Benedictine Spirituality for Everyone

At the Monastery

A retreat on the Feast of Brigid of Kildare

February 1, 2020

A one-day retreat on the Feast of Brigid of Kildare will include story, prayer, ritual, song, time for reflection, sharing and making Brigid crosses.

St. Brigid of Kildare, 5th Century monastic founder, is intimately connected with the Celtic goddess, Brigid, also celebrated Feb. 1, the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. St. Brigid brought the eternal flame of the goddess, Brigid, to her people as the light of Christ and the fire of love. Both saint and goddess are known for compassion, care for the vulnerable, peace, and deep connection to the earth and all of creation.

More information and registration here

Stillpoint Retreat Day

February 15, 2020

The Stillpoint Contemplative Retreat Day is silent and includes eight sitting sessions with chanting, contemplative walking and teachings. Dress comfortably and bring your own lunch. Coffee and tea provided. You'll have a chance to enjoy a quiet walk outdoors on woodland trails that wind through monastery property to Lake Erie.

More information and registration here

Podcasts from Sister Carolyn

Peaceprints

Do you leave peace prints or foot marks?

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Pray with Us

January 21

Canticle: Daniel 3:52-56

Blessed are you, O God of our mothers and fathers,
praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.
Blessed be your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

Pray this psalm with us today

Daily Rule of Benedict

The Tools for Good Works

Chapter 4

Listen readily to holy reading, and devote yourself often to prayer. Every day with tears and sighs confess your past sins to God in prayer and change from these evil ways in the future.

Read today's passage from the Rule
January 21, 2020

For the serious seeker

Monastic Experience Program

Explore your life questions by living with our monastic community for 6-12 months. In the Benedicta Riepp Monastic Experience Program you will immerse yourself in a daily rhythm of • prayer • work • outreach to the marginalized • communal life • hospitality • peace and nonviolence.

More about a live-in monastic experience

Become a Benedictine

The face of permanent members of monastic communities has changed over the centuries. In our time many people seeking permanent membership are professional women who long for a life that follows the Gospel of Jesus. They come from varied backgrounds and share the common desire to seek God and change the world.

More about permanent vowed membership

Monasteries of the Heart

Monasteries of the Heart is a new form of Benedictine life for our time. It is a monastic movement for lay people designed to respond to the great hunger and thirst for spirituality that exists in today’s world.

Monasteries of the Heart

Oblate Way of Life

If you desire to
— deepen your relationship with God, with others and with yourself
— ground your spirituality in values based on simplicity, respect, hospitality, and reverence for all life
— enter into a distinct relationship with others and want to be sustained by others on a similar spiritual path

Consider the Oblate Way of Life
Read more here

Spiritual Directors

Spiritual Direction, sometimes referred to as spiritual guidance or spiritual friendship, is an on-going relationship in which a person, desiring to be attentive to his or her spiritual life, meets with the spiritual director on a regular basis to become more attuned to God's presence and to respond more fully to that presence. Suggested offering is $30/session.

Sister Stephanie Schmidt

Sister Stephanie Schmidt received her training and certification in spiritual direction from Shal

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Sister Rosanne Loneck

Sister Rosanne Loneck is a certified Mid-Life/Long-Life Directions consultant, spiritual director.

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Sister Rose Ann Kolbas

Sister Rose Ann Kolbas received her training and certification in spiritual direction from Shalem Institute in Washington, DC.

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Sister Marian Wehler

Sister Marian Wehler completed the Spiritual Guidance Program offered by Shalem Institute in 2011.

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Retreat Leaders

Do you need a retreat or workshop leader? Contact one of these sisters.

Sister Anne McCarthy

MOH and Benetvision staff member, Sister Anne McCarthy holds a MA in Theology from St. John’s University, Collegeville in monastic studies and completed Shalem Institute’s program, “Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups and Retreats.”

Sister Mary Ellen Plumb

Sister Mary Ellen Plumb has spent her professional life in secondary education as a Social Studies teacher, Director of Campus Ministry, Director of Discipline and Counselor. In these roles, she spends a good part of her time facilitating the spiritual and communal development of young people on high school and college levels.

Sister Marian Wehler

Sister Marian Wehler, OSB, is co-director of Catholic Rural Ministry in the Oil City, PA, deanery of the diocese of Erie where she offers retreat and reflection days for parishes, youth groups, prisoners and an outreach program to the poor.

Sister Elizabeth Oettel

Sister Elizabeth Oettel, Associate Director of Religious Education for the Diocese of Erie (Eastern Vicariate), is responsible for the education, training and spiritual enrichment of parish religious education leaders and catechists.