Family Gathering
2025-10-18 15:00 - 18:00 (America/Chicago) | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
This gathering has been cancelled, the next Family Gathering is Dec. 20, 2025
Calling all families with children! Children’s Ministry invites you to join our next Family Gathering, Saturday, October 18, 3:00-6:00 pm at Holy Wisdom Monastery.
Enjoy a relaxed afternoon concluding with an opportunity to share a meal. Children are invited to join Sarah Wilkin Gibart for prayer and creative work time in the spirit of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, tailored for 6–9-year-olds.
Parents, this is your time! You may choose to join in the children’s program or enjoy the monastery grounds: explore the prairie, take in the art exhibit, relax in the library, or simply have time for coffee and conversation. Childcare will also be available for the youngest ones, ages 0-5. Those children and adults who wish may join the sisters for Evening Prayer at 4:30 pm, and we will reconvene for supper at 5:15 pm.
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).
Come be in community, play, rest, reflect, and get to know and support one another!
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.
Cost
$25/family.
Questions
Please contact Sarah: sjwilkin09@gmail.com or Nichole: nfromm@holywisdommonastery.org with any questions.

Register
The Family Gathering has been cancelled. The next Family Gathering will be Dec. 20, 2025.

Being Harmonized with the Unconditional Love and Wisdom of Our Buddha Nature
2025-10-19 09:30 - 2025-10-21 18:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
From a Tibetan Buddhist perspective, our buddha nature is the basic space of our being that is undivided from vast capacities of awareness, warmth, love, compassion and wisdom. These capacities are always available below our surface consciousness but often hidden by our conditioned habits of thought and reaction. In this retreat, we will learn three modes of practice derived from Tibetan Buddhism that empower each other as they harmonize us with those innate capacities. The receptive mode generates a field of care that helps us find immediate access to unconditional qualities of love and wisdom from the depth of our awareness (our buddha nature). In the deepening mode, we let those qualities help the mind settle into their source—the non-conceptual openness, simplicity, clarity, and compassionate warmth of our buddha nature. In the inclusive mode we come from that depth of being to recognize others in their depth, and to include them in those unconditional qualities of openness and compassion. This contemplative process also empowers our ability to discern the empty, constructed nature of our experiences, freeing the mind for further access to its innate awakening capacities.
In this retreat, we will adapt this pattern of practice from Tibetan Buddhism, with some assistance from modern psychology, to make it accessible both for Buddhist practitioners and for people of all faiths who have contemplative practice experience and seek not just an intellectual dialogue with Buddhism but a deep experiential encounter with it that might freshly illumine analogous depths of their own tradition.
Sessions include guided meditations, Q&A and discussion. Prerequisites: At least two previous years of regular contemplative practice (meditation, ritual or prayer). Before the retreat, please read John’s book, Awakening through Love (Wisdom, 2007) or How Compassion Works (co-authored with Paul Condon, Shambhala, June 24, 2025), or as much of either book as possible.
Schedule

Daily session from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Daily session from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Rest breaks
Lunch at 12:30 pm
Dinner at 5:15 pm.
More details to come

Leader – John Makransky
John Makransky, PhD, has been a professor of Buddhism and Comparative Theology at Boston College, Senior Academic Advisor at Rangjung Yeshe Institute in Nepal, president of the Society of Buddhist-Christian studies and Contemplative Fellow of the Mind and Life Institute. John’s scholarly writings focus on connections between devotion, compassion and wisdom in Buddhism, on adapting Buddhist practices to meet contemporary minds and on theoretical issues in interfaith learning. In 2000, John was ordained as a Lama in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism – a teacher of innate love and wisdom practices. For the past 25 years, John has taught meditations of innate compassion and wisdom adapted from Tibetan Buddhism for modern Buddhists, those in other spiritual traditions, and for people in caring roles and professions. In consultation with participants from those settings, John developed the Sustainable Compassion Training model of contemplative practice (SCT) to help Buddhists, people of diverse faiths and those in caring roles and professions generate a more sustaining and unconditional power of compassion and awareness to support their lives and work (https://sustainablecompassion.org).
Dates/Times
9:30 am, Sunday, October 19 – Dinner following afternoon session, Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Cost
This retreat uses a tiered fee system. Please pay according to your means.
Registration fees do not include payments to teacher. Please consider supporting the teacher with dāna (generosity) at the event.

$350 – Benefactor
$300 – Tier 1
$250 – Tier 2

Scholarships are available. Please contact Carole Kretschman at c.kretschman@icloud.com.
Lodging
Lodging is NOT included in the price of the retreat.

We have limited lodging at Holy Wisdom Monastery
$148.50/single (one person for 2 nights)
$170.10/double (2 people for 2 nights sharing a room)
Extra nights are available.
Please email retreats@holywisdommonastery.org to reserve your overnight room at the monastery for the retreat. Rooms will fill up.

Register
Please register by October 12, 2025.
Cancellation policy – if you register but must cancel your registration, you can receive a 75% refund up until Oct. 12, 2025. After that, a 50% refund is available until the retreat starts.

Holy Wisdom Monastery Annual Meeting
2025-10-19 10:30 - 12:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Join us on Sunday, October 19, 2025 at 10:30 am for the Holy Wisdom Monastery Annual Meeting. We invite you to attend virtually via Zoom, or in-person in the monastery dining room. Whether you are a member of one of our communities or a curious supporter, we welcome all to join us. You will hear from sisters and coworkers about Holy Wisdom’s mission, financial position, future priorities, and other projects around the monastery.
Schedule
9:00 am – Sunday Assembly Worship (all are welcome)
10:30 am – Annual Meeting
Register
There is no cost for this event. Please register by October 19, 2025.

Conversations About Our Benedictine Life: Humility
2025-10-23 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-11-16 10:30 - 11:30 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Deepen your understanding of Benedictine spirituality by joining us for one or more of the Conversations About Our Benedictine Spirituality: Humility sessions. These gatherings offer time for reflections, for the reading of short pieces on humility from the Rule of Benedict and other authors, an exploration of how Benedictine humility differs from our every day understandings of it, and conversations about the gifts and challenges of living this Benedictine value in our lives.
These sessions are open to any adult who relates to any of the Holy Wisdom Monastery communities.

Sacred Thresholds
2025-11-03 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

Indigenous Art: A Local's Perspective & Friends of Wisdom Prairie Annual Meeting
2025-11-06 17:00 - 20:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Please join the Friends of Wisdom Prairie for their annual meeting, which brings people together to recognize and celebrate land stewardship at Holy Wisdom Monastery. The keynote presentation will be given by Melanie Tallmadge Sainz and is titled ‘Indigenous Art: A Local’s Perspective.’ The program also includes refreshments and dinner.
Schedule

5:00 pm – Refreshments and mingling
6:00 pm – Dinner
6:45 pm – Friends of Wisdom Prairie Annual Meeting
7:00 pm – Melanie Tallmadge Sainz presents on local Indigenous art
8:00 pm – Q&A and wrap up

Speaker – Melanie Tallmadge Sainz

Melanie is Founding Director of Little Eagle Arts Foundation (LEAF), a Native-led nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the arts and culture of Native people of the Western Great Lakes. She is an enrolled member of the Ho-Chunk Nation who grew up in the Wisconsin Dells. Melanie will share about what influences her personal art-making process as well as provide information about her foundation.

(Photo courtesy of Kevin Miyazaki)

Cost
$40/person
Registration
Please register by October 30, 2025.
There is no refund for cancellations, but registrations are transferable.

Oblate Retreat
2025-11-07 16:00 - 2025-11-09 12:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Save the date: Nov. 7-9, 2025

Kids on the Prairie
2025-11-09 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.
November 9 – Join Us for a Celebration of Our Year!
We’ll take a short walk near the gardens and Lost Lake listening and looking for signs of life. Afterward, wrap up the season with a slide show of 2025 KOTP activities, games, hot chocolate and cider.

Beyond the Bloom Art Exhibit Reception
2025-11-14 18:00 - 20:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Maron Massey’s exhibit of acrylic paintings on canvas at Holy Wisdom is a perfect fit with the mission of caring for the earth. Maron said, “my work is inspired by nature. Some of the paintings in this exhibit reflect time spent here at the monastery.” Maron wants people to be drawn in by her color palette first and then by the image. By using all the colors found in nature, she hopes her work will take people out of their daily concerns and recall what is really important.
Schedule
6:00 pm – Reception opens
6:30 pm – Maron will share her thoughts about her work and answer questions
8:00 pm – Reception concludes
Light refreshments will be provided by the artist.
Artist – Maron Massey
Maron Massey’s work can be found throughout the Madison area. She has 14 paintings in the permanent collection at Epic, the University of Wisconsin purchased three for their new eastside clinic and she recently completed 10 murals and 30 paintings for a downtown condominium association.

The exhibit is on display in the Monastery Gathering Area from November 5, 2025 – February 3, 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 November 7, 2025, in order to have enough refreshments.

Living the Questions: A Courage & Renewal® Weekend
2025-11-14 19:00 - 2025-11-16 12:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Living the Questions: A Courage & Renewal® Weekend
Each renewal weekend will include creating a quiet, focused, and enlivened space—a Circle of Trust®— where personal, inner wisdom can be heard. There will be a mix of time spent in large group, small group, and individual reflection along with poetry, teaching stories, wisdom traditions, nature, and activities for exploration. We will use these experiences and other rich metaphors to symbolize and discover and explore life questions. Together, we will experience creating spaces in our lives to tend and nurture our desire to live fully with courage and resilience.

Revitalize your commitment to the values that give meaning to your life.
Increase your ability to listen openly and be present.
Learn reflective practices to become more intentional.
Explore questions to build and sustain community.
Expand trustworthy and authentic relationships.

The Circle of Trust® approach is based on the work of Dr. Parker J. Palmer, Founder and Senior Partner Emeritus of the Center for Courage & Renewal, who is a world-renowned writer, speaker and activist. Explore the principles, practices and resources from the Center for Courage & Renewal: https://couragerenewal.org/courage-renewal-approach/
This program is being independently organized and led by a Courage & Renewal Facilitator(s) prepared by the Center for Courage & Renewal.
Schedule
Friday, November 14
3:00 pm – Check-in for Retreatants Staying in RGH
6:30 pm – Registration
7:00-9:00 pm – Session One
Saturday, November 15
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
3:00-3:15 pm – Break
3:30-5:00 pm – Session Five
5:15 pm – Dinner
Sunday, November 16
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 November 7, 2025. The maximum number of participants is 24 and registration will close when full.
Cancellation policy – if you register but must cancel your registration, you can receive a 75% refund up until November 7, 2025. After that, a 50% refund is available until the retreat starts.

Fall Fallowing: A Seasonal Retreat
2025-11-19 13:00 - 2025-11-20 16:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
A changing landscape palette… the final harvests from the garden… the departure of migratory creatures… these seasonal milestones are reminders to notice and integrate past growth, honoring it for its role in nurturing future growth. This fall retreat invites you to pause and mark transitions – on the prairie and in your own life and heart. It will hold space for attention to both.
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.
Fall Fallowing Date/Times
Wed., November 19, 1:00 pm – Thu., November 20, 4:00 pm, 2025
Arrive between 11:30 am and 1:00 pm on November 19 to check into your room. The retreat begins at 1:00 pm on November 19 and concludes at 4:00 pm on November 20.
Exact schedule TBD. Will include rest, solitude, walking meditations, movement and art.
Cost
$250/person – Early bird registration until October 11, 2025
$295/person – Full price cost starting October 12, until sold out or November 12, 2025
The cost of the retreat includes program, meals (Wednesday dinner, Thursday breakfast and lunch) and overnight room.
Register
The registration deadline for this retreat is November 12, 2025, or when the retreat fills.
Cancellation policy – if you register but must cancel your registration, you can receive a 75% refund up until November 12, 2025. 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 Brooke Livingston at blivingston@holywisdommonastery.org.

Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service
2025-11-24 18:30 - 19:30 | Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, 401 S Owen Dr, Madison, WI, 53711, United States
Holy Wisdom Monastery is joining area churches and co-sponsoring an Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Madison, Wisconsin on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025.

Together we will reflect on God’s many blessings and our shared faith in Christ, while supporting those in need within the community. All participants are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items or make a cash donation to benefit local food pantries and the families they serve during the holiday season. After the service, there will be a reception with light refreshments and time for connection.

All are welcome!

Schedule

Arrive early to find parking
6:15 pm – Prelude
6:30-7:30 pm – Thanksgiving Service

Our Lady Queen Of Peace Parish is located at 401 S Owen Dr, Madison, WI.

Learn more at https://www.collaborationproject.us/thanksgiving

Advent Series: Ask a Sign of Your God (in-person)
2025-12-02 10:00 - 11:30 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
The words of Isaiah, from the Christian Old Testament, were given to an ancient people in times of great political, economic and spiritual upheaval. Poetic and prophetic – they were words of warning and admonishment, and also reassurance and encouragement. Isaiah was tremendously influential on the heart of Jesus; this Advent we have the chance to open our hearts to that same influence through words that echo from a time past into our own times of upheaval. Join us for conversation, reflection, and a contemplative consideration of these beautiful poetic and prophetic texts – inspiring our spiritual imaginations, leading us to an ancient well of wisdom, and offering a through-line of hope. This series is open to adults.
Schedule
Each gathering will include some teachings, reflections and small group conversations, and a time of contemplation on a text, a piece of art – writing, images, poetry or music.
Dates/Times
IN-PERSON – Tuesdays, 10:00-11:30 am

Dec. 2
Dec. 9
Dec. 16

Consider extending your experience by staying longer and attending optional prayer and/or lunch at the monastery. There is a fee for lunch if you decide to stay.

11:45 am – Midday Prayer: All are welcome to join the sisters’ community and guests for communal prayer in the Oratory (lower level of the monastery building). Click to learn more about prayer at Holy Wisdom Monastery.
12:00 pm – Lunch ($18): Enjoy a delicious meal prepared fresh by our chefs. Email retreats@holywisdommonastery.org to reserve your meal 48 hours in advance. Please specify which date/dates you wish to stay for lunch.

VIRTUAL – Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00 pm

Dec. 3
Dec. 10
Dec. 17

Program Leader – Pam Shellberg

Pam Shellberg is the director of spiritual nourishment at Holy Wisdom, a teacher, a scripture scholar and a contemplative. She is eager to explore sacred texts in community with others, through historical and contemplative lenses, so that mystery, wisdom, courage and hope might be gifts received.

Cost
$35 per person or per screen for the series
If you are attending the in-person series, consider staying after for a delicious lunch prepared by our chef.
Please contact retreats@holywisdommonastery.org, 48 hours before the date(s) you wish to purchase lunch. The cost of one lunch is $18/person.
Register
Please register by Dec. 1, 2025 for the in-person or virtual Advent series. If you need to cancel your registration, there are no refunds, but you are welcome to share your registration with someone who could come in your place.

Advent Series: Ask a Sign of Your God (virtual)
2025-12-03 18:30 - 20:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
The words of Isaiah, from the Christian Old Testament, were given to an ancient people in times of great political, economic and spiritual upheaval. Poetic and prophetic – they were words of warning and admonishment, and also reassurance and encouragement. Isaiah was tremendously influential on the heart of Jesus; this Advent we have the chance to open our hearts to that same influence through words
that echo from a time past into our own times of upheaval. Join us for conversation, reflection, and a contemplative consideration of these beautiful poetic and prophetic texts – inspiring our spiritual imaginations, leading us to an ancient well of wisdom, and offering a through-line of hope. This series is open to adults.
Schedule
Each gathering will include some teachings, reflections and small group conversations, and a time of contemplation on a text, a piece of art – writing, images, poetry or music.
Dates/Times
IN-PERSON – Tuesdays, 10:00-11:30 am

Dec. 2
Dec. 9
Dec. 16

VIRTUAL – Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00 pm

Dec. 3
Dec. 10
Dec. 17

Program Leader – Pam Shellberg

Pam Shellberg is the director of spiritual nourishment at Holy Wisdom, a teacher, a scripture scholar and a contemplative. She is eager to explore sacred texts in community with others, through historical and contemplative lenses, so that mystery, wisdom, courage and hope might be gifts received.

Cost
$35 per person or per screen for the series
If you are attending the in-person series, consider staying after for a delicious lunch prepared by our chef.
Please contact retreats@holywisdommonastery.org, 48 hours before the date(s) you wish to purchase lunch. The cost of one lunch is $18/person.
Register
Please register by Dec. 1, 2025 for the in-person or virtual Advent series. If you need to cancel your registration, there are no refunds, but you are welcome to share your registration with someone who could come in your place.

Advent Brunch
2025-12-07 10:00 - 11:30 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
You are invited to the Advent Brunch on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 10:00 am, after Sunday Assembly worship, to welcome the season. Please bring a festive side dish or sweets to share. We will provide an egg dish.
Cello students of George Teague will play music in the gathering area during the brunch.

Middleton High School Choir Holiday Concert
2025-12-11 12:30 - 13:30 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
All are welcome to join us for a joyful concert performed by the Middleton High School Choir on Thurs., Dec. 11, 2025, from 12:30-1:00 pm at Holy Wisdom Monastery. Each year the choir offers a multitude of mini concerts throughout the Middleton community and especially looks forward to coming to Holy Wisdom Monastery for the great audience, acoustics and cookies!
Help fill the assembly room and be surrounded by beautiful sounds of the season. Plus, join us after for cookies, hot beverages and fellowship. Bring your friends and enjoy this short break from your holiday preparations.
Register

Longest Night Taizé Prayer Service
2025-12-19 11:00 - 13:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Join us for a contemplative Taizé Prayer near the winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year, to reflect on our loss, grief, sadness and loneliness. This event will replace our regular midday prayer at 11:45 am. The event will take place in the Monastery Assembly Room.
Consider extending your experience by staying longer and attending lunch at the monastery. There is a fee for lunch if you decide to stay.

12:00 pm – Lunch ($18): Enjoy a delicious meal prepared fresh by our chefs.

Schedule
11:00 am – Taizé will begin
Cost and Registration
There is no cost to attend the Taizé prayer, but please register below by December 15th, 2025 so we may plan accordingly.

Family Gathering
2025-12-20 15:00 - 18:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
All families with children are invited to a special Advent Family Gathering, Saturday, December 20, 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. We will explore the rich theme of Advent in the spirit of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
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.

Christmas Prayer & Worship Schedule
2025-12-24 - 2026-01-01 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Christmas 2025 Prayer & Worship Schedule
December 24, 2025 – January 1, 2026

Dec. 24, 2025

8:00 am – Morning Prayer (Oratory)
11:45 am – Midday Prayer (Oratory)
4:00 pm – Christmas Eve Eucharist (Assembly Room)

Dec. 25

8:00 am – Morning Prayer (Oratory)
9:00 am – Christmas Day Worship (Assembly Room)

Dec. 26-27

No Public Prayer

Dec. 28

8:00 am – Morning Prayer (Oratory)
8:40 am – Christmas Carol Sing-Along (Assembly Room)
9:00 am – Sunday Assembly Eucharist (Assembly Room)

Dec. 29-Jan. 1, 2026

No Public Prayer

Jan. 2

Resume regular prayer schedule

Christmas Eve Worship
2025-12-24 16:00 - 17:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Celebrate the joy of Christmas with worship on Christmas Eve, Wed., Dec. 24, at 4:00 pm, starting with prelude music sung by the choir. This service takes place in the monastery building assembly room. All are welcome!

Christmas Day Worship
2025-12-25 09:00 - 10:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Celebrate the joy of Christmas with worship on Christmas Day, Thu., Dec. 25, at 9:00 am. This service takes place in the monastery building assembly room. All are welcome!

Sister Joanne Kollasch, OSB Memorial Service
2026-01-10 15:00 - 18:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Sister Joanne Kollasch, OSB
September 24, 1930 – December 23, 2025
The Sisters at Holy Wisdom Monastery invite you to celebrate the life of Sister Joanne Kollasch, OSB, at a memorial service at the monastery on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 3:00 pm. You can read her obituary here. The service will also be livestreamed. You may access it through this link or the regular livestream link on our website.
A meal and time to share stories about Sister Joanne will follow. Please register for the meal using the link below or call Signe Lee at 608-831-9312 to help us prepare adequately. Memorials may be made to Benedictine Women of Madison.

Resisting Christian Nationalism: What Is It and What Can I Do?
2026-01-11 13:00 - 15:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Our ability to effectively resist Christian Nationalism depends on knowledge, understanding, and commitment to building meaningful alternatives. The Wisconsin Council of Churches has been involved in work at the intersection of faith and civil society for decades. We will begin our time together by beginning to better understand what Christian Nationalism is and how it functions among us. The presentation will discuss the relationship between religion and government and how deeply CN is embedded in our understandings. Participants will learn more about the roots of Christian Nationalism and how various movements are engaged in securing theocratic leadership in US society. There will be brief discussion of alignment between religious nationalist movements worldwide. In addition to responding to questions, our speaker will discuss the long work of shifting culture and offer the audience an opportunity to engage in holy imagination regarding alternative futures. Everyone present will have a chance to develop specific pathways for action before they leave.
Schedule

Talk begins at 1:00 pm with a break and time at the end for questions.
At the break, note cards will be passed out for collecting questions and collating into like topics.

Speaker – Rev. Dr. Kerri Parker

Rev. Dr. Kerri Parker (she/her) serves as Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council of Churches, where she helps connect churches to address some of today’s most pressing societal concerns. She led the Council’s nationally-recognized response to the COVID pandemic, and has co-authored several of the Council’s study-action guides. She is a frequent preacher and speaker on Christian Nationalism, racial justice, and faith-based advocacy.
Dr. Parker completed her Doctor of Ministry at Iliff School of Theology with a dissertation titled “Unsettled Intersections: Decentering Whiteness and Church Survival Questions.” She earned her Master of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary with a thesis on “Domestic Violence as an Experience of Exile” and was ordained by the Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ. Her alma mater was Smith College, where she earned a BA.
In 2023, Dr. Parker was honored with the United Church of Christ’s Avery D. Post Ecumenical Award. She currently serves on the Board of the Christian Unity and Interfaith Ministry of the Christian Church Disciples of Christ. Her 20+ years of professional experience include serving as Executive Director of YWCA Rock County, Chair of the Wisconsin Conference UCC Board of Directors, on community task forces, and as a local pastor.
Beyond ministry, Kerri is an avid reader, loves show tunes, and has too many stickers on her water bottles. She lives in South Central Wisconsin and tries to make pilgrimages to the ocean on a semi-regular basis.
Sponsors
We are grateful for the generous support of our sponsors so we can offer this program at no cost to the participants.

Interfaith Peace Working Group
Madison Friends Meeting Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
South Central Synod of Wisconsin & Messiah Lutheran Church
Veterans for Peace – Clarence Kailin Chapter 25 (Madison, WI)
Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice
Wisconsin Poor People’s Campaign

Winter Rest: A Seasonal Retreat
2026-01-14 13:00 - 2026-01-15 16:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
“It all was wonderful! Amy (Alstad) and Pam (Shellberg) put together a wonderful program that balanced contemplative time and more active time. I loved the various quotes that spurred thought and contemplation. I appreciated the camaraderie with my fellow retreatants and had some wonderful conversations. It was nice to balance alone time with time with others and always the choice to do what was right for me at the time.”
–2025 Winter Rest participant

As the earth rests under blankets of cold and snow, we also need to rest. This retreat invites the season of winter to teach us to stop striving; it invites you to a time of tranquility and silence. It will open the space to consider how winter prepares us for the other seasons of our lives, to rest in deep quietude, to be held by the stillness of the prairie.
Conversations about the season, walks on the prairie, a long winter’s nap, art, movement, journaling, great meals and warm beds will all be a part of what you can expect when you arrive. A renewed connection to yourself and to nature 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.
Winter Rest Date/Times
Wed., January 14, 1:00 pm – Thu., January 15, 4:00 pm, 2025
Arrive between 11:30 am and 1:00 pm on January 14 to check into your room. The retreat begins at 1:00 pm on January 14 and concludes at 4:00 pm on January 15.
Exact schedule TBD. Will include rest, solitude, walking meditations, movement and art.
Cost
$250/person – Early bird registration until December 7, 2025
$295/person – Full price cost starting December 8, 2025 until sold out or January 7, 2026
The cost of the retreat includes program, meals (Wed. dinner, Thurs. breakfast and lunch) and overnight room.
Register
The registration deadline for this retreat is January 7, 2026, or when the retreat fills.
Cancellation policy – if you register but must cancel your registration, you can receive a 75% refund up until January 7, 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 or if you have other questions about accommodations, please contact Brooke Livingston at blivingston@holywisdommonastery.org.

REAP Chili Cook-off: A Showdown of Local Flavors
2026-01-15 17:00 - 19:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Join us for our first ever chili cook-off featuring acclaimed chefs Evan Dannells, Dan Marek and Felipe Saint-Martin. Each chef will prepare a unique chili dish featuring local ingredients sourced from their favorite local farmers. Guests will then vote to crown the chili champion. All proceeds from the event benefit REAP’s mission to build a resilient local food system.
Schedule
5:00 pm – Welcome & meal and voting begin
6:15 pm – Farmers highlighted
6:30 pm – Voting ends
7:00 pm – Event ends & winning chef crowned
Chefs

Evan Dannells
Hailing from Kansas, Chef Evan Dannells moved to Madison in 2002 to pursue his culinary career in a community rich with farm-fresh ingredients. Evan cooked at L’Etoile, 4&20 Cafe & Bakery, Merchant, and Lucille before joining the Cadre team prior to their October 2019 reopening. As an owner, Evan developed Cadre through his love of French cooking with a Wisconsin flair that allowed him to celebrate the seasonal ingredients and dedicated farmers that originally drew him to the Madison area.

Dan Marek
Dan Marek is a pioneering plant-based culinary expert who has helped revolutionize global cooking education. As Director of Program Strategy and Curriculum Development at Rouxbe Online Culinary School, he leads the creation of cutting-edge programs, including the Plant-Based Professional, Blue Zone’s, and Jacques Pepin courses. With over a decade of expertise, his background includes founding Plant Based Only Catering, educating thousands as a Healthy Eating Specialist at Whole Foods Market, and designing the Healthy Staff Program for Whole Kids Foundation, which reached over 38,000 teachers. A contributor to the Wicked Healthy Cookbook and The Whole Foods Cookbook, Dan actively champions sustainable food systems through board positions with organizations like REAP Food Group and Slow Food Austin.

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 Trois Gros 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
$25/person
Register
Registration takes place through REAP with the button below. Please register by Jan. 15, 2026. There are no refunds for cancellations.

CCR Contemplative Renewal Immersion
2026-01-22 - 2026-01-28 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States

Ink and Insight Mindful Writing Circle
2026-01-25 10:15 - 12:00 | 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-12:00 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
11:00 am – Contemplative walking/break
11:15 am – Writing session #2
11:30 am – Sharing
12:00 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 30 people.

Fostering a Natural History Community
2026-01-28 12:00 - 14:00 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
The practice of natural history is the bedrock of science. This talk will illustrate how we as naturalists employ stories, specimens, exploration of the natural world and the practices of paying close attention to build our understanding of the world from the bottom up. Presenter Andrew Hipp will make a case for the importance of natural history as a set of skills and habits that help expose what we don’t yet know and build our affection for the world. Natural history puts the onus on each of us to learn something new before we lose any more pieces, and it gives us the practices to do so. Supporting and continuing to build a community of naturalists is our best way to ensure the effectiveness and strength of that community.
Schedule

11:45 am – Doors Open
11:45 am – Midday Prayer (optional)
12:00 pm – Lunch
12:45pm – Presentation Starts
1:45 pm – Q&A

Speaker – Andrew Hipp

Andrew Hipp is the Director of the Herbarium and Lead Scientist at The Morton Arboretum and a Lecturer at University of Chicago. His research group investigates the evolution of plant biodiversity, aiming to understand how the plant Tree of Life evolves and affects our world. He has received awards for his teaching and research from the U.S. Fulbright Program, National Science Teachers Association, and International Oak Society. Andrew is the author of popular books on oaks and sedges, several children’s natural history books, and more than 140 academic articles and book chapters.
Cost
$37/person.
Registration
Please register by January 21, 2026.

Monastic Monologues: Sharing Joy
2026-02-01 14:00 - 15:30 | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Monastic Monologues: Sharing Joy
Step Into the Magic!
Are you ready for an afternoon bursting with wonder, adventure, and unforgettable stories and songs? Join our community for an inspiring gathering of storytellers, musicians, and singers—an event where the power of words and music truly comes alive.
From heart-pounding journeys to faraway places, to laugh-out-loud moments, soulful tales and music that touch your heart, our performers will take you on an unforgettable ride.
This isn’t just a performance, it’s an experience. One that brings people together, celebrates creativity, and weaves a kind of magic that sparks your imagination and strengthens our sense of community.
Come for the music and stories… stay for the magic!
Schedule
1:30 pm – Doors open
2:00 pm – Monastic Monologues begins
3:30 pm – Reception and “After Glow”
Storytellers, Musicians & Emcee

Jane Barnard is a Madison-based writer, visual artist and watercolor teacher. She’s reading from her memoir-in-progress, entitled ” Poetry as Pain Relief,” about her spiritual journey of surviving dark times with beauty, with humor and grace. She celebrates the artists who have seeped into her bones, to soothe her loneliness and bring her joy.

You can learn more about Jane at her website.

Ann Baltes (right) and Bill Rosholt (left) are members of Sunday Assembly and have cherished being
connected to this beloved community of communities over many years, musically and
otherwise. They also consider it an extraordinary gift to have raised their daughter,
Grace, at Holy Wisdom as an ecumenical Benedictine. Ann has a background serving in
parishes and other settings in the areas of pastoral care, adult and youth faith formation,
liturgical music, and retreat facilitation. Bill works as a Systems Development Test
Engineer for Exact Sciences in Madison. Ann and Bill met as undergrads studying voice
and singing in choirs at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. They are both choral music
enthusiasts having sung continuously since high school students in various choirs in
Iowa, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Wisconsin. They have sung regularly in Madison and
surrounding areas as both choral artists and soloists with the Isthmus Vocal Ensemble,
Wisconsin Chamber Choir, Madison Choral Project, Cheers Madison, and Madison
Savoyards
Jean Feraca’s favorite 2024 Christmas gift is a coffee cup from an anonymous donor that reads, “I am Kind of a Big Deal in Wisconsin.” Famous as a talk show host on Wisconsin Public Radio, Jean was a writer before she became a broadcaster. The award-winning author of three books of poetry and the memoir, I Hear Voices: a Memoir of Love, Death, and the Radio, Jean teaches in UW-Odyssey, the humanities program she co-founded, and in Wisconsin prisons with the Prison Ministry Project.
Jean is a Sunday Assembly member, Benedictine Oblate since 2016, and one of the Monastic Monologues presenters. Jean’s a beloved voice of Wisconsin Public Radio and a true original. For 28 years, Jean was the host and producer on WPR’s Ideas Network, best known for the award-winning program Here on Earth: Radio Without Borders. Her work has beautifully blended humanities, poetry, curiosity, and community, making her one of the most respected and recognizable figures in public radio. She joined WPR in 1983 as a humanities producer and went on to host some of the network’s most memorable shows. Jean’s award-winning series, “Women of Spirit” was developed with the help of the Benedictine Sisters here at Holy Wisdom.
But what really makes Jean shine is her warmth, wit, and ability to laugh at herself. When asked about her funniest moments on air, she didn’t hesitate to share a few gems from her broadcasting life. There was the day she opened her own show with, “Good morning, I’m Jean Ferrara,” accidentally mispronouncing her own name. Or the time she invited her big brother on as a guest—“big mistake,” she laughs—only to have him greet her on air with, “You already made a mistake!” And then there’s the moment she’ll never quite live down: introducing “Wisconsin’s most famous baseball player… Brett Favre!”
Join us for a performance by Jean Feraca during Monastic Monologues and enjoy stories, humor, and insight from a master storyteller whose voice—and laughter—have been part of Wisconsin’s cultural fabric for decades.

Bill Frederick is the Director of Worship and Music at Holy Wisdom Monastery. He studied voice at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville while earning a Bachelor’s of Music in Vocal Performance under the tutelage of Dr. Gerald Darrow. He has been leading music and liturgy in various Churches full-time over the past 40 years. 33 years ago, Bill and Steve Johnson founded “Enter the Season With Song,” a group of musicians who gather for Christmas and summer concerts. The group has recorded three CDs and has given every dollar raised from every concert, a total exceeding $250,000, to various charities.

Max Harris earned his B.A. in English from Cambridge University and went on to complete a Ph.D. in Religious Studies at the University of Virginia. Over the years, he’s taught in a range of fields—from Latin American Studies to Psychiatry at the University of Virginia, and Religion and Literature at Yale Divinity School. He’s also written six books, including Carnival and Other Christian Festivals (University of Texas Press) and Sacred Folly: A New History of the Feast of Fools (Cornell University Press).
Beyond academia, Max has pastored Presbyterian churches in England, Virginia, Maryland, and Wisconsin. But if you ask him what really matters, he’ll tell you it’s not the titles or the books—it’s his 52-year (and counting!) marriage to Ann, and the gracious, saving work of the Holy Spirit that continues to shape their life together.

Steve Johnson is the Director of Music Ministry at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in Madison. He has worked for the past 30+ years in various churches as Director of Liturgy and Music. Steve studied voice and piano at the University of Wisconsin-Madison while earning a degree in k-12 music education.

Terry Larson is a previous Protestant pastor who prefers poetry, pollinator plants, preaching, progressive people, polite politicians, pithy plots, pleasing prairies, plentiful portions of produce and…alliteration.

Janet Neurauter’s first time on stage was as a reindeer in her 2nd-grade holiday pageant and was actively involved in theater throughout school and with the Nicolet Players in Rhinelander, WI. She enjoys writing short stories and monologues and is working on her second play.

Originally from Michigan, Bill Santer II has called Wisconsin home since 1987. With a background in marketing, education and the arts, he now enjoys helping people find their perfect home as a realtor. At Sunday Assembly, Bill feels fortunate to be part of a welcoming, earth-conscious community that celebrates kindness, open-minded conversation and shared purpose. Whether he’s helping someone settle into a new home, concert-going, telling stories or connecting with his community, Bill brings a genuine spirit of curiosity, care and joy to everything he does.

Susan Santner is a passionate and versatile storyteller who loves to bring stories to life. She’s shared her tales at festivals, schools, libraries and community events across the region, captivating audiences of all ages. With experience as an actress, theatre director, puppeteer and library director, Susan’s creativity shines through in every performance. Her storytelling is lively, imaginative and full of heart, inviting listeners to step right into the world of her stories.

George Teague is a Madison-based cellist and teacher. He maintains an active studio at home and at UW-Steven’s Point. George received his performance degrees from Northern Arizona University and the Chicago College of Performing Arts.

Eivind Hansen Photography
Patrick Terry was born and raised in Janesville, WI, and has been heard on operatic stages across the world. Career highlights include singing Eustazio at the Glyndebourne Festival, Rinaldo with the Minnesota Opera, Rosencratz with the Bayerische Staatsoper and premiering Brett Dean’s ‘In this brief moment’ with the Elbphilharmonie. He earned his degrees from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, The Royal Academy of Music in London and was the first countertenor to join the Jette Parker Young Artist program at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden.

Cost and Registration
There is no cost to register, but we ask that guests register so we may plan accordingly. We also ask that guests consider a goodwill donation to help support the monastery. There will be a physical donation box at the event for anyone who wants to donate in-person or you may make an online donation when you register with the button below.
