On November 30, 2025, Abbot Jonathan Licari, O.S.B., President of the American Cassinese Congregation of Benedictine monasteries, appointed Fr. Edward Seton Fittin, O.S.B., as Prior-Administrator of St. Mary’s Abbey for a three-year term, effective November 30, 2025. Abbot Jonathan has served as the St. Mary’s Abbey Administrator since August 1, 2022, and Fr. Edward currently serves as Prior of St. Mary’s Abbey.
 
Fr. Edward’s wide range and depth of experience suit him especially well-suited for the role of Prior-Administrator of St. Mary’s Abbey. A Delbarton alumnus from the Class of 1982, Fr. Edward is the son of the late James P. Fittin III ’58 and Sandra Klein Fittin.
 
Fr. Edward attended Mount Saint Mary’s University, where he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1986 and received The Agostino and Anna Travaioli Memorial Prize for distinguished work in Art History. He professed monastic vows in 1988, made his solemn profession of vows in 1991, and was ordained priest in 1993. In 1993, he also earned a Master of Divinity degree from the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
 
After ordination, he was appointed to the Delbarton faculty, where he taught in the Theology department and chaired the department for twenty years. He worked in campus ministry for ten years, serving as director for six years, and was involved in a variety of community service projects, including two Operation Smile missions to the Philippines and Romania. For twenty-five years, Fr. Edward Seton has coordinated an exchange program with Glenstal Abbey School in Limerick, Ireland. 
 
Fr. Edward Seton taught Advanced Placement Art History for a dozen years and served on the design and development committee for the Fine Arts Center, which opened in 2006, including the design of its iconic clock tower.

 At St. Mary’s Abbey, Fr. Edward Seton served for two years as Abbey vocation director and as director of liturgy for more than two decades. He has acted as Sunday chaplain to the Religious Teachers Filippini, Morristown, and as a weekend associate at area churches. He is currently a weekend associate at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Bernardsville. 
 
In 2018, Fr. Edward Seton was appointed claustral prior and Abbey Church rector.  The former role includes the day-to-day operations of the monastery and substitutes for the abbot in his absence.  The latter position coordinates sacramental celebration in the Abbey Church for alumni and friends of the Abbey.

 As Prior and Administrator of St. Mary’s Abbey, Fr. Edward holds all the usual responsibilities and authority of the Abbot of St. Mary’s Abbey, without the title of “Abbot.”  He will aid the monks of St. Mary’s Abbey as they plan for their future and discern what kind of person they wish to serve as their permanent abbot.  Together with the monastic community, Fr. Edward will determine when the next abbatial election will take place.