Aims of the Program

The aim of the Monastic Formation Program is threefold:

  • Academic: to provide a deepened knowledge and appreciation of the monastic tradition and its values. There will be an emphasis on looking at the great texts of the monastic tradition as a tool in formation.
  • Pedagogical: to give an emphasis to how we communicate this tradition in our communities and encourage a love and enthusiasm for the monastic life.
  • Pastoral: to deal with such questions as human development, discernment and spiritual growth.

Character of the Program

The Program takes the following form to achieve these aims:

  • Lectures covering a wide range of topics related to the monastic tradition and formation today.
  • Personal work and individual contributions will be an important element in the
  • Program so that the tradition will be read in the light of participant’s own monastic experience.
  • Group reflection and discussion to encourage the sharing of experience, insight and expertise.
  • Excursions and visits to monastic, historical and artistic sites will enrich the Program.
  • Community living with those from different countries and cultural backgrounds, with a regular framework of prayer.

The contents of the Program is reviewed each year, however we have a regular team of contributors who bring with them a wealth of lived monastic experience. Each year seek to cover the essentials of the monastic life from a formation perspective not least to help our own personal growth and renewal.
Regular topics covered include:

questions and issues in formation today;
the monastic dynamic of Christian discipleship;
scripture as the source of monastic spirituality;
the paschal dimension of the monastic life;
liturgy and prayer;
spiritual accompaniment;
communicating the monastic values;
the roots of the monastic tradition;
Augustine, the Desert Fathers, Cassian, Basil
earthing Benedict - St Benedict in his time;
monastic history and spiritual tradition;
bringing the Rule to life today
issues of human development;
community and commitment.

Our current contributors include:

Contributors to the 2008 Programme included Sr Aquinata Böckmann OSB from Rome, Dom Bernardo Bonovitz OCSO from Brazil, Fr Michael Casey OCSO from Australia, Br Colmán Ó Clabaigh OSB and Mother Marie Fahy OCSO from Ireland, Fr Columba Stewart OSB, Fr Jeremy Driscoll OSB and Sr Irene Nowell OSB from the US, Fr S.M. Selvaratnam OMI from Sri Lankaand Sr Manuela Scheiba OSB from Germany. Shorter contributions were made by the Abbot Primate Notker Wolf, Abbot General Dom Bernard Olivera, Sr Christine Anderson FCJ, Sr Brendan Dolphin RSM, and Abbot Michael Kelly OSB.

Previous contributors have included Dom Ambrose Southey OCSO, Mother Josephine Mary Miller OC, Dom Augustine Roberts OCSO, Abbot Matthew Leavy, Abbot Paul Stonham, Fr Jean Louis Ska SJ, Mother Martha Driscoll OCSO, Abbot Armand Veillieux, Abbot Richard Yeo.