Benedictine Abbot Jonathan Licari, president of the American Cassinese Congregation of Benedictine monasteries, named Benedictine Father Edward Seton Fittin, prior-administrator of St. Mary’s Abbey in Morristown, N.J., for a three-year term, effective Nov. 30.
Abbot Licari had served as St. Mary’s administrator since Aug. 1, 2022. Father Fittin had been the abbey’s prior.
As St. Mary’s prior and administrator, Father Fittin holds all the usual responsibilities and authority of the abbot of St. Mary’s Abbey, without the title of “abbot.” He will aid the monks of the abbey as they plan for their future and discern what kind of person they wish to serve as their permanent abbot. Together with the monastic community, Father Fittin will determine when the next abbatial election will take place.
Father Fittin’s wide range of experiences well suit him for becoming St. Mary’s prior-administrator. He is a 1982 graduate of Delbarton School, an all-boys Catholic college prep school located on the campus of St. Mary’s Abbey, run by the Benedictine monks.
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In 1986, Father Fittin Edward earned a bachelor’s degree cum laude from Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Md. He also received the Agostino and Anna Travaioli Memorial Prize for distinguished work in art history.
Father Fittin professed monastic vows in 1988, made his solemn profession of vows in 1991, and was ordained priest in 1993. In 1993, he also earned a Master of Divinity from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
After ordination, Father Fittin started teaching theology at Delbarton and chaired the theology department for 20 years.
For 10 years, Father Fittin served Delbarton’s campus ministry, serving as director for six years. He also was involved in community service projects, such as Operation Smile missions to the Philippines and Romania. For 25 years, Father Fittin has coordinated an exchange program with Glenstal Abbey School in Limerick, Ireland.
Also at Delbarton, Father Fittin taught advanced placement art history for 12 years and served on the design and development committee for the Fine Arts Center, which opened in 2006, including the design of its iconic clock tower.
At St. Mary’s Abbey, Father Fittin served for two years as Abbey vocation director and as director of liturgy for more than two decades. He was Sunday chaplain to the Religious Teachers Filippini, also in Morristown, and a weekend associate at area parishes. He is currently a weekend associate at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Bernardsville, N.J., in the Metuchen Diocese.
In 2018, Father Fittin was appointed claustral prior and abbey church rector. The former role includes the day-to-day operations of the monastery and substitutes for the abbot in his absence. The latter position coordinates sacramental celebration in the abbey church for alumni and friends of the abbey.
Father Edward Seton Fittin appointed prior-administrator of Morristown abbey #Catholic –
Benedictine Abbot Jonathan Licari, president of the American Cassinese Congregation of Benedictine monasteries, named Benedictine Father Edward Seton Fittin, prior-administrator of St. Mary’s Abbey in Morristown, N.J., for a three-year term, effective Nov. 30.
Abbot Licari had served as St. Mary’s administrator since Aug. 1, 2022. Father Fittin had been the abbey’s prior.
As St. Mary’s prior and administrator, Father Fittin holds all the usual responsibilities and authority of the abbot of St. Mary’s Abbey, without the title of “abbot.” He will aid the monks of the abbey as they plan for their future and discern what kind of person they wish to serve as their permanent abbot. Together with the monastic community, Father Fittin will determine when the next abbatial election will take place.
Father Fittin’s wide range of experiences well suit him for becoming St. Mary’s prior-administrator. He is a 1982 graduate of Delbarton School, an all-boys Catholic college prep school located on the campus of St. Mary’s Abbey, run by the Benedictine monks.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
In 1986, Father Fittin Edward earned a bachelor’s degree cum laude from Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Md. He also received the Agostino and Anna Travaioli Memorial Prize for distinguished work in art history.
Father Fittin professed monastic vows in 1988, made his solemn profession of vows in 1991, and was ordained priest in 1993. In 1993, he also earned a Master of Divinity from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
After ordination, Father Fittin started teaching theology at Delbarton and chaired the theology department for 20 years.
For 10 years, Father Fittin served Delbarton’s campus ministry, serving as director for six years. He also was involved in community service projects, such as Operation Smile missions to the Philippines and Romania. For 25 years, Father Fittin has coordinated an exchange program with Glenstal Abbey School in Limerick, Ireland.
Also at Delbarton, Father Fittin taught advanced placement art history for 12 years and served on the design and development committee for the Fine Arts Center, which opened in 2006, including the design of its iconic clock tower.
At St. Mary’s Abbey, Father Fittin served for two years as Abbey vocation director and as director of liturgy for more than two decades. He was Sunday chaplain to the Religious Teachers Filippini, also in Morristown, and a weekend associate at area parishes. He is currently a weekend associate at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Bernardsville, N.J., in the Metuchen Diocese.
In 2018, Father Fittin was appointed claustral prior and abbey church rector. The former role includes the day-to-day operations of the monastery and substitutes for the abbot in his absence. The latter position coordinates sacramental celebration in the abbey church for alumni and friends of the abbey.