Community Profile

Benedictine Abbey of St. Andrew Rev. Joseph Brennan O.S.B. Vocation Contact PO Box 40 Valyermo, CA 93563-0040 661-944-4759 joseph@valyermo.com www.valyermo.com

Community Information

No. in community (professed members) 27 Year founded 1956 Generalate/ motherhouse Autonomous Province/federation Represented in US (Arch)dioceses Los Angeles, CA

About Us

Mission statement/description This Benedictine monastic community of men leads a balanced life of prayer and work. Special retreat ministry is given to adults and youth. Qualifications for entry Good health, mental stability and maturity required. At least a high school graduate, preferably a college degree. Formation program Interested men make a retreat at the abbey to experience community life. They then may apply as observers, the first stage in the process of monastic formation. Observers live in the monastery and share fully in the community's life of prayer and work. After about six months, the observer petitions for acceptance as a novice. If accepted, he is accepted as a candidate, usually about six months long. Classes are taken in subjects which include: monastic history and spirituality; the Rule of St. Benedict; the Sacred Scriptures; liturgy; and canon law. Entrance into the novitiate is marked by the ceremony of investiture, at which time the candidate receives the black Benedictine habit and a new name. At the end of the novitiate, the conventual chapter of professed monks determines whether the novice should make vows. The novice then professes triennial (also called "simple") vows, binding for three years. During the juniorate, the monk continues his studies and formation, often at a Benedictine university or seminary. If he is fully accepted into the community, solemn vows follow. During their formation some monks discern a call to the priesthood, while others discover that they are called to ministries which do not require ordination. Age range/limit up to 45 Consider belated vocations? Yes Belated/late vocations explanation They do consider older vocations.