2022 Mepkin Abbey Monastic Institute

2022 Mepkin Abbey Monastic Institute Participants (Left to Right)

Back Row – Richard Cunull – Lebanan PA, Rev. Thomas Kleinert – Nashville, TN, Malik Neal, Philadelphia, PA, Fr. Ian Ranson, Melbourne, AS, Rev. William “Dwag” Strong, Palmyra, VA, Jay Butler – Raleigh, NC, Deacon Bert L’Homme – Durham, NC,

Next Row – Steven Webster, Jacksonville, FL, Kurt Kieslhorst – The Netherlands, Fr. Mattimore, SJ- Buffalo, NY, Ana Valencia – Bound Brook, NJ, Michele Paoletti-Schelp – Salt (Sault), James Wagner, Coeur d’Alene, ID, Angie Hollar – Notre Dame, ID, Andrew McCarthy, OFM Cap – Philadelphia, PA,

Front Row – Wai WA WU – Hong Kong (Hon Cong), Fr. Guerric Heckel – Mepkin, Fr. Joe Tedesco- Mepkin, Sr Manuela Scheiba, OSB – Monastery of St Gertrud, Alexanderdorf, Germany, Carmelita Barnes, Brussells, Belgium

Seventeen people participated in the 2022 Mepkin Abbey Monastic Institute which completed Aug. 1. The month-long institute featured presentations by Rev. Matthew Wright, Pastor of St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Woodstock, NY., Sr. Manuela Scheiba, OSB, from the Convent of St. Gertrude in Alexanderdorf, Germany, and Fr. Cassian Russell, COSO, the Novice Director at The Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Ga.

Institute Presenter Rev. Matthew Wright

Rev. Wright is a writer and retreat leader working to renew the Christian Wisdom Tradition. He works closely with Cynthia Bourgeault. Matthew began the Institute with a three-day retreat, “Engaging the Contemplative.”

Institute Presenter 2 Manuela Scheiba

Sr. Manuela is a recognized scholar of The Rule of Benedict. She offered ten lectures on The Rule of Benedict demonstrating that The Rule does not only speak to people living in a monastery, because the basis of the Rule is Baptismal Spirituality, something that is applicable to all Christians and all denominations.