Male Monasteries

[PhuturePriest]

Can you guys give me links to Communities of Monks? I have discerned with a few, including the Benedictine Monks in Tulsa, the Carmelite Monks in Wyoming, and of course the very amesome Trappist Monks in the Denver area, but I wanted to expand my horizon a bit more. I'm not picky when it comes to completely contemplative to semi-contemplative.

[Maximilianus]

[url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/links/category/82-for-men/"]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/links/category/82-for-men/[/url]

[Luigi]

Most of the Benedictine monasteries in the US support themselves by teaching in a high school, college, university, or seminary on their premises. They are usually small, private, and expensive - some are even quite exclusive; a few are large, private, and expensive. The main congregations are Swiss-American, American Cassinese, English (St. Louis, Washington DC, and Providence RI), and Olivetan, but there are a couple of others.

Here are the ones in the Midwest - your home area, if I recall correctly. I've marked them HS, C, U, and S.

1. Atchison, KS - HS & U - [url="http://www.kansasmonks.org/"]http://www.kansasmonks.org/[/url] - about 50 monks, including men in formation

2. Elkhorn, NE - HS - [url="http://www.mountmichael.org/"]http://www.mountmichael.org/[/url] - about 25 monks, maybe one or two in formation

3. Conception, MO - C & S - [url="http://www.conceptionabbey.org/"]http://www.conceptionabbey.org/[/url] - about 60 monks, with about 6 or 7 in formation

4. St. Louis, MO - HS - [url="http://www.stlouisabbey.org/"]http://www.stlouisabbey.org/[/url] - 29 monks, with about three or four in formation

5. Subiaco, AR - HS - [url="http://www.countrymonks.us/"]http://www.countrymonks.us/[/url] - 41 monks, plus another 6 or 7 in formation

6. Shawnee, OK - C - [url="http://www.monksok.org/"]http://www.monksok.org/[/url] - about 25 monks, with maybe two in formation

7. Covington, LA - S - [url="http://saintjosephabbey.com/welcome.php"]http://saintjosephab...com/welcome.php[/url] - maybe 40 monks? with some in formation

There are others in northern Illinois (Chicagoland), south Dakota, the Southwest. One monastery in New York has no school - they raise sheep. One monastery in the heart of Chicago has no school - they have a guest house or something.

Of Trappists, you've got:

1. Colorado - you know about that one.

2. Iowa - [url="http://www.newmelleray.org/"]http://www.newmelleray.org/[/url] - about 36 monks

3. Missouri - [url="http://www.assumptionabbey.org/"]http://www.assumptionabbey.org/[/url] - maybe 12 monks

4. Kentucky - [url="http://www.monks.org/"]http://www.monks.org/[/url] - about 50 monks, with some in formation

5. South Carolina - [url="http://mepkinabbey.org/wordpress/"]http://mepkinabbey.org/wordpress/[/url] - about 20 monks. This one's out of your geographic area, but if you scout around in the Abbey News section, you'll see that they have about four guys in formation right now, and a whole bunch of other guys very interested in joining.

There are a total of 12 Trappist monasteries in the US, the others being in Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, Georgia, Utah, Oregon, and northern California. All of these guys do more or less manual work, along with some academic work but not education - writing books and stuff like that.


You got a lotta homework to do!

Edited April 18, 2012 by Luigi

[PhuturePriest]

Thank you both very much. I should mention I'm not interested in teaching Orders. Being a teacher just doesn't appeal to me, unfortunately. The first Community I ever saw was the Benedictine Monks in Atchison. My sister goes to that college, in fact. I really wanted to be called to them because they're so close, but alas, teaching is not for me.

I should also mention distance is of no problem to me. I'm not picky on which state or which country it is in. I am very inclined to the British Isles, particularly Ireland and Scotland, though I love England as well.

[Maximilianus]

[quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1334727028' post='2420059']
I should also mention distance is of no problem to me. I'm not picky on which state or which country it is in.
[/quote]

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djyjgbXwXUI&feature=player_embedded"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djyjgbXwXUI&feature=player_embedded[/url]

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1334727028' post='2420059']
Thank you both very much. I should mention I'm not interested in teaching Orders. Being a teacher just doesn't appeal to me, unfortunately. The first Community I ever saw was the Benedictine Monks in Atchison. My sister goes to that college, in fact. I really wanted to be called to them because they're so close, but alas, teaching is not for me.

I should also mention distance is of no problem to me. I'm not picky on which state or which country it is in. I am very inclined to the British Isles, particularly Ireland and Scotland, though I love England as well.
[/quote]

Boy, do I understand that! I just have no patience for teaching what-so-ever! I'm hoping to be able to convince the Sisters I am discerning with to keep me on the healthcare side and train me to be a light duty nurse (pushing meds, hospice care, etc) or, hopefully, working in Healthcare Administration. Teaching drives me bonkers. I don't mind little kids -- I think they are adorable and I feel I could work with them in retreats or something -- but each time I teach, it just doesn't work out.

[EmilyAnn]

[quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1334715829' post='2419952']
Can you guys give me links to Communities of Monks? I have discerned with a few, including the Benedictine Monks in Tulsa, the Carmelite Monks in Wyoming, and of course the very amesome Trappist Monks in the Denver area, but I wanted to expand my horizon a bit more. I'm not picky when it comes to completely contemplative to semi-contemplative.
[/quote]

www.vocationoperation.blogspot.com
Click on the right, Religious - USA or if you fancy another country the UK, Canada and Ireland are listed as well. It's broken down by order and then by gender.

[InPersonaChriste]

[quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1334727028' post='2420059']
Thank you both very much. I should mention I'm not interested in teaching Orders. Being a teacher just doesn't appeal to me, unfortunately. The first Community I ever saw was the Benedictine Monks in Atchison. My sister goes to that college, in fact. I really wanted to be called to them because they're so close, but alas, teaching is not for me.

I should also mention distance is of no problem to me. I'm not picky on which state or which country it is in. I am very inclined to the British Isles, particularly Ireland and Scotland, though I love England as well.
[/quote]

I liked the Dominican's in Nashville, Then I realised that I would have to teach. I am not that sort of person, I am sure I could do it, but it would indeed be a horrible challenge.

Their is a beautiful Carthusian Monastery in England.... Website seems to be lost in my mind but when I find it I will Tell you..


That and the Monks in Mission BC, who are so beautiful, my dad went up their a couple weeks ago and Father Peter exchanged an e-mail with me (he was interested in the convent I went to over Valentine's).

Oh and if you want to be more traditional their is always Clear Creek Abbey, I met father Mark Bachmann who is very nice!

[marigold]

[quote name='InPersonaChriste' timestamp='1334847866' post='2420606']
Their is a beautiful Carthusian Monastery in England.... Website seems to be lost in my mind but when I find it I will Tell you..
[/quote]

[url="http://www.parkminster.org.uk"]www.parkminster.org.uk[/url]?

[PhuturePriest]

Well, I do like to teach, but not in a classroom setting. I love being a karate instructor and teaching people what I know, but the thought of teaching in a classroom, reading reports and then grading them does not appeal to me at all. I wouldn't mind teaching Catechism classes and things like that, but there's just a thought about being a classroom teacher that deters me.

I really liked the Monks in Clear Creek, but my sister's fiancee told me they weren't allowed to speak unless they had special permission, and he also told me they were a bit socially awkward. Is any of this true?

I also particularly like the Trappist Monks in Iowa. Does anyone have any experiences with them?

As for Carthusians, I'm not sure I could be one. Talk about absolute extremities.

Edited April 19, 2012 by FuturePriest387

[AccountDeleted]

Have you thought about being a Cistercian? There is a monastery in Vina, Northern California called New Clairvaux Monastery that my first spiritual director was from. Here is their link.
[url="http://www.newclairvaux.org/"]http://www.newclairvaux.org/[/url]

And on their website is also a link to a page with y former SD's writings... (I haven't seen him in over 5 years so I don't even know if he is still alive. I might have to contact them and see if I can get in touch with him again, if he is!

[url="http://www.newclairvaux.org/father-paul-jeromes-writings.html"]http://www.newclairvaux.org/father-paul-jeromes-writings.html[/url]
I haven't read this work but I did read a previous one he wrote called 'Don't You Belong to Me?' He was a wonderful man when I knew him.

[EmilyAnn]

[quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1334873629' post='2420891']
I really liked the Monks in Clear Creek, but my sister's fiancee told me they weren't allowed to speak unless they had special permission, and he also told me they were a bit socially awkward. Is any of this true?
[/quote]

I've heard a lot about Clear Creek (my community is of the same Congregation) and I've never heard anything like that at all. You could always contact them and ask about the speaking them to check.

[InPersonaChriste]

[quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1334873629' post='2420891']
I really liked the Monks in Clear Creek, but my sister's fiancee told me they weren't allowed to speak unless they had special permission, and he also told me they were a bit socially awkward. Is any of this true?

[/quote]

I don't know about the *special permission* (might have been lent?) but I do know that Father Bachmann wasn't at ALL socially awkward. He is a beautifully religious man, who made a ton of hilarious jokes.

I actually haven't met a lot of socially awkward monks, they are usually very kind and talkative. Mind you the last time I talked to a monk before this year I was Eleven.. So they probably took pity on the loud homeschooler.

[Maximilianus]

[quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1334873629' post='2420891']


I really liked the Monks in Clear Creek, but my sister's fiancee told me they weren't allowed to speak unless they had special permission, and he also told me they were a bit socially awkward. Is any of this true?


[/quote]

False, your future brother in law has it in for non OP orders, lol

[PhuturePriest]

[quote name='nunsense' timestamp='1334874593' post='2420904']
Have you thought about being a Cistercian? There is a monastery in Vina, Northern California called New Clairvaux Monastery that my first spiritual director was from. Here is their link.
[url="http://www.newclairvaux.org/"]http://www.newclairvaux.org/[/url]

And on their website is also a link to a page with y former SD's writings... (I haven't seen him in over 5 years so I don't even know if he is still alive. I might have to contact them and see if I can get in touch with him again, if he is!

[url="http://www.newclairvaux.org/father-paul-jeromes-writings.html"]http://www.newclairv...s-writings.html[/url]
I haven't read this work but I did read a previous one he wrote called 'Don't You Belong to Me?' He was a wonderful man when I knew him.
[/quote]

I haven't looked into them much, no. I heard Trappists and Cistercians are pretty similar, but that is the extent of my knowledge when it comes to Cistercians. I will definitely look into them. Thank you for the link.

By the way, the last time I saw you I do not think it said you were a Religious. If you became a Religious recently I congratulate you. If not and you have been a Religious for a while, I still congratulate you anyway.