VOCATION

When a person becomes interested in the spiritual journey and a life of prayer, it is not uncommon for him or her to consider ways in which to live this out in a more complete and integrated manner.  Sometimes such a person may experience an inner attraction to a monastic contemplative life, and wonder what is involved in becoming a monk or nun and whether such a life might be for them. Our community welcomes vocational inquiries, and the following are a set of general guidelines for becoming a member of New Skete. 

Perhaps the single most important characteristic for an individual considering monastic life is both the desire and willingness to seek God by embracing a life of ongoing change. Monastic life is about transformation, and it requires a spirit of flexibility and openness.

In general, candidates for our life should be between the ages of twenty-one and fifty. They should be in good health, and should have finished whatever formal education they might desire before entering the monastery. They should also like people, and be willing to work closely with a tightly-knit community of brothers and sisters.  Our life is radically communal; thus a person attracted to living alone will find our life problematic.