Centering Prayer Groups
2026-01-21 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-01-27 14:30 - 15:30 (America/Chicago) | Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI, 53562, United States
Centering Prayer Groups
All are welcome to join our two centering prayer groups which meet on alternating Wednesdays. Both incorporate a short reading and time for silent prayer or meditation.

1st and 3rd Wednesdays

7:00-8:00 pm
Retreat & Guest House Room 10
Includes a short walking meditation in between periods of seated meditation
For more information contact Barb Abbott, 608-284-7424

2nd and 4th Wednesdays

2:30-3:30 pm
Monastery Oratory –
Two, 20-minute periods of seated meditation with a 5-minute break
For more information contact Carole Kretschman, 608-233-7390

We feel the presence of the Holy One even more strongly than when we center by ourselves. … Our prayer has less outward distractions for that hour than if we center at home. … Having the group supports us in our prayer life.

Monastic Monologues: Sharing Joy
2026-02-01 14:00 - 15:30
Monastic Monologues: Sharing Joy
Step Into the Magic!
Are you ready for an afternoon bursting with wonder, adventure, and unforgettable stories and songs? Join our community for an inspiring gathering of storytellers, musicians, and singers—an event where the power of words and music truly comes alive.
From heart-pounding journeys to faraway places, to laugh-out-loud moments, soulful tales and music that touch your heart, our performers will take you on an unforgettable ride.
This isn’t just a performance, it’s an experience. One that brings people together, celebrates creativity, and weaves a kind of magic that sparks your imagination and strengthens our sense of community.
Come for the music and stories… stay for the magic!
Schedule
1:30 pm – Doors open
2:00 pm – Monastic Monologues begins
3:30 pm – Reception and “After Glow”
Storytellers, Musicians & Emcee

Jane Barnard is a Madison-based writer, visual artist and watercolor teacher. She’s reading from her memoir-in-progress, entitled ” Poetry as Pain Relief,” about her spiritual journey of surviving dark times with beauty, with humor and grace. She celebrates the artists who have seeped into her bones, to soothe her loneliness and bring her joy.

You can learn more about Jane at her website.

Ann Baltes (right) and Bill Rosholt (left) are members of Sunday Assembly and have cherished being
connected to this beloved community of communities over many years, musically and
otherwise. They also consider it an extraordinary gift to have raised their daughter,
Grace, at Holy Wisdom as an ecumenical Benedictine. Ann has a background serving in
parishes and other settings in the areas of pastoral care, adult and youth faith formation,
liturgical music, and retreat facilitation. Bill works as a Systems Development Test
Engineer for Exact Sciences in Madison. Ann and Bill met as undergrads studying voice
and singing in choirs at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. They are both choral music
enthusiasts having sung continuously since high school students in various choirs in
Iowa, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Wisconsin. They have sung regularly in Madison and
surrounding areas as both choral artists and soloists with the Isthmus Vocal Ensemble,
Wisconsin Chamber Choir, Madison Choral Project, Cheers Madison, and Madison
Savoyards
Jean Feraca’s favorite 2024 Christmas gift is a coffee cup from an anonymous donor that reads, “I am Kind of a Big Deal in Wisconsin.” Famous as a talk show host on Wisconsin Public Radio, Jean was a writer before she became a broadcaster. The award-winning author of three books of poetry and the memoir, I Hear Voices: a Memoir of Love, Death, and the Radio, Jean teaches in UW-Odyssey, the humanities program she co-founded, and in Wisconsin prisons with the Prison Ministry Project.
Jean is a Sunday Assembly member, Benedictine Oblate since 2016, and one of the Monastic Monologues presenters. Jean’s a beloved voice of Wisconsin Public Radio and a true original. For 28 years, Jean was the host and producer on WPR’s Ideas Network, best known for the award-winning program Here on Earth: Radio Without Borders. Her work has beautifully blended humanities, poetry, curiosity, and community, making her one of the most respected and recognizable figures in public radio. She joined WPR in 1983 as a humanities producer and went on to host some of the network’s most memorable shows. Jean’s award-winning series, “Women of Spirit” was developed with the help of the Benedictine Sisters here at Holy Wisdom.
But what really makes Jean shine is her warmth, wit, and ability to laugh at herself. When asked about her funniest moments on air, she didn’t hesitate to share a few gems from her broadcasting life. There was the day she opened her own show with, “Good morning, I’m Jean Ferrara,” accidentally mispronouncing her own name. Or the time she invited her big brother on as a guest—“big mistake,” she laughs—only to have him greet her on air with, “You already made a mistake!” And then there’s the moment she’ll never quite live down: introducing “Wisconsin’s most famous baseball player… Brett Favre!”
Join us for a performance by Jean Feraca during Monastic Monologues and enjoy stories, humor, and insight from a master storyteller whose voice—and laughter—have been part of Wisconsin’s cultural fabric for decades.

Bill Frederick is the Director of Worship and Music at Holy Wisdom Monastery. He studied voice at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville while earning a Bachelor’s of Music in Vocal Performance under the tutelage of Dr. Gerald Darrow. He has been leading music and liturgy in various Churches full-time over the past 40 years. 33 years ago, Bill and Steve Johnson founded “Enter the Season With Song,” a group of musicians who gather for Christmas and summer concerts. The group has recorded three CDs and has given every dollar raised from every concert, a total exceeding $250,000, to various charities.

Max Harris earned his B.A. in English from Cambridge University and went on to complete a Ph.D. in Religious Studies at the University of Virginia. Over the years, he’s taught in a range of fields—from Latin American Studies to Psychiatry at the University of Virginia, and Religion and Literature at Yale Divinity School. He’s also written six books, including Carnival and Other Christian Festivals (University of Texas Press) and Sacred Folly: A New History of the Feast of Fools (Cornell University Press).
Beyond academia, Max has pastored Presbyterian churches in England, Virginia, Maryland, and Wisconsin. But if you ask him what really matters, he’ll tell you it’s not the titles or the books—it’s his 52-year (and counting!) marriage to Ann, and the gracious, saving work of the Holy Spirit that continues to shape their life together.

Steve Johnson is the Director of Music Ministry at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in Madison. He has worked for the past 30+ years in various churches as Director of Liturgy and Music. Steve studied voice and piano at the University of Wisconsin-Madison while earning a degree in k-12 music education.

Terry Larson is a previous Protestant pastor who prefers poetry, pollinator plants, preaching, progressive people, polite politicians, pithy plots, pleasing prairies, plentiful portions of produce and…alliteration.

Janet Neurauter’s first time on stage was as a reindeer in her 2nd-grade holiday pageant and was actively involved in theater throughout school and with the Nicolet Players in Rhinelander, WI. She enjoys writing short stories and monologues and is working on her second play.

Originally from Michigan, Bill Santer II has called Wisconsin home since 1987. With a background in marketing, education and the arts, he now enjoys helping people find their perfect home as a realtor. At Sunday Assembly, Bill feels fortunate to be part of a welcoming, earth-conscious community that celebrates kindness, open-minded conversation and shared purpose. Whether he’s helping someone settle into a new home, concert-going, telling stories or connecting with his community, Bill brings a genuine spirit of curiosity, care and joy to everything he does.

Susan Santner is a passionate and versatile storyteller who loves to bring stories to life. She’s shared her tales at festivals, schools, libraries and community events across the region, captivating audiences of all ages. With experience as an actress, theatre director, puppeteer and library director, Susan’s creativity shines through in every performance. Her storytelling is lively, imaginative and full of heart, inviting listeners to step right into the world of her stories.

George Teague is a Madison-based cellist and teacher. He maintains an active studio at home and at UW-Steven’s Point. George received his performance degrees from Northern Arizona University and the Chicago College of Performing Arts.

Eivind Hansen Photography
Patrick Terry was born and raised in Janesville, WI, and has been heard on operatic stages across the world. Career highlights include singing Eustazio at the Glyndebourne Festival, Rinaldo with the Minnesota Opera, Rosencratz with the Bayerische Staatsoper and premiering Brett Dean’s ‘In this brief moment’ with the Elbphilharmonie. He earned his degrees from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, The Royal Academy of Music in London and was the first countertenor to join the Jette Parker Young Artist program at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden.

Cost and Registration
There is no cost to register, but we ask that guests register so we may plan accordingly. We also ask that guests consider a goodwill donation to help support the monastery. There will be a physical donation box at the event for anyone who wants to donate in-person or you may make an online donation when you register with the button below.

Grace & Reflection: A Courage & Renewal® Weekend
2026-02-20 19:00 - 2026-02-22 12:00
Grace & Reflection: A Courage & Renewal® Weekend
Each renewal weekend will include creating a quiet, focused, and enlivened space — a Circle of Trust® — where personal, inner wisdom can be heard. There will be a mix of time spent in large group, small group, and individual reflection along with poetry, teaching stories, wisdom traditions, nature, and activities for exploration. We will use these experiences and other rich metaphors to symbolize and discover and explore life questions. Together, we will experience creating spaces in our lives to tend and nurture our desire to live fully with courage and resilience.

Revitalize your commitment to the values that give meaning to your life.
Increase your ability to listen openly and be present.
Learn reflective practices to become more intentional.
Explore questions to build and sustain community.
Expand trustworthy and authentic relationships.

The Circle of Trust® approach is based on the work of Dr. Parker J. Palmer, Founder and Senior Partner Emeritus of the Center for Courage & Renewal, who is a world-renowned writer, speaker and activist. Explore the principles, practices and resources from the Center for Courage & Renewal: https://couragerenewal.org/courage-renewal-approach/
This program is being independently organized and led by a Courage & Renewal Facilitator(s) prepared by the Center for Courage & Renewal.
Schedule
Friday, February 20
3:00 pm – Check-in for Retreatants Staying in RGH
6:30 pm – Registration
7:00-9:00 pm – Session One
Saturday, February 21
9:00-10:15 am – Session Two
10:15-10:30 am – Break
10:30 am-12:00 pm – Session Three
12:00-1:30 pm – Lunch and Free Time
1:30-3:00 pm – Session Four
3:00-3:15 pm – Break
3:30-5:00 pm – Session Five
5:15 pm – Dinner
Sunday, February 22
10:00 am-12:00 pm – Session Six
Leaders – Mary Louise Peters, MSE & Amy Christianson, EdD

Mary Louise Peters is a Courage & Renewal® Facilitator, providing retreats and renewal experiences since 2010. She has worked as an educator and consultant at local, state and national levels to improve early childhood and special education for children and families, teaching practices and conditions for staff, and state educational systems.

Amy Christianson recently completed the Courage & Renewal® Practicum Program. Amy has been a participant in a number of seasonal and Circle of Trust retreats. She has a long professional career in education within early childhood, K-12 and higher education settings. Amy’s background includes educational leadership, organizational change and working with diverse populations.

Cost
$250 commuter; $435 residential
Register
Please register by February 13, 2026. The maximum number of participants is 24 and registration will close when full.
Cancellation policy – if you register but must cancel your registration, you can receive a 75% refund up until February 13, 2026. After that, a 50% refund is available until the retreat starts.

Upcoming Courage & Renewal Weekend
Save the dates for the next Courage & Renewal Weekend, May 29-31, “Wonder and Hope”

Family Gathering
2026-03-07 15:00 - 18:00
All families with children are invited to a special Lenten Family Gathering, Saturday, March 7, 3:00-6:00 pm.
Join us for a Family Gathering to experience the joy of anticipation in community. At this event, school-age children will gather to learn and play together, and childcare for the littlest ones is provided. Parents and caregivers will have some free-choice time to enjoy all the Monastery has to offer. The gathering will conclude with a shared meal.
Children ages 6-9 are invited to join Sarah Wilkin Gibart for prayer and creative work time. We will explore the rich theme of Lent.
Parents, this is an opportunity to enjoy the monastery and catch a breath in this busy season! You may choose to join in the children’s program, or take in the art exhibit, relax in the library, bring a project of your own, or simply have time for coffee and conversation.
Registration cost includes a simple entree prepared by the culinary team using fresh, seasonal offerings (families may also wish to bring a side dish or dessert to share).
Schedule
3:00 pm – Gather
~3:30-5:15 pm – Programming/free time
5:15 pm – Dinner
6:00 pm – Adjourn
Leader
Sarah Wilkin Gibart is a teacher of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd who leads regular Children’s Prayer during Sunday Assembly worship. Nichole Rasmus (formerly Nichole Fromm), our Childcare and Support Specialist, will provide childcare for the younger children.
Cost
$25/family
Questions
Please contact Sarah: sjwilkin09@gmail.com or Nichole: nrasmus@holywisdommonastery.org with any questions.

Holy Week Silent Retreat
2026-04-02 16:00 - 2026-04-05 11:30
Anyone who would like to experience a deep and sustained silence in the quiet companionship of others is invited to the Holy Week Silent Retreat. For some, this retreat will be an opportunity to contemplate and participate in – with greater intention – the texts, liturgies, and prayers of Holy Week. For all, it is an invitation to live the rhythms of monastic life in an extended retreat experience. Optional contemplative engagements (e.g. journal prompts, walking meditations and opportunities for artistic expression) will add depth to the experience, as will opportunities for lectio divina and shared reflections on the meaning and mystery of these days.
Retreat Schedule
Thursday, April 2

4:00 pm
Orientation
Retreat & Guest House (RGH) 110

4:30 pm
Brief introduction to the weekend and to each other
RGH 110

5:00 pm
Dinner and continued orientation
Members of Sunday Assembly and other guests at tonight’s liturgy will be sharing a meal in the Monastery Guest Dining Room. We will go through the serving line and eat in the smaller Community Dining Room. We will meet the sisters, complete the orientation and then have some time to gather – if you wish to do so – with the other guests.
Monastery Community Dining Room

6:00 pm
Holy Thursday Liturgy
After this liturgy, we enter into silence until Sat. dinner
Monastery Assembly Room

8:30-9:30 pm
Companioned silence
RGH 222

Friday, April 3

Breakfast on your own
RGH 108

7:35 am
Centering prayer (optional)
Monastery Oratory

8:00 am
Morning prayer (optional)
Monastery Oratory

10:00 am
Lectio divina and contemplative dialogue to prepare for Good Friday liturgy
RGH 110

11:45 am
Midday prayer (optional)
Monastery Oratory

Noon
Lunch (in silence)
Monastery Guest Dining Room

3:00 pm
Good Friday liturgy
Monastery Assembly Room

5:00 pm
Dinner (in silence)
Monastery Guest Dining Room

7:30-9:30 pm
Companioned silence
RGH 222

Saturday, April 4

Breakfast on your own
RGH 108

7:35 am
Centering prayer (optional)
Monastery Oratory

8:00 am
Morning prayer (optional)
Monastery Oratory

10:00 am
Lectio divina and contemplative dialogue to prepare for Easter Vigil liturgy
RGH 110

11:45 am
Midday prayer (optional)
Monastery Oratory

Noon
Lunch (in silence)
Monastery Guest Dining Room

Afternoon
Afternoon spent in silence
RGH 110 for companioned silence

5:00 pm
Dinner (we break the silence)
Monastery Guest Dining Room

7:30 pm
Easter Vigil
Monastery Assembly Room

After Vigil
Refreshments
Monastery Guest Dining Room

Meet for companioned conversation about the retreat, and a closing ritual for those departing early
RGH 110

Sunday, April 5

Breakfast on your own
RGH 108

8:00 am
Morning prayer (optional)
Monastery Oratory

9:00 am
Easter Sunday Eucharist
Monastery Assembly Room

Immediately following Eucharist
A final gathering from which we take leave from one another
Community Dining Room

11:30 am
Departure

Facilitator – Pam Shellberg
Pam is the director of spiritual nourishment at Holy Wisdom Monastery. As a scripture scholar and educator, she is eager invite people into a deeper appreciation of the texts that shape the Holy Week liturgies. As someone with a contemplative spirit, she is eager to co-create with retreatants a rich and meaningful experience of silence.
Cost
$360/person, includes silent retreat, overnights on Thursday, Friday and Saturday; dinners on Thursday, Friday and Saturday; lunches on Friday and Saturday; and breakfasts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Registration
Please register by March 25, 2026.
There is a 75% refund for cancellations before the March 25 registration deadline, a 50% refund after the registration deadline until the start of the retreat on April 2.
