Br. Anselm grew up in Magnolia, Texas, a suburb so far north of Houston that people often called it “South Dallas.” After a brief few months as a fervent Protestant, he joined the Catholic Church and was baptized in 2020. Over the next few years, God stirred a desire in his heart for a religious vocation through monastic classics like The Ladder of Divine Ascent and The Love of Learning and the Desire for God.

He attended the University of St. Thomas and graduated with a degree in English Literature, writing an undergraduate thesis on the Dantean Arc of T.S. Eliot’s poetry. He also loves the verse of W.B. Yeats, Rainer Maria Rilke, and Richard Wilbur. Br. Anselm was a missionary for Adore Ministries while he was at UST.  One of his professors, a Dominican sister, encouraged him to discern a vocation at Our Lady of Dallas. Since joining the monastery, his desire to give his life entirely to God as a priest, teacher, and monk has continued to grow and deepen. The friendship and support of his brother monks regularly renews his resolve to pursue God’s will.

During his year as a novice (2024-2025), Br. Anselm spent many of his evenings reading books of theology, especially those about Sacred Scripture. He’s working on a M.A. in Theology at the University of Dallas in preparation for priestly ministry. In addition, he is teaching Form III Religion (Old Testament) at Cistercian Preparatory School.