Name Some Monasteries

[PhuturePriest]

A number of Benedictine congregations have monasteries in the US; here's a master list - http://www.osb.org/intl/confed/nacong.html 

Most of the American Benedictine monasteries sponsor a high school (some co-ed, some make), and/or a college/university, or a seminary. Some don't run  a school - if there's no school, they usually run a retreat center. They often also do some parish ministry. Most are sort of out in the country, far from the madding crowd, but the one in Newark NJ is right in the heart of the city - in fact, I think most of their students are not Catholic but the meet high academic standards. The high schools and colleges are quite expensive - small, private schools usually are. 

There's a monastery of Cistercian (a sort of reformed Benedictine) monks in the Dallas area, and they are thriving. They also run an expensive, small, private high school. http://www.cistercian.org/ I thought there was another Cistercian monastery + school in California but I can't find a link for it.  

Trappists (further reformed Benedictines) are supposed to be self-sustaining, with no ministry outside of the monastery. They may farm, raise cattle, offer retreats, make fruit cake, make bread, make jelly, and those kinds of things. Here a list of the North American monasteries (it includes nuns - SORRY!). The monastery of monks in Utah is in the process of closing, so you can safely ignore them. http://www.ocso.org/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=listcats&cat_id=115&Itemid=88&lang=en 

There are a few outliers - the Carmelites in Wyoming have already been mentioned. There's a monastery of Brigittine monks in Oregon - they make candy. This is a newly RE-founded order that had been out of existence for a number of centuries. WARNING: tThe web page is not very up-to-date. http://www.brigittine.org/ 

 

GET TO WORK!!! You've got a lot of researching to do!

 

​Thanks! I'm definitely not interested in a monastery that runs a school of some sort. I want a more contemplative and self-sufficient monastery setting, so the Trappists seem to be the best bet from the Benedictine side of things. However, you forgot the amesome caskets Trappists are famous for making. You can't forget those.

[orapronobis]

​Thanks! I'm definitely not interested in a monastery that runs a school of some sort. I want a more contemplative and self-sufficient monastery setting, so the Trappists seem to be the best bet from the Benedictine side of things. However, you forgot the amesome caskets Trappists are famous for making. You can't forget those.

What about Clear Creek Abbey? 

[PhuturePriest]

What about Clear Creek Abbey? 

​I'm already aware of them.

[John Paul]

Order of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary you should definitly try.

[John Paul]

http://orderofmercy.org

[Antigonos]

Is this a change of direction for you, Phuture?  I thought you were investigating seminaries with an eye to the priesthood -- or am I missing something here?

[PhuturePriest]

Is this a change of direction for you, Phuture?  I thought you were investigating seminaries with an eye to the priesthood -- or am I missing something here?

​Still looking to be a priest. Just looking at it from the religious life perspective.

I have officially contacted the Jesuits, the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, and the Trappist Monks at New Melleray. We shall see how things ensue.