Theme Retreat-"Devotions & Spiritual Exercises: Mary Oliver & Thomas Merton as Mentors for Contemplative Living" with Jonathan Mantaldo

"We shall read poems and discuss themes for living a contemplative life in action, loving the world, through the lens of the literary legacies of these two literary legacies of these two American 'poets of the sacred.'"

Mary Oliver is one of America's most popular and intensely read poets. Her poems are antiphons to themes in Thomas Merton's spiritual reflections. Participants will receive a copy of Mary Oliver's recently published, forty-year retrospective of selected poems: Devotions.

Jonathan Montaldo is an internationally recognized writer, editor, retreat and conference presenter whose work promotes the legacy of Thomas Merton and his teaching on the monastic contemplative tradition, a still vibrant and accessible path for those seeking to transform the quality of their daily lives.

Rooms in the brand-new St. Francis Retreat Center include a bed, desk, reading chair, and private bath. Bed linens, towels, and soap are provided. Married couples can be accommodated in adjoining rooms.

Retreatants take their meals together in a dining facility adjacent to the monastic community’s refectory, with the same vegetarian diet and observing the same silence as the monks. During the main meal at noon a book is read aloud by one of the monks for the benefit of all.

Retreatants may attend any and all prayer services in the Abbey Church and have a designated section in the monastic choir to accommodate them, if they so desire. One of the monks assists the retreatants with the order of prayer so as to facilitate their full participation.

Spiritual counseling and sacramental reconciliation (Confession) are available upon request. The Clare Boothe Luce Library is open to retreatants Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

We offer accommodation for a total of 12 registrants, including two fully ADA-compliant rooms with an adjoining room for personal assistant.

Check-in time is between 2:00 - 4:00 PM on the day your retreat is scheduled to begin.

Please include your cell phone number in all reservations and communications.

See Mepkin Abbey for more information