 New Camaldoli Hermitage: Big Sur, California
In 1958, the Camaldolese order established New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur, CA, situated in the rugged coastal mountains overlooking the Pacific Ocean and surrounded by California chaparral, redwood, madrone, bay laurel, and an oak forest. The monks' labors include hospitality, retreats, a book store, writing, original art, pottery and music.
Many of the monks were called to monastic life as a second career. Former lay careers of community members include college and high school teaching, performing arts, engineering, clinical psychology, chemistry, construction and the United States Armed Services.
Camaldolese monks are part of the great Benedictine monastic family founded by Saint Benedict in the sixth century. The Camoldolese branch was established through the reforming efforts of the eleventh century Italian monk Saint Romuald. His reform sought to revitalize the best of the cenobitic (communal) and eremitic (solitary) dimensions of monastic life.
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