Monks elect Simeon Wester to lead Heiligenkreuz abbey

The monks of Heiligenkreuz Abbey in the Baden district have elected Father Simeon Wester as their new administrator, ORF reported on Thursday. Wester will lead the Cistercian abbey for three years, succeeding Abbot Maximilian Heim, who recently stepped down for health reasons.

After three days of preparation, the 84 monks eligible to vote chose the community’s new leader. The abbey announced that Wester was elected on Thursday.

Simeon Karl Wester was born on April 7, 1965, in Unkel am Rhein. He studied choral conducting, vocal teaching and church music before working as a church musician and choir director. He joined Heiligenkreuz Abbey in 2001, made his solemn profession in 2005, completed his theology studies in 2007 and was ordained a priest the following year.

At Heiligenkreuz, Wester served as cantor, organist and lecturer in church music and Gregorian chant. He later worked as novice master, subprior and prior. From 2018, he established and led the Cistercian Priory of Neuzelle in Brandenburg as its founding prior, a role he held until 2026. He has also been involved in monastic training and spiritual guidance, and has increasingly devoted himself to painting in recent years.

“I humbly take on my new task and thank my fellow monks for their trust,” Wester said. “As a trained church musician, I know that the strength of an orchestra lies in working well together. I trust in God’s help and ask everyone to pray.”

Abbot President Pius Maurer, who led the election, welcomed the confidence placed in the new administrator and wished him well in his new responsibility. “Father Simeon Wester is taking over a lively, young community whose influence extends well beyond Lower Austria,” Maurer said. “The Holy See requested the election of an administrator. I see this as a great opportunity for the person elected and for the Heiligenkreuz community.”

Heim, who led the abbey for 16 years over two terms, said he wanted to hand over the office to younger hands. He has known Wester since his entry into Heiligenkreuz and accompanied him as novice master and junior master.

Heim said Wester had taken on early responsibility for the monastery’s Gregorian chant as a church musician and described him as “competent and humble”. He said Wester had shown the same qualities while establishing and leading the Neuzelle priory.

The final two years of Heim’s tenure were overshadowed by turmoil triggered by anonymous letters containing allegations against a priest and criticism of the abbey’s leadership style. The State Criminal Police Office also investigated anonymous threats against the abbey.

The Vatican subsequently ordered an apostolic visitation, which ended in April. According to unofficial reports cited by the abbey, the allegations were not substantiated. The abbey said the Vatican issued several instructions, including a call for reflection on its theological and spiritual orientation.