The “heart” of Catalonia: Inside of Montserrat

Dear Johnnies and the greater CSB+SJU community,

I am writing to you from my service at Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey in Catalonia, Spain, where I’ve been living and working these past weeks. My hope is to give you some insight into my experience here thus far.

For those unfamiliar, Montserrat (meaning “serrated mountain”) has been a spiritual and cultural heart of Catalonia for nearly one thousand years, celebrating its millennium in 2025. The Benedictine abbey of Santa Maria de Montserrat was founded in the 11th century and became famous as the home of La Moreneta, the Black Madonna, a symbol of Catalan identity and devotion. Throughout history, Montserrat has been a refuge in times of struggle — from medieval pilgrimages to Franco’s dictatorship, when the Catalan language and traditions were repressed. The abbey endured, and today it stands as both a sacred pilgrimage site and a proud emblem of Catalan spirituality, music, and national identity.

My service here is centered around the Escolania, Montserrat’s renowned boys’ choir of students aged 8–14. The boys live at the abbey five days a week, singing, studying and playing before returning home for weekends with their families. My role is to support them in a variety of ways — as an English tutor, dorm supervisor, and friend.

Past volunteers shared no shortage of stories before our arrival, so I had some idea of what to expect. Still, being dropped into a completely new environment and culture, you can only prepare so much before finding your own way. Thankfully, most of my worries disappeared the moment we met the Escolans. Not only were they friendly and well-behaved, but I quickly realized we had plenty in common. Seeing boys in the common room reading Percy Jackson and Harry Potter, wearing Star Wars T-shirts and Marvel backpacks, instantly reassured me. “Phew,” I thought, “we’re going to have a lot to talk about.”

Alongside the Escolans, the staff have been equally warm and welcoming. Our supervisor, Efrem,
has been part of this volunteer program since its inception and makes himself readily available whenever we have questions or concerns. My fellow volunteer, Ethan, and I especially enjoy our interactions with the kitchen staff during mealtimes, where we serve the boys their food. Both former theatre actors, we’ve come to rely on dramatic flair (and some very impressive charades) to overcome the language barrier. If I don’t return home speaking fluent Catalan, I’ll at least come back with an Oscar, sculpted out of crema catalana.

Of course, there are moments when I miss family, friends, pets and the comforts of home. But it’s the small daily experiences here that bring me joy and remind me why this service matters: watching a boy puzzle through an English sentence until he finds the right word, organizing a game that fills the courtyard with excitement or finding peace in the monastery gardens during my own study and reflection. The abbey’s historic architecture framed by jagged mountains forces you to pause and appreciate the path that brought you here. One evening I was reading about Julius Caesar crossing the Pyrenees on his way to battle Pompey at Ilerda (modern-day Lleida), and the next morning I stepped outside and gazed (coincidently) at those same mountains in the distance. That’s not something I usually get in Plymouth.

I would recommend this program to anyone with a desire for adventure, growth, reflection and service to
something greater than themselves. Montserrat’s thousand-year anniversary puts things in perspective when I think of how many people have passed through this very spot, each a small piece of a much larger story. And while not every Benedictine monastery is celebrating a millennium, each shares a rich and enduring history. To live, serve and grow within these communities is a once-in-a-lifetime privilege.

With that said, if you have an interest in this program, I encourage you to reach out to one of the advisors. A simple email or coffee conversation can answer many of your questions and help you discern if this is the right post-grad path. Best of luck — and thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way!

Sincerely,

Cameron Klick