First cloistered Benedictine monastery inaugurated in Indonesia

Perhaps an alternative to New Zealand. Thanks to Fr. Varghese whom I got to do some catching up with last Friday as he was back for a break from his studies in Boston.

Jakarta, Indonesia, Aug 14, 2007 / 10:36 am (CNA).- The first cloistered Benedictine monastery has been inaugurated in Indonesia, in the western city of Kupang. The monastery is the result of ten years of work by Indonesians and some Italian young people from the Monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie di Orte, in Viterbo, Italy.

Father Mauro Pace, pastor of the Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Orte, Italy, who also participated in the project, explained that in Orte, “We have had a Benedictine monastery for 300 years.  A nun from this monastery visited Indonesia and saw there was great interest there.”

“There were many young girls who wanted to experience religious life,” he went on.  “Therefore, this collaboration began between the Monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie di Orte and Indonesia.”

“In the last twelve or thirteen years,” the Italian priest said, “some thirty girls have come and the Bishop of Kupang suggested the idea of having a Benedictine presence in Indonesia, where this type of spirituality does not exist.”