The monks of Saint Andrew's Abbey, Valyermo (CA) gathered to elect a new abbot, Damien Toilolo on June 22, replacing Abbot Francis who stepped down two years ago. The new abbas is the second elected abbas of St Andrew's.St Andrew's Abbey is an abbey of the Annunciation Congregation.
Abbot Damien, until now, has served the Benedictine community as the Prior Administrator. But he's also been the vocation director, postulant director, novice master and sub-prior.
A native of Los Angeles, Damien has experience in other things including a teaching credential. He was ordained a priest in 2005 after preparing for priesthood at Mt Angel Seminary. Abbot Damien will serve a 8-year term.
St Andrew's Abbey has roots in Belgium and was for a time a priory in China before it was forced to move to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. It was raised to abbatial rank in 1992.
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