Benedict Ashram

Navajeevan Priory (Benedictine Ashram) Navajeevan Benedictine Monastery is a Catholic monastic community situated at Jakkampudi, Vijayawada Rural, NTR District, Andhra Pradesh – 520012. Belonging to the Sylvestrine Congregation of the Order of Saint Benedict (OSB), the monastery is rooted in the rich spiritual tradition of Saint Benedict and his Rule. The name “Navajeevan,” meaning “new life,” expresses the very spirit and mission of the monastery: to be a place of spiritual renewal, hope, and transformation, where people can encounter Christ and discover new strength and purpose in their lives. Over the years, Navajeevan has sought to grow as a center of prayer, monastic formation, pastoral service, and Christian renewal in the Diocese of Vijayawada. At the heart of our life is the Benedictine principle of Ora et Labora – “Prayer and Work.” Our daily life is centered on the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, Divine Office, personal prayer, spiritual reading, silence, and contemplation, together with community living and various forms of work and apostolic service. Following the spirit of the Rule of Saint Benedict, we strive to live a balanced life marked by prayer, fraternity, discipline, simplicity, hospitality, and service. Our work is understood not merely as a responsibility but as an offering to God and a means of serving the Church and society. Through this way of life, the monastery seeks to remain a living witness to the Gospel and to the enduring relevance of Benedictine spirituality in the contemporary world. Navajeevan also has an important role in formation and the nurturing of monastic vocations. It provides an environment where young men discerning their vocation can grow through prayer, study, discipline, community life, and service. The monastery is not simply a residence for monks but a place where faith and vocation are accompanied and strengthened. At the same time, the community contributes to the wider mission of the Church through pastoral ministry, educational initiatives, charitable activities, and service to the local community. In this way, the monks seek to bring the values of the Benedictine tradition into the lives of the people entrusted to their care. A distinctive feature of Navajeevan is its spirit of Benedictine hospitality. Inspired by Saint Benedict's teaching to welcome every person with kindness and respect, the monastery seeks to be a place of peace and prayer for priests, religious, lay faithful, students, families, and all those who come seeking spiritual guidance, reconciliation, silence, or a deeper relationship with God. The community endeavors to offer a welcoming environment in which people may pause from the demands of daily life, listen to God, and experience the peace of Christ. Thus, Navajeevan strives to be a spiritual oasis in the Diocese of Vijayawada, bringing together prayer, formation, community, work, hospitality, and service. Today, Navajeevan Benedictine Monastery continues to live its mission as a beacon of faith, hope, and new life. Through the faithful witness of the monks, their common prayer, community life, priestly ministry, formation of future monks and priests, and service to the Church and society, the monastery seeks to make Christ present in the midst of the people. Its identity is beautifully expressed in its name: Navajeevan – New Life. Everything undertaken by the community ultimately aims to help people encounter God, experience spiritual renewal, and discover new life in Christ through the Benedictine way of prayer, work, community, and service. Our Priory is blessed with four monasteries, each having a particular role in our formation and pastoral mission: 1. Benedict Ashram, Vijayawada – Formation house for aspirants in their first year. 2. Navajeevan Monastery, Vijayawada Rural – Formation house for postulants and brothers pursuing college studies. 3. Benedict Nivas, Udupi, Karnataka – Formation house for novices. 4. Benedict Bhavan, Gunupur, Odisha – Formation house for aspirants undergoing their initial formation.