The Saint John’s Abbey
Monastic Community

Saint Benedict begins the first chapter of his Rule instructing us on the kinds of monks. On the first, and to him the most preferable kind of monk, he writes: “…there are the cenobites, that is to say, those who belong to a monastery, where they serve under a rule and an abbot.” Life in community identifies a Benedictine monk. It is within community, and being accountable to our community, that we live our vows of Stability, Obedience, and Conversion. As brothers we provide support just as we can depend upon support; as brothers we learn humility and patience as we listen to the instruction, advice, and corrections of one another, even among the youngest of our numbers; we learn and practice the monastic way as brothers in community in pursuit and love of Christ.

Abbey Leadership

The abbot "...is believed to hold the place of Christ in the monastery" (RB Chapter 2). Right Reverend Douglas Mullin, OSB, is the 11th abbot of Saint John's Abbey. It is his responsibility to preside at all formal functions and liturgies of the monastery; take counsel from his senior monks when making major decisions; preside at all meetings when the monastic community assembles; and serve as the spiritual father of the community. He is the immediate superior for the oldest members of the monastery. At Saint John's the abbot is also the head of the Liturgical Press and Saint John's Preparatory School. He is elected by a two-thirds majority vote by the senior or solemnly professed members of the monastic community.

Abbot Douglas was born in Laredo, Texas on September 30, 1954. He was accepted by Saint John’s Abbey and made first vows on July 11, 1979. He was ordained a priest on August 4, 2007. Prior to being elected he served as Vice President of Student Affairs at Saint John’s University and most recently as chaplain at the Veterans Hospital in Saint Cloud.

The prior of the monastery is nominated by the community but chosen by the abbot. Fr. Eric Hollas, OSB, is currently prior of Saint John's Abbey. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the monastery, and is the monk-in-charge when the abbot is away from the monastery. In particular, the prior oversees the operation of the abbey dining room and the physical state of the monastery. He is the immediate superior for the median-aged members of the monastery.

The sub-prior of the monastery is also nominated by the community and chosen by the abbot. Br. Simon-Hoa Phan, OSB, is the sub-prior of Saint John's Abbey. He is in charge should both the abbot and prior be absent. In particular the sub-prior is the immediate superior of the younger monks of the monastery.

Joining the Community

The religious life is one of the four vocations in the Catholic Church, along with the priesthood, the married life, and single life. As with any vocation, the first step to joining the monastery is discernment: a prayerful and open engagement with God to discern His will, with the assistance of wise council from trusted friends, family, and local religious. The discernment process continues into candidacy, a three-month period of living with the monastic community. The novitiate follows, providing the basic formation of a monk, and a much more intensive and intentional discernment with the the community, led by the Formation Director. After a year and a day of novitiate, the discerner makes simple vows to becomes a Junior Monk. During this time, he will live as a member of the community for three years of final discernment, before becoming a full member of the community by making solemn (permanent) vows.

For more information on becoming a monk, please visit AbbeyVocations.org. To contact the Vocation Director, please send an email to Vocations@csbsju.edu.

Monastic Formation & Theological Education

Novitiate and Juniorate formation continues the period of vocation discernment. While in formation (the entire period between candidacy and final vows) the monk receives an introduction to monasticism and the monastic way of life, with all of its challenges and opportunities. As Saint Benedict says, "...examine whether the novice is truly seeking God and whether he is zealous for the Work of God, for obedience and for trials. Let the novice be told all the hard and rugged ways by which the journey to God is made." -RB 58

Monks in formation often enter the Saint John's University undergraduate and graduate programs to study theology, church history, history of monasticism, liturgy, liturgical music, the Psalms, and the Rule of Saint Benedict, in addition to many other optional subjects. If interested in the possibility of priesthood studies, with permission from the Abbot and monastic community, monks may be in coursework as early as their second year of juniorate.

Formational education extends beyond an academic study of theology, however. The Rule of Benedict serves as a primary guide to daily life and spiritual practice. The Abbot leads lessons on the Rule of Saint Benedict, monasticism, and with the rest of the community, lessons on the practice and perfection of the monastic life are received each day through the Benedictine commitment to work, prayer, and community. Within the monastic rhythm of work and prayer, within the challenges, support, and corrections of the community the tests and fruits of monasticism are revealed.

It is one thing to learn and respect the Benedictine values, and it is another thing to live out and strive for perfection of these values. As our Father Benedict teaches in the Prologue to the Rule, "…we are going to establish a school for the service of the Lord. […] For as we advance in the religious life and faith, our hearts expand, and we run the way of God's commandments with unspeakable sweetness of love." The monastic vocation invites men, inspired by these values, to test their calling and commitment under the guidance of an experienced community of brothers in Christ. Monasticism encourages men to push the limits of their Christian identity and to enter into a discipleship founded in an ancient tradition offering unique possibilities within the Christian community.

Retirement

Saint John’s Abbey has always had a designated area to care for the elderly and infirm of the community. In earlier years this space was housed in Saint Gregory Hall and then in the first floor of the Quad where the Abbey Offices are currently housed. It was moved to the second floor of the Quad in 1976 when the first lay person began as an employee. The Retirement Center has expanded over the years to include 24 resident rooms, 2 outpatient rooms, nursing space, resident meal and recreation space, and a chapel. Abbey health care involves two separate programs, Abbey Health Care and the Abbey Retirement Center.

Care provided in the Retirement Center is very similar to a long-term care facility, with some unique exceptions. We provide extremely focused care, 24-hours-a-day, with the residents needs in the forefront. Meals, daily activities, health care decisions, and even medications are worked around an individual's preferences, needs, and schedule. Care is taken to insure privacy and solitude of monastic life. Continuation of the monastery routine is also practiced by enabling the resident to continue prayer with the larger community as able, with a modified prayer and mass schedule offered to those who physically cannot attend the larger services. A chaplain is available for visits and spiritual needs, and other monastery members visit the Retirement Center to provide activities such as bingo, movies, and devotions.

The Abbey Health Care Program involves the care of all the Abbey members. This program provides basic first aid, referral, health care coordination, and an up-to-date health record within the monastery. The goals of this program are to reduce unnecessary health care costs and obtain some basic health information in the event of an emergency. This program also involves community, group and individual health education.