Archabbot, Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, (2020-present)
Archabbot Martin R. Bartel, O.S.B., was elected archabbot of Saint Vincent Archabbey on June 23, 2020. In his role as the Archabbot of Saint Vincent Archabbey, he is leader of the first Benedictine monastery established in the United States and one of the largest monasteries in the world. He is also the chancellor of Saint Vincent College and Saint Vincent Seminary. Saint Vincent Benedictines operate the Benedictine Military School in Savannah, Georgia, and the Penn State Campus Ministry Program at State College in Pennsylvania. In addition to his responsibilities in this country, the Archabbot is also the leader of monasteries in Brazil and Taiwan.
Prior to his election as archabbot, Archabbot Martin had been serving as the administrator of the MACH1 (Monaca, Aliquippa, Center and Hopewell) Parish Grouping in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, now Mary Queen of Saints Parish. In July of 2013, he was appointed pastor of Saint Frances Cabrini Parish, Center Township, by Bishop David A. Zubik. In September 2017 he assumed responsibility for Saint Titus Parish, Aliquippa, and Our Lady of Fatima, Hopewell. With the diocesan reorganization initiated in October of 2018, Saint John the Baptist Parish, Monaca, became part of the grouping, and Archabbot Martin became the administrator of all four parishes. While serving in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, he was appointed to the Priest Advisory Council and was elected as a religious order representative to the Presbyteral Council. Bishop David Zubik also appointed him to the Board of Directors of Serra Catholic High School.
Prior to his assignments in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Archabbot Martin served in the Diocese of Greensburg as pastor of Saint Bruno Parish, South Greensburg and administrator of Saint Benedict Parish, Marguerite (2008-2013) and as pastor of Saint Martin Parish, New Derry (2001-2009).
He served as the 14th president of Saint Vincent College from 2000 to 2005. Archabbot Martin earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1989 and a master of business administration degree from Bowling Green State University in 1984 where he concentrated his studies on management information systems. A 1984 graduate of Saint Vincent Seminary, where he earned a master of divinity degree with highest honors, he also earned a bachelor of business administration degree from Temple University in 1978 with a major in accounting and a minor in computer science. He has also taken graduate courses in finance at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (1981), Latin and philosophy courses at Saint Vincent College (1980-1981); and undergraduate courses at the University of Akron (1975-1977). He is a 1974 graduate of Barberton High School, Barberton, Ohio. He attended the Institute for Educational Management sponsored by the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University in 1992.
He made his simple profession of vows as a monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey on July 10, 1980, solemn profession of vows on July 11, 1983. He was ordained a deacon on August 11, 1984 by the late Bishop Norbert Gaughn, and was ordained a priest on May 25, 1985 by the late Bishop William G. Connare of Greensburg. He served his deacon internship at Our Lady, Queen of Peace Church, North Side, Pittsburgh.
An associate professor of business administration at Saint Vincent College, Archabbot Martin taught accounting, statistics, business law, school law, legal research and business ethics from 1989 to 2001.
Administrative assignments at Saint Vincent College include service as assistant treasurer (1985-1986); assistant controller (1980-1985); acting provost (spring 1992); and acting academic dean (1992-1993). He also served as a dormitory moderator from 1990 to 2000.
In conjunction with his legal studies, he served as a judicial clerk to Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Bernard F. Scherer (1989-1990), as a legal intern at Community Legal Services, Philadelphia (1988-1989); and as a summer associate in the law offices of Peter Goldberger in Philadelphia (1988).
He has also served as a consultant in the areas of financial analysis, legal research, accounting systems, probate and estates, budgeting, income, payroll and inheritance taxes and corporate law (1989-present). In addition, he was a graduate assistant in the Management Information Systems Institute at Bowling Green State University (1978-1979) and a staff auditor at Ernst and Young Certified Public Accountants in Akron, Ohio (1978). He has served as a financial counselor to the president and Council of the American-Cassinese Congregation of Benedictine Monasteries since 1993.
A certified public accountant in Pennsylvania since 1989, he was a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
He has been affiliated with the American Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Westmoreland Bar Association, the American Business Law Association and the Intercommunity Legal Conference.
He was born in Barberton, Ohio, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Bartel, Sr., of Barberton. He is one of ten children, including Sr. Maura Bartel, O.P., Akron; Elizabeth Bartel, Cleveland, Ohio; Robert J. Bartel, Jr., Doylestown, Ohio; Regis A. Bartel, Cleveland; Eileen A. Bartel Volosyn, Cleveland; Patricia L. Bartel Davis, Stratford, New Jersey; Mary R. Bartel, Cleveland and the late Karl L. Bartel and Thomas C. Bartel.
