Introduction to the community
We are an Old-Catholic community inspired by the Rule of Saint Benedict. Our community is part of the Old-Catholic Church of the Netherlands – archdiocese of Utrecht, which has been in communion with the Church of England since 1931. The monastery is based in Belgium in a small town called Temse, near to Antwerp and Ghent.
The life of our community is monastic & apostolic (vita mixta). The vows a brother or sister takes are: monastic life, obedience and stability.
Central to our daily life are our times of prayer, time for quiet and personal prayer. In our monastery we make candles, mustard, honey, liquor and we mature cheese, as a source of income and creative labor; we also do pastoral work outside the monastery.
With permission from our bishop and the prior, one brother lives as a missionary-monk amongst refugees in London, UK.
Contact details
Address: Monasterium, Cauwerburg 129, 9140 Temse, Belgium
London: bro Johannes, johanmaertens@hotmail.com, mob 07488 407 108
Community information
Bishop Visitor: Mgr Bernd Wallet, Archbishop of Utrecht
Third Order, Fellowship, Associates
Oblates: Any Christian, married or single called by God to live their lives inspired by the Gospel and the monastic values of Saint Benedict can follow a route to becoming an oblate of the community. It is expected that this person already has a relationship with the community.
