Marmion Abbey

Call Directions Website Contact the place of worship

Marmion Abbey The life and activities of Marmion Abbey Rooted in Christ, we pray and work as brothers—faithful to Saint Benedict’s call to holiness.

Today we laid to rest our brother in Christ, Fr. Leo Ryska, OSB.Born in Chicago in 1933, Fr. Leo gave 73 years to religi...
10/24/2026

Today we laid to rest our brother in Christ, Fr. Leo Ryska, OSB.

Born in Chicago in 1933, Fr. Leo gave 73 years to religious life and 67 years to the priesthood. He served as a Servite prior and provincial, as a monk of St. Meinrad, as abbot of St. Benedict Abbey in Benet Lake, and as a confessor in Rome. In 2015 he came home to Marmion Abbey.

He was devoted to Blessed Columba Marmion, loved good music, and made friends everywhere he went. Even as his health failed, he came to prayer and meals with his brothers and kept up with the news, worldly and monastic alike.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

Please keep Fr. Leo and our community in your prayers.

10/17/2026

Marmion Abbey's Benedictine monks joined the students, faculty, and staff of Marmion Academy for an unforgettable Friday Flyover with !

It was an incredible opportunity to showcase the energy, school spirit, and traditions that make the Marmion community so special. And of course, our monks were right in the middle of the excitement!

Now we need your help!

ABC7 Chicago's Friday Flyover voting begins Monday, October 19 at 7 AM and runs through Thursday, October 22 at 7 AM.

Visit ABC7 Chicago's TikTok page, where each school's Friday Flyover video will be pinned to the top of the page, and vote for Marmion Academy!

https://www.tiktok.com/

You can also catch up on this year's Friday Flyover visits here:
https://abc7chicago.com/tag/friday-flyover/

Let's show Chicago the strength of the Marmion community!

10/15/2026

Every piece of a Benedictine monk's habit has a deeper meaning.

Fr. Antony Maria Menardi, with the help of Br. Bruno Perez, takes us through the different parts of the traditional Benedictine habit, beginning with the tunic.

In the time of St. Benedict, the tunic was simply an everyday garment. But over the centuries, it took on a much deeper spiritual significance, symbolizing the transformation that takes place when we choose to follow Christ.

Even the act of putting on the tunic is accompanied by a prayer:

"Clothe me, O Lord, with the new man who was created according to God, in justice and holiness of truth."

For Benedictine monks, the habit is much more than clothing. It is a daily reminder of their commitment to leave behind the old self and continually grow into the person God created them to be.

And that call to transformation is not reserved for monks. Every Christian is invited to put on the new self and grow in holiness each day.

If you are a young man discerning whether God may be calling you to a life of prayer, community, and service, we invite you to experience Benedictine life at Marmion Abbey.

Schedule a visit and learn more at www.benedictinemonks.us.

10/12/2026

Sometimes the hardest thing for a student to say is how they really feel.

At Marmion Academy, restorative practices are helping students break down walls, build trust, and discover the power of honest communication.

For many young people, opening up about their struggles, mistakes, and emotions does not come naturally. But when they are surrounded by people who are willing to listen without judgment, something remarkable can happen.

They begin to feel heard. They begin to understand themselves. And they begin to recognize that they do not have to face life's challenges alone.

Through restorative circles and intentional conversations, our students are learning to put down their phones, look one another in the eye, speak from the heart, and genuinely listen.

These are more than communication skills. They are life skills rooted in our Benedictine commitment to community, respect, and care for one another.

At Marmion, education is about more than academic achievement. It is about forming young people who know how to build meaningful relationships, take responsibility for their actions, and support one another through life's challenges.

Because sometimes the most important thing we can give someone is the opportunity to be heard.

10/09/2026

What can transform a community from fear and uncertainty into one filled with courage, hope, and purpose?

The power of the Holy Spirit.

In this reflection, Abbot Joel points to one of the most remarkable transformations in the New Testament. After the death of Jesus, the apostles gathered behind locked doors, afraid and uncertain of what would come next.

But through the Holy Spirit, those same individuals became bold witnesses to Christ, willing to risk everything to proclaim the Gospel.

That transformation did not end with the apostles.

The Holy Spirit continues to work within our communities today, bringing together people with different gifts, experiences, and perspectives and helping them grow into something greater than they could become alone.

This is at the heart of Benedictine community life. We are called not simply to live alongside one another, but to allow God's grace to transform us through our relationships, our shared faith, and our commitment to Christ.

The same Holy Spirit who transformed the apostles is still at work today.

If you are a young man discerning whether God may be calling you to a life of prayer, community, and service, we invite you to experience Benedictine life at Marmion Abbey.

Schedule a visit and learn more at www.benedictinemonks.us.

10/05/2026

The only family farm run by Benedictine monks!

Marmion Abbey has been here since 1933, and we've been running the farm since 1949.

This was farmland long before we came. Growing things with the work of our hands goes right back to our Benedictine roots.

We run Abbey Farms as an apostolate for the family. We want you to come out, spend a day together, and go home more joyful than you came.

Pumpkin Daze is our fall festival, and we've been doing it for over a decade. There's an 8-acre corn maze, a jumping pillow, giant slides, and a hamster wheel you can run in. You can shoot potato guns and corn cobs, pick your pumpkins, and a whole lot more.

We've also got a rosary walk on the property. You're welcome to pray it while you're here, out in the fall weather.

Bring your family. We're open through November 1.

Tickets and hours at abbeyfarms.org

10/01/2026

Restorative practices at Marmion begin from the very start.

During freshman orientation, students are introduced to a different way of building community, one centered on listening, communication, understanding, and meaningful relationships.

Through practices like talk circles, students are given a space to express what they are feeling and learn how to listen to the experiences of others. Those skills do not stay in the classroom. They can change the way students communicate with friends, classmates, teachers, and family.

And this idea of community is deeply connected to our Benedictine identity.

After nearly 60 years of monastic community life, Abbot Joel has experienced firsthand the importance of having people around us who help us understand ourselves, one another, and how God's grace is at work in our lives.

At Marmion, we are not simply educating students. We are forming people who know how to listen, communicate, build relationships, and live in community.

09/29/2026

Leadership is not simply a title. It is a responsibility to serve.

At Marmion Academy, our Saber Ceremony marks an important moment for the new leadership of our JROTC program as students receive their swords and sabers and step into their leadership roles for the year ahead.

Marmion's connection between the Benedictine tradition and military education stretches back to the 1930s. While they may seem like two very different traditions, both emphasize discipline, commitment, service, and the responsibility to something greater than oneself.

The early monks even understood the spiritual life in terms of a battle, striving to become soldiers for Christ through prayer, sacrifice, and the pursuit of holiness.

Today, that tradition of formation continues as our seniors accept the responsibility of leading and serving the Marmion community during their final year before taking their next steps beyond our campus.

Congratulations to our new JROTC leaders. May you lead with courage, humility, discipline, and a commitment to serving those around you.

09/24/2026

Monks make breakfast too.

Sometimes a glimpse into Benedictine life is as simple as watching one of our monks make the perfect fried egg.

Prayer is at the center of monastic life, but life in the monastery is also filled with the same ordinary moments we all experience. Cooking breakfast. Sharing meals. Doing laundry. Working. Studying. Laughing with friends.

The difference is learning to see even these simple moments as part of a life dedicated to God.

There is beauty in simplicity. There is purpose in routine. And there is something deeply human about a life where prayer, work, community, and everyday living all belong together.

And apparently, there is also a secret to the perfect fried egg: a little water and a little steam.

If you are a young man curious about what Benedictine life is really like, come experience it for yourself.

Schedule a visit and learn more at www.benedictinemonks.us.

09/17/2026

Leadership is not just about taking charge. It is about learning how to serve others well.

At Marmion Academy, our L.E.A.D. program challenges students to grow as leaders through the values that have shaped our Benedictine community for generations.

This year, our L.E.A.D. Leadership Symposium comes together with the JROTC Saber Ceremony, bringing students and parents together for a reflection on one of the Benedictine Hallmarks: hospitality.

It is also a glimpse of an exciting future for the L.E.A.D. program. As Marmion begins this new chapter with young women now part of our student body, the program is evolving to create an even more dynamic environment where students can learn from one another, challenge one another, and grow together as leaders.

The faces of Marmion may be changing, but our foundation remains firmly rooted in the Benedictine values that have always defined who we are.

This is how we form the next generation of leaders.

Address

850 Butterfield Road
Aurora, IL
60502

Telephone

+16308977215

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Marmion Abbey posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Place Of Worship

Send a message to Marmion Abbey:

Shortcuts

Share

Category