The Monastic Experience Program
June 16 to July 13
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live as a monk?
Are your considering the religious life or priesthood and looking for time to think about your future?
Do you long to deepen your experience of prayer?
In your search for God, are you drawn to live with like-minded Christians in community?
If your answer to any of these questions in "Yes," the Monastic Experience may be the program for you. Since the early 1980s, the monks of Saint John's Abbey have been inviting young men to share their life for a month each summer.
What is a Monastic Experience?
As a Monastic Experience participant, you and others in the program will form a community in a campus dormitory near the monastery. you will become aware of the joys and challenges of building community life as you observe and share in the life of the monastery. Each day you will join the monks for prayer, work, meals, and socializing.
For a month, you will live the Benedictine motto of "Worship and Work" by joining the monks for prayer three times a day and daily Mass, experiencing work in common and the support of our life together. Two-hour assignments each morning and afternoon allow you to work side-by-side with monks in the gardens, sacristy, woodworking shop or abbey offices.
Learning the Tradition
In addition to communal prayer and work, you will have the opportunity to meet regularly with monks to hear their life stories and to ask them questions.
To help you deepen your understanding of Benedictine life, you will participate in classes covering such topics as prayer, the psalms, the Rule of saint Benedict, and the history of Benedictines in general and of Saint John's Abbey in particular. On day trips to our parishes, you will explore Saint John's service to the local church.
You will have opportunities for group discussions with different monks of the abbey addressing a variety of monastic topics, including the Rule of Saint Benedict, monastic spirituality, the psalms, Eucharist, the Liturgy of the Hours, private prayer, lectio divina, and the history of Benedictines in general and of Saint John's in particular.
Celebrate With Us!
The Monastic Experience culminates with the celebration of the Feast of Saint Benedict on July 11 when you and the community celebrate the profession of final vows of our newer members and the profession jubilees of our senior monks. The entire community celebrates the great feast day of our holy father Benedict.
To Apply
The Monastic Experience Program is designed for single Catholic laymen, 18 to 32 years of age.
To apply for the program, request an application form (see the "Contact" information above in the right column). Complete and return the application form to the program director. Give the recommendation forms to two advisors — people who know you well such as a pastor, chaplain, employer, teacher or counselor. Your reference should complete and return the forms directly to Br. Paul Vincent Niebauer OSB.
The number of participants is limited, and early applicants receive preference. There is no cost to the program other than your travel to and from the Abbey, and travel assistance is available. We will notify your of your status in the program within two weeks after all of your application materials have been received.
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