Spring Break
Choir tries Trappist lifestyle
Meg Mirshak
Issue date: 1/29/08 Section: News
During winter break, the Notre Dame Folk Choir spent four days on retreat at the Abbey of Gethsemani, observing the lives of Trappist Monks and reflecting in an environment with limited distraction.
Fifty of the 55 choir members embarked Jan. 11 for Trappist, Ky., where they focused on personal relationships before beginning the second semester of the academic year.
Founded in the 1970s, the Folk Choir combines traditional choral repertoire with contemporary music. Today, the choir uses instrumentalists such as guitar, violin and flute to accompany the organ and choral voices.
Every two years, the Folk Choir tries to make a retreat to the Abbey of Gethsemani, said Campus Ministry intern Joe Nava. Nava, a Notre Dame graduate, is now in his sixth year as a member of the choir.
Father Dan Parrish, former rector of Zahm Hall accompanied the choir.
The purpose of the abbey is to allow living without distraction, Nava said. The Folk Choir briefly experienced monastic life at the cloistered monastery, where the monks pray out loud seven times a day.
"It was fascinating to observe a contemplative lifestyle," said senior Michael McKenna, who joined the Folk Choir his sophomore year. "It is a unique way of finding our vocation and a part of our Catholic tradition that not many are exposed to."
The retreat was a profoundly religious experience for some attendants, Nava said.
"Finding God in the silence is the gift of Gethsemani to the students," Nava said.
The students participated in prayer and sang Gregorian chant with the monks and otherwise kept silent on the abbey grounds.
"We hope students can make it to the abbey," said Nava, who said he was pleasantly surprised to see the eagerness of students to enter into the silence and lessons of the retreat.
"I enjoyed observing the way Trappist monks live their everyday life," junior Mary McLaughlin said. "The monks accept others into their homes, lives, and worship."
Fifty of the 55 choir members embarked Jan. 11 for Trappist, Ky., where they focused on personal relationships before beginning the second semester of the academic year.
Founded in the 1970s, the Folk Choir combines traditional choral repertoire with contemporary music. Today, the choir uses instrumentalists such as guitar, violin and flute to accompany the organ and choral voices.
Every two years, the Folk Choir tries to make a retreat to the Abbey of Gethsemani, said Campus Ministry intern Joe Nava. Nava, a Notre Dame graduate, is now in his sixth year as a member of the choir.
Father Dan Parrish, former rector of Zahm Hall accompanied the choir.
The purpose of the abbey is to allow living without distraction, Nava said. The Folk Choir briefly experienced monastic life at the cloistered monastery, where the monks pray out loud seven times a day.
"It was fascinating to observe a contemplative lifestyle," said senior Michael McKenna, who joined the Folk Choir his sophomore year. "It is a unique way of finding our vocation and a part of our Catholic tradition that not many are exposed to."
The retreat was a profoundly religious experience for some attendants, Nava said.
"Finding God in the silence is the gift of Gethsemani to the students," Nava said.
The students participated in prayer and sang Gregorian chant with the monks and otherwise kept silent on the abbey grounds.
"We hope students can make it to the abbey," said Nava, who said he was pleasantly surprised to see the eagerness of students to enter into the silence and lessons of the retreat.
"I enjoyed observing the way Trappist monks live their everyday life," junior Mary McLaughlin said. "The monks accept others into their homes, lives, and worship."