It has now been six years since we gathered for the very first time as Urban Monastics. There were a dozen of us in a small Parisian apartment in the Latin Quarter. More people joined us online. There was one of our founders in Berlin. There were nearly a dozen more from around Europe and the Americas. We prayed vespers together. We share the Eucharist together. We shared the dream and vision God had given us of people living as monastics in cities all over the world.

In 2019 there was a lot we did not yet know. We did not know a pandemic was coming months later. We did not know the friends we would make. We did not know if we would want to continue this idea beyond the first few years. Our first five years were a season of listening, living, and testing the waters. We found that God was with us, and was opening doors for us.

Our sixth year has been one of refinement, growth, and faithfulness. It began early on with the publication of our Way of Life from our new imprint, Urban Monastic Press. The first European Retreat was held in Edinburgh. As the weeks and months progressed, we continued to hear from people all over the world that felt a desire to join us, and to become Urban Monastics with us. There are now over 50 people who want to go through our year of discernment – the Way of Becoming.

God has been so very faithful to Urban Monastics.

As we celebrate our 6th anniversary, we must give God praise. There are hundreds of unique and personal stories of people discovering within themselves a resonance with monastic life. A life that is prayerful, intentional, meditative, contemplative, and present. Jesus continues to draw people towards Urban Monastics. Praise God for the friendships and support that have gotten us here today. Praise God for the passion and love of our founders whose love brought Urban Monastics into existence and sustains it. May our lives and work be faithful to the trust that He is placing in us.

Will you pray with and for us as we embark into the year to come? Pray that our faithfulness would find strength in God’s faithfulness towards us. Pray that our discernment and work on our Vows and Common Life would end well. Pray that we would quickly receive all the support (prayer, partners, finances) for us to care for, resource, and grow this movement. Pray for our discernment process (cohorts with learning, meditations, memorizations, one-on-one, and more) and all those who will join us. Pray that our leaders (known and not yet known) would be formed, refined, humbled, and grown in their capacity. Pray for the development of our Monastic Platform (web and mobile), and that it will give us a shared place online to connect, pray, and grow. Pray for the translation work being done into English and French to support our liturgical life. Pray for the development and translation of our prayer guides, resources, and Way of Life. Pray for all those who will come to join us for a season, or for the rest of their lives.

Finally, thank you for being here. Thank you for being present with us in whatever way that has looked like. I hope that you will always feel welcome into the monastic life and that we can continue to cultivate and sustain sacred spaces for you to be present with our God.

With gratitude, hope, and love,
~ Paul Prins
One of the Founders of Urban Monasticism

Photo Credit
Jordan Prins on 22 October 2025 in Paris.