St. Meinrad Archabbey was founded in southern Indiana in 1854 by Benedictine monks from Einsiedeln Abbey in Switzerland, responding to requests from a local priest for additional support ministering to the local German Catholic immigrant population. Soon after, the Benedictines opened a school, where they taught local boys and trained new priests. Abbey Press was founded in 1867, and published The Grail, a popular Catholic magazine, from 1919 to 1958.
Today, the Seminary and School of Theology at St. Meinrad Archabbey offers graduate degrees in theology to both seminarians and laypeople. St. Meinrad's continues to operate Abbey Press, a printing house of religious images, books, and other printed items. In 1999, Abbey Caskets was founded; this business venture sells handcrafted caskets to raise money for the School of Theology.
From the guide to the St. Meinrad Archabbey materials, 1940-2010, (University of Dayton)
