The Klosterland series has the motto: “Transformation – art and handicrafts in monasteries” and invites you to immerse yourself in various areas of monastic culture.
Whether bookbinding, art publishing or paramentics: our KLOSTERLAND member Dr. Felicitas von Aretin (journalist and author) will bring the diversity of monastic worlds to life on the respective salon evenings with her discussion partners, who come from very different monasteries.
This evening’s discussion partner is Michael van Ooyen, goldsmith, Europakloster Gut Aich. Please REGISTER for the online salon at: salon-goldschmiede@klosterland.deYou will receive the access data by e-mail immediately after registration. Personal details: Michael van Ooyen has been working as a church goldsmith at the Austrian Benedictine monastery Europakloster Gut Aich as a secular employee since 2020.
Previously, the 65-year-old worked as the operations and workshop manager of the Schoenstatt Brothers of Mary in Vallendar, the largest arts and crafts workshop in this field.
Today, he restores precious liturgical objects and also creates artistic new ones.
He himself comes from a dynasty of goldsmiths and silversmiths in Kevela and has experienced the upheavals and changes in the arts and crafts sector at first hand during his long career.
In our conversation, we talk about what is important in the work of a church goldsmith, how spirituality and craftsmanship are connected and what challenges the profession faces.
European monastery Gut Aich: The Austrian Benedictine monastery Gut Aich near Lake Wolfgangsee has a very unusual history: it was only founded in 1993 and was accepted into the Austrian Benedictine congregation in 2004 after a trial phase.
The Benedictine monastery with its nine monks stands for modern monasticism, which is dedicated to the peaceful coalescence of the peoples of Europe.
It is a center of European herbal medicine, which finds its holistic practical application in the outpatient clinic of the St. Hildegard Center with psychotherapy and various other health services.
Brother David Steindl-Rast also lives in the monastery. As a monk and bridge builder to Buddhism, he is one of the best-known spiritual teachers of our time.
The monastery has four art workshops, most of which are run by secular employees.
Michael van Ooyen has been a goldsmith and silversmith at the European Monastery since 2020.

We are already looking forward to the next ONLINE-Salon.20.08.2024 – 18.30 – KLOSTERLAND-Salon with Father Mauritius Sauerzapf, OSB, Beuron Archabbey Registration already possible: salon-p-mauritius@klosterland.de