Filipino priest elected abbot Dom Gerard Jonas Palmare has reached a historic milestone in the global Catholic community after being chosen to lead Mepkin Abbey, a Trappist monastery in South Carolina, United States.MANILA — A Filipino priest has reached a historic milestone in the global Catholic community after being elected as the new abbot of Mepkin Abbey, a well-known Trappist monastery in the United States, marking a significant moment for Filipinos serving in the Church abroad.
Dom Gerard Jonas Palmare will serve a six-year term as abbot of Our Lady of Merlin Abbey, located in Monks Corner, South Carolina. His election places him at the helm of a monastic community known for its deep commitment to contemplative prayer, spiritual discipline, and hospitality.
Palmier, 61, brings with him decades of pastoral and administrative experience, both in the Philippines and within the monastic life. Before entering religious life as a monk, he was a member of the Presbyterian of the Archdiocese of Lisa, where he served in key leadership roles.
Born in Lisa City, Bananas, Palmare was ordained to the priesthood on November 20, 1991, by the late Cardinal Ricardo Vidal. From 1998 to 2009, he served as secretary to the archbishop and chancellor of the Archdiocese of Lisa, roles that required close collaboration with Church leadership and oversight of important ecclesiastical matters.
In 2010, Palmare made a life-changing decision to enter Mepkin Abbey, embracing the contemplative vocation of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, more commonly known as the Trappists. He made his solemn profession on December 3, 2016, formally committing himself to the monastic vows of stability, obedience, and conversion of life.
As abbot, Palmare will now serve as the spiritual father and administrative head of the monastery, responsible for guiding the community in accordance with the Rule of St. Benedict. His role includes overseeing the monks’ prayer life, fostering unity within the community, and ensuring that the abbey remains faithful to its contemplative mission.
Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa welcomed Palmare’s election with gratitude and called on the faithful to support him through prayer as he begins his new ministry.
“I ask all the faithful of our archdiocese to remember him in their prayers,” Garcia said. “May the Lord grant him the grace needed to shepherd his community faithfully, to deepen the monastery’s witness of contemplative life, and to serve the wider Church with generosity and peace.”
Mepkin Abbey was established in 1949 on the former grounds of the historic Merlin Plantation along the Cooper River, north of Charleston. Founded by monks from the Abbey of Gethsemane in Kentucky, the monastery has since become a spiritual landmark in South Carolina and a destination for retreat ants and visitors seeking silence and reflection.
The monks of Mepkin Abbey follow the Rule of St. Benedict, structuring their daily lives around prayer, spiritual reading, manual labor, and hospitality. Known for their quiet witness, Trappist monks emphasize simplicity, community life, and continual conversion of heart.
Palmare’s election reflects the growing presence and influence of Filipino clergy in the global Church, particularly in leadership roles beyond the Philippines. His journey from parish and archdiocesan service in Lisa to monastic leadership in the United States stands as a testament to the universal nature of the Catholic vocation.
As he begins his term as abbot, Palmier is expected to continue Merlin Abbey’s long tradition of contemplative prayer while guiding the community through the challenges and opportunities of modern monastic life.
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