Who We Are

FAQ

Chapter Room: What is that?
Employees: Do you have them?
Family visits: Are they permitted?
Farm crops: Are the sunflower seeds and wheat grown on your farm used in your Monks' Bread?
Hermit days: What are hermit days?
Lay associates: Who are they?
Oblates: Who are they?
Priests: Do Trappist monks become priests?
Regular Visitation: What is it and how often is it held?
Response to allegations of sexual abuse of minors: Does the community have a policy for responding to such allegations?
Vegetarian: Are Trappists vegetarians and, if so, why?
Visiting groups: Do you receive groups for a tour of the monastery?
Visiting hours: When is the Abbey open to the public?

CHAPTER ROOM: What is that?
The chapter room is the meeting hall of a monastery where the community comes together for the abbot's weekly (or more often) instructions to the community. These are called chapter talks. It is also the place where we gather for community meetings, dialogs, guest speakers, etc. and these are called chapter meetings. Traditionally when the monastic communities met for the abbot's instructions the meetings began with the reading of a chapter from the Rule of St. Benedict, hence the name.

EMPLOYEES: Do you have them?
Yes, we occasionally hire employees as need arises. They live in town and work full or part-time receiving a regular salary and benefits. Some of their jobs include bakery work, truck driving, lay guestmaster, maintenance. 

FAMILY VISITS: Are they Permitted?
Yes, our families are invited to visit us once a year for three or four days. We have two guest houses, Bethany & Cana, where family members can stay and where we visit with them throughout the day.

FARM CROPS: Are the sunflower seeds and wheat grown on your farm used in your Monks' Bread?
No. Before the sunflower seeds can be used for human consumption they have to be shelled. We do not have the equipment for that process. The seeds are sold for bird feed.

Monks' Bread calls for a high protein wheat. Because of our short growing season we are able to grow winter wheat which is low in protein. It is sold as a cash crop. The flour for Monks' Bread is spring wheat which is high in protein.

HERMIT DAYS: What are hermit days?
Hermit days are days when the brothers put more emphasis on solitude and silence. We have them for the community on the first Wednesday of each month and during our annual retreat. After morning Lauds and Mass until afternoon Vespers there is no community schedule. The brothers are free to spend the day doing pretty much what they like as long as the atmosphere of silence and solitude is maintained.

LAY ASSOCIATES: Who are they?
Lay Associates are men and women, married or single, from all walks of life, including clergy, interested in living according to the monastic charism in some measure while continuing in their regular family and professional way of life. They associate themselves with a religious community that provides them with religious exercises, formation and support in their endeavor. Here at Genesee our associates are called Genesee Lay Contemplatives. You may learn more about them by visiting our Lay Associates page.

OBLATES: Who are they?
An oblate is a member of the community without vows. In place of the monastic vows he makes a simple promise to the abbot. This promise can be dissolved for serious reason by either the oblate or the abbot. An oblate lives the full monastic life within the enclosure though he retains ownership of his goods which he administers in agreement with the abbot. He is not a member of the conventual chapter. The habit of the oblate is similar to the brothers except for the cowl.

PRIESTS: Do monks become priests?
Most monks in our tradition do not become priests. Some are already priests before entering the community. From time to time a brother may feel called to ordination. This call is discerned by the Abbot and the community and, if the discernment is positive, the brother will commence the required studies for the priesthood. If need be he will go to a seminary for his studies. Priestly discernment and studies take place only after solemn profession of vows. Priestly ministry is confined to the monastic community and to those who come to the monastery.

REGULAR VISITATION: What is it and how often is it held? It is the official visit to a community of either the Father Immediate or the Abbot General or a delegated visitor. Its purpose is to strengthen and supplement the pastoral action of the local abbot, to correct it where necessary, and to motivate the brothers to lead the Cistercian life with a renewed spiritual fervour. This requires the active co-operation of the community. The visitor is faithfully to observe the precepts of law, the spirit of the Charter of Charity and the norms of the General Chapter. It is to be held every two years.

RESPONSE TO ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF MINORS: Does the community have a policy for responding to such allegations?
Yes, responding to the mandate of the American Bishops, the Abbey has adopted and published a policy for responding to allegations of sexual abuse of minors. This policy was drawn up in consultation with canon and civil lawyers, the Diocese of Rochester, NY, the Legal Resource Center for Religious and other religious communities.  Copies of the Response Policy are available upon request. To obtain a copy of our policy contact Fr. Jerome at or Abbey of the Genesee, P.O. Box 900 (3258 River Rd.), Piffard, NY 14533.

VEGETARIAN: Are Trappists vegetarians and, if so, why?
Yes, Trappists are vegetarians though the practice varies from house to house. The practices outlined here pertain to our community here at Genesee. While we abstain from meat we eat fish occasionally. Perhaps two or three times a week. Meat is served to individuals when indicated for medical reasons.

The prohibition against meat is clearly stipulated in the Rule of St. Benedict (chapters 36:9 and 39:11) and Trappists try to follow the Rule as closely as possible.

Why is the prohibition in the Rule of St. Benedict in the first place?

There are some light-weight reasons often given for monastic vegetarianism such as: for the sake of poverty and to help keep meals simple and not terribly enticing. While these are correct and helpful in the ascetical life they are not primary.

More likely than not, what is behind the prohibition against eating meat is the belief that doing so, especially that of red-blooded animals, stimulates and even inflames the passions. Especially lust. Monastic practice bears the truth of this out. Since one of the principle ends of the ascetic (monastic) life is the attainment of apathia, that is general control over and quieting of the passions and emotions, whatever aided the process was readily adopted. Fasting is one help. Also, night vigils, silence, and manual labor. So it is, with abstinence from meat.

VISITING GROUPS: Do you receive groups for a tour of the monastery?
Yes and no! We do not give tours of the monastery but we do receive groups for  talks on monastic life. These presentations are given by one of the brothers and may include a slide or video program on our life. These talks are especially popular with school (especially high school and college) and parish groups. Normally the program includes joining the community for one of the hours of the Divine Office. To arrange for a group visit contact the Brother in charge at Group Visits.

VISITING HOURS: When is the Abbey open to the public?
The Church, reception room and bookstore are open throughout the day from 2 AM until 7 PM; the bread store is open from 8 AM to 11 AM, 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM and 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM.