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. Your source for jobs, books, retreats, and much more. I only had about an hour to spend here, but I cant wait to go back! The abbey grounds are huge and very well kept. I've known Jessica and Bobby for a few years now. Mepkin Abbey is a Christian (Trappist) monastery in South Carolina that runs an egg factory farm to make money. It is way off the beaten path Not a place for active kids. In 1949 the Luces donated a large part of the property, including the garden, to the Trappist Order's Gethsemani Abbey. Perhaps he should have addressed that. You might think theyre wrong when they actually couldnt be more right. Cardinal McElroy on radical inclusion for L.G.B.T. The area has been known as Mepkin for centuries, and was originally the estate of several historic families. Such a unique place to visit.We visited here to tour the abbey and attend the mod day prayer service. I had no trouble getting folks to go on the trip; in fact, more wanted to go than the monks could accommodate. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. You can take a self-guided tour of the gardens Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Javascript must be enabled for Bookwhen to function properly. We took a tour of Mepkin Abbey and it cost $5 per person. We enjoyed seeing the monks doing their daily gardening and landscaping of the site. It is a place of beauty, peace and rebirth. Encourage prisoners. 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. If you're not feeling the season, try a visit to Mepkin Abbey in November or December. (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.) line-height:20px; The abbey is struggling to attract and retain younger novices. So many different interpretations of this important scriptural event. 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. Do you want a wedding photo shoot at the Mepkin Abbey? We use some essential cookies to make this website work. The monastery itself, which comprises a church, the monks refectory (dining hall) and living quarters, administrative offices, and a library, is nestled within a landscape dominated by large oak trees draped in Spanish moss. And we expect to be here for another thousand years, he said. Based in Charleston, SCContact me at catie@catherinehurtphotography.com. Jesuit Father Hans Zollner will be a consultant for the Diocese of Romes office dedicated to safeguarding minors and vulnerable people. map & directions So why was I hesitant to bring others there? The grounds are gorgeous, the monks are welcoming and the liturgies are simple but reverent. During my month-long monastic immersion, I lived in a small, comfortable room in the monks dormitory. The abbey has a wonderful crche event prior Christmas. And while were in the confessional, I should fess up, as I did to Father Guerric, that I had dozed off a couple of times during the centering prayer session that he hosts at 5 a.m. each day. I joined the monks in chanting psalms during the seven offices of the Liturgy of the Hours, the first of which, Vigils, kicks off at 3:20 a.m. And for those who just want to stroll through the well-manicured gardens and enjoy the beauty of live oak trees with Spanish moss, abundant flowering plants and interesting wood sculptures, this is the place to go. I arrived at Mepkin Abbey on a July afternoon during a South Carolina monsoon. } line-height:20px; And for the past 73 years . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. I was encouraged to pray with the acronym ACTS: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. With a few limitations, the Abbey and the Mepkin Gardens are open to the public on a daily basis. Those blessings included daily Mass, which at Mepkin Abbey begins at 6:30 a.m. They have a terrific gift shop. But its going to look different., And Mepkin Abbey, these monks present here we want to be part of shaping what the future will look like.. The main architecture is the trees. Its gardens are now known as the Mepkin Abbey Botanical Garden. They follow the Rule of St. Benedict, devoting their lives to prayer,. [CDATA[// >