Introduction to the Monastic Guest Program

The Monastic Guest Program was born of a desire for men to live the monastic life for a longer period than the usual retreat. It’s best summed up in the slogan, “Be a monk for a month.” Participants live with the monks for a calendar month, usually beginning the first Monday or Friday of that month. They share our life of prayer, work, and studying.

Be A Monk

The program gives those who come an opportunity to develop their own spirituality by attending chapter meetings with the Superior and studying with me The Rule of St. Benedict, Christian meditation, and Cistercian life.  The participants also study Lectio Divina with Father Guerric. Men of any age or any religious affiliation (or none) are welcome in the program.

You can get a good sense of the program by reading an article written by one of our previous Monastic Guests Stephen Grant https://mepkinabbey.org/monastic-guest-stephen-b-grant/.

If you’re interested, contact me at monasticresidencymap@gmail.com.

Father Joe

Monastic Guests are provided a room with private bath within the monastic community itself, and must participate in all the activities and obligations of the monks — from Vigils at 3:20 AM to Compline at 7:30 PM. They are assigned work just as the monks are.

Advance reservations with the Monastic Guest Master are required, along with a certificate of medical insurance and some form of recommendation from a pastor, employer, or colleague. There is no fee required since work compensates for the cost of room and board. Usually the number of Monastic Guests is limited to two at any one time.

Monastic Guest – Kevin Leahy

April 13, 2020/by jong833@gmail.com

Reflections from a Monastic Guest Alex Frank

January 2, 2020/by Mepkin Abbey

Douglas Hertler reflects on Monastic Guest Experience

February 13, 2020/by Mepkin Abbey

Monastic Guest – Kevin Kennedy

September 27, 2019/by Mepkin Abbey

Monastic Guest – Carl Rosenberg

February 8, 2019/by jong833@gmail.com

Tara and Emma: Just completed the Monastic Guest Program.

October 6, 2021/by Mepkin Abbey

Monastic Guest – Kent Gilbert

February 7, 2019/by jong833@gmail.com

Monastic Guest – Austin

July 31, 2014/by Mepkin Abbey

Jason Calhoun, September Monastic Guest

October 24, 2019/by Mepkin Abbey

Mepkin Has a New Observer

September 28, 2020/by Mepkin Abbey

Brother Ambrose professes simple vows

February 15, 2023/by Mepkin Abbey

Br. Mary Joseph Szwedo, Answering the Call

May 27, 2025/by Mepkin Abbey

Kyle Kirby’s Monastic Guest Reflection

February 17, 2020/by Mepkin Abbey

Reflections of Monastic Guest JanStephen Cavanaugh

January 2, 2020/by Mepkin Abbey

Rev. William “Dawg” Strong shares a window of his experience as a Monastic Guest

August 1, 2022/by Mepkin Abbey

Monastic Guest – Christopher L. Webber

February 7, 2019/by jong833@gmail.com

Monastic Guest Stephen Grant returns to Mepkin

September 10, 2019/by Mepkin Abbey

Monastic Guest – Chris Davies

September 19, 2013/by Mepkin Abbey

How I came to Mepkin: Fr. Jack Mattimore, S.J.

November 7, 2022/by Mepkin Abbey

Monastic Guest – Stephen B. Grant

February 7, 2019/by jong833@gmail.com

Monastic Guest – Jim Leheay

February 7, 2019/by jong833@gmail.com

Monastic Guest – Cody Dowds

April 8, 2019/by Mepkin Abbey

Reflections from a Monastic Guest

January 2, 2020/by Mepkin Abbey

The Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth

April 5, 2025/by Mepkin Abbey

Steven B. – Monastic Guest

March 5, 2019/by jong833@gmail.com

Monastic Guest – Pedro P. García

February 7, 2019/by jong833@gmail.com

Monastic Guest – Patrick Daley

August 5, 2014/by Mepkin Abbey

Monastic Guest – Stephen Feryus

August 5, 2014/by Mepkin Abbey

Jophan Porter’s First Visit as a Monastic Guest

September 13, 2019/by Mepkin Abbey

Reflections of Monastic Guest Jack Erlanger

December 9, 2019/by Mepkin Abbey

Monastic Guest – John Asher

February 8, 2019/by jong833@gmail.com

Monastic Guest – Philip A. Clauss

February 7, 2019/by jong833@gmail.com

Monastic Guest – Ward Bursley

February 8, 2019/by jong833@gmail.com

Monastic Guest – Peter Simpson

September 2, 2019/by Mepkin Abbey

Monastic Guest – Chris Webber

September 17, 2019/by Mepkin Abbey

Monastic Guest – Joe Trester

May 8, 2019/by Mepkin Abbey

Sam Davis – Monastic Guest

November 5, 2021/by Mepkin Abbey

Monastic Guest – Mark Hunter

July 1, 2019/by Mepkin Abbey

Three Observers Visit Mepkin

November 18, 2019/by Mepkin Abbey

Monastic Guest – Whilden Nettles

September 25, 2011/by Mepkin Abbey

Monastic Guest – James P Leahy

February 7, 2019/by jong833@gmail.com

A Letter from Monastic Guest John Traina

November 18, 2019/by Mepkin Abbey

Monastic Guest – Christopher Kolon

February 8, 2019/by jong833@gmail.com

Craig Stauffer’s monastic guest experience

March 13, 2020/by Mepkin Abbey