Abbot Nathan Zodrow O.S.B

ABBOT NATHAN ZODROW, O.S.B., a monk of Mount Angel Abbey in Oregon, U.S.A., passed peacefully to the Lord on the 8th day of April, 2025; he was 73 years of age, 50 years professed as a monk, and only days away from 37 years as a priest. He was the tenth abbot of Mount Angel, serving from 2001 co 2009. Gary Zodrow was born in 1952 and was raised in a family of eight children in Chewelah, Washington, where he completed his elementary education. He attended Mater Cleri Seminary in Colbert, Washington, and finished two years of study at Gonzaga University in Spokane before coming to Mount Angel Abbey. Here he made his first profession of vows on September 8, 1974, and received the name and received the name of Nathan. Later, during some further time of discernment away from the Abbey, he managed an arc gallery in Arizona before returning to the Abbey, professing solemn vows and being ordained co the priesthood in 1988. Significant personal gifts in the areas of arc, organization and public relations led co various assignments especially in the seminary in the early years after ordination. With experience gained in seminary administration and formation, Fr. Nathan later pursued doctoral studies at the University of Dayton, Ohio, in the field of Educational Administration and Institutional Change Theory, gaining a PhD in December of 2001. le was earlier in chat same year of 20m chat Fr. Nathan was elected as the tenth abbot of Mount Angel Abbey. Beautification of the hilltop landscape, construction of a fine bell cower for the Abbey church, focus on the development program and the financial stability of the Abbey with the establishment of the Abbey Foundation of Oregon, and the resolution of various challenges in a very difficult time for the Church-all these were important contributions by which the monastic community was blessed by the leadership of Abbot Nathan whose abbatial motto was "Serve the Lord with Joy." During his retirement he happily served as pastor of Sc. Agatha's Parish in Portland and then returned to the Abbey for his final years of quiet service. May he rest forever in the peace of Christ...
-Abbot Jeremy Driscoll & Mount Angel Abbey