Our mission is to weave prayer, hospitality, justice and care for the earth into a shared way of life. Here are some of the ways we invite you to live our mission with us.
Prayer
Holy Wisdom Monastery offers opportunity for spiritual growth every day of the week. Offerings include engaging in communal prayer, spending time in nature, attending a program or joining one of our spiritual communities, Oblates of Holy Wisdom Monastery, Center for Clergy Renewal or Sunday Assembly.
- Talk with a trained spiritual guide.
- Come for a spiritual or environmental program.
- Participate in communal prayer.
- Worship with us on Sunday in person or online.
- Become an Oblate candidate.
- Take a Deep Breath retreat for clergy or apply for the Center for Clergy Renewal.
Hospitality
Our Benedictine tradition of hospitality means that all people are welcomed here as Christ. We invite you to experience this hospitality on a personal retreat, in our peaceful, contemplative spaces, by joining us for a meal, by bringing your group on retreat or celebrating your special event at the monastery.
- Come on a personal retreat. Enhance your retreat by borrowing our binoculars, yoga mats or snowshoes.
- Bring your group for a retreat, meetings or event.
- Celebrate your special events: weddings, baptisms, reunions, birthdays and retirements.
- Honor your loved one with a memorial service or funeral.
- Volunteer – foster a sense of hospitality for others.
- Join us for lunch or dinner as part of your retreat.
- Experience our meditation trail or explore our nature trails.
- Visit the monastery library or oblate library.
Justice
At Holy Wisdom Monastery, justice means living in right relationship and respecting ourselves, others and all of creation. Get involved today.
- Volunteer as a monastery porter and welcome all who come here.
- Give a financial gift to the monastery to continue the ministries of the sisters.
- Join the Sunday Assembly Social Justice Group.
- Support our partner organizations: Luke House, MOSES, Hispanic Ministries & SARTHI. Learn more on our Sunday Assembly page in the How to connect further section then under Social Justice Opportunities.
- Attend one or our programs or experiences focusing on justice.
Care for the Earth
Caring for the earth is part of our mission, rooted in Benedictine values of stability and respect for all of creation. The sisters have a long history of environmental stewardship and invite you to help with this work.
- Attend an environmental program or tour of Wisdom Prairie.
- Volunteer at our Wisdom Prairie Workdays, help us monitor our trails or take care of the courtyard.
- Bring your kids or grandkids to Kids on the Prairie.
- Support Wisdom Prairie.
- Join the Friends of Wisdom Prairie.
- Hike our nature trails that are open to the public.
Community
The sisters have a long history of forming a variety of communities at the monastery. We invite you to explore our communities and get involved.
- We welcome women of any Christian denomination to enjoy quiet contemplation in nature and the heart-centered joy of our inclusive, open-minded sisters’ community, the Benedictine Women of Madison at Holy Wisdom Monastery.
- All are welcome to worship with the Sunday Assembly, an open and affirming community where people from various Christian backgrounds come together to worship.
- The Oblate community meets regularly to help one another grow spiritually and to integrate Benedictine spirituality into their lives.
- Friends of Wisdom Prairie support caring for the earth through volunteering, donating and learning.
- Pastors find renewal through the gifts of Benedictine monastic spiritual and community in the Center for Clergy Renewal community.
- Our Young Adult Community offers unique experiences and friendship for young people. Contact YoungAdults@holywisdommonastery.org for more information. Register here.