Fr. Adrian Vorderlandwehr, O.S.B.

Father Adrian professed vows as a monk of St. Gregory’s Abbey on June 24, 1961, and was ordained to the priesthood on August 19, 1967.  He was elected as the seventh abbot of St. Gregory’s on March 14, 1979, and blessed on April 25, 1979, by Archbishop Charles Salatka of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. He resigned as abbot on October 15, 1988.

Fr. Adrian was born in Kingfisher, OK. He received his bachelor's degree from St. Benedict's College in Atchison, KS, and earned a master's degree in accounting from Oklahoma State University. He successfully passed the Oklahoma CPA qualifying exam, achieving a record-high score on the exam. Fr. Adrian has used his mastery of accounting in the service of St. Gregory's Abbey, College and University. He served for many years as the business manager of the college and as an instructor of accounting and other business courses. He continues to serve as Abbey Treasurer.

A great expansion of campus facilities took place during his tenure as abbot with the construction of the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, the Mabee Aerobic Center, the Noble Aquatic Recreation Center, the W.P. Wood Field House, and the Charham Therapeutic Riding Arena.

After serving as Abbot, Fr. Adrian dedicated himself to residential parish ministry, including as pastor at: St. Wenceslaus Parish and as Rector of the National Shrine of the Infant Jesus in Prague, OK, St. Vincent de Paul Parish in McLoud, OK, Sacred Heart Parish near Konawa, OK, and of St. Mary Parish in Wanette, OK. Fr. Adrian currently serves as Abbey Treasurer, as an instructor in community history for the novitiate and as a tour host and guide at the historic site of Sacred Heart Mission in southern Pottawatomie County.