site.
The ''Meet the Monks'' section of this web site lists 734
different monks at Saint John's Abbey between 1950 & 2012.
 
To view a list of monks with credible allegations of misconduct, click Here
 
This monk has been accused of misconduct.


 
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Rev. Thomas (William) Gillespie, O.S.B.
 
Current Monk at St. John's Abbey: Yes
 
  Dates |  Articles & Docs |  Images |  History |  Allegations |  Notes |  Names  
 
Currently under supervision for sexual misconduct.
 
If you see this monk around children or vulnerable adults,
please consider contacting the authorities immediately.

 

 
Partial Work History
 
1964-1966 St. Bernard's Parish (St. Paul, MN)
1966-1968 St. John's (Vocation Director)
1968-1975 San Antonio Abad (Humacao, PR)
1975-1976 St. Boniface Parish (Cold Spring, MN)
1976-1978 St. Bernard's Parish (St. Paul, MN)
1978-1986 St. Mary's Church (Stillwater, MN)
1986-1996 St. Joseph Parish (St. Joseph, MN)
 

 
Allegations of Abuse and/or Misconduct
 
Fr. Tom Gillespie has at least four victims. Gillespie's youngest victim was reportedly 10 years old. Victims have reported rubbing of buttocks, hands down pants, fondling, inappropriate touching while wrestling, simulated anal sex, and masturbation by Gillespie. In 1996, Gillespie admitted to abusing a minor boy in Stillwater in 1978.
 
View All Posts related to Rev. Thomas (William) Gillespie
 

 
Miscellaneous Notes
 


"All of these trials and tribulations of the 1990s sadly peaked with the sudden loss of the pastor, Tom Gillespie, OSB. Perhaps he couldn't deal with another tragedy, folks thought--but they didn't know. On February 23, 1996, Father Tom was gone. Some recall that there may have been some explanation given by Abbot Timothy, OSB, of Saint John's, but nothing that really answered people's questions. Father Daniel Ward, OSB, from Saint John's, stepped in as interim pastor. However, only in June 2002, did parishioners receive real information about Father Tom. John Klassen, OSB, abbot of Saint John's, visited with parishioners at an open meeting in the Parish/School Center. He informed them that Father Tom had been recalled due to an episode of child sexual misconduct--not at the St. Joseph Parish but at another parish many years before. By this time, parishioners also knew that a previous associate pastor had been recalled to the Abbey because of child sexual misconduct." (1996)

Father Thomas studied philosophy and theology at Saint John's University in preparation for ordination. His first, and most of his other pastoral assignments, was in Minnesota, but he was a missionary and teacher in Puerto Rico from 1968 to 1975 when he returned to his home state to serve as pastor or chaplain at various locations. From 1996 to the present he has been responsible for computer-generated signage throughout campus. He has also mastered the art of creating websites. In 2004 he was named socius (assistant) for novices and candidates. He also serves as a fireman, a technician for the Sunday Mass Web broadcasts, and team chaplain for the retirement center. In his spare time, Father Thomas adds to the 2,000 miles of flying time he logged in January 2002. (2008)
 

 
Dates
 
Born: Available but not Published
Hometown: Available but not Published
 
Professed: July 11, 1958
Ordained: May 30, 1964
 
Listed as an Active Monk in 2012: Yes
 
First Year Listed in Ordo at St. John's: 1959
Last Year Listed in Ordo at St. John's: 2012*
 
* Ordo data available not yet available for 2013 or 2014.
 

 
Names
 
Possible names for Rev. Thomas (William) Gillespie, O.S.B.:
 
Fr. Thomas Gillespie, Father Thomas Gillespie
Fr. Gulielmus Gillespie, Father Gulielmus Gillespie
Fr. William Gillespie, Father William Gillespie
 

 
Images of Rev. Thomas (William) Gillespie, O.S.B.:
 
Images of this monk are available. Click Here to request.
 

 
 
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Updated December, 2013