St. Michael’s Abbey Elects First New Abbot in More Than 30 Years

SILVERADO, Calif., June 24, 2026 — In a historic moment for one of the most visible Catholic religious communities in the United States, the canons of St. Michael’s Abbey have elected the Right Reverend John Caronan, O.Praem., as the third abbot of St. Michael’s Abbey. The election, confirmed on June 19, 2026, marks the abbey’s first abbatial election in more than 30 years and begins a new chapter for a community known for its rapid growth, solemn liturgical life, commitment to Catholic education, and influential online presence.

The election followed days of prayer, fasting, and public intercession. While the canons gathered behind closed doors to cast their ballots, hundreds of lay faithful, seminarians, and religious filled the abbey church of Our Lady of the Assumption to pray for the community and its future. Thousands more watched by livestream from around the world.

Following nearly three hours of balloting, the abbey bells pealed at 12:39 p.m., announcing that a new abbot had been elected and confirmed. Moments later, the name of Father John Caronan was proclaimed from the pulpit in both Latin and English. A procession into the church followed, where Father Abbot John made the profession of faith and oath of fidelity, received the promise of obedience from his confreres, and was formally installed as the spiritual father and major superior of St. Michael’s Abbey.

Father Abbot John’s personal story also reflects the immigrant roots of the abbey itself. Born Edgar Caronan in Manila, Philippines, on April 14, 1964, he immigrated with his family to Los Angeles in 1975 and entered St. Michael’s Abbey ten years later. The abbey’s founding fathers, seven Hungarian priests who had escaped religious persecution under Communism, came to the United States in 1957 and planted the beginnings of what would become St. Michael’s Abbey. Now, with the election of the first Filipino-born abbot in the more than 900-year history of the Premonstratensian Order, that story of faith, sacrifice, and hope is carried forward in a new generation.

Father Abbot John received the white habit of the Premonstratensian Order in 1987 and pursued studies in philosophy, theology, and canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (the Angelicum) in Rome. He made his solemn profession as a canon of St. Michael’s Abbey on August 29, 1992, and was ordained to the priesthood on July 2, 1994.

Over the years, his priestly and canonical ministry has served the Church across Southern California, including in the Diocese of Orange and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. A distinguished canon lawyer, Father Abbot John began serving as a judge in the Tribunal of the Diocese of Orange in 1997. He later served as Defender of the Bond in the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Promoter of Justice for the diocesan Oversight Review Board, Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Orange, and Judicial Vicar of the Maronite Tribunal of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon.

Father Abbot John succeeds the Right Reverend Eugene J. Hayes, O.Praem., whose life term concluded in May after more than three decades of service. Under Abbot Eugene’s leadership, St. Michael’s Abbey experienced extraordinary growth in vocations, expanded its priestly and educational apostolates, and completed the construction of its present abbey in Silverado, dedicated in 2021.

Father Abbot John assumes leadership at a moment of notable strength for a community now recognized as a landmark of Catholic liturgical and spiritual life in Southern California. As spiritual father and prelate of the canons regular, Father Abbot John will oversee both the pastoral care of the confreres and the governance of a growing religious community with presences across the United States and in Rome.

In September, Father Abbot John will receive the abbatial blessing at St. Michael’s Abbey. Expected to draw Church officials, civic dignitaries, representatives of religious communities, and faithful from across Southern California and beyond, the solemn liturgical rite will formally bless Father Abbot John for his sacred office and confer the traditional pontifical insignia of an abbot: the ring, miter, and crozier. Further details will be announced in the coming weeks.

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About St. Michael’s Abbey

St. Michael’s Abbey is a community of Premonstratensian canons regular in Silverado, California. The Premonstratensian Order, also known as the Norbertines, was founded by St. Norbert of Xanten in 1121 in Prémontré, France. For more than 900 years, Norbertine canons regular have served the Church through a distinctive life of solemn liturgical prayer, common life, priestly ministry, and apostolic service.

Founded in 1957 by seven Hungarian priests who escaped religious persecution under Communism, St. Michael’s Abbey carries that ancient Norbertine tradition into the life of the Church in Southern California. The abbey’s mission is rooted in common prayer, solemn liturgical worship, priestly ministry, Catholic education, retreats, and the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.

Today, St. Michael’s Abbey numbers more than 100 members and continues to attract young men to the Norbertine way of life. Through its growing digital ministry, supported by donations to the Abbot’s Circle, the priests of St. Michael’s Abbey provide Catholic spiritual formation to people throughout the world.

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