Brother Juan Attends Junior Conference

Every year at a Cistercian monastery the junior monks of the United States gather for a period of reflection. It also gives them the opportunity to share experiences and to get to know each other. The junior professed monk at Mepkin is Brother Juan, and he attended the conference this year held at Holy Spirit Monastery in Conyers, Georgia. During the two weeks, there were two presenters. The first week, Sister Anna O’Meara from Mississippi presented on the Incarnation. The second week was led by Father Thomas Davis from Vina, and he presented on William of Saint-Thierry. In all, there were fourteen juniors present: four women (two from Wrentham, one from Mississippi, and one from Crozet) and ten men (one each from Guadalupe, New Melleray, Spencer, and Gethsemani, two from Vina, four from Conyers, and Brother Juan from Mepkin). On his return to Mepkin, Brother Juan gave two chapters to the community and shared his enthusiasm about the presentations and especially the camaraderie which existed with the group.