Mount Angel Abbey
Contact
Rev. Odo Recker O.S.B.
Director of Vocations
1 Abbey Dr
Saint Benedict, OR 97373-9700
vocation@mountangelabbey.org
www.mountangelabbey.org
https://www.instagram.com/mountangela...
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Dioceses
Portland, OR
Mission
The Divine Office, chanted daily in the oratory, is the beating heart of our community. Between the Hours and Mass are interspersed periods of solitude and prayer, meditation on the Scriptures, work, community meals and recreation. Studying, teaching, laundry, groundskeeping, the arts (calligraphy, iconography, music), horticulture, pastoral ministry -- all these comprise our daily work, which reflects the gifts and talents that each monk brings to the monastery. Through our Seminary, Mount Angel Institute, Guesthouse, Benedictine Brewery, and Library apostolates, we receive guests and share the fruits of our contemplative life. The Benedictine vow of stability keeps us firmly planted in this life, on a hilltop in the beautiful Oregon countryside. Our works are many, but the goal is one: to prefer nothing to the love of Christ.
Qualifications
A prospective candidate must be a single Catholic man between 18 and 40 years of age. He must be free of any disabling canonical, mental or physical conditions. He must have at least a high school education and be fluent in English residing in the United States of America. The candidate must be free of debt and dependents and have the spiritual maturity to begin the monastic life.
Formation
Monks of Mount Angel Abbey are dedicated to life-long formation. It starts with the postulancy, a six month period of time for transition, prayer and discernment. The canonical novitiate follows and is a year of continued prayer, discernment and trial as well as study of the important elements of monastic life: the Rule of St. Benedict, monastic history, Scriptures, liturgical spirituality, and the Desert Fathers. At the completion of the novitiate, the novice professes simple vows of obedience, conversion of life and stability in the monastery for a period of three years. He takes a new religious name at this time. As a junior monk, the newly professed will be assigned work and studies in the community as he continues to discern his call and, with the abbot’s approval, may begin priestly formation at Mount Angel Seminary. At the end of three years a monk may petition to make Solemn Vows in which he makes life-long vows of obedience, stability and conversion of life. The senior monk is invested with the cuculla, a monastic choir robe, and is now a full and equal partner in the monastic community. Formation for Senior Monks comes in the form of conferences, homilies, books read during meals, retreats, days of recollection, and the daily, weekly and annual round of the Celebration of the Eucharist with the Universal Church.
Province
Swiss American Benedictine Congregation
Belated Vocations
Candidates 40 – 45 years of age are considered on an individual basis.
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