The Saint Vincent Archabbey Vocation Office and the Archabbey Communications Office has teamed up with the Pittsburgh video production company Ox Productions to launch a new series of vocation videos—To Follow Christ—featuring monks of the Archabbey. Life at the monastery, its challenges, its blessings, as well as the call to religious life are among the topics covered.

Maximilian Maxwell grew up as Mark Maxwell in the city of Philadelphia. He was a Flyers fan and an Eagles fan and spent several years working in professional scouting in the inner city schools and in the High Adventure program, as well as in the private sector. He watched his siblings and their families live lives of love and faith, but finally decided to answer a call he had felt since the eighth grade.

He moved across the state to Saint Vincent Archabbey, near Pittsburgh. Here, his faith grew, and his conversion story may have also involved professional sports—the Pittsburgh Steelers have made Saint Vincent their summer home for training camp since the late 1960s. Now a Benedictine monk and priest, he serves in a variety of roles on campus, but the main focus of his work at present is director of Campus Ministry at Saint Vincent College.

Here is his story:

For more information on vocations, visit the Archabbey Vocation website, or to arrange a visit fill out this form. The next “Come and See” weekend for men considering a call to monastic life and priesthood is May 23-25, 2025. There will be another “Come and See” in July.