Glastonbury Abbey Institute

The spiritual enrichment and adult faith education programs are offered by the Glastonbury Abbey Institute as part of its rich Benedictine monastic teaching tradition. The 2024-25 series of programs commence on September 10th.

All our programs are offered free, but donations are gratefully received to cover the costs of producing our programs online. If you would like to make a donation, please click here.

If you have any questions, please call 781-749-2155 ext. 300. Please click here for the programs page for more information or to register. Or click here for the 2024-25 programs brochure.

Commonweal Conversations             Virtual 

Moderator: Maggie Olson - Mondays at 7:00 PM

October 7, November 4, December 2, 2024 

January 6, February 3, March 3, April 7, 2025

Suggested donation: $20 per session

Commonweal Conversations is a program promoting thoughtful, expansive, intelligent dialogue on issues that matter – whether political, theological, cultural, or artistic.  We encourage all participants to offer their opinions respectfully while also generously considering opinions that do not match their own.  We learn by listening to others.  All conversations will be virtual. Please register for each date separately and you will receive articles to read when you register.  

What Do We (I) Really Believe?                   Virtual

Father Timothy Joyce, OSB 

Tuesday, October 15; Mondays, November 18, December 9, 2024 

January 13, February 10, March 10, 2025; at 7:00 PM

Suggested donation: $20 per session 

A series of monthly conversations moderated by Fr. Timothy about faith, doubt, and belief.  These will be open discussions starting with reviewing an article or two given out for reading ahead of time.  All are welcome: Catholics, former Catholics, non-Catholics, Nones, or just the curious.  Only goodwill and openness to share and listen are needed. 

Catholic Teaching on War and Peace: Principles and Cases       Hybrid 

Rt. Rev. Bryan Hehir – Monday, October 21 – 7:00 PM

Suggested donation: $20                         

War is always more than a political or military reality. It is always also a moral reality for those directly involved, those who govern and choose about war, and the citizens of countries involved.  Catholic teaching on war and peace reaches back to the earliest period of Catholic history and continues to be a vital dimension of the church’s moral teaching. The lecture will be an interpretation of this tradition and its relevance to issues facing our church and our country.

Three Popes: Leo the Great, Gregory the Great and Gregory VII  Hybrid 

Fr. Nicholas Morcone, OSB – Tuesdays, November 12, 19, 26, 7:00 PM

Suggested donation: $20 per session           

How these three Popes understood their office and how their exercise of that office changed the papacy and the Church. 

Father Nicholas, a life-long student of history, has been at Glastonbury Abbey since 1963.  He was Abbot of the Glastonbury community from 1986-2008. He is now Master of Liturgical Ceremonies, leads retreats, and gives spiritual direction. 

Long Live Synodality                             Virtual 

Massimo Faggioli – Tuesday, December 10 – 7:00 PM

Suggested donation: $20

An analysis of the Synodal process that started in 2021 and of the second assembly of the Synod of October: what has been done, what remains to be done for a synodal conversion of the Church in terms both of structural reforms and of cultural changes. 

Dr. Massimo Faggioli is full professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at Villanova University. 

All our programs are offered free, but donations are gratefully received to cover the costs of producing our programs online. If you would like to make a donation, please click here.