| Mepkin Welcomes New Observers and Discerners We are happy to introduce you to some of the men who have been visiting Mepkin, exploring a possible call to Trappist life: Matthew Proia, Tyler Dersom, Leo Heuser and Sebastian Lilienthal have asked to join us for six weeks or longer as observers. Recently Rodney Odom, Scott Rich and Matthew Farrington have each spent a week of with us in a prayerful discernment of a call to the contemplative monastic life. Our observers are shown in the picture accompanying this article. These men are clearly identified by the blue monastic shirt they wear. Within the past year a decision was made to have the men in this more advanced stage of the vocation process wear a distinct garb. As our postulants wear a white monastic shirt, our monastic guests wear a grey monastic shirt, our covenant brother wears a tan monastic shirt, observers are recognized by their blue monastic shirt. Matthew Proia is making a second long stay with us. Matthew is from upstate New York and came to Charleston after completing his undergraduate degree. While working in Charleston as a mortgage broker he visited Mepkin because of a desire to come apart to pray. As he visited more frequently, he began a conversation to make himself more aware of the life. Slowly he expressed interest in beginning a process of discernment and he spent 3 months with us two years ago. Having allowed himself more time in the work force, he has returned for a longer stay to determine if he will make formal application to enter. Tyler Dersom is a native of Los Angeles, California. With undergraduate studies over, he pursued graduate level studies in theology and found himself drawn to work with the poor and disadvantaged. His work brought him to Savannah, Georgia, where he worked at a group home and accepted a part time position with the Diocese of Savannah. Wanting to visit a monastery, he came to Mepkin for a brief time for pray. After several brief retreats, he began a dialogue to explore a vocation which has led to a two month stay as an observer. Leo Heuser is a native of South Carolina. His family lives in Travelers Rest and are parishioners of Saint Mary's Church in Greenville. Leo's father was ordained a deacon for the Diocese of Charleston within the past year. The local parish has been a source of encouragement and prayerful support for Leo. After some personal trials, Leo asked to come to Mepkin for a time of prayer and reorientation. Having spent a year with us, his desire for monastic life has brought him to request the status of an observer exploring entrance to the community. Sebastian Lilienthal is another repeat observer. Having spent three months with us last year, “Seabass” asked to return for a year of further prayer with the community. At this time Seabass has decided to explore studies in nursing, but would like to remain with us to drink from the spring of monastic prayer and wisdom. His participation in our daily life of prayer and work has been mutually beneficial.
At present we have received another 15 requests from men who wish to have a time with us to discern if God is inviting them to live the contemplative monastic life with us. Kindly remember our observers and discerners in your prayers. |
