Robert Campbell, O. Praem. was elected by the Community in July 2024 as the second abbot of Santa María de la Vid Abbey. He led the Norbertine Community through its 40th anniversary of being in New Mexico in 2025. 

Looking Ahead with Hope
When I was elected abbot, several people asked me what my “vision” was for the future of Santa María de la Vid Abbey. It is a fair question, and an important one. Yet I often find myself wanting to respond first with another question: What is God asking of us now? Vision, in monastic life, is never simply about innovation or expansion. It is about fidelity—faithfulness to the Gospel, to our charism, and to the concrete circumstances in which God has placed us.
The Norbertine tradition has always held together contemplation and action, silence and preaching, stability and mission. The future of the abbey, as I see it, will depend not on choosing one side of those tensions, but on living them more deeply and honestly. Our world is hungry—not only for answers, but for meaning; not only for words, but for witness. The monastery must continue to be a place where God is sought sincerely, where prayer shapes our days, and where hospitality flows naturally from a life rooted in Christ.
One priority for the future is strengthening our common life. Community is not a given; it is a daily work of conversion. If our fraternity is marked by patience, humility, and charity, it will preach more eloquently than any homily. I hope we will continue to grow as men who listen—to God, to one another, and to the people we serve. We seek to serve a synodal church in obedience to our Holy Father Pope Leo in Rome through honest conversation, and a shared commitment to the Rule and Constitutions that guide us.
Another essential dimension of our future is stewardship. The abbey has been entrusted to us not as owners, but as caretakers. This includes our land, our buildings, our finances, and the many gifts we have received through the generosity of others. Good stewardship is not merely about preservation, but about discernment: asking how our resources can best serve our mission today and tomorrow. Transparency, responsibility, and gratitude must shape our decisions.
Finally, I believe the abbey’s future lies in being a place of encounter. Whether through liturgy, retreats, parish ministry, or simple presence, we are called to be people who help others recognize God at work in their lives. In an age marked by noise and division, the monastery can offer something quietly radical: space for prayer, depth over distraction, and hope rooted in Christ rather than circumstance. May we always be a place of graceful encounter and dialogue, that all may be one.
I do not pretend to know all that lies ahead. But I trust that if we remain grounded in prayer, faithful to our vocation, and attentive to the Spirit, the future of Santa María de la Vid Abbey will unfold as God intends. That, ultimately, is the vision: to walk forward together in hope.