Religious Life Sunday

At the 2022 General Convention, the delegates passed a resolution naming the Third Sunday of Epiphany as Religious Life Sunday. The Convention had in mind that the entire church would celebrate the vocation of Religious Life: those living the life of monks, nuns, friars, etc. This is a way that our church calls us to lift up the Religious Life to the entire community of believers, to encourage the support of these communities, and most of all, to encourage vocations to that life.

The Benedictine Way is excited to do just that! If you long to dedicate your life to following Jesus, we invite you to consider monastic life at The Benedictine Way - a life of prayer, service to the poor and forgotten, and fellowship in community. Becoming a monk in The Benedictine Way is open to all genders, aged 21 and older. It is also opened to lay people, deacons, and priests.

A life in a community dedicated to prayer and service to the poor and forgotten can help to heal and bring peace to this time of anxiety, unrest, and division.

We hope you will join us in praying for our community of The Benedictine Way, supporting it with your generous gifts, and most of all letting people know that there are monastics in the Episcopal Church and right here in the Diocese of Nebraska.

To learn more about Religious Life Sunday and life as a monastic of The Benedictine Way, you may watch Br. James’ sermon and read Bishop Barker’s message below, or download our monastic vocation flyer here.

RELIGIOUS LIFE SUNDAY
Sermon by Br. James Dowd, OSB, Prior of The Benedictine Way

FROM BISHOP J. SCOTT BARKER
XI Bishop of the Diocese of Nebraska

[…] For many years, The Benedictine Way has demonstrated for us the wonderful power and potential of religious life, as Brother James, Brother Jerry, and the interns and oblates of TBW have shaped our common life. They’ve taught us to pray in new ways, led us in deeply meaningful outreach ministries, and called together a community centered around Jesus that shines bright with welcome and worship. So many of our lives have been touched by this beautiful incarnation of new monasticism. I know of no ministry that has shaped our diocese more profoundly – or touched the lives of our Nebraska neighbors more deeply – than The Benedictine Way. Read the full message here.