Born in Melbourne, Fr John Herbert joined the Benedictine Community of New Norcia in 1995 after a ten-year career in hospitality. He was professed in 1996 and ordained to the priesthood in 2004. He has served the community in the garden, as coordinator of the liturgy, and through spirituality ministry in the monastery guesthouse. He has held the offices of prior, novice-master and parish priest, and was elected the seventh abbot of new Norcia in 2009. He has a bachelor degree in theology (Sydney) and a graduate certificate in counselling (Melbourne). John has extensive experience as a retreat master both locally and nationally.
