Mount Angel Abbey is a place to seek things above, where people have communion with God and with each other. Join Father Anselm Flores, OSB, and Dr. Anna Petrin on “Hilltop Hangouts” for spiritual conversations with special guests exploring life at Mount Angel Abbey.
Fr. Anselm is a monk of Mount Angel Abbey and the Coordinator of the Mount Angel Institute. Dr. Petrin is a professor of theology at Mount Angel Seminary. Hilltop Hangouts is a collaboration between Mount Angel Abbey in Saint Benedict, Oregon, and Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Learn more about Mount Angel Abbey:
mountangelabbey.org
Learn more about Mater Dei Radio:
materdeiradio.com
Publisher
Mater Dei Radio & Mount Angel Abbey
Category
arts · religion & spirituality · religion & spirituality
In the latest episode of “Hilltop Hangouts,” our hosts sit down with Dr. Jaisy Joseph, Ph.D, who teaches ecclesiology and theology of ministry as a professor at Villanova University.
They discuss how true listening requires comfortability with silence, what it means to give of ourselves in dialogue, and letting the Holy Spirit “interrupt” difficult conversations with His peace.
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Mount Angel Abbey is a place to seek things above, where people have communion with God and with each other. Join Father Anselm Flores, OSB, and Dr. Anna Petrin on “Hilltop Hangouts” for spiritual conversations with special guests exploring life at Mount Angel Abbey.
Fr. Anselm is a monk of Mount Angel Abbey and the Coordinator of the Mount Angel Institute. Dr. Petrin is a professor of theology at Mount Angel Seminary.
Hilltop Hangouts is a collaboration between Mount Angel Abbey in Saint Benedict, Oregon, and Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Learn more about Mount Angel Abbey:
mountangelabbey.org
Learn more about Mater Dei Radio:
materdeiradio.com
19 Aug 2026
Are Monks Useless?
In this episode of "Hilltop Hangouts," we continue to explore the purpose of monasteries and monks, this time with Abbot Jeremy Driscoll, O.S.B., the 12th abbot of Mount Angel Abbey.
Along with our hosts Fr. Anslem Flores and Dr. Anna Petrin (who had fun naming this episode), Abbot Jeremy discusses if monks have fun, how monks are an example of Gospel living to the rest of the world, how they are formed by the communal life, and why guests are always welcome on the Hilltop!
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Mount Angel Abbey is a place to seek things above, where people have communion with God and with each other. Join Father Anselm Flores, OSB, and Dr. Anna Petrin on “Hilltop Hangouts” for spiritual conversations with special guests exploring life at Mount Angel Abbey.
Fr. Anselm is a monk of Mount Angel Abbey and the Coordinator of the Mount Angel Institute. Dr. Petrin is a professor of theology at Mount Angel Seminary.
Hilltop Hangouts is a collaboration between Mount Angel Abbey in Saint Benedict, Oregon, and Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Learn more about Mount Angel Abbey:
mountangelabbey.org
Learn more about Mater Dei Radio:
materdeiradio.com
8 Jul 2026
What Is a Monastery?
“Hilltop Hangouts” takes place in a monastery – so we are welcoming Fr. John Paul Le, OSB, back on the podcast to explain what exactly a monastery is!
Along with our hosts, Fr. John Paul explores how a monk is called to be “single-hearted” in his search for God, how a structured life actually frees up your soul, and what it means to be in community with the brotherhood of monks.
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Mount Angel Abbey is a place to seek things above, where people have communion with God and with each other. Join Father Anselm Flores, OSB, and Dr. Anna Petrin on “Hilltop Hangouts” for spiritual conversations with special guests exploring life at Mount Angel Abbey.
Fr. Anselm is a monk of Mount Angel Abbey and the Coordinator of the Mount Angel Institute. Dr. Petrin is a professor of theology at Mount Angel Seminary.
Hilltop Hangouts is a collaboration between Mount Angel Abbey in Saint Benedict, Oregon, and Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Learn more about Mount Angel Abbey:
mountangelabbey.org
Learn more about Mater Dei Radio:
materdeiradio.com
13 May 2026
Journey Toward Pentecost
As we move toward the close of the Easter season and the Feast of Pentecost, Abbot Jeremy Driscoll, O.S.B, joins Hilltop Hangouts once again to share insight on this important time in the Church year.
He reflects on how Christians are called each year to a deeper understanding of the Resurrection and our living witness to it, as well as important hallmarks of the Easter season, the meaning of the word “Paschal,” and the transformational effect of the Holy Spirit on our hearts.
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Mount Angel Abbey is a place to seek things above, where people have communion with God and with each other. Join Father Anselm Flores, OSB, and Dr. Anna Petrin on “Hilltop Hangouts” for spiritual conversations with special guests exploring life at Mount Angel Abbey.
Fr. Anselm is a monk of Mount Angel Abbey and the Coordinator of the Mount Angel Institute. Dr. Petrin is a professor of theology at Mount Angel Seminary.
Hilltop Hangouts is a collaboration between Mount Angel Abbey in Saint Benedict, Oregon, and Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Learn more about Mount Angel Abbey:
mountangelabbey.org
Learn more about Mater Dei Radio:
materdeiradio.com
8 May 2026
Revisit the Proclamation of Easter
We are still in the Easter season! If you have found yourself struggling to remember that this is a time of rejoicing, now is a perfect time to revisit the beautiful “Exsultet,” the proclamation of Easter.
Abbot Jeremy Driscoll, O.S.B, joins Hilltop Hangouts once again to examine this incredible poem, and encourages us to pray with it throughout the Easter season. He reflects on the exhortation to rejoice at the Lord's Resurrection, how God’s deeds do not grow old, and the audacious claim of “O Happy Fault.”
You can pray with the Exsultet here:
https://www.usccb.org/prayer-worship/liturgical-year/easter/easter-proclamation-exsultet
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Mount Angel Abbey is a place to seek things above, where people have communion with God and with each other. Join Father Anselm Flores, OSB, and Dr. Anna Petrin on “Hilltop Hangouts” for spiritual conversations with special guests exploring life at Mount Angel Abbey.
Fr. Anselm is a monk of Mount Angel Abbey and the Coordinator of the Mount Angel Institute. Dr. Petrin is a professor of theology at Mount Angel Seminary.
Hilltop Hangouts is a collaboration between Mount Angel Abbey in Saint Benedict, Oregon, and Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Learn more about Mount Angel Abbey:
mountangelabbey.org
Learn more about Mater Dei Radio:
materdeiradio.com
1 Apr 2026
Holy Week: A Pilgrimage Through Time
In a special Holy Week edition of "Hilltop Hangouts," our hosts Father Anselm Flores, OSB, and Dr. Anna Petrin are joined by Br. Alfredo Miranda, OSB.
Together they discuss the importance of holy sites, how we can go on pilgrimage through devotions like the Stations of the Cross, and how the sacred Liturgy makes the events of salvation history present to us in a mystical way.
In these most sacred days of the Church year, you will be inspired to “make a pilgrimage through time” as we witness the events of Christ’s Passion and walk with Him to His Resurrection.
We wish you a very blessed Holy Week!
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Mount Angel Abbey is a place to seek things above, where people have communion with God and with each other. Join Father Anselm Flores, OSB, and Dr. Anna Petrin on “Hilltop Hangouts” for spiritual conversations with special guests exploring life at Mount Angel Abbey.
Fr. Anselm is a monk of Mount Angel Abbey and the Coordinator of the Mount Angel Institute. Dr. Petrin is a professor of theology at Mount Angel Seminary.
Hilltop Hangouts is a collaboration between Mount Angel Abbey in Saint Benedict, Oregon, and Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Learn more about Mount Angel Abbey:
mountangelabbey.org
Learn more about Mater Dei Radio:
materdeiradio.com
21 Feb 2026
Who was St. Benedict?
In the latest installment of “Hilltop Hangouts,” our hosts Dr. Anna Petrin and Fr. Anselm Flores discuss St. Benedict of Nursia with Br. Jesse Ochoa-Gonzalez.
As the founder of the Benedictine order in the 6th century, St. Benedict had a profound impact both in his own monastic order and beyond.
Hear Fr. Jesse’s favorite story on the life of St. Benedict, what it’s like to visit the places he lived, and how shared community life provides an opportunity for service.
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Mount Angel Abbey is a place to seek things above, where people have communion with God and with each other. Join Father Anselm Flores, OSB, and Dr. Anna Petrin on “Hilltop Hangouts” for spiritual conversations with special guests exploring life at Mount Angel Abbey.
Fr. Anselm is a monk of Mount Angel Abbey and the Coordinator of the Mount Angel Institute. Dr. Petrin is a professor of theology at Mount Angel Seminary.
Hilltop Hangouts is a collaboration between Mount Angel Abbey in Saint Benedict, Oregon, and Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Learn more about Mount Angel Abbey:
mountangelabbey.org
Learn more about Mater Dei Radio:
materdeiradio.com
23 Dec 2025
Merry Christmas!
In the Christmas edition of "Hilltop Hangouts," our hosts Father Anselm Flores, OSB, and Dr. Anna Petrin are joined by Prior Fr. Teresio Caldwell, OSB.
Hear about the Christmas traditions of monks, including why the Abbot is “basically Santa” and the daunting task of setting up the Christmas tree. They also discuss how silence and celebration go together, how Christ surprises us at Christmas, and why time with family is so important.
Merry Christmas!
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Mount Angel Abbey is a place to seek things above, where people have communion with God and with each other. Join Father Anselm Flores, OSB, and Dr. Anna Petrin on “Hilltop Hangouts” for spiritual conversations with special guests exploring life at Mount Angel Abbey.
Fr. Anselm is a monk of Mount Angel Abbey and the Coordinator of the Mount Angel Institute. Dr. Petrin is a professor of theology at Mount Angel Seminary.
Hilltop Hangouts is a collaboration between Mount Angel Abbey in Saint Benedict, Oregon, and Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Learn more about Mount Angel Abbey:
mountangelabbey.org
Learn more about Mater Dei Radio:
materdeiradio.com
13 Dec 2025
The Season of Advent
In this special Advent episode, Fr. John Paul Le, OSB, joins "Hilltop Hangouts" to discuss the beautiful season of Advent with hosts Fr. Anselm Flores, OSB, and Dr. Anna Petrin.
Learn why Advent is a penitential season, how our Blessed Mother can teach us to wait well, and how to keep the "feel" of Advent instead of jumping ahead to Christmas.
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Mount Angel Abbey is a place to seek things above, where people have communion with God and with each other. Join Father Anselm Flores, OSB, and Dr. Anna Petrin on “Hilltop Hangouts” for spiritual conversations with special guests exploring life at Mount Angel Abbey.
Fr. Anselm is a monk of Mount Angel Abbey and the Coordinator of the Mount Angel Institute. Dr. Petrin is a professor of theology at Mount Angel Seminary.
Hilltop Hangouts is a collaboration between Mount Angel Abbey in Saint Benedict, Oregon, and Mater Dei Radio in Portland, Oregon.
Learn more about Mount Angel Abbey:
mountangelabbey.org
Learn more about Mater Dei Radio:
materdeiradio.com
11 Dec 2025
Pilot: The Monastery Is for Everyone!
In the first episode of Hilltop Hangouts, our hosts Father Anselm Flores, OSB, and Dr. Anna Petrin share their hopes for this new podcast! They explain the Benedictine value of hospitality, their desire to invite everyone into conversation, and what monastic life can teach all of us.
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Mount Angel Abbey is a place to seek things above, where people have communion with God and with each other. Join Father Anselm Flores, OSB, and Dr. Anna Petrin on “Hilltop Hangouts” for spiritual conversations with special guests exploring life at Mount Angel Abbey.
Fr. Anselm is a monk of Mount Angel Abbey and the Coordinator of the Mount Angel Institute. Dr. Petrin is a professor of theology at Mount Angel Seminary.
Hilltop Hangouts is a collaboration between Mount Angel Abbey (https://mountangelabbey.org) in Saint Benedict, Oregon, and Mater Dei Radio (https://materdeiradio.com) in Portland, Oregon.
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