Vocations

Our website provides a glimpse into Cistercian monastic life as it is lived today. We seek God at this place of New Clairvaux, living under a Rule and an abbot, amidst a community of brothers. Entrance to a monastery usually begins with a conversation with our Vocation Director and perhaps later a visit. Please, feel most welcome to contact our Vocation Director who will provide further guidance. Take the time to learn more about us here online. God speaks in many ways.

“Silence will unite you to God … In the beginning, we have to force ourselves to be silent. But then from our very silence is born something that draws us into deeper silence. May God give you an experience of this ‘something’ that is born of silence.” ~ Saint Isaac of Nineveh, Syrian Monk

Requirements of Candidates to the Abbey of New Clairvaux

  1. Practicing Roman Catholic
  2. Between the ages of 22 – 40
  3. Some college and/or work experience
  4. Are free of:  debts, long-term family obligations, compulsive/addictive behavior (e.g. alcohol, smoking, drugs, eating, sexual addictions), regularly prescribed drugs
  5. Good physical, mental and emotional health
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Discernment of a Monastic Vocation

Discernment is best done from a pure heart and well-formed reason. In keeping with Saint Benedict’s Rule, careful discernment is undertaken with the help of the Holy Spirit, wise counsel from faithful people, and utilizing one’s own God-given capacity to discern.  

1) Monastery Visit. Get to know members of the community and our way of life over a period of months. Understand the rewards and challenges. Discern with the Vocation Director if God is calling you to the monastery and if Trappist life is a good fit for you personally.

2) Observership. Become a resident within the community for a longer period of time and experience all dimensions of monastic life, including private and communal prayer, manual work, solitude, community life

3) Postulancy. If it is discerned that God is calling you to continue this path, you may become a Postulant and be further initiated into the disciplines of our Order over the course of about six to twelve months.

4) Novitiate. With sufficient desire and capacity to live as a Trappist, you may officially become a member of the Order as a Novice, clothed with the religious habit, and receive formal instruction on monastic observances with support from brothers over the course of two years.

5) Junior Professed. After two years of Novitiate, if it is clear that you truly seek God with zeal and obedience and are well suited to Trappist life, you may profess vows as a Junior Professed. These are “temporary” vows in which you commit to monastic life for a period of three years or three periods of one year. You are entrusted with greater responsibilities, become more deeply integrated in community life and continue your studies and formation. You also retain personal ownership of any of your goods until final vows are professed.

6) Profession of Solemn Vows. After prayerful and reflective period of temporary profession, having gained a deep understanding of the significance of the action you are about to take, you may freely petition the abbot to make solemn profession of vows. With permission, you may give yourself to Christ in the spirit of faith and commit yourself perpetually to live, with the love and support of the whole community, a life in accord with the Rule of Saint Benedict.

Contact Us

The best way to learn about anything is to have a personal experience; we encourage young Catholic men to visit us and experience our way of life firsthand.  As Jesus invited His first disciples, “Come and See!”

Come and See visitors will be able to:

  • Attend daily Mass and Divine Office
  • Enjoy the beauty and peace of our Abbey grounds
  • Speak with the Vocation Director about our life and your call
  • Receive a personal tour of the cloister
  • Opportunity to join in the monks’ morning work period if desired
  • Quiet your heart and spend time listening to God

Usually a first visit is 4-5 days, although a weekend visit or other arrangement can be made according to your schedule.  We welcome you to spend a few days with us and experience our life!

To contact the Vocation Director, please submit the form.  Form fields with an asterisk (*) are required in order for the form to be submitted.