Ott, Michael
OTT, MICHAEL
Abbot; b. Neustad am Main, Bavaria, March 18, 1870; d. Crookston, Minn., Feb. 15, 1948. He pursued classical studies at St. John's University, Collegeville, Minn., and there joined the Benedictine Order in 1889. He was sent to the International College of Sant' Anselmo in Rome, where he received his doctorate in philosophy and was ordained on June 29, 1894. Upon returning to St. John's University, he taught commercial subjects and supervised the student publication, the library, and the print shop. He was secretary of the university's board of administration and subprior of the abbey when he was elected abbot of St. Peter's Abbey, Muenster, Saskatchewan, Canada. The abbatial blessing took place in St. Peter's Church at Muenster on Oct. 28, 1919. Two years later St. Peter's Abbey became an abbey nullius, subject directly to the Holy See, and Ott was designated as the first abbot ordinary. One of his first decisions after becoming abbot was to establish a secondary school at Muenster. In 1921 a new building was completed and classes began in St. Peter's College, which was soon recognized as a junior college affiliated with the University of Saskatchewan at Saskatoon. From 1931 until his death in 1948, he served as chaplain to the Benedictine convent in Crookston, Minn.
[j. weber]