Junior Seminar at Wrentham

These past two weeks we hosted the junior professed monks of our region for a seminar.  This gathering of younger monks and nuns from the 10 monasteries in the US occurs annually for the purpose of study, exchange and mutual support.  This year the conference took place here at Wrentham, attended by monks from Gethsemani, Mepkin, Guadalupe, Conyers, Vina and Spencer, as well as our four simply professed sisters.

Read Mother Sofia's reflection on the seminar here >

One of the joys of this time is our prayer together in choir, and this was enhanced by our celebration of the Ascension with a procession from the garden, through the cloisters and into the church.




















Classes during the first week of the seminar were given by Br Colman O Clabaigh, OSB of Glenstal Abbey, Ireland, who is a scholar of Medieval monasticism.  During the second week, Mother Sofia gave conferences on the monastic father John Cassian and his teachings on the goal and end of monastic life, the practice of discretion, prayer, love and chastity.



Juniors were free to work, play or rest in the afternoons, and some chose to participate in a Ukrainian egg (Pysanky) workshop with Sr Francesca.  Eight hours of prayerful dedication resulted in manifold beauty and a new appreciation for artistic gifts.