Vocation Discernment Team
Vocation Director
Br. David Paul Lange entered the monastery in February of 1986. After solemn vows, he went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree and became an Associate Professor in the Art department at Saint John’s University until 2019, when he entered the Saint John’s School of Theology to earn a Master of Arts in Ministry. He enjoys singing, anything that involves working with his hands, and reading fiction.
Fr. Nick Kleespie was born and raised in West-Central Minnesota and entered the abbey in 2010. After graduating from Saint John’s University in 2006, Nick served with the Saint John’s Abbey Benedictine Volunteer Corps in Tanzania. Fr. Nick is the chaplain of Saint John’s University, lives as a faculty resident in a freshman residence hall, and serves as a firefighter/EMT on the Saint John’s Fire Department.
Br. Paul-Vincent Niebauer joined the abbey in 1994 and currently serves as the Communications and Marketing Director. Before joining Saint John’s, he worked for 13 years as a ringmaster for several circuses traveling North America. He possesses a bachelor’s in Theatre and Secondary Education and an MA in Directing. Since 1995 he has taught theatre and directed over 50 musicals and plays at Saint John’s Preparatory School as well as outside groups.
Fr. Michael Peterson entered the novitiate on September 8, 1997 and currently serves as the Director of Oblates (lay men and women associated with the abbey), and as one of the organists for Liturgy of the Hours and Eucharist. He also plays the Native American style flute and loves to swim in Lake Sagatagan.
Assistant Vocation Director
Br. Benedict Leuthner joined Saint John’s Abbey in February of 1986, making 1st vows/profession in July 1987. Br. Benedict serves in abbey woodworking, the physical plant, the abbey lands and forests, and abbey health care. As a hobby, Br. Benedict enjoys planting and caring for trees on the Saint John’s Abbey and University campus and in the abbey forest.
Br. Jacob Berns professed his first vows in 2018. He hails from Perham, MN, and came to Saint John’s University to study Music and Theology. After graduating, he went to Rome for a year of service in the Saint John’s Abbey Benedictine Volunteer Corps. He currently serves as an accountant in the Abbey Business Office, a faculty resident and the university, and the interim music director for the abbey. He enjoys playing organ, baking, and going for a walk on campus.
Fr. Michael Patella born and raised in Rochester, NY, made first vows in 1984. After ordination in 1990, he studied Sacred Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and at the École biblique et archéologique française in Jerusalem, earning a doctorate in Sacred Scripture in 1995. As a hobby, Fr Michael enjoys doing calligraphy and studying the great passenger trains of past and present.
Fr. Timothy Backous has been a monk of Saint John’s since 1979. He studied under Bernard Haring and earned his doctorate in moral theology in 1989. Since then he has taught at the graduate and undergraduate level, served as Director of Campus Ministry and Athletic Director for the university, as Headmaster for the Prep School and now as the Alumni Chaplain for university. His full time job, however, is raising Archie, his mini Goldendoodle.