Clear Creek Abbey

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SlavesOfJesusandMary

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Hello, I’m Currently discerning joining the Benedictine monks in clear creek abbey in Oklahoma in a few years from now God willing and I was wondering if you know more things about them then provided on their website such as the youngest age to join their abbey or such and such thanks
Pax-
 
Out of curiosity, how did you pick Clear Creek out of all the other abbeys?
 
I did because I feel very called to it, it seems like a very tradtional order of Benedictine monks that I am in love with and I feel God calling me to that way of lifestyle.
 
Well, 2 suggestions: contact your diocese chancery and find out who is in charge of the general area of vocations. Meet with them and ask questions you may have.

Second, contact the abbey and ask to speak with the individual in charge of vocations, and possibly meet with them if you are able.

Do not be surprised if they appear a bit hesitant or do not show enthusiasm. They want people who really are likely to stay; you do not say your age, but if you have not attended college, that may be something they would like you to accomplish before you join.

Understand also that if they are taking someone in to the order, they will want someone who is not carrying a debt, as they are not able generally to be paying it off.

Having a college degree accomplishes two things; it tends to assist in maturing in life, and may provide them with someone who has training which could help the community. Just some thoughts, having been around our local abbey for a number of decades.

God bless!
 
What requirements are mandatory college wise to enter?
 
I may not have been clear. I have heard on more than one occasion that an order either would prefer, or would not take someone right out of high school; the point being that either in their judgement or their experience, some at the age of 18 did not have the life experience and maturity to make the decision to enter the order.

I was not intending to speak for Clear Creek; but I had the suspicion that you might be in high school and mentioned it so that if you heard that, you would not be taken by surprise. I was in seminary in 1964-1966 in college at a Benedictine abbey and no one was entering the abbey of my group; those who entered were a bit older. A couple of years ago I met a young man in theology who, while at the seminary had discerned a vocation as a monk, and I went to his first vows; he was the youngest of the three that day who made first vows.

And one clearly can have a vocation to be a monk, but not a priest - that is a whole 'nother issue. It is not so much a requirement to “have a college degree” as it is to have enough life experience and maturity to make a life commitment - and even then, it is done by stages over time.

Nothing I say should be taken as anything less than very favorable to a vocation as a monk.
 
These are all things you should be talking about with a spiritual director, your diocese’s vocations director, and the vocations director of Clear Creek. A traditional abbey will want things done traditionally…that would be the way.

And…feeling very called is not the basis of a vocation. You gotta do the heavy lifting with a spiritual director first.
 
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