Initial Formation Course

October 11–18, 2025

Recently, the sisters and brothers in initial formation from our monasteries in Ireland and England gathered in Norway for a course on the Church Fathers, given by Bishop Erik Varden OCSO. The gathering took place at Tautra Mariakloster, a monastery situated on a small island in the Trondheimsfjord, near Trondheim. The monastery, built in 1999, continues the Cistercian tradition that first took root there in the thirteenth century, so the juniors experienced something of the rich Cistercian heritage there too.

During the week, participants attended lectures led by Bishop Erik, deepening their understanding of the early Christian writers whose insights continue to shape monastic life and spirituality. The course offered a rich opportunity for shared learning, prayer, and exchange among the younger members of our Cistercian communities.

The group also visited Munkeby Mariakloster, a small community of monks located near the ruins of a medieval monastery founded by Cistercians from Fountains Abbey in England. Munkeby was re-established in 2009 by monks from Cîteaux in France.

Both Tautra and Munkeby embody the renewal of monastic life in Norway, each drawing from ancient roots while welcoming new generations of monks and nuns seeking God in simplicity, silence, and community.