Elected in January, the youngest abbot in the history of St. Norbert Abbey credits his family for their examples of faith
By Jeff Kurowski | For On Mission
Photography courtesy of St. Norbert Abbey
DE PERE, WI — Norbertine Abbot Bradley Vanden Branden drew inspiration from Pope Leo XIV for his first action as the new leader of the Norbertine community of St. Norbert Abbey.
“Just getting to meet with people is important,” he said. “As prior, I’ve certainly been with the confrères, so I’ve met with some of the lay employees who work with the abbot. … I’ve set aside plenty of time to meet one-on-one with the other Norbertines, so my first act has been listening.”
“I recently read a report; I think it was one of the cardinals, after the consistory, who said ‘Pope Leo (XIV) is a listening pope.’ I want to listen first. It’s not where I think the community is, but where I hear the community is, and to find a way to move forward.”
On January 15, 2026, Abbot Vanden Branden was elected as the eighth abbot in the 133-year history of the Norbertine Community of St. Norbert Abbey, succeeding now-retired Norbertine Abbot Dane Radecki. He said that he didn’t expect to be elected abbot by his peers.
“I was beginning to think about life after the election, after being the prior,” Abbot Vanden Branden said. “I had a five-year term (as prior) and was in the middle of my second five-year term. I was anticipating helping the next abbot transition into his role and being assigned somewhere else.”
Abbot Vanden Branden describes his Norbertine vocation as his “lifelong calling,” but he had not envisioned his new role, he said.
“It was already quite an honor to serve the confrères as the prior,” he said. “It’s not good if anybody (desires) to be the abbot. It should be a call to service, a confirmed call from the Lord brought out of you by others.”
Abbot Vanden Branden, the son of Tom and Joan Vanden Branden, grew up in what was then a rural area on the west side of De Pere.
He was baptized and made his first holy Communion at St. Boniface Parish in De Pere. His family then became members of the newly formed Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. The Norbertines were influential in his life growing up, he said.
“When I was in second grade, I started talking about becoming a priest,” he said. “In my mind, the only priest was a Norbertine priest because Norbertines were the only priests that I knew.”
“I remember in middle school, (Norbertine) Fr. (James) Neilson invited me over (to the abbey) for vespers and dinner, which I was enamored with. In high school, I actually worked in the abbey kitchen for a year or two.”
Abbot Vanden Branden, a graduate of St. Norbert College, who received a master of divinity degree and a master of arts in theology (liturgy) from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, also credits his family, including his late maternal grandmother, Tracy Van Schyndel, for their examples of faith.
“I remember gathering to pray the Rosary with my mom and family,” he said. “I have a memory of the room being dark and Grandma striking a match to light a candle. There was just a profound awareness that what was happening here was special. Hearing my family pray the Rosary, just that humming, that monotony, brought great peace.
“I also remember being obsessed with the saints, running through farm fields pretending to be St. Francis and playing Mass in the basement. My childhood was full of religious church affection.”
Abbot Vanden Branden, 38, is the youngest abbot in the order’s history and the first ever prior to be elected.
He admits that “it can be a little awkward to be the abbot,” considering a number of the Norbertines watched him grow up. He appreciates their support, he said.
“Any election is a sign that the community puts (its) faith and hope in you,” he said. “Especially being a young abbot, it can be a sign of hope.”
“I want to rely on the other confrères to help; to help me learn how to lead the community, to help me be of service. I really value the fraternity that we have. I will rely on that to help move us forward.”
The new abbot, who was ordained to the priesthood in 2016, said that he looks forward to working with Bishop David Ricken, who joined the Norbertine Community for vespers and dinner on the day of the election.
“(Bishop Ricken) was very supportive and is a good friend of the community,” Abbot Vanden Branden said.
The Norbertines have four parish apostolates in the Diocese of Green Bay: St. Norbert College Parish, De Pere; St. Willebrord Parish, Green Bay; Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, De Pere; and Holy Cross Parish, Bay Settlement.
Norbertine priests currently minister at other diocesan parishes as well. Abbot Vanden Branden said the community will continue to serve the parishes and school apostolates — St. Norbert College, De Pere; Notre Dame Academy, Green Bay; Holy Cross School and Our Lady of Lourdes School — as long as they are able.
“People will often ask, ‘What’s the charism of the order?’” Abbot Vanden Branden said. “It’s to be prepared for every good work and to serve the local church. In our case, it’s primarily been through parishes and schools. Vocations are primary to that. Our community number right now is 34.
Of the 34 Norbertines in the Diocese of Green Bay community, there are about 17 or 18 who are able to take on full-time ministry.
“As abbot, I’m keenly aware that we cannot spread ourselves too thin,” Abbot Vanden Branden said. “We need people who are healthy for the Gospel and are able to serve to the best of their ability, and to live the religious life we strive to live here, which is a balance of contemplation and action.”
He acknowledges that he will have to give up some ministries as abbot. In addition to being prior, he was also the director of the Norbertine Center for Spirituality at the time of his election.
A college music major, he hopes to remain involved in music ministry to some extent.
“Music is very important to me,” he said. “I’m intending to fill in on the organ. It’s a part of life I very much enjoy. Directing as many choirs as I did probably won’t happen.”
“I still need to figure out what needs to happen with the spirituality center,” he said. “It certainly will continue. I told the confrères at my election that now until our chapter in June, I want to observe and do some planning.”
Visibility is important in his role, Abbot Vanden Branden said. He plans to continue to preach retreats as time allows. Celebrating Mass is among his greatest joys, he added.
“There is a great peace in my steady rock in life (Mass, Liturgy of the Hours, prayer),” Abbot Vanden Branden said. “On great feasts, that the abbot can preach, fill a liturgical role, gives me comfort.”
Maintaining a sense of self will be important.
“Even though I’m the abbot, I’m also still Brad who has interests, passions and desires,” he said. “I think it’s important to keep that balance. Otherwise, the role will not serve me well if I’m not able to be myself.”
“It’s important to maintain relationships, not only corporately, but those personal ones. People see the role of abbot, and sometimes the role can speak, and I need to acknowledge that. I’m sure that there will be some relationships that change, but I still hope to maintain friendships and still be able to be myself and feel the love and appreciation of friends.”
When he needs to refresh, Abbot Vanden Branden hits the open road.
“The thing I love the most, especially if I’m feeling stressed out, is just going for a long drive without any sense of destination,” he said. “It helps to clear my mind, whether that’s driving in silence or listening to music. That sense of open road and spontaneity refreshes my soul very much.”
He will continue to lean on prayer, putting his trust in the Lord.
“There is no way I would have been able to see any of this or plan for it,” Abbot Vanden Branden said. “I have told myself every day since the election, ‘Just trust in Jesus, and he’ll do it.’ I have constantly been saying, ‘Lord, I trust in you.’ That’s what’s going to help me lead forward. The moment I try to direct, force or manipulate something, it won’t work. I have to stay steadfast in my trust.”