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.
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 2025-26 programs brochure.
November & December Programs:
November 17: Faith Seeks Understanding with Fr. Timothy Joyce, OSB.
Topic for November: Why Read the Old Testament? (Virtual)
Fr. Timothy resumes his annual series of free- wheeling discussions on matters of faith. This year's program is entitled "Faith Seeks Understanding" - a 90 minute monthly program of open discussion where all are welcome to put forth their own beliefs or questions. This month's topic is "Why Read the Old Testament." Please register to receive the pre-readings. Click here to register.
December 1: Commonweal Conversations, Topic: "Grief & Mourning" (Virtual)
As one of life’s two famous certainties, death is inescapable—consequently, so is mourning. Each of us has, at some point or another, faced loss. In response, we may turn to many different resources: family, friends, therapists, self-help gurus, artists, God. We may hope our loved ones are free of pain and awaiting the moment of our reunion. But in the meantime, we who remain are not free of pain, and we must manage our grief, seek the best ways to remember and honor the people we have lost, and struggle to move forward in a changed world.
Please register to receive the pre-readings. Click here to register.
December 8: Faith Seeks Understanding with Fr. Timothy Joyce, OSB.
Topic for December: TBD (Virtual)
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 2025-26 programs brochure.
In case you missed it, the recording of Dr. Charles F. Mundhenk's program, "Where Have You Gone Joe DiMaggio? Finding Hope in Dark Times," is available to watch on YouTube. Click here to view.
2024-25 Program Recordings
Here are recordings of some of the 2024-25 programs - for personal viewing only; recording permission granted by each of the presenters; property of Glastonbury Abbey.
Dr. Cathleen Kaveny: "Ethical Voting - Is it a Contradiction in Terms?"
Sister Laura Swan: "What the Desert Mothers Have to Say to US Today"
Fr. Bryan Hehir: "Catholic Teaching on War and Peace: Principles and Cases"
Three part series with Fr. Nicholas Morcone, OSB, "Three Popes"
Click here to view Part One, "Leo the Great"
Click here to view Part Two, "Gregory the Great"
Click here to view Part Three, "Gregory VII"
Dr. Massimo Faggioli, "Long Live Synodality"
Sr. Maureen Sullivan, OP, PhD: "Female Deaconate: If Not Now...When?"
Three-part series with John Sheff, "From Languishing to Flourishing: Becoming Your Best Self"
Click here to view Part One, "The Depression Spectrum: The Untreated Mental Health Problem"
Click here to view Part Two, "Lethargy to Vitality"
Click here to view Part Three, "The Philosophy of Stoicism: Mastering the Art of Living"
Fr. Aarom Wessman, PhD: "A Catholic Approach to the Perils of Polarization"
Dr. Julie Upton, RSM: "Mothers and Fathers of the Early Church"
Christina Leano: "What Does Contemplation Have to Do with the Climate Crisis?"
All our programs and recordings 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.
2023-24 Program Recordings
Here are recordings of some of the 2023-24 programs - for personal viewing only; recording permission granted by each of the presenters; property of Glastonbury Abbey.
Three part series with Fr. Thomas Massaro, SJ, "Social Justice: The Church's Best Kept Secret"
Click here to view Part One.
Click here to view Part Two.
Click here to view Part Three.
Three part series with Fr. Nicholas Morcone, OSB, "The Constantinian Revolution"
Click here to view Part One.
Click here to view Part Two.
Click here to view Part Three.
Three part series with Sr. Maureen Sullivan, OP, "The SYNOD: Reform, Renewal and Courage"
Click here to view Part One, "Women in the Church."
Click here to view Part Two, "The Laity Find Their Voice."
Click here to view Part Three, "The Church...Then and Now."
Three part series with Dr. Julia Upton, RSM, "Liturgy After Vatican II"
Click here to view Part One.
Click here to view Part Two.
Click here to view Part Three.
"Cultivating Hope in Difficult Days" with John Pavlovitz
Click here to view.
All our programs and recordings 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.
