St. Benedict Abbey, Kansas

Me Give a Monastic Retreat? 
You Have to Be Kidding! 
How About Two?

During the week of June 1-5, 2015, I was honored to be asked by Abbot James Albers to conduct the monastic retreat for the monks of St. Benedict Abbey in Atchison, Kansas.  The title of the retreat was "Renewing the Radical Communitarian Dimension of Monastic Life One Monk at a Time." They had heard about the retreat that I had given to the monks at St. Meinrad Archabbey the year before.  Unlike St. Meinrad Archabbey, which operates a seminary, St. Benedict Abbey operates a college called Benedictine College. It is very much like Bellarmine University here in Louisville - both in size and style.  These monks came to Kansas in 1856. Here are some photos from that great experience. 

The backside of the abbey, facing the river below, looks a lot like Downton Abbey on the TV series.

Places like these are always adding on as the years go by. This is the guest house addition.

The conferences were given in the monastic church. 

No retreat should end without a party. A few of the brothers are prepared to serve the snacks and the drinks. Is that beer and liquor on that table? Yes,it is! 

Things got a little wild as the evening wore on! 

The monk in the middle is Father Simon Baker. He is the newest priest in the community. He went to seminary at Saint Meinrad and I had him in class last year. He is a very talented young man and will be a great asset to his community.

One of the campus buildings at Benedictine College on the same campus as the monastery.