01. Our Mission

We help people notice and nurture the work of God.

 

We partner with individuals and local churches to invite people into a common way of life rooted in contemplative Christian practices shared in community. In addition to reimagining and forming monastic vocations, our work includes:

  • Developing communities of discernment

  • Practicing spiritual direction and training spiritual directors

  • Cultivating spiritual friendship

 

Communities of discernment

 

Planting abbeys, partnering with churches

A community of discernment is one that intentionally cultivates a common life of shared practices that notice and nurture the work of God. They include abbeys, priories and traditional churches.

Because new cultural contexts call for new expressions of Christ-centered communities, we plant contemplative worship communities called abbeys and priories as part of our developing work called the Abbey Collective.

Working in relationship with existing churches, we accompany leaders and congregations in discerning and developing the common commitments they may be invited to practice in their local contexts.

 
 

Spiritual direction

 

The work of spiritual direction

Many historical religious orders gathered around a central work as their mission—whether teaching, preaching or care for the sick. The practice of spiritual direction is at the core of our work and our common life.

Spiritual direction is the accompaniment along your spiritual journey and relationship with God by someone experienced in discernment and compassionate, Spirit-led listening. In our common way of life, we each meet monthly with a spiritual director to continue noticing and nurturing the work and invitations of God in and around our lives.

Many of our members are trained, certified spiritual directors and offer this ministry of soul care to anyone interested in stepping deeper into their spiritual life.

 
 

Spiritual friendship

 

The gift of spiritual friendship

Monastic spirituality is about learning to love as God loves and to be loved as God loves—which is completely. Many spiritual practices can be practiced alone, but we cannot love alone, and we cannot learn to love by ourselves.

Spiritual friendship—close and intimate friendship where real love is exchanged—has thrived within the monastic tradition and religious orders where “vows” have created stability and “common objects of love” among brothers and sisters.

We pursue and practice spiritual friendship because we believe that, until we have friends we would be willing to die for, something is lacking in our apprenticeship to Jesus and to how we’re growing and being formed in God’s love. Friendship is a step toward love and knowledge of God.

 
 
 

Explore our way of life.

Learn about the design of our Common Commitments cohorts as a way to begin your formation journey with the Common Life community.