Abbot, Saint Bernard’s Abbey, Cullman, Alabama (1939-1957)

Boniface Seng, O.S.B., was a native of Chicago and received his early training at Saint Joseph’s parochial school there. Between 1880 and 1885 he took a liberal arts course at Saint Vincent in Latrobe. After an interval of several years during which he began medical training, he felt called to religious life.

He took the garb of novice at Belmont Abbey, North Carolina in 1892 and made his first vows at Saint Bernard Abbey, Cullman, Alabama in 1893. He was ordained a priest on Febraury 26, 1897.

For thirty years he was director of Saint Bernard College until he was appointed prior of the abbey in 1933. Upon the death of the late Abbot Ambrose, the monks elected him their fourt abbot in 1939.

During his administration plans were drawn for the abbey church, a library classroom building and a mortuary chapel erected in the abbey cemetery. He received the Cappa Magna in 1946. In 1947 Saint Vincent College awarded him an honorary degree of doctor of laws. He retired from active administration in 1952.

On February 26, 1957, Abbot Boniface celebrated the diamond jubilee in the priesthood. Abbot Boniface died August 1, 1957.