The Merton Institute’s Preliminary Vision

Thomas Merton’s personal vision was to have a retreat/conference center near his hermitage where he would gather leaders, intellectuals, and influential people to dialogue in a contemplative way on the critical issues confronting humanity.

The Merton Institute’s vision is to help shift the consciousness of individuals and society through contemplative living. Our goal is to help individuals realize that their spiritual lives are their personal lives.
     
The “Center” at Gethsemani will fulfill both of these visions. It will be a national and international center for:

• Collaboration among local and national organizations that participate in various aspects of the movement toward a more contemplative way of life.
• Retreats and training for the Institute’s core initiatives: 
• Bridges to Contemplative Living for personal development; 
• Contemplative Leadership
• The Contemplative Family.
• International retreats on important issues, e.g. “Recovering the Inner Life of Humanity,“ which was held in October 2008. 
• Developing new, collaborative initiatives that will influence individuals and organizations, contribute to improving the human condition and instill values that inspire better personal choices, better leaders, better communities, better lives for all.

The Merton Institute believes it was entrusted with a gift that truly belongs to the greater Louisville region.  We therefore see its development as a community wide project that will serve all of humankind.
 

The Gethsemani Property Project