Fr. John-Julian Swanson, OJN

John Douglas Swanson was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin on October 13, 1932 and grew up in Stevens Point. He earned a BA from Carleton College in 1954, and an MDiv from Nashotah House Seminary in 1957; he was ordained a priest 9 August the same year by Bishop William Hampton Brady of Fond du Lac. He served parishes in Wisconsin and New England between 1957 and 1970, and again in the early 1980’s. In 1982 he decided to found a contemplative religious order with Julian of Norwich as patron. Bishop Walmsley permitted him to found the Order in the rectory of the Church of the Resurrection in Norwich CT, which he was then serving, and he professed life vows in late 1985, taking the name John-Julian. In early 1988 at the invitation of Bishop Roger White of Milwaukee, the Order moved to the DeKoven Center in Racine, Wisconsin, and in 1991 established its first monastery in Waukesha. Fr. John-Julian retired from parish ministry in 1994. In 2004, Fr. John-Julian asked for permission to live as a hermit outside of the monastery, and this was granted. He spent the next 17 years in Hartland, WI, translating medieval English texts and writing original works. He is survived by his nephew John Blaies and his niece The Reverend Sarah Blaies, and the members of the Order of Julian of Norwich. A Requiem Mass will be celebrated at ST. MARY'S CHAPEL of NASHOTAH HOUSE SEMINARY on Saturday, August 21, 2021 at 11:00 AM. Please RSVP to the Order of Julian of Norwich at ojn@orderofjulian.org. Memorials to The Order of Julian of Norwich, White Lake, WI.