u/Kurma-the-Turtle

For the past six months or so, I have been reaching out to various monasteries and religious communities by email to inquire about Oblate programs or similar options. I have found that the vast majority simply don't respond, even when I send a follow-up email. Out of around 30 monasteries, for instance, I have received around 3 responses, which have led nowhere. How does one actually initiate and maintain contact with a religious community if they are so unresponsive?

To clarify: this correspondence has always been directed at monasteries and religious communities that specifically state they have Oblate programs (or other such similar programs) and request the inquirer to contact them for further information. It's a bit disheartening to try so many and to simply be ignored time and time again.

I am specifically looking for a Benedictine monastery that would be willing to take on an Oblate who lives at a distance, with the possibility of making Oblation with my parish priest or through another arrangement.

I live in a small city of Brazil, though would ideally associate with an English-speaking monastery, as my Portuguese is not yet perfectly fluent. I have already reached out to a number of monasteries (in Brazil and the USA), though the majority did not reply (this was several months ago) and others were unable to provide any assistance.

Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated!