In Memoriam: Michael Patella, O.S.B.
CBA mourn with the Saint John's Abbey and Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary community on the passing of Michael Patella, O.S.B. on July 15, 2025. He was 70 years old. A CBA member since 1994, Michael served on the CBA Program Commitee (2006-09); as Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee (2010-12); and on Liaison with the USCCB Committee (2013-2025, Chair for the past 6 years).
Michael completed a Master of Divinity degree in 1989 and was ordained to the priesthood on June 8, 1990. He then began studies in Rome to pursue a doctorate in Sacred Scripture with specific interest in biblical archaeology at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, receiving an S.S.L. in Sacred Scripture (1993) and an S.S.D. from the Ecole Biblique et Archeologique Francaise, Jerusalem (1995). His dissertation was entitled, “From Darkness to Light: The Death of Jesus, Luke 23:44-49.”
Returning to Collegeville, Father Michael was appointed professor of theology at Saint John’s University. He was also director of the Jerusalem Studies Program (1999-2023) taking groups of students to study and tour in the Holy Land. With the advent of the Saint John’s Bible project, Father Michael became chair of the Committee on Illumination and Text. Explaining the purpose of the committee's work: "The illuminations are not illustrations. They are spiritual meditations on a text. It is a very Benedictine approach to Scriptures. We wanted to do something for the millennium that people will still be talking about at the next millennium.
In 2007, Father Michael was appointed rector of Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary. He was responsible for recruitment, formation and evaluation of monastic seminarians. He also served several years as a faculty resident in student housing. Father Michael authored several books, including Angels and Demons: A Christian Primer of the Spiritual World (2012) and Word and Image: The Hermeneutics of the Saint John's Bible (2013). In addition, numerous articles appeared in Bible Today and The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, and other theological journals.
[Source: Saint John's Abbey]
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Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
 May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Please remember and pray for those who have gone before us. If you are aware of the recent passing of a CBA member please inform the CBA office: cba-office@cua.edu or 202-319-5519.  |