Cultivating Community through Language Learning in a Benedictine Seminary Network

St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, a seminary located in southern Indiana, was founded 1857 by monks the Benedictine order Einsiedeln Switzerland. The has since been devoted to education faith leaders—priests, deacons, graduate lay students. Due growth underserved Latino populations Midwest region United States, there is need prepare future leaders serve congregations. This work provides an exploration into ways which language learning collaborations based on hospitality can cultivate community. It outlines pedagogy community that threefold. First, given importance communicate with members communities cultivation understood terms world readiness standards American Council Teaching Foreign Languages (ACTFL). Second, because monasteries were value hospitality, these interactions are imbued hospitality. Third, it argued contexts liminal intertwines liminoid, resulting fertile ground for creation what we call liminal/liminoid encounters have potential level asymmetric power relations lead meaningful dialogue. final section shows how this enacted one specific Spanish immersion takes place at sister Monastery abroad, Our Lady Angels, Cuernavaca, Mexico. also small sample seven students’ responses two critical questions from survey questionnaire. Even though qualitative not generalizable, helps illuminate may development cultural sensitivity, sense community, between students abroad. Responses indicate who participated program least eight weeks exhibit interest continuing interact collaborate multicultural as well willingness learn target beyond experience.