Discerning a religious vocation is
generally not an easy task. "In my Father's house there are many rooms…" John
14:2 Besides the incredible array of orders in the Catholic Church one needs to
discern within many of the orders which house, province, etc., one is called to!
One of the best ways to begin is probably by getting on the internet and
visiting the many excellent vocation websites that exist, follow up with phone
calls to the most appealing places and then make a visit to those who are still
appealing to you. By visiting a religious house you will always learn something.
And though you may not be attracted to a particular house at least you will
begin to understand what you are and
are not attracted to. I think the most
important thing is to begin and get beyond the "daydream" stage. Our vocation
website address is:
www.abbeyvocations.com
The African American discerner should know that
Saint John's Abbey accepted its first African American vocation in 1941.
Presently we have men who are first generation immigrants from Trinidad, Haiti
and Vietnam. We also have a number of men from Benedictine monasteries around
the world who live in the monastery as they study for advanced degrees in our
School of Theology + Seminary.
Leadership
Saint John's has a history of leadership in
theological, secondary and higher education. It operates Saint John's University
a liberal arts college and the Saint John's School of Theology + Seminary as
well as Saint John's Preparatory School for students from grades 6 -12. The
monks have made liturgical development and publications, pastoral ministry and
missionary zeal, programs in religion and psychiatry, and ecumenical scholarship
their special concerns. Commitment to preservation and promotion of culture is
evidenced by establishing the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library and in founding
Minnesota Public Radio (MPR). The abbey is especially cognizant of its
responsibilities for environmental conservation. In 1989 Saint John's was among
the first Catholic institutions to adopt a policy concerning allegations of
sexual abuse or exploitation. The Saint John's Bible is the world's first
handwritten, illuminated Bible produced in 500 years.
Prayer
The monks come to Saint John's Abbey Church
throughout the day for the public celebration of Eucharist and the Liturgy
of the Hours: The Saint John's schedule expresses this tradition with
Morning Prayer at 7 a.m., Midday Prayer at noon, and Evening Prayer at 7
p.m. Eucharist is celebrated at 5 p.m. daily except on Saturday at 11:30
a.m. and Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Eucharist
As it is for all Catholics, the Mass is central
to monastic prayer. The monks of the abbey gather daily with parishioners,
students, faculty and guests to offer the memorial of our redemption in the
Eucharistic sacrifice.
The Liturgy of the Hours
At the heart of the Liturgy of the Hours are the
psalms, those 150 ancient but ever new expressions of human longing for God.
Singing and reciting the psalms prepare the monk for hearing the Word of God
in readings from the Bible and spiritual authors, culminating in prayers of
petition and praise.
Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina is the most distinctive form of
Benedictine prayer. In lectio divina, monks read, ponder and pray with
Scripture. In his Rule, Saint Benedict set aside the best part of the day
for the brothers to engage in this practice. Monks today are still expected
to do their lectio daily. Helping a newcomer learn how to do lectio is a
major element of initial monastic formation.
Location
The abbey is located in central Minnesota on
2,400 acres of managed woodland and lakes just off Interstate 94 at exit 156
about 10 miles west of Saint Cloud and 70 miles northwest of
Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Work
About two-thirds of the community live and work
at Collegeville. The work that the monks do varies greatly! Typical work
includes teaching at our high school and college and administration work at
these same institutions. Monks also work as pastors of local parishes as
well as serving as chaplains in nursing care centers and prisons. A number
of monks are gifted musicians, visual artists and theatre artists. Many
monks work as editors, designers and project managers in the Liturgical
Press. The fire department, woodworking, plumbing, and other physical plant
shops afford an array of work for other monks. Because the abbey also has
its own retirement center nursing and health care are also possibilities for
members of the monastery.
Benedictine Autonomy
Unlike most other Catholic religious
congregations, each Benedictine monastery is autonomous, but the community
is grouped juridically into a Congregation according to origin or geographic
situation. Benedictine monasteries increase in numbers by starting
foundations that later become independent. These Benedictine monastic
families - or tribes - unite worldwide in a loose Confederation of
Benedictine Monastic Congregations.
Mission
We, the monks of Saint John's Abbey, a community
of Catholic Benedictine men, seek God through a common life of prayer,
study, and work, giving witness to Christ and the Gospel, in service to the
church and the world.
Called together by Christ, we support each other
under the Rule of Saint Benedict and our abbot. Our life together encourages
learning, creativity in the arts and trades, and care for God's creation.
We serve the Church and the wider community
through our prayer and work in education, pastoral ministry, the missions,
publishing, and in hospitality to people of all faiths.
Abbot: Rt. Rev. John Klassen, OSB
Saint John's Abbey
31802 County Road 159
Collegeville, MN 56321
Name for Vocations: Br. Paul-Vincent Niebauer, OSB
Saint John's Abbey
31802 County Road 159
Collegeville, MN 56321
320.363.2548
pniebauer@csbsju.edu
www.abbeyvocations.com
