We recognize the universe and the planet in particular, as the immediate place in which the Divine is revealed to us. We also understand that as we lose or diminish manifestations of the outer world (species, animals, water, forests…) , we also lose manifestations of the Divine. 
This diminishment leads to a profound experience of soul loss because the natural world, in all its radiant qualities, fulfills the needs of our inner world and is the source of our deepest inspiration.
In past centuries, the role of Catholic sisters was to work principally with the human community. Today, we understand that there is no human community in any way separate from the larger community of life that supports us and of which we are a part.
Our Symbol
Our symbol is a multi-layered image.
The Trio of Fish laid in a triangular shape is an ancient Christian representation of the Trinity; a mutually indwelling community in which all members give themselves to one another as gift.
This Trio of Fish is embraced by The circle, symbolic of the unfolding Universe and the Evolution of Consciousness.
The patterns of the Trinity are woven into the very structure of the Universe through the fundamental principles of Differentiation, Interiority and Communion.
These principles reveal the Universe as a multiplicity of different beings interpenetrating with one another in a bonded unity. In this dance, both unity and difference are held together pointing to the non-dual nature of reality.
The Cross reveals the Christ Dimension of love and self gift at the heart of the Universe. Its inner dynamism is expressed as a flow of continual outpouring from all beings without becoming diminished.
The Blue Stone in the center represents Earth our home.
Ever Ancient-Ever New
As Sisters of Green Mountain Monastery, we honor our mentor, Fr Thomas Berry,cp from whom we have received our founding inspiration, guidance and momentum. 
In bringing this monastery forward we are allured by those ancient monastic values of: prayer, contemplative activism, community, simplicity of life, hospitality, stability, silence , scholarship, sustainable farming, manual labor and the cultivation of the arts.
We find that in this new "Moment of Grace", the above values take on greater potency and meaning.
Through our prayer and reflection on the story of the Universe as sacred manifestation of the Divine, we have been opened to an expanded sense of the Sacred. The merging of the story of the universe with our deep Christic roots † shapes our monastic expression and gives us a new sense of responsibility for the future unfolding of the planet as a single sacred community of life.
Thomas Berry
Fr. Thomas Berry (1914-2009) was a Passionist priest, leading cultural historian, social critic and environmental thinker. For more than 40 years Fr. Berry worked at developing a comprehensive vision of a viable future for the Earth community.
From his academic beginning as a cultural historian, he evolved to
become a historian of Earth. He saw himself not as a theologian but as a
"geologian."
Fr. Berry was president of the American Teilhard Association for ten years
in the 1970’s and was indebted to the thought of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin for helping shape his own understanding of the universe story.
Thomas Berry’s books include:
The Dream of the Earth, The Great Work: Our Way into The Future, The Universe Story co-authored with mathematical cosmologist Brian Swimme and his latest volume entitled, Evening Thoughts: Reflecting on Earth as Sacred Community. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2006 edited by Mary Evelyn Tucker. Two new volumes are currently being printed to be released at a later date.
Thomas Berry was born and in his later years returned to Greensboro, North Carolina. It was synchronistic that when we found the land for Green Mt Monastery it was located in
Greensboro, Vermont! When we told Thomas he said, "A touch of heaven." These two places came to be known as: Greensboro North (Vt) and Greensboro South (NC).
Thomas Berry was foundational in guiding and co-founding our Monastery. He chose to be buried here at Green Mountain Monastery and was returned to a beautiful meadow on our land in a burial service on June 8, 2009.
Sr. Gail Worcelo
a Passionist nun of St. Gabriel’s Monastery for 25 years was given permission by her community in 1999 to begin a new monastery community with guidance from her mentor, Passionist priest Fr Thomas Berry.
Gail began her study with Thomas Berry in the areas of cosmology and the history of religious life during her novitiate in 1984. Her particular focus has been the refounding of religious life in light of new understandings of the universe story and the evolution of Christ Consciousness. Through the founding of Green Mountain Monastery she hopes to contribute to the unfolding of an Integral Christianity by bringing the Catholic religious tradition into its cosmological/planetary phase. 
Gail has been giving lectures and retreats on this theme for the past 18 years and continues to share her insights with groups throughout the United States and around the world. She has been a workshop presenter and speaker at gatherings such as:
The national assembly of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) , Congregational Chapters of Men and Women, Sisters of Earth, Spiritual Directors International,
Catholic Theological Union, the International European Passionists Gathering, the International Gathering of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd in Ecuador, Sophia Center and the Network of Religious Congregations in Melbourne, Australia.
Gail is a writer, Liturgical Dancer and choreographer with degrees in clinical psychology and spirituality.
Sr. Bernadette Bostwick
is co-foundress of Green Mountain Monastery and brings to the monastery a wide array of experience and skills. 
Sr. Bernadette is a vegetarian chef and provides wholesome and creative meals for the monastery and guests.
She is also an artist and envisions Green Mountain Monastery as a place where art for social and planetary change can emerge and be supported.
Her Icon entitled: Mary of the Cosmos was chosen by the Sisters of St. Joseph of LaGrange for their 2005 calendar and 2004 Christmas card. The Icon was also featured as one of several images of Mary in the book by Charlene Spretnak entitled, Missing Mary and also appears in the book by Sarah Taylor-
Green Sisters: a Spiritual Ecology of North American Environmental Nuns published by Harvard Press.
Rooted in a Dynamic Monastic Tradition (Mon*as*tic from the root Monos meaning alone…..
A single hearted search for God.)
People often say to us, “I thought only monks live in monasteries?” Since the 6th century monasteries have been places of prayer and a way of life in community for both women/nuns and men/monks. Think about Hildegarde of Bingen, St. Scholastica, Teresa of Avila, Clare of Assisi....all women monastics.
Our monastic roots as Sisters of the Green Mountain Monastery are in the dynamic tradition of Benedictine Monasticism .
This age old tradition, originating in the monastic reform of St Benedict in the 6th century, has offered a balanced spiritual framework in which to organize life for the past 1500 years.
The organizing elements of this ancient tradition have withstood the test of time and are what we embrace and carry into the future with a new planetary consciousness.
These elements include:
- recognizing Christ as Teacher and Master of Wisdom still resonant today
- the depth and richness of stability and commitment to place
- a heritage of sacred reading (Lectio Divina), chant, Eucharist, Liturgy and ritual
- a life lived in common
- obedience to the collective wisdom of the whole
- balance
- contemplative activism
- silence and prayer
- scholarship
- cultivation of the arts and beauty
- hospitality
- simplicity
- manual labor, sustainable farming and forestry and care of animals on the land
While our roots extend deep into both the Benedictine and Passionist Traditions, we realize that ours is a call to carry the elements of these traditions forward in a new expression. We are aware that no one charism in the Church can exhaust the Mystery of the Divine. Whenever and wherever monasticism has arisen over the ages, it has always been in response to the call of the Spirit. To this end diverse expressions of monasticism continue to arise. Green Mountain Monastery is one such diverse expression.
back to top
