Society of St John the Evangelist, North American Congregation (SSJE)

The Society of St John the Evangelist was founded in the parish of Cowley in Oxford, England, by Richard Meux Benson in 1866 and came to Boston in 1870. Brothers minister at the Monastery in Cambridge, Massachusetts, next to Harvard Square, and Emery House, a rural sanctuary in West Newbury, Massachusetts. Brothers offer silence, sanctuary, and spiritual formation. They wrote and live under a contemporary Rule of Life, adopted in 1997, which is available online. At profession, brothers take vows of poverty, celibacy and obedience.

SSJE’s guesthouses and chapel offer hospitality to many for retreats and worship. Most guests come for self-guided retreats. Brothers also lead program retreats and workshops. Everyone is welcome to worship with the Brothers in Cambridge for the Daily Office and daily Eucharist. The schedule is online. Brothers offer their worship, hospitality, preaching, spiritual direction, retreat leading, teaching, written and video resources. Online they share monastic wisdom around the world with Brother Give Us A Word, a daily gift of hope and inspiration (available as a daily email); sermons preached by the Brothers; and five-week formation series with videos and workbooks on prayer, Rule of Life, Gospel of John, worship, and more.