Monastery of the Holy Spirit facts for kids
The Monastery of the Holy Spirit is a special place where monks live and pray. It is located near Conyers, Georgia, in the United States. This monastery is part of the Catholic Church. As of 2024, about 22 monks live there. They support themselves by running different businesses right at the monastery. The monastery and its land are also part of the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area. It is also the start of the Arabia Mountain Path.
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History of the Monastery
The Monastery of the Holy Spirit was started on March 21, 1944. Twenty monks came from another monastery in Kentucky to begin this new home. A famous silent film star named Colleen Moore helped by donating a lot of land. The first monks lived in a barn while they built their first monastery. They called it the "pine board" monastery.
They lived in this first building from 1944 to 1959. During that time, they worked hard to build the main monastery you see today. This new building is made of concrete. It includes a special house for guests and a quiet cloister area. Sadly, in 2005, the old pine board monastery burned down. It used to house their carpentry and stained glass workshops.
The current leader of the monastery is Abbot Augustine Myslinski. He became abbot on August 15, 2016. He was chosen again in 2022 to continue leading the monks.
A Day of Prayer
The most important work for the monks at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit is prayer. Their day of prayer starts very early, at 4 AM. They begin with quiet prayer and contemplation. They take a short break around 5:30 AM. Then, they return at 7 AM for Mass, which is a special church service.
Throughout their day, the monks work in their businesses and do chores. But they always stop for prayer at different times. They pray in the mid-morning, at midday (12:15 PM), and in the evening (5:20 PM). Their last prayer of the day is at 7:30 PM. After 8 PM, everyone at the monastery, including guests, must be very quiet. Guests staying at the monastery are welcome to join the monks for prayer in the church.
Many of the monks at the monastery are also priests. They take turns helping people with Confession. This is a special religious practice. The monks are also available to offer spiritual direction. They welcome people from all backgrounds, whether they have a faith or not.
Retreats for Visitors
The monks run a retreat house for people who want a quiet, spiritual getaway. This retreat house is next to the church. It has separate floors for men and women. Guests can stay alone or in groups. Retreats are offered almost all year long. They teach classes and offer programs on many religious topics.
Lay Associates Groups
The Lay Associate movement started with a small group of people connected to the monastery. These groups are made up of regular people who want to pray together. They learn about the Cistercian way of life, which is what the monks follow. These groups visit the monastery every year for retreats. The Monastery of the Holy Spirit is now home to five different Lay Cistercian groups. There are also Lay Cistercians all over the world. They connect with monasteries near where they live.
Monastery Businesses
The monks at Holy Spirit follow a rule that says they should support themselves. They do this by running several businesses. They make and sell beautiful stained glass. You can even buy it online. They also have a special green cemetery on the monastery land. The monks are also known for making delicious fruitcakes and fudge.
Visitor Center
In 2011, a public visitor center was built. It is in the same barn where the first monks lived when they arrived. The center has a museum. It shows the history of the monastery and the work the monks do.
Images for kids
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Interior view of the church
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Church facade at daybreak
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Holy Spirit Monastery monks at prayer in the main church
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The interior of the church
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Monks graveyard behind the church
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Front lawn
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Road to the welcome center
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Welcome center and museum
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Retreat House gardens
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Statue of Jesus in the cloister garden
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The Chapter Room. Usually the monks meet together in this room for daily religious instruction and meditation but this photo shows a ceremony with the abbot and guests.
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Abbot Francis Michael and Prior Anthony Delisi (on the left)
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A view of the church from the cloister garden
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Cloister garden
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The statue of Jesus in the cloister garden viewed from the walkway near the church
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Exterior view of the gift shop
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Interior view of the gift shop
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Interior view of the gift shop
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Front of the church
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Side view of the church
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Lake
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Rockdale River Trail bridge near the monastery
See also
- Rule of Benedict
