Finding out more

Find Out More

There are probably as many reasons for becoming a monk as there are monks. God grace is not limited by quantity or variety. However, the following basic requirements can help you determine whether you are called to the monastic life at Belmont:

You would need to be a confirmed and practising Catholic, be in good mental and physical health, and be unmarried, with no dependents.

Candidates would need to be at least 18 years old, but in practice men today enter slightly later in life, and careful discernment would be necessary for young adults who would probably benefit first from some time experiencing ordinary life and the world of work.

There is no formal upper age limit, but it is not always easy for those joining later in life to make the adjustment, so again, this would have to be carefully discerned.

Certainly, those seeking to join a monastic community should be healthy, joyful, generous with their talents and come with a desire to live in community and grow in holiness. Monks do not arrive fully formed, but if a person shows themselves open and willing to learn he can become a good monk and hopefully find the community to be a place where he can grow as human beings and come close to God.