Welcome to SSJE
We are a community of men giving our whole selves over to living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Rooted in the ancient monastic traditions of prayer and community life, and critically engaged with contemporary culture, we seek to know and share an authentic experience of God’s love and mercy. We live a common life shaped by worship, prayer, and our Rule of Life.
We invite you to explore these pages to learn more about how we live and pray, the tradition that grounds us, and the call that draws us onward day by day.
Worship Schedule | Rule of Life | Meeting Jesus | Catch the Life
“Agape” love is a determination of the will that no matter who this person is, no matter what kind of relationship we have with them, no matter how they treat us, no matter if they injure or grieve us, we will seek their best. This is tough love, not a feeling of the heart but a resolve of the will. It’s the love God has for all of us, love no matter what.
-Br. Luke Ditewig, SSJE
Monastery Chapel
Silence. Flickering candlelight. Sunlight streaming through stained glass. Soak in the beauty of our sanctuary, open morning to night. Pray, ponder, or participate in the Brothers’ daily office. Service Schedule >
Guesthouse
Sleep in. Pray. Savor wholesome food. Nap. Read. How might a stay in our Monastery Guesthouse recharge you and open you to God’s call? Workshops & Retreats >
Emery House
Birdsong. Meadow grasses waving in the breeze. Stars overhead. At our rural retreat house, we invite you to pray as you hike, light a fire, weed the garden, and bask in the beauty of Creation. Retreat information>
Recent Sermons from the Chapel
An Evangelist’s Icon – Br. Sean Glenn
“Luke writes for us a new Icon of salvation, one which narrates all of us—woman, man, slave, free, eunuch, prodigal one, persecutor, Jew, Greek, Samaritan—into God’s story in Jesus Christ.”
On Saint Luke’s feast day, Br. Sean Glenn celebrates the artistry of this Gospel writer who weaves a tapestry of traditions to paint a vivid picture of God’s promise and fulfillment in Jesus Christ
Healing Cuts – Br. Luke Ditewig
“Scripture is sharper than a sword. Like a scalpel, it cuts through what is diseased and damaged, cuts through lies and confusion, cuts through the stories we tell ourselves to reveal the truth. The stories of scripture surprise, disturb, confound and, with good intention, cut.”
Br. Luke Ditewig finds in the cutting words of Jesus’ exchange with the rich young man an invitation to us all: to be laid bare, to surrender, to let go, and to be open to our Great Physician, who seeks only to heal us, even through hard words.
Venting the Light – Br. Curtis Almquist
“Each of us enters the world, something like an acorn, with the seed of calling, with a sense of identity, with a vision of destiny.”
Br. Curtis Almquist invites us each to discover the true purpose of our life.
Heralds of Good News – Br. James Koester
“Is Jesus really making invidious distinctions between Martha and Mary? Between busyness and stillness? Between housework and hospitality? Between action and contemplation? That’s what we’ve been told over the years, but is it really the case?”
Br. James Koester revisits the familiar story of Mary and Martha to discover the welcome invitation in its scandalous portrayal of women as teachers, disciples, and heralds of good news.
What God Has United, Human Beings Must Not Divide – Br. Keith Nelson
“’What God has united, human beings must not divide.’ These words of the Gospel are not just for married people. I would even go so far as to say that they are not primarily about marriage. These words are for all of us: we, who are married and single, committed and seeking, divorced or not, heterosexual or not.”
Br. Keith Nelson considers our life-long journey into that original unity that is our birthright: a oneness with God, one another, and within our own deepest selves.
Faith Formation to save the (every) day!
Deepen your relationship with God, through prayer and reflection on The Gospel According to John.
We share in the Divine Life from our Baptism. Learn how this Life expresses itself in and through us.
Explore a monastic framework to cultivate your relationships with God, Self, Others, and Creation.
Recapture time as a gift. Discover how to experience the joy of the present moment.