Holy Wisdom Monastery

Native Plant Sale
2026-03-13 - 2026-05-11 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Native Plant Sale & Fundraiser
Make your garden a beautiful, vibrant landscape while supporting birds, bees, butterflies, and other native wildlife! Gardening with native plants is a wonderful way to decrease water and nutrient usage, create environments with plants that bloom throughout the seasons, and provide critical resources to winged, crawling, and hopping wildlife.
This spring, when you order native plants through our special Native Plant Sale with Johnson’s Nursery out of Menomonee Falls, you get native plants delivered to Middleton, WI or the eastside of Madison on May 17, AND 15% of the sale totals go to Holy Wisdom Monastery, Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance and SOS Save Our Songbirds.

Learn more & order

Anointing of the Sick
2026-03-22 10:15 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Anointing of the Sick
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick will take place at Holy Wisdom Monastery in the Oratory on Sunday, March 22nd, following Sunday Assembly. If you are sick and in need of the healing presence of the Holy Spirit – perhaps you have a diagnosis, or you are waiting for test results, maybe you have a surgery coming up, if you are sad and full of anxiety, whatever the issues – this sacrament is for you. Allow the prayers of this community to wash over you and let the Spirit calm your heart and soul. Be assured that the sisters, coworkers, the oblates and members of Sunday Assembly are all keeping you in prayer. Please plan to join us.

Centering Prayer Groups - 4th Wednesday
2026-03-25 14:30 - 15:30 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Centering Prayer Groups
All are welcome to join our two centering prayer groups which meet on alternating Wednesdays. Both incorporate a short reading and time for silent prayer or meditation.

1st and 3rd Wednesdays

7:00-8:00 pm
Retreat & Guest House Room 10
Includes a short walking meditation in between periods of seated meditation
For more information contact Barb Abbott, 608-284-7424

2nd and 4th Wednesdays

2:30-3:30 pm
Monastery Oratory –
Two, 20-minute periods of seated meditation with a 5-minute break
For more information contact Carole Kretschman, 608-577-3243

We feel the presence of the Holy One even more strongly than when we center by ourselves. … Our prayer has less outward distractions for that hour than if we center at home. … Having the group supports us in our prayer life.

Poetic Contemplation and the Divinity Within
2026-03-28 08:00 - 16:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Anchored to a conversation between carpenter-priest William Beers and philosopher poet John Koethe, participants will explore the meanings of being human in the contemporary world. Physics, the social sciences, philosophy and theology provide the cultural and personal context for contemplating the imagination, memory and mourning in the creation of meaning.
No experience needed, just a willingness to stretch your knowledge, imagination and awareness. We will inhabit the poems of John Koethe and others to deepen our contemplative awareness of the world and the divinity within. Please join us for this deep dive into modernity and modern poetry.
It is highly recommended that you pick up a copy of John Koethe’s thin volume of poetry, Cemeteries and Galaxies (Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2025) in advance. It is the collection central to this conversation between John and Bill. Some copies will be available for purchase the day of the event.
If you’d like to purchase a copy in advance of the event, contact Pam Shellberg at pshellberg@holywisdommonastery.org.
Schedule

8:00 am – Arrivals, Welcome, Gathering, Settling in
8:30 – 10:00 am – Session One
10:00 – 10:15 am – Break
10:15 am – 12:00 pm – Session Two
12:00 – 1:00 pm – Lunch
1:00 – 3:00 pm – Session Three
2:30 – 2:45 pm – Break
2:45 – 3:45 pm – Session Four
3:45 – 4:00 pm – Wrap-up

Speakers – Rev. William Beers, PhD and John Koethe, PhD
The Rev. William Beers, PhD, has been a carpenter and cabinetmaker for 50 years. A former hospital chaplain and university instructor, Bill has studied the relationships among suffering, mourning and the creation of meaning. His book, Women and Sacrifice, explores the gendered origins of sacred violence. For 20 years he was a fundraiser for an international Christian relief organization, traveling throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America.
John Koethe, PhD, has published 20 books of poetry and has received the Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize, the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award and the Frank O’Hara Award for Poetry. He has also published books on Ludwig Wittgenstein, philosophical skepticism and poetry, as well as the recent essay collection, Thought and Poetry. He is a distinguished professor emeritus of philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Cost
$87/person includes lunch
Register
The registration deadline for this program is March 22, 2026. There is a 75% refund for cancellations before the March 22 deadline and a 50% refund for cancellations from the registration deadline until the start of the program.

Holy Week Silent Retreat
2026-04-02 16:00 - 2026-04-05 11:30 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Anyone who would like to experience a deep and sustained silence in the quiet companionship of others is invited to the Holy Week Silent Retreat. For some, this retreat will be an opportunity to contemplate and participate in – with greater intention – the texts, liturgies and prayers of Holy Week. For all, it is an invitation to live the rhythms of monastic life in an extended retreat experience. Optional contemplative engagements (e.g. journal prompts, walking meditations and opportunities for artistic expression) will add depth to the experience, as will opportunities for lectio divina and shared reflections on the meaning and mystery of these days.
Retreat Schedule
Thursday, April 2

4:00 pm
Orientation
Retreat & Guest House (RGH) 110

4:30 pm
Brief introduction to the weekend and to each other
RGH 110

5:00 pm
Dinner and continued orientation
Members of Sunday Assembly and other guests at tonight’s liturgy will be sharing a meal in the Monastery Guest Dining Room. We will go through the serving line and eat in the smaller Community Dining Room. We will meet the sisters, complete the orientation and then have some time to gather – if you wish to do so – with the other guests.
Monastery Community Dining Room

6:00 pm
Holy Thursday Liturgy
After this liturgy, we enter into silence until Sat. dinner
Monastery Assembly Room

8:30-9:30 pm
Companioned silence
RGH 222

Friday, April 3

Breakfast on your own
RGH 108

7:35 am
Centering prayer (optional)
Monastery Oratory

8:00 am
Morning prayer (optional)
Monastery Oratory

10:00 am
Lectio divina and contemplative dialogue to prepare for Good Friday liturgy
RGH 110

11:45 am
Midday prayer (optional)
Monastery Oratory

Noon
Lunch (in silence)
Monastery Guest Dining Room

3:00 pm
Good Friday liturgy
Monastery Assembly Room

5:00 pm
Dinner (in silence)
Monastery Guest Dining Room

7:30-9:30 pm
Companioned silence
RGH 222

Saturday, April 4

Breakfast on your own
RGH 108

7:35 am
Centering prayer (optional)
Monastery Oratory

8:00 am
Morning prayer (optional)
Monastery Oratory

10:00 am
Lectio divina and contemplative dialogue to prepare for Easter Vigil liturgy
RGH 110

11:45 am
Midday prayer (optional)
Monastery Oratory

Noon
Lunch (in silence)
Monastery Guest Dining Room

Afternoon
Afternoon spent in silence
RGH 110 for companioned silence

5:00 pm
Dinner (we break the silence)
Monastery Guest Dining Room

7:30 pm
Easter Vigil
Monastery Assembly Room

After Vigil
Refreshments
Monastery Guest Dining Room

Meet for companioned conversation about the retreat, and a closing ritual for those departing early
RGH 110

Sunday, April 5

Breakfast on your own
RGH 108

8:00 am
Morning prayer (optional)
Monastery Oratory

9:00 am
Easter Sunday Eucharist
Monastery Assembly Room

Immediately following Eucharist
A final gathering from which we take leave from one another
Community Dining Room

11:30 am
Departure

Facilitator – Pam Shellberg
Pam is the director of spiritual nourishment at Holy Wisdom Monastery. As a scripture scholar and educator, she is eager invite people into a deeper appreciation of the texts that shape the Holy Week liturgies. As someone with a contemplative spirit, she is eager to co-create with retreatants a rich and meaningful experience of silence.
Cost
$360/person, includes silent retreat, overnights on Thursday, Friday and Saturday; dinners on Thursday, Friday and Saturday; lunches on Friday and Saturday; and breakfasts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Registration
Please register by March 25, 2026.
There is a 75% refund for cancellations before the March 25 registration deadline, and a 50% refund for cancellations from March 25 until the start of the retreat on April 2.

Sacred Thresholds
2026-04-06 13:00 - 14:30 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Sacred Thresholds is a contemplative prayer gathering.
We are living through a unique chapter in American history when our most cherished values seem threatened, indeed, our whole way of life. Each of us, in our own way, is asking, What can I do?, and the answers, so far, seem woefully inadequate to the challenge. It is in that same spirit of humility that we are offering Sacred Thresholds as our answer to that question. Woefully inadequate, yes, small, but genuine, offered in a communal spirit, coming together to make a circle, to pray, in old ways and in new ways, to hold each other’s hearts and help one another to stay open. That is what Sacred Thresholds is all about. It’s a work in progress. Like all of us.
Please join us at 1:00 pm on the first Monday of the month in the Retreat and Guest House room 222 .
Upcoming dates

Nov. 3, 2025
Dec. 1, 2025
Jan. 5, 2026
Feb. 5, 2026
Mar. 2, 2026
Apr. 6, 2026
May 4, 2026
Jun. 1, 2026

Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
2026-04-09 12:00 - 13:30 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Have you volunteered with Holy Wisdom Monastery? We want to thank you! Please join us for our Volunteer Appreciation Lunch at Holy Wisdom Monastery on April 9, 2026. This is the sisters’ and coworkers’ way of expressing our gratitude for all the time and effort you have generously given to our communities. We hope you can join us for a delicious meal and some well-deserved recognition for your hard work. This lunch is open to all monastery volunteers, including those who support our communities (Oblates, Friends of Wisdom Prairie, Sunday Assembly, Center for Clergy Renewal) and those who support our general operations (kitchen, front desk, committees, board, etc.).
Reservations will be accepted until April 2nd.
Schedule
11:45 am – Midday prayer (optional)
12:00 pm – Lunch is served
12:30 pm – Comments/thanks
Cost
Monastery volunteers are invited to a free lunch.
Register
Please register below for this event by April 2, 2026, so we know how much food to prepare.

Spring Emergence: A Seasonal Retreat
2026-04-14 08:00 - 2026-04-15 12:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
A faint gauze of spring green is appearing on the prairie’s winter browns, welcoming you to look for your own signs of new growth. What is emerging can’t be hurried, but calls for patient restraint and holding a space for quiet wonder. This spring retreat invites you sit with the first indications of a new season of life – on the prairie and in your own life and heart. It will hold space for your hushed anticipation and gentle tending.
Conversations about the season, walks on the prairie, naps, art, movement, journaling, great meals, and welcoming accommodations will all be a part of what you can expect when you arrive. A renewed connection to nature and to yourself, along with joy in the anticipation of new things emerging are what you can expect to take with you when you leave.
Seasonal Retreats
Each season this year, we will offer a different seasonal retreat. They will open spaces where each different season can offer its unique wisdom to us in the changing seasons of our lives. Each retreat is a two-day, one-night experience at Holy Wisdom with cozy accommodations, delicious meals, spacious time periods for solitude, reading and rest and contemplative conversations with other retreatants. There will also be a variety of opportunities to explore the prairies and the season and discover their gifts for you.
Upcoming Retreats

Summer Plentitude – July 14-15, 2026 (Wed./Thu.)

Fall Fallowing – October 16-17, 2026 (Fri./Sat.)

Spring Emergence Date/Times
Tue., Apr. 14, 8:00 am – Wed., Apr. 15, 12:00 pm, 2026
Cost
$260/person
The cost of the retreat includes program, meals (Tuesday lunch, dinner and Wednesday breakfast) and overnight room.
Register
The registration deadline for this retreat is April 2, 2026, or when the retreat fills.
Cancellation policy – if you register but must cancel your registration, you can receive a 75% refund up until April 3rd. After that, a 50% refund is available until the retreat starts.
After you register, if you would like to request a double room with another retreatant or if you have other questions about accommodations, please contact us at retreats@holywisdommonastery.org.

Family Gathering
2026-04-18 15:00 - 18:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
All families with children are invited to Family Gathering on Saturday, April 18, 3:00-6:00 pm.
Join us for a Family Gathering to experience the joy of anticipation in community. At this event, school-age children will gather to learn and play together, and childcare for the littlest ones is provided. Parents and caregivers will have some free-choice time to enjoy all the Monastery has to offer. The gathering will conclude with a shared meal.
Children ages 6-9 are invited to join Sarah Wilkin Gibart for prayer and creative work time.
Parents, this is an opportunity to enjoy the monastery and catch a breath in this busy season! You may choose to join in the children’s program, or take in the art exhibit, relax in the library, bring a project of your own, or simply have time for coffee and conversation.
Registration cost includes a simple entree prepared by the culinary team using fresh, seasonal offerings (families may also wish to bring a side dish or dessert to share).
Schedule
3:00 pm – Gather
~3:30-5:15 pm – Programming/free time
5:15 pm – Dinner
6:00 pm – Adjourn
Leader
Sarah Wilkin Gibart is a teacher of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd who leads regular Children’s Prayer during Sunday Assembly worship. Nichole Rasmus (formerly Nichole Fromm), our Childcare and Support Specialist, will provide childcare for the younger children.
Cost
$25/family
Questions
Please contact Sarah: sjwilkin09@gmail.com or Nichole: nrasmus@holywisdommonastery.org with any questions.
Registration
Please register by April 8, 2026.

Kids on the Prairie
2026-04-19 10:30 - 12:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Explore nature’s beauty and surprises!
Kids on the Prairie (KOTP) is for children and their adult family members. Experienced volunteer educators and guides will facilitate a short hike to learn about nature and explore the grounds and trails. This free event is open to members of Holy Wisdom communities and the general public.
April 19 – Signs of Spring
Join us as we look for emergent plants, animals and insects. Depending on the weather, we may find nectar sources for emerging bumble bees and hear frogs calling around Lost Lake. Together we will share in an action to celebrate Earth Day.

Contemplative Cooking Class – Spring 2026
2026-04-19 16:00 - 19:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Join us for a contemplative cooking class that teaches how to cook with seasonal ingredients, while slowing down and being present to what we are creating. We will have fun learning from Chef Felipe and working together to create a delicious spring meal.
Spring is a time of awakening and growth. Together we prepare a light, vibrant menu featuring steamed vegetables, a crisp green salad and steamed cod wrapped in zucchini ribbons served with a silky celeriac puree.
Program Leader – Chef Felipe Saint-Martin

Felipe Saint-Martin is the esteemed Culinary Director and Chef de Cuisine at Holy Wisdom Monastery in Middleton, Wisconsin, where he infuses Benedictine hospitality with innovative, sustainable cuisine. Originally from Brazil, Felipe’s culinary journey began in the vibrant kitchens of Rio de Janeiro before he immigrated to the United States, embracing new challenges with resourcefulness and perseverance. His career spans renowned establishments, including Claude Troisgros Brasserie and Laguioli Lab in Brazil, and in New York City, where he refined his craft at acclaimed restaurants such as Gramercy Tavern and Eataly Market. In these fast-paced, Michelin-starred kitchens, Felipe mastered the art of blending bold flavors with refined techniques, working with top-tier chefs to create unforgettable dining experiences. Now at Holy Wisdom Monastery, Felipe crafts meals that celebrate the earth’s bounty, drawing from the monastery’s 130-acre restored prairie and gardens to create dishes that nourish body and spirit.
Cost
$65/person
Registration
Please register by April 12, 2026. Limited to 18 people.
There are no refunds for cancellations, however registrations are transferrable to another attendee by the person who purchased the program.
What others are saying about Chef Felipe’s cooking classes:
“What a treasure to get in the kitchen up close with Chef Felipe! I was touched by the great skill and authentic heart that he brought to every element of the meal – something that comes through every time I dine at Holy Wisdom, and something that I hope to practice at home, too.”
“Felipe is a talented and engaging teacher and chef! Great combination of experience, culinary knowledge and energy!”
“We had a great time cooking with Chef Felipe. The meal turned out delicious and was even better because it was made by a community of kind people working to create something together!”

Wisdom Prairie Spring Tour
2026-04-23 13:00 - 15:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Join us for an experience for everyone to explore the seasonal beauty found on the monastery grounds in spring. Knowledgeable tour guides will share the story of caring for the earth and help participants deepen their relationship with this land. Tour will cover 1-1.5 miles on walking trails at a leisurely pace.
Meet at the kiosk in the monastery building parking lot (take the right fork in the driveway). Tours will take place in small groups. We will proceed with the tour in the event of light to moderate rain or snow but will cancel for thunderstorms or other severe weather.
Cost
There is no cost to participants for this tour. Donations to Care for the Earth are always welcome.
Register
Please register so we have enough tour guides and can contact you in case we need to cancel due to weather.
If you registered for this event but can no longer attend, please fill out this form to let us know of your cancellation.

The Fire of Hope 1
2026-04-30 16:00 - 2026-05-02 13:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
In 2026, John Philip Newell begins a new series of retreats called The Fire of Hope to respond to the deep challenges of this moment, whether political, religious or environmental. Where do we draw spiritual strength to passionately say no to what is false and witness to what is true and of God?
The Fire of Hope 1 is the first in a three-part series of annual retreats led by the Celtic teacher John Philip Newell and his colleague Cami Twilling in which we seek to nurture the fire of love, the fire of desire and the fire of courage within us.
The teachings of this retreat are based on the book that John Philip is currently working on, drawing especially on the wisdom of Leo Tolstoy, Simone Weil and Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Although the final text for this three-year series has not yet been written we recommend the following books by John Philip Newell as preparing the way: A New Ancient Harmony and the prayerbook Celtic Benediction.
The Fire of Hope 1 can be taken as a stand-alone retreat or in conjunction with The Fire of Hope 2 and The Fire of Hope 3, which can be attended in any order and at any of our retreat centers across the country or online.
For more information about John Philip Newell and Earth and Soul, visit https://www.earthandsoul.org.
For more information about the retreat at Holy Wisdom Monastery, contact Pam Shellberg at pshellberg@holywisdommonastery.org or 608-836-1631, x126.
Schedule
Thursday – April 30

2:00 pm
Check-in for Overnight Rooms Begins
Retreat & Guest House

4:00-5:00 pm
Check-In/Getting Settled
Gathering Area

5:15 pm
Dinner
Dining Room

*6:30 pm
Evening Prayer (please enter in silence)
Assembly Room

*7:15 pm
Session 1: Introductory Presentation
Assembly Room

8:30 pm
Sacred Silence (until breakfast)

Friday – May 1

*8:30 am
Morning Prayer (enter in silence)
Assembly Room

9:00 am
Break/Leg Stretch

*9:15 am
Session 2: Teaching I (enter in silence)
Assembly Room

10:15 am
Morning Break/Book Sales

*10:45 am
Session 3: Spiritual Practice I (enter in silence)
Assembly Room

12:00 pm
Lunch
Dining Room

1:30 pm
Silence (Siesta/Reading/Walking)

*3:30 pm
Session 4: Spiritual Practice II (enter in silence)
Assembly Room

4:45 pm
Afternoon Break

5:15 pm
Dinner
Assembly Room

*6:30 pm
Session 5: Teaching II (enter in silence)
Assembly Room

7:30 pm
Wine & Cheese Reception & Book Signing
Gathering Area

Saturday – May 2

*8:30 am
Morning Prayer (enter in silence)
Assembly Room

9:00 am
Break/Leg Stretch

*9:15 am
Session 6: Teaching III (enter in silence)
Assembly Room

10:15 am
Morning Break

*10:45 am
Session 7: Thanksgiving (enter in silence)
Assembly Room

12:00 pm
Lunch
Dining Room

Leaders – John Philip Newell and Cami Twilling

John Philip Newell
John Philip Newell (b. 1953) is an internationally renowned Celtic teacher and author of spirituality who calls the modern world to reawaken to the sacredness of Earth and every human being.
Canadian by birth, and also Scottish, he resides with his wife Ali in the ecovillage of Findhorn in Scotland. In 2016 he began the Earth & Soul initiative and teaches regularly in the United States and Canada as well as leading international pilgrimage weeks on Iona in the Western Isles of Scotland.
His PhD is from the University of Edinburgh and he has authored over fifteen books, including his award-winning publication, Sacred Earth Sacred Soul, which was the 2022 Gold Winner of the Nautilus Book Award for Spirituality and Religious Thought of the West. His new book, also with HarperOne, is The Great Search (August 2024), in which he looks at the great spiritual yearnings of humanity today in the context of the decline of religion as we have known it.
John Philip speaks of himself as ‘a wandering teacher’ following the ancient path of many lone teachers before him in the Celtic tradition, seeking the wellbeing of the world. He has been described as having ‘the heart of a Celtic bard and the mind of a Celtic scholar’, combining in his teachings the poetic and the intellectual, the head as well as the heart, and spiritual awareness as well as political and ecological concern.
Cami Twilling
Cami Twilling, based in Colorado, is the Director of Earth & Soul (a Celtic initiative of study, spiritual practice and compassionate action inspired by the teachings of John Philip Newell). As well as heading up the overall work of Earth & Soul, she facilitates the spiritual practice component of the Earth & Soul Retreats. Previously she was the Director of Contemplative Spirituality and Youth Ministry at Trinity UMC in downtown Denver. She has studied meditation in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition of Shambhala and received Spiritual Direction certification from the Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction in Tucson, Arizona.
In addition to leading mountain and urban retreats, she has led international pilgrimage groups to Iona in the Western Isles of Scotland and work teams to Guatemala to build houses in communities that have suffered from political strife and economic hardship. Cami is passionate about the relationship between spirituality and action and believes that spiritual vision and practice can play a vital role in helping to heal and transform our lives both individually and together.
Dates/Times
4:00 pm, Thursday, April 30 – 1:00 pm, Saturday, May 2, 2026
Cost
$385/person, includes program and meals, Thurs. dinner, Fri. lunch and dinner, Fri. book signing and reception, Sat. lunch; does NOT include lodging.
Limited scholarships are available. Please contact Pam Shellberg at pshellberg@holywisdommonastery.org or 608-836-1631, x126.
Lodging
Lodging is NOT included in the price of the retreat.

Lodging at Holy Wisdom Monastery during the retreat is full.

We have reserved a block of rooms nearby at the Baymont hotel. Please call the hotel at 608-616-4527 to book your room. The block is under “Fire & Hope Holy Wisdom.” The block of rooms will be held until March 30, 2026. Location: Baymont by Wyndham Madison West/Middleton WI West, 8102 Excelsior Dr, Madison, WI 53717.

Register
Please register with the button below by April 22, 2026.
Cancellation policy – if you register but must cancel your registration, you can receive a 75% refund up until April 22, 2025. After that, a 50% refund is available until the retreat starts.

Great Wisconsin Birdathon
2026-05-09 06:30 - 12:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
The Great Wisconsin Birdathon is Wisconsin’s largest fundraiser for bird conservation. Each year bird enthusiasts from across the state form teams with the goal of finding as many unique bird species as possible while raising important funds for bird conservation. Holy Wisdom Monastery is participating in this event for the sixth time this year! We hope you’ll support our team ‘Wrens of Wisdom Prairie’ in our efforts to find as many bird species as possible on our property on May 9th.
There are several ways to participate:
Join us for a birding tour or ‘sit’
We are offering four guided walking tours and one session of ‘sit spot birding’ which is accessible for those who don’t wish to walk. Group size for each session will be limited to 10 participants. Birders of all ages and experience levels are welcome.
Come birding on your own
We invite you to come explore the monastery property Saturday, May 9th on your own, and keep track of the birds you see and hear. Submit your list of species to Amy Alstad aalstad@holywisdommonastery.org or 608-836-1631, x123.
Support Friends of Wisdom Prairie by making a financial contribution
All of the dollars raised will directly support bird conservation. Half of the funds raised will stay at Holy Wisdom Monastery and be used to create and maintain excellent bird habitat here, with the remaining funds going to the Natural Resources Foundation.
Donation information from the Natural Resources Foundation coming soon.
Schedule
6:30 am – bird walk
7:30 am – bird ‘sit’
8:00 am – bird walk
10:00 am – bird walk
12:00 pm – bird walk
Registration
Please register by May 8, 2026.
Interest in birding but cannot attend this event? Reach out to Amy (aalstad@holywisdommonastery.org) to inquire about monthly birding outings at Holy Wisdom.

Spring Solar Tilt
2026-05-12 17:00 - 20:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Join us on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 | 5:00-8:00 pm
You and your family are invited to participate in the 3rd Annual Spring Solar Tilt, a hands-on community event where we gather together to celebrate green energy, honor the changing seasons and pray for the earth. Capacity is limited, so register if you are coming!
Holy Wisdom Monastery is proudly a net-zero facility, having implemented solar energy and geothermal heating and cooling in 2024 in our Retreat & Guest House.
The monastery’s 30-panel solar array can be tilted vertically or horizontally, depending on the season. The panels are currently in their more vertical position which helps to shed snow and catch the lower winter sun more efficiently. They must each be manually hand-cranked by teams of three people into their flat spring/summer orientation. Individuals, families, and teams from the community and local businesses are all invited to come be a part of this unique event!
There is no cost for this event unless you sign up for dinner before the tilting. Register below to let us know you’ll be coming. Each family will be responsible for one handle.
Dinner will take place in the Monastery Dining Room before going outside to begin the Tilt. Parking space may be limited, so bring your friends, but please carpool if you can. Dress for the weather and wear appropriate footwear for uneven terrain.
Schedule
Come for all or part of the program.
4:45 pm – Doors open
5:00 pm – Dinner ($15 per person, kids 6 and under eat free)
5:50 pm – Program & Tilt Instructions
6:15 pm – Solar Panel Tilting
6:30-8:00 pm – Lawn games for all ages, s’mores around the patio firepit, self-guided prairie walks and opportunities to talk with experts on both green energy and native prairie ecosystems
Cost
$0 – Tilt participant or observer
$15 – Tilt participant or observer plus optional dinner (kids 6 and under eat free)
Register
Please register below by May 10, 2026 if you plan to participate/observe and May 4, 2026 if you plan to attend the optional dinner.
If the event cannot take place on May 12, 2026 due to weather, May 13, 2026 has been selected as the backup option.

Watch the video below to learn how to tilt the solar panels

Kids on the Prairie
2026-05-17 10:30 - 12:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Explore nature’s beauty and surprises!
Kids on the Prairie (KOTP) is for children and their adult family members. Experienced volunteer educators and guides will facilitate a short hike to learn about nature and explore the grounds and trails. This free event is open to members of Holy Wisdom communities and the general public.
May 17 – Looking at Birds.
Migration is happening! Families will have an opportunity for watch birds and see how they spend their time. What are they eating? Bring your binoculars or use ours. We’ll look for bluebirds that nest at the Monastery. Maybe we will hear a Sandhill Crane?

Taizé Prayer for Pentecost
2026-05-22 18:00 - 19:00 | WI
Prayer in the spirit of the Taizé community is a meditative form of common prayer. Gathered in the presence of Christ, we sing uncomplicated, repetitive songs, allowing the mystery of God to become tangible through the beauty of simplicity and invoking the Holy Spirit to enter our prayer.
Schedule
6:00 pm – Taizé will begin
Cost and Registration
There is no cost to attend the Taizé prayer, but please register below by May 21st so we may plan accordingly.

Madre Tierra Art Exhibit Reception
2026-05-29 18:00 - 20:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
In Holy Wisdom’s newest exhibit, Madre Tierra, artist Issis Macias invites viewers into an intimate, contemplative encounter with the natural world. Rooted in Macias’s cultural lineage – and in the Indigenous and Latin American understanding of Madre Tierra as a living presence and source of ancestral wisdom – the Spanish title affirms a matrilineal thread and an inheritance of strength, intuition and reverence for the land. Please join us for the opening reception of this exhibit of abstract art which echoes the shifting rhythms of sea, sky and earth through layers of pigments, sweeping gestures and spontaneous pastel markings.
Schedule
6:00 pm – Reception opens
6:30 pm – Issis will talk about her work and answer questions
8:00 pm – Reception ends
Light refreshments will be provided by the artist.
Artist – Issis Macias
Issis Macias is a self-taught artist and the daughter of Mexican immigrants. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Issis moved to the Madison area in 2016 where she continued her exploration of intuitive abstract art. Issis was named the 2025 Latina Artist of the Year and received the 2024 Micaela Salinas Artist Fellowship sponsored by Latinos Organizing for Understanding and Development.

The exhibit is on display in the Monastery Gathering Area from May 6 – July 7, 2026. Gallery hours are Tuesday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm (excluding holidays) and Sunday 10:00 – 11:00 am.
Registration
Please register by May 28, 2026, in order to have enough refreshments.

Wonder & Hope: A Courage & Renewal® Experience
2026-05-29 19:00 - 2026-05-31 12:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Are you seeking ways to focus on positivity “these days”?
Register and join us for a spacious weekend at Holy Wisdom Monastery for Wonder & Hope: A Courage & Renewal® Experience, May 29-31, 2026. Within the abundance of Holy Wisdom, our retreat sessions will focus on grounding ourselves within touchstones of presence, welcome, listening to our inner teacher, turning to the wonder of how grace moves in our lives, and carrying hope forward.
Participants comment that “the welcoming spirit, the quiet, the art and poetry, the kindness and the experience of community” support their participation in a variety of experience during the weekend retreat. We trust that the spirit of renewal will move within you during your time in an active circle of participants, time in silence, and opportunities to be in Wisdom Prairie. Bring yourself just as you are — All Are Welcome!
This retreat is based on the Courage & Renewal approach, Center for Courage & Renewal® founded by Parker J Palmer, PhD
“Hope is holding a creative tension between what is and what could and should be,
each day doing something to narrow the distance between the two.” -Parker J Palmer, PhD
Schedule
Friday, May 29
3:00 pm – Check-in for retreatants staying in the RGH
6:30 pm – Registration
7:00 pm – Session One
Saturday, May 30
9:00-10:15 am– Session Two
10:15-10:30 am – Break
10:30 am-12:00 pm – Session Three
12:00-1:30 pm – Lunch and Free time
1:30-3:00 pm – Session Four
3:00-3:30 pm – Break
3:30-5:00 pm – Session Five
5:15 pm – Dinner
Sunday, May 31
10:00 am-12:00 pm – Session Six
Leaders – Mary Louise Peters, MSE & Amy Christianson, EdD

Mary Louise Peters is a Courage & Renewal® Facilitator, providing retreats and renewal experiences since 2010. She has worked as an educator and consultant at local, state and national levels to improve early childhood and special education for children and families, teaching practices and conditions for staff, and state educational systems.

Amy Christianson recently completed the Courage & Renewal® Practicum Program. Amy has been a participant in a number of seasonal and Circle of Trust retreats. She has a long professional career in education within early childhood, K-12 and higher education settings. Amy’s background includes educational leadership, organizational change and working with diverse populations.

Cost
$250 commuter; $435 residential
Register
Please register by May 21, 2026. The maximum number of participants is 18 and registration will close when full.
Cancellation policy – if you register but must cancel your registration, you can receive a 75% refund up until May 21, 2026. After that, a 50% refund is available until the retreat starts.

Nature Photography for Kids
2026-05-31 10:30 - 12:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Nature Photography For Kids Ages 6-12
Children ages 6-12 and their adults are invited to join Sandy Weber, professional photographer, to use photography to discover the beauty of nature and surprising interactions all around us. Participants will learn beginner photography skills such as framing, light and shadow with a digital camera. Each child will print one of their photos. The program runs from 10:30 am-12:00 pm. We will start indoors with a short introduction, then go outdoors to explore the land through the camera lens.
Schedule

10:30 am – Gather in the Boardroom for orientation to nature photography
10:45 am – Go outside to take photos
11:25 am – Meet in the Boardroom to print photos, mount them, decorate frames and write captions
11:55 am – Group sharing and closing

Cost & Registration
Please register by May 25, 2026. This event is free for attendees, but good will donations to Holy Wisdom and the Friends of Wisdom Prairie are always encouraged and appreciated.
Registration is limited to 10 children ages 6 to 12 and their adults. We cannot accommodate walk-ins or small children at this event.

Day of Rest & Reflection for Healthcare Professionals
2026-06-03 08:30 - 16:30 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
As a healthcare professional, you give generously of yourself to care for the bodies, minds and spirits of so many, and we are offering A Day of Rest and Reflection to generously return that care to you! Join us on June 3rd from 8:30 am-4:30 pm to walk the restored prairies of Holy Wisdom Monastery, engage in somatic and creative activities, find supportive community with other healthcare workers and receive nurture for your own body, mind and spirit.
You will be welcomed with a continental breakfast and served a warm and nourishing lunch. Participants may choose to extend their stay by individually booking a dinner and/or overnight at the Retreat and Guest Center separate from the programmed event and at an additional cost. Contact retreats@holywisdommonastery.org if interested.
This retreat is open to people who work in direct patient care such as nurses, doctors, CNAs, LPNs, radiologists, etc.
Schedule
8:30-9:00 am – Arrive and Continental Breakfast
9:00-10:15 am – Introductions and Reflection Circles
10:15-10:30 am – Break
10:30-11:30 am – Body Meditation and Journaling
11:45 am – Midday Prayer (Optional)
Noon – Lunch
1:00-2:30 pm – Introduction to the Land and Meditative Prairie Walk
2:45-3:30 pm – Creating Meditation Stones
3:30-4:30 pm – Reflection Circles and Blessing of Hands
Facilitators – Amy Alstad, Rita Emmenegger, Erin Trondson and Rachel Young Binter

Amy Alstad is the director of land management and environmental education at Holy Wisdom
Monastery. She has a PhD in prairie ecology from UW Madison, more than a decade of professional experience in the field of restoration ecology and a deep-rooted family tradition of restoring and tending prairies that spans four generations. In her role at Holy Wisdom, Amy works alongside staff and volunteers to tend the restored land and invite people into connection with it. She is excited to share her love of Wisdom Prairie – and her growing conviction in its power to heal – with participants in this day of rest.

Erin Trondson has worked with nonprofits for over 25 years and is currently the executive director of Holy Wisdom Monastery. She is especially moved by the monastery’s mission of hospitality and believes that part of Holy Wisdom’s work is to care for the people who care for the people. Erin will speak briefly about how the restored and healed land, the rhythms of the monastery, the beauty of
nature, the warm and welcoming spaces and the nourishing food will all contribute to a restorative day for those who work so hard to care for others every day. We look forward to having you at Holy Wisdom for a day of rest and reflection.

Rita Emmenegger is a registered nurse who worked at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, for 35 years in the departments of pediatrics and obstetrics. She understands the challenges of choosing a career as a caregiver and not having the time to nourish one’s own body and spirit. Now retired, Rita was the busy mother of four and foster mother of seven and sees the importance of taking care of oneself as a necessity in life. Born and raised in Chicago, Rita and her husband of 48 years, live in Middleton, WI. When she is not with her grandchildren, she enjoys baking, gardening, hiking, regularly donating platelets at the American Red Cross and volunteering at Holy Wisdom Monastery.

Rachel Young Binter is an experienced retreat leader with a concern for caring for the whole person, including our bodies, minds and spirits, our relationships with others and the natural world, and our right to exist within systems of equity and justice. She is the director of the Center for Clergy Renewal at Holy Wisdom Monastery and is grateful to have the opportunity to extend renewal and healing to those who bring renewed life and healing to so many.

Cost
$65/person
Register
Please register below by May 26, 2026.

Shinrin-Yoku: Walks for the Weary
2026-06-06 10:00 - 11:30 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Join us for a relaxing walk on the prairie at Holy Wisdom Monastery.
It will be a slow-paced quiet walk guided by Valerie Vervoort, a certified Shinrin-yoku guide. The intent of this 90-minute walk is renewal through using our senses of sight, hearing, touch and taste. Invitations planned by your guide are easy and subject to each person’s comfort level. Sharing and tea will be part of the experience.
Participants will need to dress appropriately for weather conditions and be able to walk a mile and a half on trails that are sometimes uneven and include gentle slopes. Walking sticks are encouraged. Walk starts and ends at the kiosk in the monastery building parking lot.
Proceeds from these walks go to support programs at Holy Wisdom Monastery.
2026 Dates/Times

Jun. 6 – 10:00-11:30 am
Aug. 1 – 10:00-11:30 am
Oct. 3 – 10:00-11:30 am

Leader – Valerie Vervoort
Valerie Vervoort grew up exploring the woods and Mississippi River on her family farm in Northern Minnesota. She earned a master’s degree in education and taught in daycares for many years where she was known for gardening and encouraging kids to explore the outdoors. After retirement she volunteered as the ‘Garden Grandma’ at Fox Prairie Elementary School’s gardens. In 2020, she became an Oblate at Holy Wisdom Monastery, volunteered for prairie workdays and as a trail monitor. In 2024 her interest in the land as a healer lead to getting certified as a Forest Therapy Guide in May of that year. She has since lead Forest Therapy walks for Oblates, Sunday Assembly members and a visiting college choir.

Cost
$37/person (no lunch)
$56/person (with lunch, May 29 registration deadline)
Register
Please register by Jun. 5, 2026. This offering is limited to 15 people and registration will close when full. There is no refund if you need to cancel your registration.

Ink & Insight Mindful Writing Circle
2026-06-07 10:15 - 12:15 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Join us for a quarterly gathering that blends creative writing and mindfulness in a supportive, inclusive space. Whether you identify as a writer or simply enjoy exploring your inner voice, this group offers you a gentle rhythm of reflective writing (with optional prompts), sharing in community, and contemplative practices like guided meditation and mindful walking outdoors, weather permitting.
Come as you are. No experience needed — just a willingness to pause, listen, and write. You’ll leave with new words, insights, and connections.
Dates/Times – Sundays from 10:15 am-12:15 pm

Jan. 25
Mar. 1
Jun. 7
Nov. 1

Schedule

10:15 am – Welcome, housekeeping, and settling in
10:30 am – Guided meditation
10:45 am – Writing session #1 with optional small-group sharing
11:00 am – Contemplative walking and writing session #2
11:30 am – Writing session #3
11:45 am – Sharing in big group (optional)
12:15 pm – Close

Leader – Rebecca Jamieson

Rebecca Jamieson is the author of The Body of All Things (Finishing Line Press, 2017). She is the recipient of a 2025 Wisconsin Writers Award, the 2024 Tupelo Press Prose Prize, and is a Pushcart Prize nominee. Her writing has appeared in numerous publications, including Rattle, The Offing, Mid-American Review, and Entropy, and she’s currently at work on a collection of personal essays. Rebecca lives on Ho-Chunk land in Madison, Wisconsin. When she’s not writing, you can find her hiking, baking, or cuddling her two cats.

Cost
$50/person
Registration
Limited to 25 people. Please register by June 4, 2026.

Kids on the Prairie
2026-06-14 10:30 - 12:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Explore nature’s beauty and surprises!
Kids on the Prairie (KOTP) is for children and their adult family members. Experienced volunteer educators and guides will facilitate a short hike to learn about nature and explore the grounds and trails. This free event is open to members of Holy Wisdom communities and the general public.
June 14 – Lost Lake Critters
Who lives in the lake? Take a look at tiny critters that feed other residents of Lost Lake. Observe painted turtles while we explore trails around the lake for signs of other creatures that call this their home.

iRest Yoga Nidra: Guided Meditation Through the Layers of Awareness
2026-06-14 16:00 - 17:15 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Yoga Nidra is a guided meditation that allows one to embrace the fullness of life by moving through the various embodied layers of awareness. It creates a sense of deep peace, relaxation and nourishes resilience to deal with the stressors of everyday life. The practice has been found to regulate one’s nervous system to facilitate improved sleep and enhance overall wellbeing.
Schedule

Introduction & Intentions
Guided Yoga Nidra Meditation
Sharing of Experiences & Silence

This experience is open for people age 16 years and older.
Leader

Iris Mickey is a Certified iRest Yoga Nidra Teacher and a Certified Yoga Therapist. She has spent her whole adult life working in various fields in the Healing Arts. Iris is grateful for the depth of knowledge that her many teachers have shared with her and brings those teachings to everyday life through yoga, qigong, yoga nidra, voice as a yoga practice and individual and group sound immersion experiences.
Cost
$37/person
Registration
The registration deadline for this event is June 13, 2026. There is no refund for cancellations.

I Choose Peace: Sound Healing & Guided Meditation
2026-06-21 13:00 - 14:45 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
You are welcome to explore a transformative journey through stillness with I Choose Peace: Sound Healing & Guided Meditation. This uniquely enchanting heart-centered experience invites you to explore the depths of world peace and love through the calming resonance of sound bowl healing, serene guided meditations, and space for reflective journaling. It’s more than just meditation; it’s a pathway to self-love and a deeper connection with your inner infinite peace and Mother Earth.
Whether you’re a seasoned meditator or completely new to the practice, this offering provides a safe and accessible pathway to exploring mindfulness and meditation while experiencing sound bowls and frequencies in alignment with love, peace and global healing. We welcome all peace seekers ages 18 and above who desire to be in community with like-minded souls dedicated to making the world a better place.
During our time we will:

Practice stillness and self awareness through mindfulness play.
Reconnect with Mother Earth and our ancestors through peace and love.
Allow our bodies and minds to rest and reorient to our own personal spaces of peace and love through experiencing crystal sound bowl healing and layers of healing frequencies.
Illuminate the infinite peace and love in each of us individually that connects us collectively though spiritually guided meditations.
Practice self reflection and allow space to explore and journal what surfaces as you choose peace.

Please bring the following items to make the most of your meditation:

Comfortable clothing: breathable, flexible garments for various temperatures. Light layers are suggested.
Blanket, pillow, yoga mat: create a comfortable space to rest by having your own items to support your body needs.
Journal: any journal or notebook (and writing utensil) will do to capture your reflections.
Water bottle/personal beverage: hydrate!
Personal care items: natural toiletries, sunscreen and insect repellent (if meditation will be outside)
You may choose your position of comfort during the meditation. Chairs are available for use if needed. Please bring any additional personal items you may require to comfortably sit or lay down for two hours.
Open mind and heart ready and willing to explore within how we can choose love and peace in our own lives.

Schedule

1:00-1:30 pm – Welcome and call in to reconnect with self and ancestors
1:30-2:30 pm – Sound bowl lifted guided meditation
2:30-2:45 pm – Self-reflection, reenergize and peace out

Instructor – Takeyla Benton

Mystic on a mission, Takeyla, Mystic Key, has spent her lifetime unlocking her own divine potential – and now she’s here to help you do the same. With a wealth of spiritually directed studies and personal experiences, Mystic Key infuses her wisdom and passion for storytelling, holistic healing and spirit-centered self-mastery and divine love into her all areas of her sacred soul work. As a trusted guide, she offers Goddess and Ancestor guided spiritual consultations, reiki energy and sound healing sessions, empowering yoga and meditation coaching, illuminating podcasts and workshops and wherever spirt guides her to grow. Mystic Key empowers those who feel lost and locked into unproductive cycles to seek the keys to get out by going within.

Dates/Times
You are welcome to come to one session or more. Each session has its own registration form which will open about three months before the session.
Summer Solstice | Sunday, Jun. 21, 2026 | 1:00 – 2:45 pm (no lunch)
Autumn Equinox | Saturday, Sep. 19, 2026 | 10:00 – 11:45 am
Winter Solstice | Saturday, Dec. 19, 2026 | 10:00 – 11:45 am
Cost
$37/person/session
Register
The registration deadline for the June 21st session is June 13th, or when the registration reaches 35 people. There is no refund for cancellations, but registrations are transferable. Registration for later sessions will open closer to the event date.

Sacred Queerness: Earth-Based Spiritual Retreat
2026-07-11 09:30 - 2026-07-12 11:30 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
SOLD OUT
We are grateful for all of the interest in this event. Registration for this experience is currently full. You can join the waitlist with this link.
Event Description
Queer and Trans people are a sacred part of the Earth, always have been, and always will be. We invite LGBTQ+ people of all ages to join four local queer spiritual leaders and land stewards for a two-day, one-night healing retreat at Holy Wisdom Monastery. The retreat will hold time for writing and art, work with the restored prairie and savanna ecosystems that surround the monastery and an exploration of what we hold as sacred.
Recognizing the religious trauma many of us carry, we are defining the “sacred” in this retreat broadly as “that which is bigger than us” – our place in the world, community and how we find profound meaning. Sacred Queerness is open to people of any religious/spiritual path or none and participants will be asked to protect and honor this diversity. In an unsafe and turbulent time, we will strengthen community bonds, connect with the local more-than-human world and affirm our place on Earth.
Please bring a journal and something to write with.
This retreat is for anyone who identifies as a part of the LGBTQIA+ community. LGBTQIA+ people under 18 should attend with a trusted adult, who may be an ally.
Event Schedule
Saturday, July 11
9:30-10:00 am – Arrive and Mingle
10:00-10:50 am – Receiving Queer Wisdom – Poetry and Readings
11:00-11:50 am – Expressing Queer Wisdom – Journaling/Drawing
Noon-1:00 pm – Lunch in the Monastery
1:00-2:00 pm – Healed Land Heals Us – Walking Tour of the Prairie
2:00-3:30 pm – Caring for the Land – Restoration Work Project
3:30-5:00 pm – Free Time
5:15-6:15 pm – Dinner
6:30-7:30 pm – Nature Art
8:00 pm – Bonfire – Ritual Release and Joy Under the Stars
Sunday, July 12
8:00-9:00 am – Breakfast
9:00-10:00 am – Welcoming the Sacred – Outdoor Meditation or Ecumenical Worship
10:30-11:30 am – Closing and Group Photo

Speakers – Becca Bedell, Pam Shellberg, Rev. Manato Jansen and Rachel Young Binter

Becca Bedell (they/she) is a writer and a volunteer land steward with Friends of Wisdom Prairie and Dane County Parks. They serve as Basic Needs Advocate at OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center, coordinating housing and food assistance.

Pam Shellberg (she/her) is the Director of Spiritual Nourishment at Holy Wisdom Monastery, offering retreats and studies of spiritual traditions and practices. She is a homilist at the monastery and a spiritual director.

Rev. Manato Jansen (he/him) is a presider and homilist at Holy Wisdom Monastery. He serves as Director of Residential Community at Pres House (UW-Madison), facilitating LGBTQ+ spiritual communities and scholarship programs for students.

Rachel Young Binter (she/her) is the Director of the Center for Clergy Renewal at Holy Wisdom Monastery and a former campus pastor. She is an experienced retreat leader, certified therapeutic yoga instructor and Reiki practitioner who finds joy and healing in embodied care, the earth and acts of justice.

Cost
$200/retreatant. Cost includes lunch and dinner on Saturday as well as breakfast on Sunday. We understand the importance of this retreat and we do not want expense to keep anyone from attending. Scholarships are available to help cover registration fees, if needed.
Parents/Guardians must accompany minors on this retreat, but will only be responsible for the meal portion of the registration fee ($57).
Register
Please register by July 4, 2026. The maximum number of participants is 19 and registration will close when full. Once registration fills, we will have a waiting list in case a space becomes available.
Cancellation policy – if you register but must cancel your registration, you can receive a 75% refund up until July 4, 2026. After that, a 50% refund is available until the retreat starts.
After you register, if you would like to request a double room with another retreatant for a lower registration cost or if you have other questions about accommodations, please contact us at retreats@holywisdommonastery.org.
Registration is currently full. You can join the waitlist by clicking this link.

Summer Plentitude: A Seasonal Retreat
2026-07-14 13:00 - 2026-07-15 16:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
A riot of color on the prairie welcomes you to seek and celebrate your own abundance. This summer retreat invites you sit with the lush growth of the season – on the prairie and in your own life and heart. It will hold space for attention to both.
Conversations about the season, walks on the prairie, naps, art, movement, journaling, great meals and welcoming accommodations will all be a part of what you can expect when you arrive. A renewed connection to nature and to yourself, along with joy in the plentitude and abundance of the season are what you can expect to take with you when you leave.
Seasonal Retreats
Each season this year, we will offer a different seasonal retreat. They will open spaces where each different season can offer its unique wisdom to us in the changing seasons of our lives. Each retreat is a two-day, one-night experience at Holy Wisdom with cozy accommodations, delicious meals, spacious time periods for solitude, reading and rest and contemplative conversations with other retreatants. There will also be a variety of opportunities to explore the prairies and the season and discover their gifts for you.
Upcoming Retreats

Fall Fallowing – October 16-17, 2026 (Fri./Sat.)

Summer Plentitude Date/Times
Tue., Jul. 14, 1:00 pm – Wed., Jul. 15, 4:00 pm, 2026
Cost
$295/person ($260/person early bird registration until June 6th, 2026)
The cost of the retreat includes program, meals (Tuesday dinner, Wednesday breakfast and lunch) and overnight room.
Register
The registration deadline for this retreat is July 6th, 2026, or when the retreat fills.
Cancellation policy – if you register but must cancel your registration, you can receive a 75% refund up until July 7th. After that, a 50% refund is available until the retreat starts.
After you register, if you would like to request a double room with another retreatant or if you have other questions about accommodations, please contact us at retreats@holywisdommonastery.org.

Summer Stewards 2026
2026-07-21 15:00 - 2026-07-26 11:30 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Are you concerned about climate change? Does life feel uncertain and chaotic? Are you longing for time away to reground yourself? Are you looking for time for reflection, discernment and prayer? Would you like to deepen your spirituality in a setting that connects your faith with care for the earth?
Become a Summer Steward for six days in July at Holy Wisdom Monastery, an intentional women’s community with deep roots in the Benedictine tradition. Live the monastic tradition of prayer, work and rest in a progressive, inclusive community whose mission includes being in right relationship with the earth and one another. Join us for prairie and oak savanna restoration, gardening, daily prayer and spiritual conversation. Share your experiences, reflections and questions with women on a similar journey.
All this while living together in community on the monastery grounds. No previous experience required. We are an ecumenical community and encourage single, unpartnered women 18-45 to apply.

Wild Spirituality: Restoring Sacred Relationship with Earth
2026-08-07 18:00 - 2026-08-09 11:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
In this weekend eco-spiritual retreat, we gather to remember our heritage as humans in loving relationship with the wider beloved community of life.
Earth groans for our full re-engagement as participants in what Thich Nhat Hanh called the web of interbeing. As the systems of our culture and planet unravel, this moment calls us to remember that we belong to an interconnected web of life – an intimate love story with an animate and living world.
Centuries of dominating culture and religion have often separated spirituality from the rest of creation. Yet our souls remember that hawks, soil, thunder and maple trees are kin. Many of us feel a longing to restore that sacred relationship.
The call of the wild – the recurring return to the wilderness in Judeo-Christian stories – often appears at times of profound change. Returning to wilderness is not simply a dark night of the soul. It is a call to return to relationship: with Earth, with soul and with the sacred presence moving through all things. An invitation to rewild your spirituality and remember that you belong – to Earth, to one another and to the holy story unfolding through us.
Schedule
Friday evening (6:30-8:00 pm) Victoria Loorz, will offer an introduction to the theology and practice of wild spirituality.
Saturday will be devoted to experiential eco-spiritual invitations: wandering the restored prairie, oak savanna and woodlands of Holy Wisdom Monastery, listening deeply to the land and returning to shared circle for sacred conversation.
Sunday morning (9:00-11:00 am) will be for a Wild Church Experience.
Program Leader – Victoria Loorz, MDiv.
Victoria Loorz, MDiv. is a Wild Church pastor and eco-spiritual guide devoted to restoring sacred relationship between humans and the more-than-human world. Founder and Director of the Center for Wild Spirituality, home to the Wild Church Network, a network of over 300 place-based eco-spiritual gatherings and Seminary of the Wild Earth, a two year eco-spiritual intensive to re-weave your spirituality and vocation back into intimate relationship with the land, waters, and wild beings of your home habitat. Author of Church of the Wild: How Nature Invites Us into the Sacred and Field Guide to Church of the Wild, as well as the upcoming Wild Spirituality: How the Sacred Invites Us into Kinship with Nature.

Cost
$250 commuter; $435 residential
Register
Please register by Jul. 30, 2026.
Cancellation policy – if you register but must cancel your registration, you can receive a 75% refund up until Jul. 30, 2026. After that, a 50% refund is available until the retreat starts.
