Gerleve Abbey

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Gerleve Abbey

Gerleve Abbey (in German Kloster or Abtei Gerleve) is a monastery of the Benedictine Order situated between Coesfeld and Billerbeck in Westphalia (North Rhine-Westphalia), in Germany.

The community, dedicated to Saint Joseph, was founded in 1899 on the land of the Hof Wermelt, a farm given for the purpose by the Wermelt family, by the monks of Beuron Abbey. It was formally declared an abbey in 1904. The first abbot was ordained in 1906. In 1941 the community was expelled from Westphalia by order of the National Socialists, but the monks were able to return in 1946.In 1951 the community was able to establish a further monastery: Nütschau Priory (Kloster Nütschau) near Bad Oldesloe.

Several of the monks are active in scholarly work; others work in pastoral care and the care of guests. There are two retreat-houses close to the abbey.

The Haus Ludgerirast offers room for 47 people who are taking part in different courses, seminars or retreats. There is quite a variety of different offers in the house-program. Many people also are spending their holidays near the abbey.

In the Haus St. Benedikt (Jugendbildungsstätte) there is room for about 80 youngsters from all kinds of schools, for students or family-groups with children. A playground is nearby. In the two forums above the cafeteria there is room for groups which just come for the day (for lectures, retreats, meditation etc.)

The abbey itself can house about 10 (male) guests, people who are looking for some days of peace and quiet and who'd like to take part in the community's life of work and prayer.

There is a graveyard in the abbey grounds, where among others there are buried Russian prisoners of war and deceased patients from the military hospital which occupied the premises in World War II.

The abbey is part of the Beuronese Congregation. In 2007, the community counts 48 monks.

[edit] Abbots

Raphael Molitor from 1906 to 1948
Pius Buddenborg from 1948 to 1976
Clemens Schmeing from 1976 to 1999
Pius Engelbert from 1999 to 2006
Prior Laurentius Schlieker since 2006 (elected for three years)

[edit] References

Albert, Marcel: 100 Jahre Benediktinerabtei Gerleve, Münster: Aschendorff-Verlag. ISBN 3-402-05486-8
Pius Engelbert (Ed.): Saeculum. Zeit und Welt. 100 Jahre Abtei Gerleve, Münster: Dialogverlag, 2004. - ISBN 3-933144-93-0