monastic life on him.
At that point, if he thrives in community life and God is calling him deeper into Benedictine spirituality, the abbot, together with the senior council, would call him to begin his novitiate. The novitiate year is a chance for the new novice to delve deeper into Benedictine history, spirituality, and praxis through directed classes, liturgical instruction and involvement, and manual labor around the abbey. At that point, according to our custom, the novice monk takes on a new religious name and places himself under the patronage of a holy saint.
Fr. Kilian Malvey, O.S.B., named acting president of Saint Martin’s University
August 7, 2023
After the resignation of president Jennifer Bonds-Raacke, the university board of trustees unanimously named Fr. Kilian Malvey, OSB, to the role of acting president of Saint Martin’s University.
Originally from New York City, Fr. Kilian came to Saint Martin’s as a high school student. He entered Saint Martin’s Abbey and made his profession of vows in 1958. After studying theology at Heytrhop College in London, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1973 by Archbishop Connelly of the Archdiocese of Seattle. He has taught in the high school and university, as well as served as the school’s dean of students, director of campus ministry, resident director, director of the university’s Benedictine Institute, and has served as chair for both Religious Studies and English departments. He continues to serve as the junior master for our abbey’s temporarily professed monks.
