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The Right Reverend Eugene J. Hayes, O.Praem.
- Abbot
This June, the community will gather for a truly historic moment for St. Michael’s Abbey—the election of a new abbot, to succeed the thirty years of leadership under Abbot Eugene. This marks both the culmination of a remarkable era and the beginning of a new chapter in the life of the abbey. An abbatial election is an occasion of great hope and immeasurable grace, as the community discerns the man whom God is calling to guide them into the future. We invite you to follow along with this sacred work and to keep St. Michael’s Abbey in your prayers.
Join us for nine days of prayer for the abbatial election, beginning with gratitude for Abbot Eugene and moving through the graces needed for the election.
Please fill out the form to take part in the daily novena leading up to the Abbatial Election. You will receive daily emails for the duration of the novena, as well as communications from St. Michael's Abbey and the Abbot's Circle.
Confessions:
9:00–11:00 a.m. and 2:00–4:00 p.m.
Special Schedule:
6:30 a.m. — Lauds
8:30 a.m. — Terce
11:00 a.m. — Mass of the Holy Spirit Celebrated by the The Most Reverend Jos Wouters, O.Praem. Abbot General
12:15 p.m. — Sext
3:45 p.m. — None with rosary following
4:30 p.m. — Vespers
7:30 p.m. — Holy Hour
8:30 p.m. — Compline
All Night Adoration
Confessions:
9:00–11:00 a.m.
Special Schedule:
6:15 a.m. — Matins & Lauds
7:30 a.m. — Conventual Mass
Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit
9:30 a.m. — Terce — followed by the procession of the canons into the chapter room for voting.
(Livestreamed)
*Election of the new abbot*
Procession to the abbey church with the new abbot, Te Deum, Profession of Faith, and Oath of Fidelity.
(Livestreamed)
Sext will follow the election (time TBD)
(Livestreamed)
4:20 p.m. — None
4:30 p.m. — Rosary
5:00 p.m. — Vespers
(Livestreamed)
7:30 p.m. — Holy Hour
8:30 p.m. — Compline
Ant. Norbert, the burning lamp set upon the lampstand, enlightened all who were in the house.
V. Pray for us, O Holy Father Norbert.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promisesof Christ.
Let us pray.
O God, Who has always so lovingly provided for the canons of St. Michael’s Abbey, grant that, through the merits and intercession of St. Norbert, they may elect an abbot to lead them by word and example to the kingdom of Your Sacred Heart. Who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen
PROT. N. 01061/2026-1010/25/I
Most Blessed Father,
Right Reverend Father Eugene Joseph Hayes, O.Praem., abbot of St. Michael’s Abbey in Silverado, in the Diocese of Orange in California, implores from the benevolence of Your Holiness a plenary Indulgence to be gained by all the Christian faithful who are truly penitent, under the usual conditions of sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff, on the days of 18 and 19 June 2026, for the occasion of an abbatial election, which indulgence they can apply even to the souls detained in Purgatory by way of suffrage, provided that they visit the abbey church in the manner of a pilgrimage and there devoutly participate in the sacred rites, or at least spend some fitting period of time in pious meditations or prayers or other works of Christian piety for the glory of God, and that they pour forth pious prayers to God for the peace and concord of peoples against daily aberrations, concluding with the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, and invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace and Mother of Mercy, and to the holy archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.
The Apostolic Penitentiary, to whom it belongs to regulate duly all things which pertain to the concession and use of Indulgences, by command of the Supreme Pontiff Leo XIV, by Divine Providence Pope, Minister of our faith and joy, has willingly granted this petition.
The pious Christian faithful who are impeded by old age or grave illness are equally able to gain a plenary Indulgence, having formed a detestation of their sins and the intention of fulfilling the three usual conditions as soon as it will be possible to do so, if they join themselves to the aforementioned celebrations, with their prayers and sufferings offered to the mercy of God, consoling themselves in their tribulations.
Therefore, that access to the divine pardon to be gained through the keys of the Church may the more easily be gained with pastoral charity, this Penitentiary earnestly asks the Fathers of the White and Canonical Order of Prémontré to offer themselves with a ready and generous spirit for the celebration of Penance.
To be valid for this time only. Anything to the contrary notwithstanding.
At the command of the Most Eminent…
Krzyztof Jósef Nykiel
Titular Bishop of Velia
Regens
For your convenience, here is a brief summary of how the plenary indulgence may be obtained, either for yourself or for the souls in purgatory:
To assist the faithful who wish to go to confession, confessors will be available at the following times:
We are deeply grateful for your prayers for our community during this historic moment in the life of the abbey.
Note: Those who are unable to visit the church because of sickness or infirmity may fulfill the prayers on June 18 or 19 from wherever they are, and complete the remaining conditions as soon as they are able.
Leading up to the Abbatial Election, we invite you to watch a collection of short videos centered on the event, as well as select livestreams.
Tune in for the livestreams on June 19.
The Abbot's Circle is a first-of-its-kind virtual monastery—an evolving, curated library that offers an inside look at the artistic, cultural, intellectual, and spiritual work that the Norbertines of St. Michael’s Abbey carry out each day for the praise and honor of God.
Hidden in the stillness of southern California’s desert mountains, St. Michael’s Abbey goes about a timeless and supernatural mission: the common worship of God. This is a place for all to encounter the unfathomable beauty of God and to enter into the mystery of His unrelenting love.
Against a culture in ever desperate need for beauty, St. Michael’s Abbey stands as a refuge for reverent liturgy, inspiring art, and captivating sacred music and chant. Through our work, we are laying the foundation for the sanctification of our society and a renewal in our Church.
