Vocation Discernment Team
Interim Vocations Director
Br. Benedict Leuthner made his monastic profession in 1987. He serves as the Assistant Vocation Director, and assists with abbey business operations for woodworking, organ builders, cemetery, and forest/land operations. Previously he was treasurer/cellar for Saint John’s Abbey for 28 years. As a hobby, Br. Benedict enjoys planting and caring for trees on the Saint John’s Abbey/University campus and in the abbey forest.
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.
Saint John's University Chaplain
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. 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.