Grow spiritually and discover nature in Vancouver Island’s contemplative program

Grow spiritually and discover nature in Vancouver Island’s contemplative program

Commentary By Julie A. Ferraro | FāVS News

Centuries after the Northwest began being explored by the likes of Lewis and Clark — though already inhabited, and appreciated, by many Indigenous tribes because of the natural resources and beauty — there can be no denying that the exploration continues.

Some of it occurs north of the border with Canada, on a very contemplative level.

That particular exploration is based in a rustic hermitage overlooking the Oyster River near the eastern coast of Vancouver Island. People of all faith traditions are invited to participate.

A “Contemplative-in-Residence” program is being offered by the Brandt Oyster River Hermitage Society, allowing single individuals to spend from three months to a full year living and exploring a deeper spirituality, as the program’s namesake — Father Charles Brandt — did until his death in 2020.

Who was Father Charles Brandt?

Brandt was born in 1923 in Kansas City, Missouri, and grew up with a love of the natural world, studying wildlife conservation before pursuing ordination as an Anglican priest in 1952. He later converted to Catholicism and eventually became a Trappist monk at New Melleray Abbey in Iowa. He learned bookbinding and lent his skills to the rich Benedictine tradition of creating fine volumes by hand.

Brandt became a hermit on Vancouver Island in the mid-1960s, moving his hermitage to its present site in the 1970s. He became an advocate for the area’s natural resources along the island’s eastern shore during the years he dwelt among the tall pines and roaring rapids. He snapped countless photos of the brilliantly colored birds in the region, which are shared freely via the website, along with many of the articles he wrote.

According to the Society’s website, “Father Charles’ final wishes were that his land would become a park, a quiet and soothing space in which people would come to commune with nature. He wanted people to fall in love with nature, to sit in its silence with a sense of wonder, and experience for themselves the sense of sacredness that he so cherished.”

On the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, a group meets in the Hermitage’s gathering space for meditation, one way to share Brandt’s wish for the property. His papers and correspondence with the likes of Thomas Merton and Thomas Berry comprise an archive that is available for research and reflection, along with books from his personal library. Zoom and in-person presentations are scheduled during the year, offering his wisdom to the public, as well.

What is the ‘Contemplative-in-Residence’ program?

The “Contemplative-in-Residence” program invites individuals from all traditions and paths to submit their applications to stay in the fully-equipped Hermitage, built by Brandt using rough-hewn wood. In addition to the naturally lit gathering space, the furnished dwelling provides a large open room provides a modern kitchen, eating and living area. The bedroom and full bath are upstairs. The tiny chapel where Brandt prayed is reminiscent of the “closet” mentioned by Jesus in the Gospels when he instructed his followers to retire in private when approaching God with praise and petitions.

Those interested in the “Contemplative-in-Residence” program are encouraged to bring perspectives blending contemplative, ecology and the arts. The 28-acres surrounding the Hermitage are ideal for walking, with trails leading through the trees and down the hills. The house itself features a porch on all four sides, allowing the day to be enjoyed from sunrise to sunset.

Located “off the beaten path,” few noises of civilization reach the Hermitage — an occasional siren, for instance — with a symphony of rushing rapids from the Oyster River (during the rainy season) a soothing accompaniment to daily life.

Yet, there is Wi-Fi accessibility.

So, for those longing to nurture their contemplative spirit, to explore their spirituality more deeply, this is an opportunity that shouldn’t be missed!