21st Annual Monastic Institute

 

One Heart, One Soul:  Many Communities

JULY 1 - 7, 2006

 

at Saint John’s University

Collegeville, Minnesota

 

Celebrating 150 Years of Benedictines in Central Minnesota

 

 

An Overview

As we begin the third millennium of Christianity there is growing interest in religious community and monasticism.   New communities are springing up in unexpected forms, places, and denominations.  Some borrow directly from traditional monastic models.  Others develop new models guided only by their desire to gather intentionally with people of faith in some way beyond what can be found in the parish or congregation.  Yet all the while, existing monastic communities are shrinking.

 

As part of the 150th anniversary celebration of Benedictines in Central Minnesota (Saint John’s Abbey - 2006 and Saint Benedict’s Monastery – 2007) the 2006 Monastic Institute will examine this phenomenon by convening a conversation among members and scholars of these various forms of community life.  We seek to increase our understanding of the cultural dynamics generating new religious communities, to explore what established monastic communities can learn from the experience of the new communities, and what the new can learn from the experience of the established.  Featured speakers include Abbot Primate Notker Wolf OSB; Abbess Máire Hickey OSB, Moderator of Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum; Columba Stewart OSB, Director of Hill Museum and Manuscript Library; Kevin Seasoltz OSB, editor of Worship; Meg Funk OSB, author of Thoughts Matter; Christine Pohl, author of Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition; as well as representatives of Sant’Egidio, L’Arche, Bridgefolk, New Monasticism, Community of Jesus, Madison Ecumenical Monastery, new members of traditional communities, and others.

 

Questions to be considered: 

  • How important/necessary are authority and obedience? 
  • What is the monastic rhythm in your life situation?
  • How would you describe your code of conduct (rule of life or customary way of living the life)?
  • What constitutes membership for your group? 
  • Why have you formed a distinct group?
  • What has not been present in your life that you formed into this group or what was present but you sought to join this particular group? 
  • What do you do about ownership and money?  How do you contribute to the community?

 

For more information, the schedule, costs, please refer to the website link
http://www.csbsju.edu/sot/news/MonInst.pdf 
or call/email for a brochure.

 

Linda Schreiber

Events and Special Programs Coordinator

Saint John's School of Theology Ÿ Seminary

PO Box 7288

Collegeville MN  56321

Tel:  320-363-3154

Fax:  320-363-2614

Email:  lschreiber@csbsju.edu