Wed., May 18
Monks in the Digital Age

Monks in the Digital Age
 

Since 1918, Portsmouth Abbey in Rhode Island has been the home base for an order of Benedictine Roman Catholic monks. Bobby and Teddy Kennedy, Christopher Buckley, E.J. Dionne, future U.S. Congressmen, composers, writers, dignitaries and religious leaders have all passed through the Abbey's hallowed halls.

With tradition can come stagnation, though, and Portsmouth Abbey's monks - getting up in their years, but not insensitive to the wired world of their students - have embarked on new outreach through the Web. Using blogging, Youtube videos and Facebook they're spreading word about Portsmouth Abbey and school, using new tools to attract prospective students, and monks, into the Abbey's fold.

We'll talk with Abbot Caedmon Holmes, director of Portsmouth Abbey, and David Moran, the director of the Monastic Renewal Program.