Douglas Robert Nowicki

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Douglas Robert Nowicki, O.S.B. (May 8, 1945 - July 23, 2024) was an American Benedictine monk and Catholic priest. From 1991 to 2020, he served as the 11th Archabbot of Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and by extension, the Chancellor of Saint Vincent College and the Chancellor of Saint Vincent Seminary. Nowicki became solemnly professed on July 11, 1966 and was ordained a priest on May 21, 1972. He served the monastic community and the Diocese of Pittsburgh in various capacities before his election as archabbot in 1991.

The Right Reverend

Douglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B.
Archabbot of Saint Vincent Archabbey
ElectedMarch 1, 1991 - June 2020
PredecessorPaul Maher
SuccessorMartin Bartel
Orders
OrdinationMay 21, 1972
by William G. Connare
Personal details
Born (1945-05-08) May 8, 1945 (age 79)
Everson, Pennsylvania, United States
DiedJuly 23, 2024
Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, Pennsylvania United States
DenominationCatholic
ParentsSylvester Nowicki & Evelyn Jackamonis
Alma materSaint Vincent College, Saint Vincent Seminary, University of Tennessee
MottoCor ad Cor Loquitur
(Heart speaks to Heart)
Coat of armsDouglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B.'s coat of arms

Early life and education

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Nowicki was born in Everson, Pennsylvania, on May 8, 1945, the son of Sylvester and Evelyn (Jackamonis) Nowicki. He is one of four children.

Nowicki attended Catholic grade schools at Saint Joseph, Everson, and Holy Cross, Youngwood, Pennsylvania. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Saint Vincent College in 1968, a Master of Divinity from Saint Vincent Seminary in 1971 and a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Tennessee in 1977.[1]

Priesthood

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Nowicki was professed as a Benedictine on July 11, 1966, and ordained to the priesthood at the Archabbey Basilica on May 21, 1972 by Bishop William G. Connare of Greensburg. Prior to his election as Archabbot, Nowicki had served for five years as Secretary for Education of the Diocese of Pittsburgh from 1986 to 1991 and Pastor of Our Lady, Queen of Peace Parish, North Side, Pittsburgh from 1984 to 1986. At Saint Vincent College he served as Chairman of the Department of Psychology from 1979 to 1984 and Associate Academic Dean from 1983 to 1984. From 1978 through 1983, he was also a member of the staff in the Behavioral Science Department at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Nowicki also served as a psychological consultant to Mister Rogers' Neighborhood from 1978 to 1984.[2]

Abbacy

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Styles of
Douglas R. Nowicki
 
Reference styleThe Right Reverend
Spoken styleArchabbot
Religious styleFather Abbot
Posthumous stylenot applicable

Nowicki was first elected by his fellow monks on January 8, 1991 to become the eleventh Archabbot of Saint Vincent. On March 1, 1991, he received the Abbatial Blessing from Anthony G. Bosco, Bishop of Greensburg.[3] Under Nowicki, Saint Vincent Archabbey, College, Seminary and Parish have undergone major developments, including a new bypass and entrance road to the Saint Vincent campus, the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve,[4] the Fred M. Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children's Media,[5] the Carey Student Center, the Elizabeth Roderick Center and The John and Annette Brownfield Center, a new Apse organ in the Archabbey Basilica along with restoration of the Basilica Crypt, the construction of two college dormitories, Rooney Hall and Saint Benedict Hall, the renovation/restoration of the Archabbey Basilica, construction of a new parish center for Saint Vincent Parish, renovation of Prep Hall and the Latimer Family Library, the establishment of a minority scholarship program named in his honor and the construction of the $40 million Sis and Herman Dupré Science Pavilion.[6]

Coat of arms

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Coat of arms of Douglas Robert Nowicki
 
Notes
Archabbot Douglas Nowicki's coat of arms combines his own design with the design of Saint Vincent Archabbey.[citation needed] The left side of the shield displays the archabbatial design while the right side contains a reference to the Archabbot's motto.
Escutcheon
Imposed on the right are the coat of arms of Saint Vincent Archabbey. On the right are three yellow hearts imposed on a red field.
Motto
Cor ad Cor Loquitur (the same motto as John Henry Cardinal Newman)
Symbolism
"Galero": an abbatial crozier veiled with a "sudarium" by a black galero, or wide-brimmed hat, signifies the rank of abbot.[7]

The blue and white field represents the flag of Bavaria, the country from which founder of the abbey, Abbot Boniface Wimmer, came, while the "V" represents Saint Vincent de Paul, the patron saint of the Archabbey. The three yellow hearts imposed on a red field are representative of the archabbot's personal motto, "Heart speaks to heart."

References

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  1. ^ "Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B., Re-Elected as Major Superior of the Benedictine Community". Saint Vincent Seminary. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-10-01.
  2. ^ "Archabbot Douglas Nowicki". The Saint Benedict Education Foundation.
  3. ^ "Executive Profile: Douglas R. Nowicki". Bloomberg Businessweek. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014.
  4. ^ "Reserve to Honor Winnie Palmer". Saint Vincent Archabbey.
  5. ^ "Maxwell King, Former President of Heinz Endowments, Named Executive Director of Fred Rogers Center at Saint Vincent College". WLOX 13. Archived from the original on 2014-05-04. Retrieved 2014-10-01.
  6. ^ "Archabbot Douglas Re-Elected". Saint Vincent Archabbey. Archived from the original on 2014-05-04. Retrieved 2014-10-01.
  7. ^ Selvester, Rev. Guy. "Aspects of Heraldry in the Catholic Church" (PDF). New York Genealogical & Biographical Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-06-28.
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