Last Updated: Tuesday - 07/13/2010

Vocations percolating at Wyoming monastery

CNS PHOTO | BROTHER PAUL MARIE Carmelite Brothers critique a roast of Mystic Monk Coffee at the Carmelite monastery in Clark, Wyo., in late October.

CLARK, WYO. - Thanks to growing awareness of the coffee business at a small Carmelite monastery here, the monks are not only bringing in more revenue, but also more members.

"In the past two years, the monks themselves have grown from six to 15 monks and all the new monks are under 25, some right out of high school," said Susie George, a neighbour of the monks.

One young man from Australia said he has found his place in life there.

Carmelite Brother Paul Marie told CNS in a phone interview that he was searching for more in life than just "conforming to society" and the Wyoming religious order has provided that for him.

Brother Paul said he was attracted to the Carmelite order because of the joy and spirituality in the community and the fact that some of his favourite saints - including St. John of the Cross and St. Thérèse - were Carmelites.

Now he heads up the cloistered monks' coffee business.

The monks call their product Mystic Monk Coffee.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the job is "working with a lot of good monks," said Brother Paul.

The monks import coffee beans from many of the world's coffee-growing regions, frequently blending them to get just the right taste and aroma.

The monks have a new Christmas blend. Brother Paul said it is their "most complicated blend," using eight different kinds of beans, each roasted at different temperatures.

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