Trappist monks at prayer (photo courtesy of the Abbey of Gethsemani). 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. Mepkin Abbey: Weddings to Final Resting place - See 138 traveler reviews, 104 candid photos, and great deals for Moncks Corner, SC, at Tripadvisor. Our wedding is on Friday, May 4, 2018 - Star Wars Day! And maybe in spite of yourself, youll start to become more like Jesus. Why are we unique? While many monks at Mepkin are concerned about the monasterys future, they also see this moment as an opportunity to pioneer a new form of monasticism. Eventually, I recognized my error and came to appreciate that 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. Yet they also vow poverty, chastity, obedience, and devotion to prayer. Please visit ourmembership pageto learn how you can invest in our work by subscribing to the magazine or making a donation. For a Month. Brother Joseph Swedo, 90, a monk at Mepkin Abbey. For decades, the monastery relied on an egg farm that produced as many as 30,000 eggs per day. Under the umbrella of the Diocese of Charleston, Mepkin Abbey is a beautiful and quiet enchanting spot in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Please arrive 30 minutes prior so that you can find a seat and get settled in. Hes a round man in every way: midsectionally round, bald of head round, broad of smile round, love of Jesus round. I only had about an hour to spend here, but I cant wait to go back! fax: 843-761-6719, Niches in Mepkins Columbarium are available to the public. 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. This article planted in me a desire to go again.I do not understand why people read an article in which the author shares something personal of his spiritual life and experience, and people have a need to respond with criticism. In this Oct. 30, 2013, Abbot Stan Gumula discusses recent additions at Mepkin Abbey during an interview at the abbey in Moncks Corner, S.C. Only 13 monks remain, down from a peak of 55 in the mid-1950s. Ill never not give thanks for them. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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). Nonetheless, Mass at the abbey packs an emotional wallop. Their digital presence is also extremely limited. I was encouraged to pray with the acronym ACTS: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. Make promises to do better. Do you want a wedding photo shoot at the Mepkin Abbey? It begins at 3:20 a.m. Father Stan prepares for the commencement of vespers, another of the seven daily prayer services, with holy water. While members of other Catholic orders Dominicans and Jesuits, for example focus partly on outreach, Trappists, who are formally known as the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, do not. The address is: 1098 Mepkin Abbey Rd, Moncks Corner, SC 29461. He stage-whispered to each one of us with inappropriate loudness, When youre 102, Ill come pray for you. Abbot Stan stood off in the corner, his shepherds crook beside him, and openly wept. In December 2007, Mepkin announced on its website that it would phase out the egg production operation which had been its main income, citing the controversy and its disturbance of their monastic way of life. Father Gerard-Jonas Palmares inside one of the locations where mushrooms are grown at Mepkin Abbey. Ive known Jessica and Bobby for a few years now. ?--unless i missed it. I was afraid theyd ruin it. They know what has long been called the whole David by heart. ! Our people were hungry to pray like monks. I had already heard what I needed to hear. PETA cited earlier statements by Pope Benedict XVI on factory farming, in which the pontiff criticized the "industrial use of creatures, so that geese are fed in such a way as to produce as large a liver as possible, or hens live so packed together that they become just caricatures of birds" as being incompatible with Biblical teachings on animals. Such a unique place to visit.We visited here to tour the abbey and attend the mod day prayer service. The abbey has a wonderful crche event prior Christmas. Mepkin Abbey - Trappist Monastery, Moncks Corner, South Carolina [5] They eventually decided on a mushroom production operation.[6]. But theres no TV. Questions to ask your wedding photographer, How to sleep well the night before your wedding, Rainy Charleston Engagement Session | Kelsey and Michael, McClellanville Engagement Session | Katherine and Robbie. It really is the grace of Mepkin.. read more. A Reflection for Friday of the First Week of Lent, by Jill Rice. I cant wait to see what the future holds for the two of you! Whats a monk? This is a must see, bring your camera and walking shoes. This is one pretty place. Mepkin Abbey is a Christian (Trappist) monastery in South Carolina that runs an egg factory farm to make money. line-height:20px; You can also manage your account details and your print subscription after logging in. I reminded him recently of those shit-shoveling days. Stay a while and say hello! This practice worked just fine for me, until it didnt. What young people keep telling us, said Father Joe Tedesco, the chair of the committee for Mepkins future development, is that theyre interested in the spiritual life journey, but not in institutional religion. After a few such conferences, the books started piling up on my desk. 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. Their openness has allowed them to be easy prey for, among others, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, who objected to their chicken farm and forced its shutdown. Mepkin Abbey is part of the Roman Catholic Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, commonly known as Trappists. I can't imagine a month with 7 at home. Its eight remaining monks took up residence in a nursing home in Salt Lake City. We called him Father Butter ever thereafter. Right now, its a bleak situation, he said. I arrived at Mepkin Abbey on a July afternoon during a South Carolina monsoon. The gardens are well maintained, the docents (tour guides) have so much information to share with you. Beautiful Wedding Venue - Review of Mepkin Abbey, Moncks Corner, SC You'll have to buy some of the Mushrooms that the Monks grow (dried or fresh). 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. I first met Jessica while I was working a full-time job before I went full time with photography! font-size:20px; Simple gorgeous grounds and a beautiful day. So they have to shuffle a little to free their hands to turn the pages in their psalm books. Many young people of the Roman Catholic tradition, Father Guerric added, will simply not be attracted to forms of monasticism that require celibacy and a lifetime commitment. Mepkin is fairly unique in the Trappist world for how deeply it invites guests into its life. (Other religious organizations, like Hillsong Church, for example, have used Instagram and other platforms to reach and engage with younger generations.) All Benedictinesthe larger umbrella under which Trappists existpledge to receive every guest as Christ. For example, there is a person in my workplace who, a decade ago, saw to it that I suffered more than necessary from a Hobbesian Wall Street reorganization. Mepkin Abbey is located at 1098 Mepkin Abbey Rd., Moncks Corner, SC 29461. Anyone can read what you share. The retreat master finally took me aside. Its the way St. Benedict prescribed things in the fifth century. The only drawback was the occasional boater to disturb the tranquility Sign up for our newsletter.]. Before air conditioning that meant you had to angle your house on the land so as to catch the best breezes. I wondered whether I had missed my calling. During my month-long monastic immersion, I lived in a small, comfortable room in the monks dormitory. I will be going back many times, always something new to see and many plants in bloom. But my Methodist friend Scott could hardly contain his smile. fbq('track', 'ViewContent'); Why am I being asked to create an account? This residence for monks, found in Moncks Corner, is on the itineraries of many travelers. 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. I hoped that none of the monks noticed, but if they did, thats O.K., too. Ask the Yelp community! Most of the crop is sold fresh to local restaurants and markets in Charleston. With a few limitations, the Abbey and the Mepkin Gardens are open to the public on a daily basis. I got this, eating with monks, righto. Shop von Wendy Mogul | Redbubble And its not backbreaking work, because were an older community., (In the 1950s, when their numbers were higher and the average age was much lower, the monks working life was more varied and physically intense; they ran a lumber mill, raised cattle and had a large-scale bakery.). Oh clement, oh loving, oh most sweet Virgin Mary. They sing it with such tenderness it nearly overwhelms my Protestant objections. So why didnt I want to introduce my Methodist congregants to them? That sense of acceptance was affirmed by Rob Hagan, who spent 30 years as a monk at Mepkin before leaving the monastery in 2007. A building commitment rooted in the local ground became a commitment to welcome the guest with particular vulnerability and openness. The people might move without you. Intimate wedding - Reviews, Photos - Mepkin Abbey - Tripadvisor Needless to say, bring along a camera. more. The monks at Mepkin Abbey taught me how to pray again. While the monks do not participate in any way in the ceremony, they are pleased to make the gardens available for weddings. As a monk at Mepkin Abbey, a Trappist monastery in South Carolina, he maintains that Roman Catholic orders code of prayer, work, seclusion, poverty and chastity. The liturgies at Mepkin. Check out some of our wedding photos from this place. Prayer was a quiet time, reading the Bible and petitioning God, usually at the start of the day. You can opt in to any additional cookies. You might think theyre wrong when they actually couldnt be more right. He is the head, we are the members. Check out some of the. And in a departure from its otherwise passive approach, Mepkin created an ad campaign albeit a small and highly targeted one to publicize the program. The door is open so that guests can hear the reading while we eat in silence. read more, I only had about an hour to spend here, but I cant wait to go back! Once several of the Boone Methodists processed out of their choir stalls and into the procession of monks for the liturgy. What a spectacular site for a wedding. Father Gerard Jonas was unsurprised and confided that the monastic guest program lasts for one month for a good reason: A would-be monk should understand that the life can be monotonous. Mepkin, by contrast, invites guests all the way up into their stalls for prayer. 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. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Walking paths, benches overlooking the river. The holiday season arrives early each year at a Trappist monastery on a quiet bluff upriver from Charleston, S.C. The Cooper River runs alongside Mepkin Abbeys 3,132-acre property. Each passing nod by a fellow resident, a further embrace into the community. This intimate Spring wedding at Mepkin Abbey was EVERYTHING. And yet, as the renowned contemplative Paul Hewson (a.k.a. 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. Teach the illiterate. The World Is Changing. This Trappist Abbey Isn't. Can It Last? Mepkin retreatants are welcome to observe the Liturgy of the Hours with the monks, joining in worship and prayer at all seven daily services in the Abbey Church, beginning with Lauds at 3:20. Copyright 20042023 Yelp Inc. Yelp, , and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp. Go back to your seats! It is a place you have to experience . The weather couldnt have been any more perfect. After a few generations, the Laurens family sold the property, and it passed through several hands. Thank you! Based in Charleston, SCContact me at catie@catherinehurtphotography.com. There were 57 manger scenes on display. If you're in the Charleston area in November or December you must visit this unique display. I first met Jessica while I was working a full-time job before I went full time with photography! Its gardens are now known as the Mepkin Abbey Botanical Garden. Johnny loved the monks from the start. Photographs from Mepkin during the early 1950s capture a wide variety of work. 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. The guides are fantastic they know the history of the abbey quite well. if you are trying to comment, you must log in or set up a new account. The other is from St. Augustine, who acknowledges that when we pray through the psalms, Christ prays through us: This psalm is spoken in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, both head and members. FOR A YEAR.), Were at such a you might say desperate point, said Father Guerric Heckel, that were being forced to try something new and innovative.. And their wedding was strictly family and close friends. 1098 Mepkin Abbey Road But as a church we had long since forgotten how. Having a month off from parental responsibilities is a great luxury which I hope is afforded equally to both partners. But one day, I finally changed my mind. Flickr/Davey Borden. I had no trouble getting folks to go on the trip; in fact, more wanted to go than the monks could accommodate. All Benedictinesthe larger umbrella under which Trappists existpledge to receive every guest as Christ. I started counting the days until my departure. var pfHeaderImgUrl = '';var pfHeaderTagline = '';var pfdisableClickToDel = 0;var pfHideImages = 0;var pfImageDisplayStyle = 'left';var pfDisablePDF = 0;var pfDisableEmail = 0;var pfDisablePrint = 0;var pfCustomCSS = '';var pfBtVersion='2';(function(){var js,pf;pf=document.createElement('script');pf.type='text/javascript';pf.src='//cdn.printfriendly.com/printfriendly.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(pf)})(); Individual abbeys juggle these occasionally competing commitments in different ways. But it also allows them to inculcate their charism with particular intensity. Methodists would descend on the place and overrun it. Can It Last? 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. Every morning for the rest of his life, the monk confronted two habits. I am not prone to strong sentiment, and yet I nearly broke into tears during several Masses during my month at Mepkin. I loved it. Evangelize. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. 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. Thank you! For more information on how we use cookies, or to change your cookie preferences, see our Cookie Policy. We checked out the gardens which was very nice, especially the oak trees that hang over the. //-->. (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.) But Trappist communities may be particularly vulnerable, since their traditions are more isolating and, in many ways, more resistant to modernization. While Trappists are an order in the Roman Catholic Church, everyone is welcome to visit and make Retreats here. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. ELOPEMENT; WEDDING; Engagement; SECRET PROPOSAL; Your email address will not be published. Mepkin Abbey in Moncks Corner offers sacred space for the weary soul This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}337N 7957W / 33.117N 79.950W / 33.117; -79.950 1098 Mepkin Abbey Rd Moncks Corner, SC 29461. Wendy Mogul gestaltet als unabhngiger Knstler einzigartige Designs fr Produkte wie T-Shirts, Sticker, Poster und Handyhllen. Every one of them. 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. If you are in a financial position, please consider making a donation to Mepkin to help us sustain our life of prayer. The site is very big and offers a plethora of fantastic photo spots. The Abbey gift shop offers homemade jams, jellies and preserves produced by other Trappist monasteries and the mushrooms grown by the Mepkin Abbey monks. Times shown in timezone: Eastern Time (US & Canada), Tai Chi Retreat - Friday-Monday, March 3-6, 2023, 7 Day Individual Retreat - Monday-Monday March 6-March 13, 2023, Individual Retreat - Friday-Monday, March 10-13, 2023, NO PUBLIC BOOKINGS - Monday-Friday, March 13-17, 2023, Individual Retreat - Friday-Monday, March 17-20, 2023, Individual Retreat - Monday-Friday, March 20-March 24, 2023, "Sustaining the Work of Social Justice," An In-Person Retreat with Lerita Coleman Brown - Friday-Monday, March 24-27, 2023, Individual Retreat - Monday-Friday, March 27-31, 2023, Individual Retreat - Friday-Monday, March 31- April 3, 2023, Seven-Day Guided Holy Week Retreat with Sr. Susan Schorsten & Sr. Mepkin is one of only 15 Cistercian Trappist monasteries in North America and the only one in South Carolina. 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. Founded by monks from the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky in 1949, after a 3,132-acre plot was donated to the Catholic Diocese of Charleston by Henry and Clare Boothe Luce, Mepkin was placed under a conservation easement in 2006, in concert with several neighboring properties. Each passing nod by a fellow resident, a further embrace into the community. this helps us promote a safe and accountable online community, and allows us to update you when other commenters reply to your posts. We are. Wedding Photography at Mepkin Abbey - Charleston Wedding They were praying. That was better than a lot of what Im shoveling now, he quipped. 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. Absolutely, an incredible experience. You eat in a room catty-corner to the monks, but you can get to their butter without great effort. It's very beautiful all times of the year and I plan to go as often as I can. At 3:20 a.m. they gather for Matins, chanting the Psalms for an hour with a long break for silence. " 03/22/2021 " Lunch in a small town " 12/23/2019 Cuisines: American Howard's Restaurant #2 of 45 Restaurants in Moncks Corner Joe Tedesco, https://mepkinabbey.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/IMG-0010-scaled.jpg, https://mepkinabbey.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/logo.png. So many different interpretations of this important scriptural event. We had unhurried time to talk. Jessica pushed me and saw potential in me that I didnt see myself. Eventually the monks settled on growing mushrooms. Theres no work for guests to do, other than volunteering to shovel if you want. 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. During nice weather, you may see it being used for outdoor weddings or as a backdrop for professional photographers. You thought we were going rogue. Upcoming Events at Mepkin Abbey - Booking by Bookwhen 87 talking about this. Not without good reason then, his voice is ours, and our voice is also his. And we expect to be here for another thousand years, he said. The abbey is located near Moncks Corner, at the junction of the two forks of the Cooper River northwest of Charleston, and is located in the Diocese of Charleston. The only drawback was the occasional boater to disturb the tranquility. The monks were giving us back our Methodism. Or they wouldnt like it and theyd judge me for being too Catholic. Thank you! In February 2007, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals released video of Mepkin Abbey's battery cage egg operation, showing debeaked hens crowded inside battery cages and a monk discussing the practice of forced molting. Copyright 2023 America Press Inc. | All Rights Reserved. What are you feeding these Methodists? In 1936 the well-known publisher Henry R. Luce bought the property. Thankfully, the monastic guest program at Mepkin is open to all. Mepkin Abbey: Hell for Chickens | PETA She did as one does when one is nervous, like she knew exactly what she was doing, head up and eyes straight ahead. Now the books suggested by the monks are helping to change my life. Good point. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. This is a private home/community for monks with limited public areas to stroll about in. read more.