Monk, middle school teacher, priest, CFO, chancellor, outdoorsman, and abbot. These are just some of the many roles that Abbot Mark Cooper has played during his time as a monk. On April 7, the Crier spoke to Abbot Mark about his background, accomplishments, and legacy as the fifth abbot of Saint Anselm Abbey.
Abbot Mark grew up in Freeport, Maine. In 1967, he decided to attend Saint Anselm College as a math major, eventually switching to politics before he graduated in 1971. Shortly after graduating, Abbot Mark entered the monastery as a postulant. After his novitiate year, he attended St. John’s Seminary in Brighton for three years to study for the priesthood. In 1975 he was sent to teach American government, history and religion to seniors, juniors and eighth graders respectively at Woodside Priory School in California. He finished his priesthood studies in Oakland, California. After returning to Saint Anselm in 1976 , he took his solemn vows and was ordained to the priesthood. He worked in the college Business Office for three years before getting his MSA in business from the University of Notre Dame. Upon his return to the college, he was promoted and made CFO of the college, a job which he held for 33 years until he was elected abbot in 2012.
As the leader of the monastic community, Abbot Mark has held a very prominent position and played an important role. An abbot remains present to the community to encourage and support each individual monk in their vocation and life. “All the monks are individuals and quite different from one another. Everyone thinks we think alike and act alike, and we don’t at all, like any other group. But it’s all about trying to support the different people and what’s good for each one of them.”
Since his election, Abbot Mark has had many accomplishments and left an important legacy for the Abbey. The best legacy of his tenure will be the influx of vocations the monastic community has seen. According to the abbot, the community has welcomed 11 new monks over the past decade. “We’ve had a good number of new vocations. It’s been exciting to see that growth, and I think it is an outgrowth of the solid monastic life observed here.”
Even past his tenure, the monastic community will likely be welcoming a few more people. Bro. Stanislaw is currently undergoing the process of transferring his vows to the Abbey. A recent graduate of the college has also asked to join next year along with another individual asking to join this summer.
Another important part of his legacy is the college legal settlement in 2020. There existed a legal disagreement between the incorporating members of the college corporation and the Board of Trustees. The issue was with regard to ultimate control over the bylaws of the college. The settlement clarified that the incorporating Members had control over any decisions that dealt with the mission and identity of the college. Abbot Mark noted: “I think the settlement was very good from all perspectives, and I think there was some misunderstanding surrounding the applicability of a 1992 New Hampshire law that played a role. I believe the central issue was one of control over mission and identity. The relationship between the members and the Board has been excellent in the ensuing years.”
Abbot Mark has been influenced by older monks of the past and present. First was Fr. Peter Guerin, liturgist, novice master, and dean of the college who passed away in 2021. He noted “Fr. Peter certainly had an influence on me and on our entire community. He was trained as a liturgist. There were a lot of changes in the 60s and 70s and he held us on a good course in our liturgies, our prayer life, and our monastic practices.”
Additionally, Abbot Mark has taken much inspiration from Bishop Joseph Gerry, O.S.B who passed away last July, Fr. Cecil Donahue who passed away in November, and Fr. Martin Mager who has played and is playing an important role as the superior at Woodside Priory. All three shared a love of prayer, a positive outlook on life, and a good sense of humor. As for Fr. Martin, Abbot Mark noted that “He’s just always been very positive and never has a negative outlook. He is a very accomplished wood-worker, having built musical instruments, clocks, and cabinetry, all from scratch. He’s a superb craftsman.”
With his resignation and choice to not have his name submitted in the upcoming election, Abbot Mark hopes to spend his time in a few different ways. He hopes to possibly do something in campus ministry, and to write to donors/foundations asking for donations to support specific areas of the college.
One legacy he hopes he leaves behind: unity. “I think my greatest pride is the honor of playing a leadership role for 12 years with such a well-educated, capable, and skilled group of monks.”
Each Abbot has a coat of arms that symbolizes their leadership, and displays a motto of their choice. Abbot Mark’s coat of arms includes a Benedictine cross, a lion to symbolize Saint Mark, the cross of Lorraine in honor of the Joan of Arc sisters, and ocean waves in homage to his up-bringing on Casco Bay in Maine. His motto is “Ut Omnes Unum Sint.”
As his motto states, Abbot Mark hopes to walk away from his tenure holding on to the vision “that all may be one.”
