Brother James Dowd, OSB, is the founding Prior of The Benedictine Way, and has been a monk for many years. Before serving in Nebraska, he served at Holy Cross Monastery in West Park, NY and at Mariya uMama weThemba Monastery in Grahamstown, South Africa. Brother James is passionate about exploring the intersection of the quest for Christian social justice and the contemplative life. The Benedictine Way was founded so that an inter-generational community of followers of Jesus might find a way to reinvigorate our little corner of the church with that quest. Before his years in monastic life, Brother James had a career in theater and television.

Br. Jerry Thompson, OSB arrived at Incarnation Monastery in August 2019, after serving as an Episcopal priest for nearly 30 years in both parish and cathedral settings. He was married for 35 years and has two children, a son, now deceased, and a daughter. Br. Jerry especially enjoys teaching about praying with icons, the centrality of silence in spiritual growth, praying with scripture, and the spiritual growth within ourselves resulting from service to others.