Father Andrew Gerard Cribben O.Praem.
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Born to Gerald and Nancy (deceased) Cribben in Juneau, Wisconsin
on November 30, 1963, Andrew “Andy” or “Drew,” grew up on and
around the dairy farms of Dodge County in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
He was baptized and received his First Communion and
Confirmation at Immaculate Conception Parish in Juneau. Today his
former parish has been joined with the former St. Malachy parish in
Horicon, WI, to become Sacred Heart Parish, Horicon.
His father, Jerry, is married to Donna and they live on a small farm at
Creek Road, Lowell, in the Town of Clyman, Dodge County. Fr.
Andy is the third eldest of eleven children: eight girls and three boys.
In order of birth: Anne Kuehl (Greg) of Kiel, WI; Meg Bohler (Dave) of Janesville, WI; Sheila Zgonc
(Steve) of Watertown, WI; Steve (Lisa) of De Pere; Christine Pecore (Ragan) of Oshkosh, WI; Rosemary
Temby (Jason) of Madison, WI; Antoinette Sueflohn (Michael) of Delafield, WI; Eva Cribben of
Milwaukee, WI; Paul of Juneau; Maria Cribben of Lowell, WI. He has 22 nephews and nieces. Both
his father and Donna were widowed when they were married. They are now active members of St.
Bernard Parish, Watertown, WI, of the Diocese of Madison. Donna has five children as well: Lori,
Rob, Scott, John, and Jim Chyko.
Fr. Andy was graduated from Dodgeland High School, Juneau WI, and received a BBA in Businees
Management from UW-Whitewater.
After working for a short period at Bethesda Lutheran Home for
the developmentally disabled in Watertown, WI, he joined the Norbertines of St. Norbert Abbey as a
novice on August 27, 1987. He professed temporary vows in 1989 and Solemn Vows in 1992. He
received his STB from the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, in 1993 and after German language
studies in Innsbruck, Austria, he completed a Clinical Pastoral Education experience at Northwestern
Hospital in Chicago. While attending Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and in preparation
for presbyteral ordination, he was ordained to the transitional diaconate by Bishop Robert Morneau,
and then ministered at St. Ailbe Parish in Chicago. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 7,
1994, by Bishop Robert Banks at St. Norbert Abbey.
Fr. Andy was then assigned to The Priory of St. Moses the Black, Jackson, Mississippi, where he
began pastoral duties as Associate Pastor at Christ the King Parish, a primarily African-American
congregation, and worked as a case worker at Catholic Charities. He served as Catholic Campus
Minister at Jackson State University during that same period. He became Associate Pastor at St.
Mary Parish, Jackson, MS, when that parish was linked with Christ the King Parish. Andy lived with
the Norbertine community and ministered there until September of 1998 at which time he became
Formation Director of St. Norbert Abbey until July of 2006. During those years he lived and worked
at the Norbertine communities at St. Norbert Abbey, DePere, at Santa Maria de la Vid Priory, Albuquerque,
New Mexico, and at Holy Spirit House of Studies, Chicago. After a sabbatical at Sangre
Fr. Andy has served the Norbertine community as a member of the Abbot’s Council of St. Norbert
Abbey (2000-06) and currently on the St. Norbert College Board of Trustees since 1999, most recently
completing his duties as Chair of the Mission and Heritage Committee and as a member of
the ExecutiveCommitee. He also serves on the board of Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, since
2003. From 2003-2010 he served on the Religious Formation Conference national board, the final
three years as Chair of the Finance Committee and a member of the Executive Committee.
Upon his return from Peru in early 2007 he became Vocation Coordinator of St. Norbert Abbey until
2009. Since then he has been offering spiritual direction, directed retreats, and days of reflection
through the Norbertine Center for Spirituality as well as offering sacramental ministry at the Abbey
and at various parishes throughout the Diocese of Green Bay.
Having grown up and worked on farms, Andy has always appreciated the nature and necessity of
hard, physical work. Today he collaborates with others at the Abbey in composting kitchen waste
and using the finished product on a substantial vegetable garden. Additionally, he is an avid spectator
of all sports and enjoys golfing, playing catch with a football or baseball, and shooting hoops
once and awhile. He has added tennis to his repertoire in recent years and enjoys the competition
with his playing partners.
Fr Andy Cribben
