Uznach Abbey

St. Otmarsberg Abbey in Uznach is a Missionary Benedictine monastery in the Swiss canton of St. Gallen, standing above the small town of Uznach. Travel listings call it "Uznach Abbey", but it is a living religious community rather than a museum or a ruin. It belongs to the Congregation of Missionary Benedictines of St. Ottilien.

What is the abbey in Uznach?

Andreas Amrhein founded the St. Ottilien Congregation in Bavaria to carry out mission work outside Europe. In 1916 he sent one monk to Switzerland to recruit members and gather support for the missions. After Germany's defeat in World War I, neutral Switzerland offered the congregation a safer base. The Benediktusheim opened in Uznach in September 1919 as a branch of St. Ottilien Archabbey, and for decades it served as a support hub for missions in Africa and Asia.

How did its status change?

• 1937: a student house, the Benedictinum, is founded in Fribourg.
• 1947: the Benedictinum becomes an independent priory.
• 1963: the Uznach and Fribourg communities merge as St. Otmarsberg.
• 6 January 1982: the monastery becomes an abbey and canonically independent.

Ivo Auf der Maur was the first abbot, followed by Marian Eleganti, who served until 2009. In 2013 the monks elected Emmanuel Rutz as the third abbot. English Wikipedia lists the current superior as Fr Adelrich Staub, Prior Administrator.

What will you see?

The main building is the monastery church, designed by Herbert Oberholzer and consecrated in 1988. It is a late 20th-century church, not a medieval landmark. For the centenary in 2019 the monks laid out a mission trail with twelve stelae telling the story of the Missionary Benedictines. The abbey welcomes guests and organises an annual pilgrimage to Lourdes with around 2,000 participants.

Who lives here?

The community counted 28 monks in 2010, six of them working in Africa and two in Kazakhstan. By 2019 there were 21, with an average age of about 66. The monastery still raises funds and sends personnel to Benedictine missions in the Global South.

When should you visit?

For a quiet visit, choose a weekday away from major feast days. If you plan to attend a service, check current times on the abbey's official website, as the sources we used give no fixed schedule. The mission trail is an open-air route, so it suits fair weather best.

Frequently asked questions

Is Uznach Abbey a medieval monument? No. The community dates from 1919, and the present church was consecrated in 1988.

Who are the Missionary Benedictines? They are monks of the St. Ottilien Congregation who combine monastic life with mission work, mainly in Africa and Asia.

Can visitors see the monastery? The abbey receives guests, and a mission trail with twelve stelae runs nearby. Confirm visiting rules and service times with the community.

Why was a missionary monastery founded in Switzerland? After World War I, a neutral country was a practical base for a German congregation running distant missions.