Young Adult Programme (for those under 35)

The greatest challenge of the day is this: How to bring about a revolution of the heart, a revolution which has to start with each one of us? || Dorothy Day

One definition of contemplation is “taking a long, loving look at the real.”  The Spiritual Life Institute, both at Holy Hill and Nada Hermitages, offers an opportunity for people under 35 to experience the contemplative life. The next programme is from Nov. 1st to Dec. 5th, 2012 at Nada Hermitage in Crestone, Colorado, USA.

Nada Hermitage embraces the naturally beautiful, local landscape in its simple architecture. The community lives in harmony with the land and the seasons and is an ideal place to explore the spiritual life.  You will join the community in morning and evening prayer, explore the stunning Sangre de Cristo wilderness, and take part in group outings to local places of interest.  There will be  discussions with the monks and with other people who are on the same journey of discovery.  Except for two discussion groups per week, mornings will be free for study, reflection, and whatever else is needed.

There is no charge for the programme, but those who are selected to take part in it will be asked to contribute fifteen hours of manual labor per week, helping  to maintain the houses and gardens.

If you are interested in this program please contact us. We ask that you fill out an application form and if possible, come to Nada for a short visit in order to meet the community.

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived || H.D. Thoreau

Weekly Schedule

Monday:
Desert Day—silence everywhere at Nada; no communal work;
a good day for solitary adventures like biking, hiking, reading, and writing.

Tuesday:
11 am:  Group discussion
1 pm-4 pm: Communal work
9 pm:  Grand Silence

Wednesday:
7 am:   Prayer
1 pm—4pm: Communal work
5 pm:   Prayer
6 pm:   Young Adult Dinner,
dishes done by 8:59 pm
9 pm:  Grand silence

Thursday:
7 am:  Prayer
1 pm-4 pm: Communal work
5 pm: Prayer, evening free

9 pm:  Grand Silence

Friday:
7 am:   Prayer
11 am: Group discussion
1 pm-4 pm: Communal work
5 pm:  Prayer
6:15 pm:  Video/dinner in Cup and Sword, to be finished by 8:59 pm
9 pm   Grand Silence

Saturday:
8 am: Prayer
9 am-12 am:  Chores
Afternoon free
7:30 pm Compline and Benediction
followed by all night vigil

Sunday:
Mass 9 am followed by breakfast
A good day for outings
Carpe Diem:  If there is a beautiful day in the middle of a bad stretch of weather, we could drop everything so people could climb a mountain or go on some other adventure