The journey to becoming a monk of Mary Mother of the Church Abbey takes various stages. It is a process of prayerful discernment between the candidate and the monastic community and, above all, the Holy Spirit.

First steps:  Men between the ages of 20 and 45 who feel a call to the monastic life begin by getting in touch with the abbey’s Director of Vocations who, through correspondence, gives them an over-view of monastic life and an invitation to make a few visits to the abbey.

Monastic live-in experience:  Twice a year, in the spring and in the fall, the monastic community sponsors a Monastic Live-in Weekend for men in the above age group who may be discerning a vocation to the monastic life.  These aspirants participate in the full life of the community (prayer, work, meals, recreation).  Through this interaction those who are discerning a monastic vocation will get a better knowledge of monastic life and of the monks themselves.