Pictured Above: Seated (left to right): Br. Patrick, Fr. Augustine, Abbot Melvin, Fr. Maynard
Standing (left to right): Br. Francis, Fr. Francis, Fr. Edwin, Fr. Mark Martin, Fr. Philip, Fr. Luke, Fr. Albert, Fr. Maximilian, Br. Simon Peter, Br. Thomas Aquinas, Fr. Asiel Maria, Fr. Francois. (Photo by Mike Scanlan)
Meet the Monks
- Right Reverend Augustine J. Curley, O.S.B., Abbot
- Father Albert Holtz, O.S.B., Prior & Formation Director
- Father Patrick Winbush, O.S.B., Subprior
- Right Reverend Melvin J. Valvano, O.S.B., Abbot Emeritus
- Father Maynard Nagengast, O.S.B.
- Father Edwin Leahy, O.S.B.
- Father Philip Waters, O.S.B.
- Father Luke Edelen, O.S.B.
- Father Francis Flood, O.S.B.
- Father Maximilian Buonocore, O.S.B.
- Brother Thomas Aquinas Hall, O.S.B.
- Brother Simon Peter Clayton, O.S.B.
- Father Asiel Maria Rodriguez, O.S.B.
- Brother Francis Woodruff, O.S.B.
- Father Mark Martin Dilone, O.S.B.
- Brother Robert of Molesmes Islas, O.S.B.
- Brother Bruno Mello, O.S.B.
Abbot Melvin faithfully served the monastic community as the Abbot of Newark Abbey, from 1973 until 2022. During that time he was also President of St. Benedict's Prep, from which he graduated in 1956. From 1989 to 2001, he served as president of the American-Cassinese Congregation of Benedictine Monasteries, to which Newark Abbey belongs. When he retired as Abbot in 2022, he was the longest-reigning abbot in the history of the Congregation.
