Father Brian D. Boosel, O.S.B., graduated this spring from The Catholic University of America, where he completed his doctorate in Early Modern European History. His dissertation was entitled “A Crisis of Amity in Early Modern France: Jansenism and the Friendship between Vincent de Paul and Abbé Saint-Cyran.” While a doctoral student, Father Brian was awarded the Andrew Mellon Fellowship in French Paleography at the Newberry Library in 2010.

In 2015, he was named assistant professor in the History Department at Saint Vincent College, where he teaches Early Modern and Modern European History. He was a member of the Saint Vincent Seminary adjunct faculty from 2004 to 2007. He was an adjunct member of the College faculty from 2005 to 2009.

A native of Butler, he is a son of Ralph L. Boosel of Butler and the late Jean Boosel. A 1992 graduate of Butler Area Senior High School, he has a bachelor of arts degree in history from Saint Vincent College, 1996. He earned the master of divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in 2002, and the master of arts degree in history from Slippery Rock University in 2004.

Father Brian entered the monastery from Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen Parish, Butler. He made his first profession of monastic vows on July 10, 1998, and solemn profession of vows on July 11, 2001. He was ordained to the diaconate on July 13, 2002 and to the priesthood on May 17, 2003 , by Bishop Anthony G. Bosco of Greensburg.

From 2003 to 2007, Father Brian directed the Campus Ministry program and was chaplain at Saint Vincent College. Father Brian received the Saint Vincent College Student Government Association Administrator Award in 2005 and was named the Saint Vincent College Young Alumnus of Distinction in 2006.

Father Brian’s assignments at the Archabbey have included assistant archivist (1998-2007); archivist (2007-2009); assistant master of ceremonies (1998-2007); sacristan (1998-2000); director of sacristies (2000-2002); associate director of sacristies (2004-2009), master of ceremonies (2008-2009) and director of Archabbey Publications (1998-2009). He was socius of novices (1999-2003); assistant to the archabbot (2007); and secretary of the Council of Seniors and Monastic Chapter (2002-2009).