The first part of the program takes place at Sant’Anselmo. It offers a peaceful environment to study. It welcomes monastic students from all over the world who come to Rome to study and was founded to strengthen links between the Benedictine congregations and houses.

The second half of the program will enjoy the peace and tranquillity of Assisi. We will stay at the Benedictine Monastery of San Giuseppe, situated in the centre of the town with panoramic views over Assisi and the valley below.

MFP is an intensive programme that demands a serious investment of study over a period of three months through lectures and group reflection. The aims are threefold:

• ACADEMIC: to provide a deeper appreciation of the monastic tradition and its values.
• PEDAGOGICAL: to reflect on how we communicate this tradition with love and enthusiasm.
• PASTORAL: to deal with questions of discernment and human and spiritual development.

For three months, participants form a monastic community, studying and praying together, but with a sense of pilgrimage to special places of our Christian and monastic heritage. These include Norcia, Subiaco and Monte Cassino. It offers the opportunity to share experience with those from different countries and backgrounds. The regular framework of prayer is part of the program.

The content varies slightly from year to year, but the following is an indication of some of the topics covered over the three months:

St Benedict and the Dialogues; St Benedict and his Rule; Monastic Roots: Desert Elders; Augustine of Hippo; The Art of Winning Souls: Formation for Community; Church Guidance on Formation; The Rule and its Commentaries; Teaching and Communication; Monastic History: From Benedict to the Present Day; Lectio Divina & The Psalms;  The Challenge of Living Friendship and Celibacy in Community; the Benedictine Tradition as  Guide to Human and Spiritual Formation.

Br. Colmán Ó Clabaigh OSB
Br. Colmán has been a monk of Glenstal Abbey, Ireland since 1994. A medievalist specialising in the history of monasticism and religious practice, he is the author and co-editor of several books and articles including The Friars in Ireland:1224–1540 (2012). A former Vocations Director and current teacher in Glenstal Abbey School, he has lectured widely in America, England, Italy and Nigeria and has taught on the Monastic Formators Programme since 2004.

Sr. Marie Johann Heo OSB
Sr. Marie Johann is a member of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing. She had previously served as the director of retreat center, director of youth center, and a formator for Junior sisters. At present, she is entrusted with the role of coordinator for the International Junior’s Program at Generalate House in Rome, where she continues to serve to the formation and accompaniment of young religious.

Various teachers from around the world will share their knowledge and experience. The program is currently in preparation, but the following teachers are expected to deliver lessons this year.

Fr. Michael Casey OCSO is a monk of Tarrawarra Abbey in Australia and renowned writer on things monastic, including prayer, lectio and the beliefs and values at the heart of the Rule. His recent books include The Art of Winning Souls (2012) and The Road to Eternal Life (2012).

Br. Colmán Ó Clabaigh OSB is a Benedictine monk of Glenstal Abbey in Ireland where he has been the monastery infirmarian and archivist. He is a medieval historian and is the author of many books and articles on medieval monasticism and religion and has a particular interest in the history of the friars.

Br. John-Mark Falkenhain OSB is a monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in southern Indiana, USA, and is a licensed psychologist, a faculty member at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, and a fellow in human formation with Saint Luke Institute. He has written: How We Love: A Formation for the Celibate Life.

Sr. Carmel Posa SGS is a member of the Good Samaritan Sisters. She has held the position of senior lecturer at Notre Dame University, Australia, and was the executive director of the New Norcia Institute for Benedictine Studies, at New Norcia, WA. She joined the staff at Yarra Theology Union in 2018 and teaches in the Department of Christian Thought and History.

Carmel is co-editor of the journal, Tjurunga: An Australasian Benedictine Review and is involved in the formation programme for the monks of Tarrawarra Abbey.

Fr. Luke Dysinger OSB is a monk of St Andrew’s Abbey Valyermo where he has served as novice master and prior. Trained as a medical doctor he has taught such varied subjects as moral theology and spiritual theology and biomedical ethics. He is currently Professor of Moral Theology and Church History at St John’s Seminary, Camarillo in California. Fr. Luke has published books and articles on psalmody and prayer, including Psalmody and Prayer in the Writings of Evagrius Ponticus, published in 2004.

Abbot Brendan Thomas OSB is a monk of Belmont Abbey, England where he served as Novice Master for twenty-two years as well as running the monastery’s retreat ministry. He is currently serving as Parish Priest of the nearby city-centre parish of St Francis Xavier’s, Hereford. He has been the Director of the Monastic Program since its inception in 2002.

Fr. Mauritius Wilde OSB is the former prior of Sant’Anselmo. He entered the monastery of Muensterschwarzach in Germany but later served as prior of Schuyler, Nebraska, USA.

Fr. David Foster OSB is a monk of Downside Abbey, Great Britain, who has published three books, on lectio divina and prayer and has a background in philosophy and patristics.

Sr. Manuela Scheiba OSB is a member of the Abbey of Saint Gertrude at Alexanderdorf, Germany. She teaches at the Monastic Institute at Sant’Anselmo.

If you have any further questions or would like application forms sent as an e-mail attachment please contact:

Br. Colmán Ó Clabaigh OSB
colman@glenstal.com

Sr. Marie Johann Heo OSB
j30909457@gmail.com