Father Alan Dominic Lenk, O.S.B.
December 26, 1959 – May 3, 2026
Father Alan Dominic Lenk, O.S.B., of Saint Louis Abbey died on May 3, 2026. Born December 26, 1959, he grew up in Troy, Missouri, one of four children. An older brother Larry (Ellen) died in 2001, and he is survived by his sister Jean Elliott (Kevin) and brother Jerry.
Fr. Dominic attended Sacred Heart School in Troy and Troy Buchanan High School and graduated from Central Methodist College in 1982 with a major in accounting. After college he worked in several service-related jobs, including work for the Lincoln County Area on Aging and teaching computer science at Watterson College in St Louis. Hearing from fellow parishioners that he would make a good priest, he recalled a childhood inclination to a priestly vocation and decided to join the monastic community at Saint Louis Abbey where he was given the name Dominic and professed as a monk in 1991. He received his Master of Divinity degree in theology from St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, and was ordained to the priesthood July 4, 1998. He taught theology in the Saint Louis Priory School till 2025, with the exception of the years 2006-2009 when he was sent to help the community of St Anselm’s Abbey in Washington, D.C.
In addition to his teaching duties, Fr. Dominic served as sacristan, master of ceremonies, archivist and finally as Prior of the Abbey, served for many years on the Board of Visitation Academy as well as ministering to the Visitation Community and School as a priest, and finally served as chaplain to Saint Austin Grade School. His mild disposition endeared him to all who knew and worked with him. He wrote many religious poems, and his love for Christ and meditation on the Gospels bore fruit in the writing of a book, Voices from the Upper Room, which profiled several Gospel characters who experienced the healing gifts of Jesus.
Early in 2025 he was diagnosed with several forms of cancer. For over a year he battled the disease and received medical treatment with a good spirit until his death from the disease.
Services: Vigil Thursday, May 7, 2026 at the Saint Louis Abbey, 500 South Mason Road beginning at 6:00 p.m. The funeral Mass will be held Friday, May 8, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. also at the Abbey. Interment at the St. Louis Abbey Cemetery.
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