Father Kurt Belsole, O.S.B., Named Seminary Rector

LATROBE, PENNSYLVANIA — Father Kurt Belsole, O.S.B., Associate Professor of Theology and Monastic Studies, been named the Rector of Saint Vincent Seminary by Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B, Seminary Chancellor. Fr. Kurt was appointed Assistant Rector in January of 2000.

As Rector, Fr. Kurt is the chief executive officer of the seminary and responsible for overseeing its formation, spiritual, academic and pastoral programs. Father Kurt’s duties include as well responsibilities in the areas of recruitment, planning, and development.

Fr. Kurt is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Belsole and a native of Saint Marys, Pennsylvania. He professed his first vows at Saint Vincent Archabbey in 1972 and was ordained a priest in 1978.

After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Saint Vincent College in 1974, Fr. Kurt received a Master of Divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in 1978. He earned a Diploma in Latin Letters in 1980 from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome; a License in Patristic Theology and Sciences in 1983 from the Patristic Institute at the Augustinianum, Rome; studied at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute, Rome (1981-1983); and earned a doctorate in Sacred Theology in 1994 from Pontifical Athenaeum of Saint Anselm, Rome. He wrote his doctoral dissertation Joy in Lent: “Gaudium” in the Rule of Saint Benedict under the direction of Fr. Adalbert de Vogüé. He has also received grants from the German Government to study German at the Goethe Institut in Passau, Germany, and from the French Government to study French at the Institut Catholique of Paris.

Fr. Kurt has taught at Saint Vincent Seminary since 1983; he served as Academic Dean of the Seminary from 1986 to 1989. Since 1995, during the spring semesters, he has taught at the Pontifical Athenaeum of Saint Anselm, Rome. In the fall semester of 1998, he served as acting Director of Spiritual Life at Saint Vincent Seminary. At the Seminary, Father Kurt has chaired and served on numerous committees, including the Academic Committee, Admissions Committee, Alumni Degree Committee, Master of Arts Committee, Middle States Association of Theological Schools Self-Study Committee, and the Committee on Faculty Rank.

At Saint Vincent Archabbey, Father Kurt has served as master of ceremonies (1985-1993); secretary to the Archabbot (1991-1992); on the administrative staff of the Archabbot (1992-1993); on the Liturgy Committee (1984-present); on the Formation Committee (1992-present) and on the Saint Vincent Fire Department (1971-1976). He has been on the novitiate faculty of Saint Vincent Archabbey teaching monastic history since 1984.

Fr. Kurt has served on the editorial board of Word and Spirit (1992-1998), and has been an associate editor of The American Benedictine Review since 1994. He has published numerous articles and book reviews in various periodicals including Spirit and Life, Word and Spirit, Living Prayer, Church History, Antiphon, and The American Benedictine Review, and the recently published Encyclopedia of Monasticism. His professional memberships include the North American Patristic Society (1985-present) and the Society for Catholic Liturgy (1997- present).

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