New Abbot Elected

Following ratification from Abbot Bruno Marin, Abbot President of the Subiaco Congregation, Dom Anselm Atkinson OSB was elected as the new Abbot of Pluscarden Abbey on Tuesday 9th August 2011.

Dom Anselm was duly installed as Abbot by the Right Reverend Francis Baird, Abbot of Prinknash Abbey, acting on Abbot Bruno's behalf.

Abbot Anselm made his first monastic vows at Pluscarden in 1976 at the age of nineteen.  He was ordained priest in 1982 by the Right Reverend Mario Conti, who was then Bishop of Aberdeen.  He was sent to study at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, where he gained a Licenciate in Sacred Scripture.  Since the late 1980s he has been resident at Pluscarden's daughter house in Petersham, Massachusetts, where he was Superior until his election as Abbot of Pluscarden.  In 2003 he was elected Abbot Visitor, which entails monitoring the progress of all the monasteries in our province.

Dom Anselm Atkinson O.S.B.
Abbot of Pluscarden Abbey

Bishop Gilbert O.S.B., newly ordained Bishop of Aberdeen and former Abbot of Pluscarden, will carry out the Blessing of the new Abbot at a later date.  Speaking with Bishop Gilbert recently he intimated that he wished this to be one of his first official engagements as Bishop.

Many thanks to Pluscarden for the use of the photograph and short bibliography of Abbot Anselm.