Associate

The Saint John's Abbey Monastic Associates Program

We the monks of Saint John's Abbey, a community of Catholic Benedictine men, seek God through common life of prayer, study, and work, giving witness to Christ and the Gospel, in service to the church and the world.

The Saint John's Abbey Monastic Associates Program recognizes the interest and needs of young men who want to explore Benedictine community living more intensely, but are not ready to make a lifetime commitment to a monastic vocation.  The program enables young adults to consider monastic life while experiencing it fully for a well-defined period of time. Participants pray with the community, have the opportunity for learning about the monastic tradition, developing a taste for prayer and reading scripture in a reflective way, and use their skills for work and leadership.

• The Vocation Director and Sub Prior serve as co-directors of the Monastic Associates Program
• The Monastic Associates Program is primarily for 20-35 year old men
• Participants must exhibit an interest in sharing the prayer, work and life of the monastery, though not intended as a permanent commitment
• Participants will have paying jobs on or off campus or be assigned work for the Abbey
• Participants will participate in the horarium of the monastery including table service, housekeeping service and liturgical service as they are able
• Participants will work for, or pay for, room and board in the monastery
• Participants will receive weekly instruction in the Benedictine life and receive spiritual direction
• Classes will be held after evening prayer up to four times a week (typically Monday through Thursday) for one hour.  Associates will meet with a number of monks from our community as well as visiting monks.
• Generally one class per week will take the form of a campus presentation similar to and including Second Sunday presentations

The Rule of Benedict is the primary source of study and will be used with various commentaries including:

• The Benedictine Handbook, by various Benedictine authors
• Prayer and Community: The Benedictine Tradition, by Fr. Columba Stewart O.S.B.
• Seeking God: The Way of Saint Benedict, by Esther de Waal

Participation in the program is renewable semi-annually for up to three years.  The Vocation Director, Sub Prior and the participant will meet for an official evaluation of the participant's progress on a semi-annual basis recommending or rejecting the participant's continuation in the program.  At any time the Monastic Participant or the Vocation Director and Sub Prior in counsel with the Abbot or Prior may terminate the participant's presence in the program.

Participants are not pledged to renunciation of private ownership; nor are they bound to religious obedience in the manner of a monk or cloistral oblate.  However, they are expected to live chase lives, to cultivate a simple lifestyle, and to follow the guidance of the Abbot, his council the chapter, and the community of monks and associates in matters pertaining to the community.

Participants go through an assessment process: e.g., before moving in, prospective associates can life in the community for a probationary period or several extended stays.  After being accepted by the monastic and associate community, associates make a public covenant between them and the monastic and associate communities.

The participant is subject to full state and federal background checks

The participant will show evidence of financial stability before being accepted

The Vocation Director, Sub Prior and Abbot or Prior will accept or reject applicants

First Visit Application