Br. Curtis Almquist

Br. Curtis Almquist, SSJE

Br. Curtis Almquist was born and raised in western Illinois (along the Mississippi River) in the town of Moline. He studied at Wheaton College, Michigan State University, and Nashotah House Theological Seminary. Prior to coming to the Monastery, he worked in international development, then as a social worker. After seminary, he served as a priest in the Diocese of Chicago. Curtis arrived at SSJE in 1987 and was life-professed in 1992. He has served the community in many capacities, including as Superior. He currently serves as Facilities Brother. Curtis enjoys photography, historical fiction, studying Spanish, and has an interest in the intersection of psychology and spirituality. His favorite sport is swimming, which he attributes to his parents teaching him to swim when he was only two years old!

Learn more about Br. Curtis' Catch the Life journey to monastic life >

Selection of Br. Curtis' teachings from "Brother, Give Us a Word"

Service

Active service in sabbath-keeping is something Jesus practiced on behalf of the poor, the sick, the oppressed, the outcast. It got him into a great deal of trouble because it appeared he was working on the sabbath. He was. He was working, in a principled way, so that others would have enough of a life…

Worship

The praise and presence and service of God is at the center of our lives. Whether you are preaching a sermon or washing a window or pulling a weed, you are learning to “pray your life,” to use a phrase from our own Rule of Life . -Br. Curtis Almquist, SSJE Read More and Comment…

Blessing

I wonder if you can receive these words: that you are a blessing to God, and that God is intent on your being a channel of blessing, the blessing of God’s light and life and love to all that surrounds you. Can you receive that: that you are a blessing? -Br. Curtis Almquist, SSJE Read…

Being an Answer to Jesus’ Prayer

“Jesus here regards his disciples not as his servants, but as his friends. They are his peers. They share the same prayer. He doesn’t say, “My Father,” or “Your Father.” He says, “Our Father.””

We Need More Than Spirituality: Practicing the Presence of God

“We have been given the gift of life, all of which we are invited to practice in God’s presence.”

Breaking Bread: How Eating Together Makes Us Whole

“The invitation of the table can invite us beyond our boundaries. To share food is an experience of being one with another. This opens a possibility to find commonality with those with whom we might disagree. To sit at table with others is to experience the humanity that we share, even with those whom we might consider as ‘other.’”