Emeritus – History

Father Christian began attending St. Procopius College in 1945. Following his freshman year he entered the novitate, professed his vows in 1947, and was ordained priesthood in 1953. He continued his studies and earned his Ph.D. in Modern European History from the Catholic University of America, and was an important firgure in establishing Illinois Benedictine College’s Department of History in 1962. He served as a professor of history until 1990, and in January 1987, took over the position of University Archivist as well as the Abbey Archivist. He collected, filed, and maintained records and artifacts pertaining to the 100+ years of Procopian and Benedictine history.

Father Christian Ceplecha, OSB, department head, taught the constitutional and political history of England. He stated that his department provided students with a knowledge of past events so that they could better judge the present actions of men and nations.

Fr. Ceplecha passed away on May 29, 2002