Abbot Mateo Silva-Anaya, OSB
Abbot of Ekklẽsía Iwigá Old-Catholic Communion Benedictines

Following a profound discernment process by our synod in early 2026, Abbot Mateo was elected to shepherd the spiritual life of our globally dispersed monastic family.

A Path Set Between Two Worlds

Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and raised in a family that split its time between Jalisco and the American Southwest, Abbot Mateo has lived his entire life navigating the complex, rich spaces between borders. Professionally trained as an intercultural mediator and educator, he spent over a decade working alongside migrant communities, labor organizations, and transitional populations across Latin America before answering the call to vowed monastic life. For Mateo, who had spent years witnessing the resilience of indigenous and displaced communities in Northern Mexico, our cross-cultural mission and its commitment to serving the Spanish-speaking world felt like a long-awaited homecoming.

A Monastic Vocation for the Marketplace

Abbot Mateo brings a deep love for the Rule of Saint Benedict directly into the modern marketplace. Before his election as Abbot, he served as a bi-vocational priest within our community, balancing his monastic vows with hands-on work in cross-border community development. He is a passionate advocate for a "monasticism of the heart," believing that the ancient practices of silence, intentional rest, and deep contemplative listening are the ultimate remedies for the fragmentation of modern life. Known for his pastoral warmth, deep intellectual grounding in Old-Catholic theology, and radical commitment to hospitality, his entirely bilingual ministry allows him to seamlessly connect our community members across North America and Latin America.

"We are a people gathered by the Spirit across invisible borders. My hope for Ekklēsía Iwigá is that we continue to be a sanctuary for the weary—a place where modern seekers can pause, breathe in the peace of Christ, and find the strength to go back out and serve their neighbors."— Abbot Mateo