Events for Women at Holy Wisdom Monastery

Are you looking for meaning and connection in your life?

Build community with other women on your spiritual journey at Holy Wisdom Monastery. The Benedictine Sisters here invite you to join them for upcoming events for women. From an evening of dinner and dialogue to a weekend retreat where you can share questions about your spiritual journey to longer experiences where you can learn about caring for the earth and exploring life in a religious community. Come experience life at Holy Wisdom Monastery, get to know the sisters, grow spiritually, care for the earth and get a deeper understanding of yourself and your heart’s desires.

Dinner & Dialogue: Food for the Journey

Are you curious about what goes on in a monastery? Are you searching for a place to share questions of meaning and spirituality with other women? If you aren’t familiar with the sisters, come to evening prayer and dinner at Holy Wisdom Monastery. Explore how the monastery can support you in your faith journey and offer spiritual practices as you strive for balance in your life.

Dates

• Nov. 11, 2023 | 4:00-7:00 pm | Register by Oct. 28

Cost

There is no cost to participants for this event.

Location

This program takes place at Holy Wisdom Monastery.

Who can attend?

This event is open to women who don’t know the sisters and would like to learn more about them and the monastery.

Register

Register for the Nov. 11, 2023 Dinner & Dialogue by Oct. 28.

Community & Belonging: Women’s Retreat

Are you seeking community? In this women’s retreat find community with other women as you share stories and questions from your spiritual journey. Spend 24 hours in the company of women in the rhythm of prayer, reflection and sharing. Includes an overnight, lunch and dinner on Saturday and lunch on Sunday, communal prayer, Ecumenical Eucharist and lectio divina (prayerful reading of Scripture). You will have time for yourself and time for group sharing. Leave with a sense of belonging.

Schedule

Saturday
10:00 am – Arrival & Welcome
10:30 am – Sharing
12:00 pm – Lunch | Personal Time | Sharing
4:00 pm – Lectio Divina
4:30 pm – Evening Prayer
5:15 pm – Dinner | Personal Time

Sunday
8:00 am – Morning Prayer
9:00 am – Ecumenical Eucharist
10:30 am – Brunch & Closing Conversation
12:00 pm – Departure

Dates

• Nov. 18-19, 2023 | Sat. 10:00 am – Sun. 12:00 pm | Register by Nov. 4.

Cost

There is no cost charged to participants for this event.

Location

This retreat takes place at Holy Wisdom Monastery.

Who can attend?

Single women, ages 18-45

Register

Register for the Nov. 18-19, 2023, Community & Belonging by Nov. 4.

Summer Stewards

Are you looking for a meaningful summer experience that connects your faith with care for the earth? Be a Summer Steward at Holy Wisdom Monastery for 7 days this summer. The program includes prairie and oak savanna restoration, vegetable gardening, reading and discussion around eco-spirituality and the Rule of Benedict, practicing contemplative prayer, and sharing your life story with others – all this while living in community on the monastery grounds.  We are an ecumenical community and encourage single women 18-45 of any denomination to apply.

You are invited to spend a week this summer with the sisters at Holy Wisdom Monastery for Summer Stewards, a contemplative approach to caring for the earth.

• Ground yourself in contemplative spirituality.
• Work on the land – in the prairie, savanna and garden.
• Experience authentic community and the rhythm of monastic life.
• Share your story with other women.
• Learn about prairie and savanna restoration and try your hand at some projects.
• Grow and harvest vegetables from the monastery gardens and help prepare some meals.
• Enjoy recreation and leisure time.
• Find beauty and peace.

Schedule

• Between 12:00-3:00 pm – Arrive Monday
• Monday 3:00 pm – Welcome and introductions
• Mon-Sun – Follow the daily schedule of the sisters’ community; share in conversation, daily prayer, centering prayer and meals with the sisters; work 2-4 hours a day in the garden, prairie, oak savanna; enjoy leisure time for yourself or with others an hour in the afternoon and in the evening
• Sun – Depart after lunch

Dates/Times

• Check back soon for 2024 dates

Cost

$200

Scholarships are available.

Location

This retreat takes place at Holy Wisdom Monastery.

Who can attend?

Single women, ages 18-45.

Apply

Apply early. Space is limited and the program will close when full. We will contact you for a phone or Zoom conversation as part of the application process. If you have questions or are having trouble applying, please contact Sister Lynne Smith at  lwsmith@holywisdommonastery.org or 608-831-9305.

Explore Monastic Life as a Sister
at Holy Wisdom Monastery

Are you longing for greater depth in your life? Do you want to give yourself in service to God and others and care for the earth? Are you looking for an alternative to a nine to five job? Spend a long weekend at Holy Wisdom Monastery exploring Benedictine life with the sisters who are guided by the Rule of Benedict and the Gospel. Our community is committed to growth in love and self-knowledge, justice and prayer, hospitality and inclusion. Experience the rhythm of community life. Work in the sisters’ vegetable gardens. Have time for yourself and time for dialogue with the sisters and others during the retreat.

Schedule

Thursday 

• 3:30-4:00 pm – Arrival & get settled in
• 4:00 pm – Introductions and orientation to prayer
• 4:30 pm – Evening prayer and centering prayer
• 5:15 pm – Dinner and dishes
• 6:30 pm – Orientation
• 7:30 pm – Evening free

Friday and Saturday

• Participants will follow the sisters’ monastic schedule of common prayer and meals. There will be personal time and time for dialogue with the sisters and other retreatants. Participants will have an opportunity to work in the vegetable gardens or prairie of the monastery and time to walk the grounds.

Sunday

• Before 8:00 am – Breakfast on your own
• 8:00 am – Morning prayer
• 9:00 am – Eucharist followed by conversation and brunch
• 12:30 pm – Departure

Dates/Times

• Check back soon for 2024 dates

Cost

There is no cost charged to participants for this event.

Location

This retreat takes place at Holy Wisdom Monastery.

Who can attend?

Single, Christian women ages 18-45.

Apply

Space is limited and the program will close when full. We will contact you for a phone or Zoom conversation as part of the application process. If you have questions or are having trouble applying, please contact Sister Lynne Smith at  lwsmith@holywisdommonastery.org or 608-831-9305.