Order of the Hermits of Saint William Mission Statement

“They had one heart and one soul in their search for God.” (cf. Acts 4:32)

The community of the Williamites – Ordo Eremitarum Sancti Guillelmi (OESG) is called to a contemplative and serving form of life, one that springs from the love of God and radiates toward others, in the spirit of the Rule of Saint Augustine. The Order seeks to rediscover and embody, in today’s world, a spirituality of interior unity, fraternal communion, and merciful service, not by turning away from the world, but by contemplatively and healingly receiving God’s presence.

The Three Pillars of Our Mission

Contemplation The first vocation of the Williamites is inner attention, arising from the listening to the Word and the silent contemplation of God’s presence. This prayerful attentiveness does not isolate, but opens the heart to the suffering of the world, to the face of the other, and to the nearness of Christ.

Communion According to the Rule of Saint Augustine, „Let the law of love reign among you.” The Williamite Order is not only a monastic community, but a fellowship of mutual bearing, responsible listening, and the practice of evangelical peace.

Service The presence that flows from contemplation cannot remain silent. The Williamites seek to be humbly serve in the Church, to those in spiritual crisis, the lonely, and the seekers through fraternal accompaniment, teaching, spiritual direction, retreats, and workshops.

Sources of Our Spirituality The Holy Scripture – the living Word of God. The Rule of Saint Augustine – foundation of evangelical community and interior unity. The legacy of Saint William of Malevalle – a model of inner conversion and radical seeking of God. The monastic experience – longing for silence and healing from division.

Who Are We Today? The Villiamite Order is a modern revival of a historical monastic order. We do not seek to rewrite the past, but to give a present and living form to Old Catholic religious life, rooted in its spiritual heritage. The community is open to members of the Nordic Catholic Church who feel called to the threefold unity of contemplative life, fraternal community, and serving presence – in silence, simplicity, obedience and celibacy.