The only drawback was the occasional boater to disturb the tranquility. The door is open so that guests can hear the reading while we eat in silence. Still, good article. line-height:20px; Methodists would descend on the place and overrun it. We put our hands on their old, bald heads and prayed Gods blessings of life and health and peace, on these brothers who are also our brothers. Mepkin Abbey Now Available for Weddings in Featured, News Mepkin's friends and neighbors can now reserve the abbey gardens for the celebration of a marriage. My love of these people is clear. He works as a securities lawyer for a bank in New York City. Your source for jobs, books, retreats, and much more. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. (Theyve since changed to a shiitake and oyster mushroom operation.) In 1762 one of his descendants sold the land to Henry Laurens of Charleston. The church is beautiful and the organ is one of a kind. Can It Last? Father Guerric granted that indulgence during one of our conferences, at which I was reminded that if you meet with a Mepkin monk to discuss what is going on in your life, spiritual or otherwise, you will leave the meeting with a book. Serene and Now the books suggested by the monks are helping to change my life. These cookies are essential to our website working properly. A monastery? We checked out the gardens which was very nice, especially the oak trees that hang over the Cooper River. in 4 reviews, There is also a gift shop where you can buy crafts from other Moncks and they also grow and sell mushrooms. in 6 reviews, If you are planning to attend the crche display in November make you reservation via the web in October it fills up fast. in 2 reviews. ELOPEMENT; WEDDING; Engagement; SECRET PROPOSAL; Check out some of the. Fun fact: Jessica asked me to photograph her wedding before I even thought about being a wedding photographer. Required fields are marked *. Mepkin Abbey is truly a wonderful place to viit. Peaceful place to reflect. Their robes have long sleeves, and those sleeves make it hard to find ones hands. But theyre interested in prayer, and theyre interested in finding ways to connect with their center., The Trappists, he added, have been around for a thousand years. I dont even remember what I said, but I guess it was funny! The area has been known as Mepkin for centuries, and was originally the estate of several historic families. line-height:20px; I spent each day in silence, speaking only when necessary and not at all during the Grand Silence from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. Because of the monastic nature of the property, up to 50 guests are permitted, and only wedding ceremonies may take place on the property; receptions are not allowed. Its the way St. Benedict prescribed things in the fifth century. All Benedictinesthe larger umbrella under which Trappists existpledge to receive every guest as Christ. They brought out the eldest and most infirm monks and sat them in front of the rest of us. Since Methodism is a revivalist sect, if were not reviving anybody, what are we doing? Planning your wedding can be overwhelming and stressful, but it doesn't have to be! Wooden carved sculptures, natural waterways, old architecture, graveyards, flowers everywhere. A Bible at the conclusion of vigils, the first of seven daily prayer services at Mepkin Abbey. read more. What should I wear? Years later one of those monks, Brother Stan, became the monasterys abbot. The cookies collect information in a way that does not directly identify anyone. Thank you! This practice worked just fine for me, until it didnt. Maybe theyre not ready or able in this culture to make a lifetime commitment. Having a month off from parental responsibilities is a great luxury which I hope is afforded equally to both partners. He asked his first question: What are they doing with their hands? They have a terrific gift shop. Fortunately, there will be time for that, as the monks invite anyone who has completed the month-long program to return to the abbey at any time for a shorter stay. The abbey grounds are huge and very well kept. Mepkin Abbey is part of the Roman Catholic Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, commonly known as Trappists. Were all getting old., Read: Silent, Yes, but Never Withdrawn: Readers Respond to this Dwindling Catholic Monastery. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. But as a church we had long since forgotten how. Jesuit Father Hans Zollner will be a consultant for the Diocese of Romes office dedicated to safeguarding minors and vulnerable people. These Methodists knew in their bones they were supposed to pursue a disciplined way of prayer. ?--unless i missed it. I am middle-aged, happily married and the father of six children. Even weekend retreats (2 and 1/2 days) with 3 kids and the wife at home invoke guilt. I think the reason they took to monastic prayer so profoundly is that Methodism is a revivalist sect. This is a private home/community for monks with limited public areas to stroll about in. I first met Jessica while I was working a full-time job before I went full time with photography! Mepkin Abbey - Luce Gardens 1098 Mepkin Abbey Rd Moncks Corner, SC 29461 What day is the wedding? It's very beautiful all times of the year and I plan to go as often as I can. Despite their hope for the future, the monks at Mepkin are cleareyed about the likelihood that their new initiatives which will probably attract young, interfaith and short-term visitors will fail to attract Roman Catholics who are interested in a long-term commitment with the core monastic community. I needed to find a way to forgive this person after all these years, and my month at Mepkin seemed like a good opportunity to cross this problem off my spiritual to-do list. Our wedding is on Friday, May 4, 2018 - Star Wars Day! Thankfully, the monastic guest program at Mepkin is open to all. Upcoming Events at Mepkin Abbey Schedule; From 3 Mar 2023 March, 2023 3 Fri 3 days Tai Chi Retreat - Friday-Monday, March 3-6, 2023 6 Mon 1 week 7 Day Individual Retreat - Monday-Monday March 6-March 13, 2023 10 Fri 3 days Individual Retreat - Friday-Monday, March 10-13, 2023 . So why was I hesitant to bring others there? Moncks Corner, SC 29461 What a peaceful place. Mepkin is fairly unique in the Trappist world for how deeply it invites guests into its life. They were praying. The problem was that I never had the time to read them. The, crche exhibit is incredible and extensive - be sure to vote for your favorite. I only had about an hour to spend here, but I cant wait to go back! And I give her all the credit for getting me into weddings as well! While Trappists are an order in the Roman Catholic Church, everyone is welcome to visit and make Retreats here. During my month-long monastic immersion, I lived in a small, comfortable room in the monks dormitory. You eat in a room catty-corner to the monks, but you can get to their butter without great effort. And I give her all the credit for getting me into weddings as well! We use some essential cookies to make this website work. The gardens are well maintained, the docents (tour guides) have so much information to share with you. Not without good reason then, his voice is ours, and our voice is also his. The overarching sense here is that Mepkin has so much to offer to the worlds spiritual searchers irrespective of their ties to any formal religion. I ate my meals quickly and in silence. Surely they knew they shouldnt do that, right? The guides are fantastic they know the history of the abbey quite well. So far, Mepkin has shunned all forms of social media both individually and institutionally. When you register, youll get unlimited access to our website and a free subscription to our email newsletter for daily updates with a smart, Catholic take on faith and culture from, Were sorry registration isn't working smoothly for you. Stephen B. They also have so many areas that you are free to roam on your own. [2] His wife, Clare Boothe Luce, commissioned and built an extensive landscape garden there known as the Mepkin Garden. Jessica had to get a picture with little Roxi before making her way to the wedding! And for the last 73 years since he joined the order at age 17, answering a call from God, he said physical labor has been an integral part of his daily routine. Mepkins friends and neighbors can now reserve the abbey gardens for the celebration of a marriage. Wendy Mogul gestaltet als unabhngiger Knstler einzigartige Designs fr Produkte wie T-Shirts, Sticker, Poster und Handyhllen. The holiday season arrives early each year at a Trappist monastery on a quiet bluff upriver from Charleston, S.C. (While there, he used the first name Aelred.). She did as one does when one is nervous, like she knew exactly what she was doing, head up and eyes straight ahead. The abbey is struggling to attract and retain younger novices. Thank you! Twenty-nine monks of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Trappists) came from Gethsemani, Kentucky, to found the new Mepkin Abbey. That was better than a lot of what Im shoveling now, he quipped. In 1949 the Luces donated a large part of the property, including the garden, to the Trappist Order's Gethsemani Abbey. The liturgies at Mepkin are short and simple, the homilies concise and incisive. I hope so. Beauty will save the world, Dostoevsky said, and I see this in these monks. God was busily making all things new. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/17/us/trappist-monks-mepkin-abbey.html. [4] Furthering the controversy, it was discovered shortly after the release of the video that many scenes shown in the video, such as those of dead chickens of the floor, were actually shot at a separate facility rather than at Mepkin Abbey. But Trappist communities may be particularly vulnerable, since their traditions are more isolating and, in many ways, more resistant to modernization. After a few generations, the Laurens family sold the property, and it passed through several hands. I can't imagine a month with 7 at home. Nothing says Charleston, South Carolina like the glowing oaks dripping with Spanish moss, salty air, alligators swimming in the ponds, and the Azaleas blooming everywhere you look. I was able to muddle through this dry spell, as I assume that all monks must do for various stretches of time, and the latter part of my stay at the monastery was replete with blessings. Mepkin Abbey is a Trappist monastery in Berkeley County, South Carolina. Copyright 20042023 Yelp Inc. Yelp, , and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp. A book recommendation from a Trappist monk is a precious gift, something that the monk believes or perhaps knows will help you on the journey. Pray like this, at this hour, in this way, and with these people. Mepkin is closed to Visitors on Mondays. As the other reviewers have stated, the word that best sums up this experience is, Peaceful.Quiet.Serene.Contemplative.A place for quiet introspection. Yes, I got Bobby to show a real, genuine smile! It is way off the beaten path Not a place for active kids. if you are trying to comment, you must log in or set up a new account. And, for me, that kind of strength could only have come from having lived the monastic life in that community., That sense of welcomeness and hospitality, he added, is just a wonderful aspect of the place. But enough of my talking, see for yourself how beautiful it was! The main architecture is the trees. So lets give them an experience of the place without a commitment, and see what happens.. Peaceful place to reflect. Mepkin sits above the Ashley and Cooper Rivers, so its pre-AC builders did what sandlappers do and set the buildings at an angle. The sign asks you to sit in the back, but the request is only there, it seems, to be flaunted. Mepkin is one of only 15 Cistercian Trappist monasteries in North America and the only one in South Carolina. Another time at the abbey I volunteered my paltry services to work with the monks. Simple gorgeous grounds and a beautiful day. font-size:20px; Mepkin, by contrast, invites guests all the way up into their stalls for prayer. I have been making five-day retreats at Trappist and Benedictine monasteries for the past 20 years and have found the experience of living in silence and detaching from work and family life restorative and re-energizing. Is it going to be a turnaround thats quick enough for Mepkin? He is the head, we are the members. fbq('track', 'ViewContent'); Why am I being asked to create an account? Mepkin Abbey is open , Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun. I sensed that I was just scratching the surface of the monastic experience and that as a mere visitor to an abbey guest house, I was still on the outside looking in. Check out some of our wedding photos from this place. I wore an unflattering, hoodie-like habit. I've known Jessica and Bobby for a few years now. So they have to shuffle a little to free their hands to turn the pages in their psalm books. The salty air was blowing through the huge oak trees as they exchanged their vows and held back *happy* tears. Whats a monk? Before you go, check the hours and for special events here on their . Serene and Bobbys reaction after Jessica teased him about not being surprised! Sign up for our newsletter.]. For a Month. They were just so loving., It took a lot of strength to leave, Mr. Hagan said, noting that his fellow monks at Mepkin would have welcomed him to stay if hed so chosen in spite of the Catholic churchs official, if conflicted, position on homosexuality in the clergy. I learned that this failing is pardonable because, as Father Guerric told me, I did not snore and it happens.. Address: 1098 Mepkin Abbey Road Moncks Corner, SC 29461. Brother Joseph Swedo, 90, a monk at Mepkin Abbey. I'm Jessica and I'm so happy you're here. Still, Mepkins future is anything but certain. The picturesque surroundings can't be bought or planned any better and with a river backdroppriceless! Another Trappist community facing similar challenges the Abbey of Our Lady of the Holy Trinity, in Huntsville, Utah celebrated its final Mass last August, then shuttered its monastery. In the Benedictine tradition, guests are to be received as Christ. A glimpse into monastic life at Mepkin Abbey with Fr. You can also manage your account details and your print subscription after logging in. As a frequent reader of our website, you know how important Americas voice is in the conversation about the church and the world. There are many picturesque spots in the areas visitors may walk around in. Methodists go home knowing how to be Methodists again. Anyone can read what you share. We ask readers to log in so that we can recognize you as a registered user and give you unrestricted access to our website. Mepkin Abbey is not exactly a place of retreat from the "real world," nor is it a sanctuary populated by holy and wise men who might deign to bequeath upon their worshipful and awestruck. I felt incredibly sheepish when the monk on the other side of this contretemps sought me out to apologize within a half-hour. Welcome Dear Friends: All the monks of Mepkin want to share the opportunities we offer you to engage with us in the. The monastery grounds include a graveyard containing the ashes of Henry Laurens, as well as the graves of John Laurens, Clare Boothe Luce, and Henry Luce. The monastery also generates income from the store at its visitors center, which sells dried mushrooms and a slew of other products, many of which are produced at other Trappist monasteries; its retreat center, which hosts both individual and group visitors; timber that is harvested by outside contractors; and a new nondenominational columbarium, which offers a place for funeral urns to be stored on Mepkins grounds. Perhaps he should have addressed that. Brother Joseph Swedo was bent forward in his chair, his rugged hands folded delicately in his lap. This is such a serene locale, I don't see how anyone could not be touched by the experience.. Who was I to deny this nourishment to others? In what has become a Christmas tradition, the monks of Mepkin Abbey, even before . I worked for four or five hours a day in the abbeys mushroom-growing operation. Learn More. Thank you! Guided tours ($5 per person) are offered at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, except on any Friday designated a Desert Day . I had already heard what I needed to hear. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. I cant wait to see what the future holds for the two of you! Eventually the monks settled on growing mushrooms. Once several of the Boone Methodists processed out of their choir stalls and into the procession of monks for the liturgy. I was mortified. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. We can't do it without youAmerica Media relies on generous support from our readers. The Creche display each fall near Thanksgiving is awe inspiring to see Nativity scenes from around the world. Hes a round man in every way: midsectionally round, bald of head round, broad of smile round, love of Jesus round. In January 2007, a PETA investigation found that the abbey's hens endure constant abuse for almost two years before they are killed. .av_font_icon.av-js7ruq5v-543682e18588060c4cfa95ae87281cf8 .av-icon-char{ shop where you can buy crafts from other Moncks and they also grow and sell mushrooms. The retreat master finally took me aside. We took a tour of Mepkin Abbey and it cost $5 per person. We cannot find a time, until the Reformation, when there was Christianity without monks and nuns. The Mepkin Abbey grounds are one of the most gorgeous, tranquil, and peaceful places in all of Charleston. I learned about my parishioners upbringings, their siblings, their parents, their children, their loves I wouldnt have known anything about without that time together. Mepkins monks, led by the abbot, Father Stan Gumula, process from the church to the refectory. If youre already a subscriber or donor, thank you! I first learned to pray from evangelicals who converted me at a Christian camp. But during my third week at Mepkin, I hit the monastic wall. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. In seminary, friends told me about Mepkin Abbey, a Trappist monastery in South Carolina Low Country, near the coast. Now you see why I was hesitant to taint Mepkin with Methodists. During the spring and early summer (before the heat and humidity), it is a wonderful place to visit or have a quiet picnic on the bluff surrounded by flowers and serenity. I was very honest with them., And they were just so, he said, breaking into tears. } I am middle-aged, happily married and the father of six children. My nephew was married here the week before my mothers ashes were placed in their columbarium - she looks over the water with the oaks and magnolias seeping in between - the wooden statues and stations are moving as well as artfully magnificent. And, of course, things in my life need to change. Because of the monastic nature of the property, up to 50 guests are permitted, and only wedding ceremonies may take place on the property; receptions are not allowed. (Several Trappist monasteries in Africa and Asia, for example, havent been plagued by the same decline in vocations and some, at least partly because of the stability of monastic life and the unfamiliarity of the message, Father Stan said, are brimming with young monks.) I went to Mepkin Abbey with three objectives: to improve my prayer practice; to experience a full immersion into the daily life of a monk; and to begin a discernment about the next phase of my life. read more. Look, he said, I cant get Catholic priests to come to this place. Relationship Counseling - Marriage resources, Falling in Love Finding God Marriage and the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, The problem of hatredand how Christians are contributing to it, Jesuit sex abuse expert appointed to Vatican office for child protection, Sin, hell and scrupulosity: How to repent during Lent (and how not to). I should have trusted my people to sort out what they stood to learn, what they should leave behind, and where Jesus was at work. Mepkin Abbey was definitely showing off for us! I sometimes now speak of Reformed Christianity as an experiment in being Christian without anyone anywhere vowing poverty, chastity, and obedience. I dont know. Left, the church at Mepkin Abbey, and Father Stan Gumula, the abbot of Mepkin. Meet Paul Haring, the CNS photographer who covered the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and the election of Francis, numerous international papal trips and the daily action of Vatican life for over a decade. Mushrooms and garden compost from the Abbey's farm, and candies, preserves and creamed honey from other Trappist Abbeys are available at the Reception Center Gift Shop. Thank you and God bless you and your loved ones. It is a place you have to experience . Stay a while and say hello! Add a bit of spirituality to your getaway at Mepkin Abbey. But maybe a smaller number will. We called him Father Butter ever thereafter. And maybe, by some creativity, looking to the future, they can help to hold on to, and spread, this tradition.. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. FOR A MONTH. In keeping with broader declines in the ranks of priests, nuns and brothers, Mepkins monastic community is dwindling. Some aging monasteries, including Mepkin, have had to rely on greater numbers of paid employees and volunteers, which has helped avert a shortage of labor. As with most human beings, the monks strength is close kin to their weakness, their superpower not far from their Achilles heel. I first met Jessica while I was working a full-time job before I went full time with photography! I have, in the same position, a photo of Mepkin Abbey. And we expect to be here for another thousand years, he said. Individual abbeys juggle these occasionally competing commitments in different ways. A building commitment rooted in the local ground became a commitment to welcome the guest with particular vulnerability and openness. I meant that the monks have their own dining hall and guests have a separate one. You are never in a bad location. We wanted a good product, a healthy product, Father Stan explained. Nonetheless, Mass at the abbey packs an emotional wallop. Meet the monks of Mepkin Abbey, a Trappist monastery in South Carolina, who are trying to maintain age-old religious traditions in a rapidly evolving world.