Early life and ministry Seidenbusch was born on October 13, 1830, in
Munich and received his early education there before entering the diocesan seminary in
Freising, where he pursued classical and philosophical studies. Volunteering for missionary work in the United States, he traveled with fellow Bavarian
Francis Xavier Krautbauer and arrived in October 1850. He then entered the
Benedictine community at
Saint Vincent Abbey in
Latrobe,
Pennsylvania, making his solemn vows on January 6, 1852. He was director of
Saint Vincent College during the 1852-53 school year while still a theological student. Returning to Pennsylvania, he was elected
prior of Saint Vincent Abbey in 1862.
Abbot On December 12, 1866, Seidenbusch was elected the first
abbot of the
Abbey of St. Louis on the Lake (later known as Saint John's Abbey) in
Collegeville,
Minnesota. The abbey had been established as a
priory by his fellow monks from Saint Vincent Abbey in Pennsylvania at the behest of Bishop
Joseph Crétin to minister to the German immigrants in central Minnesota. His election was confirmed by
Pope Pius IX on March 15, 1867, and he was formally inducted into office on the following May 30 by Bishop
George Aloysius Carrell. During his nine years at the abbey, Seidenbusch oversaw the construction of a chapel, saw and flour mills, barns for livestock, and a woodworking shop. He performed his first priestly ordinations at Saint John's College the following August. He was buried in the cemetery of Saint John's Abbey in Collegeville. ==Notes==