Facebook Post – May 9, 2024
According to the Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota website Hahn is “currently the assistant dean of the school of education and is the current program director of character and virtue education at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.” [Link]
[Note: Updates to this article appear at the bottom of the page.]
Michael Hahn completed his BA in political science from Saint John’s University in 2005. While an undergrad, Hahn was on the mock trial team and participated in student government. It was during this time that Hahn developed a loyalty and close relationship with several monks including Rev. Robert Koopmann, OSB.
Note: In 2003-2004, Hahn served on the senate with the Saint Mary’s current Chief of Staff, Andrew Dirksen.
Hahn spent three years in New Jersey was a Benedictine Volunteer and taught at Saint Benedict’s Preparatory School under the direction of the Benedictine monks of Newark Abbey. In 2008, Hahn completed his Master’s in Systematic Theology from Seton Hall University in New Jersey.
Before entering Saint John’s Abbey as a novice in 2009, Hahn taught theology at Cathedral High School in Saint Cloud during the 2009-2010 school year. Hahn taught at Cathedral despite his lack of an education degree of or an educator’s license. Hahn was a faculty resident and undergraduate theology teacher at Saint John’s University.
Michael Hahn became a solemnly vowed monk at Saint John’s Abbey on September 14, 2010. Hahn was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Donald Kettler of the Diocese of Saint Cloud on December 7, 2013 and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest by Bishop Kettler into the Saint Cloud Diocese on May 31, 2014. [Link]
Prior to being ordained, Hahn served as chaplain to the National Catholic Youth Choir. The choir was directed by Rev. Anthony Ruff, OSB. At that time, Hahn and others knew that Ruff was a credibly accused monk from Saint John’s Abbey.
Note: Anthony Ruff currently teaches at the Saint John’s University School of Theology and Seminary. He is moderator of the popular liturgy blog “Pray Tell.” His sexual misconduct has never been made public by Saint John’s University or Saint John’s Abbey.
Hahn began his doctoral work (Ph.D. in Theology and Education) at Boston College in 2014 Hahn was scheduled to teach at Saint John’s University in the fall of 2019.
On April 1, 2019, Rev. Eric Hollas wrote in his blog that Hahn was scheduled to resume teaching at Saint John’s University in the fall of 2019:
“This last week we received word that our confrere Father Michael-Leonard Hahn successfully defended his Pd.D. dissertation. This fall he will return from his studies at Boston College to teach at Saint John’s University.” – A Monk’s Chronicle; Rev. Eric Hollas’ Blog (April 1, 2019)
Change of Plans
In the late April of 2019, Hahn was credibly accused of making what would later be described by Abbot John Klassen as “unwanted sexual advances.” The advances reportedly included coerced oral sex. The behavior dated back to 2016.
On July 10 2019, SJU Professor Campbell-Reed sent an email to one of her students (Hahn’s victim) regarding her report/conversation with Judy Bednar (SJU’s Title IX Coordinator). Bednar’s response was forwarded as part of that email:
“I shared there may be more than one individual impacted by [Hahn].”
The very next day, Rev. Donald Tauscher OSB was reportedly overheard reading a memo from the Abbot’s private bulletin board:
“Oh shit, not another one!” – Rev. Donald Tauscher July 11, 2019
Note: Dozens of individuals from Collegeville have been credibly accused of misconduct. [The List]
Reportedly, Michael Hahn had been summoned home to the cloister (from Boston College) and would not be teaching at Saint John’s in the fall.
Hahn had originally planned to return at the end of July, according to the July 14, 2019 church bulletin from Newton, Massachusetts where Hahn had served as a “Priest in Residence” which pursuing his degree.
The same church bulletin makes another reference to the speedy departure:
July 14, 2019 – Sacred Heart and Our Lady’s – Newton, MA Bulletin [Link]
Michael Hahn did not return to the abbey as directed. [Link]
Fewer than three weeks later, on March 30, 2020 Michael Hahn begins his work at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota as the Program Director of Virtue and Character Education.
The school did not announce Hahn’s hiring to the public until June 2, 2020. [Link]
Note: The announcement from Saint Mary’s makes no mention of Hahn’s time as a monk or Catholic priest.
In September of 2020, Abbot John Klassen wrote that [Hahn] had caused “considerable strain” for the victim. More importantly however, of the victim, Klassen wrote:
“He was innocent in all respects.” – Abbot John Klassen – September, 2020
Today
According to the Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota website Hahn is “currently the assistant dean of the school of education and is the current program director of character and virtue education at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.” [Link]
In April of 2024, after concerns were reported regarding Hahn’s abrasive leadership, the hostile work environment he has cultivated, financial and travel concerns, questionable relationships and uncomfortable interactions – including what one former employee described as inappropriate/grooming behavior – a report regarding Hahn’s past misconduct was made to the Diocese of Winona-Rochester.
[Update May 9, 2024: Michael Hahn is reportedly included in the 2022 Ordo. The Ordo includes a directory of all monks in the American-Cassinese Congregation and is usually a very* reliable resource source of information. Hahn’s inclusion would suggest that he was a solemnly professed member of Saint John’s Abbey in late 2021. Hahn reportedly does not appear in the 2023 Ordo.] [Update May 9, 2024: Added image from and message from Facebook user.] [Update May 9, 2024: Added another reference to Hahn’s quick departure from Newton, MA in the church bulletin.] [Update May 14, 2024: Changed misspelling of “July”]
