Trip Planner 2016-17 Trip Planner For Student Travel | Page 37

A MEASURE OF MONASTICISM MONASTERY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Located a half-hour outside of Atlanta, the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Georgia, gives students an opportunity to immerse themselves in monastic culture. The monastery’s 2,300 acres are home to 35 monks who live, work and pray there, and guests can learn from their commitment and dedication. “Hospitality is a key component of our life,” said the monastery’s abbot, Fr. Francis Michael Stiteler. “We invite you to come and enjoy this beautiful place. All are welcome.” The three-millennia history of monasticism comes alive through colorful exhibits and interactive displays in the recently added $7 million museum complex, which also houses exhibits on early Native American life. The complex also features the Monastery Bonsai Garden and its worldrenowned miniature trees. Next door is the historical barn where the monks who founded the monastery in 1944 lived, and where today’s visitors can listen to interactive recordings chronicling a monk’s typical day. Guests also learn about the monastery’s various industries, including a bakery and a stained glass operation. School groups can cap their visit by touring the stately, monk-built Gothic Abbey Church and getting a feel for the labor and skill required to construct what has been deemed Georgia’s most remarkable concrete structure. Lunch is provided for a nominal fee. Call well in advance for reservations (+1.770.760.0959), particularly for groups larger than 20. For more details, visit trappist.net. For group reservations and discounted group rates contact: Andy Lengsas [email protected] 843-881-5924 Sandi Smeltzer [email protected] 843-881-5976 40 Patriots Point Road, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 • PatriotsPoint.org/Vietnam ntaonline.com 35