Monastic Days of Reflection

Monastic Days of Reflection: Receiving and Sharing the Word of God

These online Monastic Days of Reflection are sponsored and organized by Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary and  Saint John’s Abbey. The goal of this time together is to foster reflection and conversation on matters of concern to monastic communities and other intentional communities. All gatherings for 2026 will take place online. Register for these webinars below!

In 2026, the institute will take place entirely online through digital webinars.

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Webinar Schedule

All times listed are in Central Standard Time (CST)

Monday, June 15

7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Welcome & Introduction to Monastic Institute

Session I: “Living and Praying the Psalms in Monastic Life” presented by Fr. Konrad Schaefer, OSB

Tuesday, June 16

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Session II: “‘My Lover Speaks; He Says To Me…’: A Monk’s five-decade long engagement with the Bible’ presented by Fr. Mark Scott, OSCO

11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Break

2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. – Session III: “Promoting the Sacramental Encounter: Cultivating Visual Imagery for Prayer” presented by Sr. Jeana Visel, OSB

3:15 – 4:00 p.m. – Break

4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. – Closing Panel Discussion, moderated by Michael Rubbelke, Ph.D.

Speakers

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Fr. Konrad Schaefer, OSB

Presentation:

“The Gift of the Scriptures Shared throughout Monastic Life”

Biographical Information: Fr. Konrad Schaefer, OSB, is currently the prior of Priorato San José, Xela, Guatemala (since 2025). He originally made monastic profession in 1972 at Mount Angel Abbey, Oregon, where he taught as a Professor at the Seminary from 1984-1995. He earned his Doctorate in Sacred Scripture from the École Biblique in Jerusalem in 1992. Fr. Konrad was previously prior of Mount Angel’s foundation, Our Lady of the Angels, in Cuernavaca, México, from 1995-2023. He also taught as Professor of Old Testament at the Pontifical University of México from 2000-2025. Fr. Konrad has offered retreats and spiritual exercises in Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries throughout the USA (including at Saint John’s Abbey last summer), México, Guatemala, Venezuela, Cuba, Canada, and Brasil.

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Fr. Mark A. Scott, OCSO

Presentation:

“‘My Lover speaks; he says to me . . . ‘: A monk’s five-decade long engagement with the Bible.”

Biographical Information: Fr. Mark Scott, OCSO, is a monk of the Abbey of New Clairvaux, Vina, CA, where he received his monastic and presbyteral formation. He holds a licentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, Italy. Fr. Mark served as abbot of Assumption Abbey, Ava, MO (2000 to 2007), and of New Melleray Abbey, Peosta, IA (2013 to 2020). He has been a member of the Board of Regents of Saint John’s School of Theology/Seminary, and conducted a course on the Rule of Saint Benedict at Saint John’s SOT in the summer of 2024. Fr. Mark fills in as chaplain once or twice a year at Redwoods Abbey, Whitethorn, CA, and Santa Rita Abbey, Sonoita, AZ. He is the author of At Home with Saint Benedict: Monastery Talks (2013), and Loving Jesus: Monastery Talks on the Gospel According to Saint Matthew (2024), both published by Cistercian Publications. He is also the current editor of Cistercian Studies Quarterly.

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Sr. Jeana Visel, OSB

Presentation:

“Promoting the Sacramental Encounter: Cultivating Visual Imagery for Prayer”

Biographical Information: Sr. Jeana Visel, OSB, is a sister of the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception, Ferdinand, Indiana, where she entered in 2003, made first profession in 2006, and perpetual profession in 2010. She is Dean of School of Theology Programs and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Spirituality at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology. Her research and teaching interests include Church art, especially iconography, and monastic studies. Since August 2024 she has been president of the American Benedictine Academy. She holds a BA in Religious Studies from Kenyon College, an MA in Theology with a concentration in Monastic Studies from St. John’s School of Theology-Seminary (Collegeville, MN), and a Doctor of Ministry in Spirituality from the Catholic University of America. She has studied iconography with Ksenia Pokrovsky, Anna Gouriev, and Marek Czarnecki, and currently is pursuing a certificate in icon painting through the Writing the Light program associated with the Institute of Sacred Arts at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary, working with Greek iconographer George Kordis. Her first book, Icons in the Western Church: Toward a More Sacramental Encounter, was published in 2016 by Liturgical Press. Receiving the Gaze of God: Praying with Icons is due to be published with Behold in Spring 2025.

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