Pastoral Care
At Stiftsschule Engelberg, the teachers and students desire to shape their everyday lives together, to work, learn, celebrate and play together, and to find meaning in life through the Christian faith. Pastoral care at the Stiftsschule supports and guides people at the school, day students and boarders alike, by exposing them to different religious and social experiences. It helps them to find themselves, their place in the community and with God, by offering a conversation partner to those who have lost direction or entered into conflict or crisis. Pastoral care promotes social behavior, supports openness and tolerance towards other cultures and towards those who think differently from us. Pastoral care helps to bring God into the community during times of celebration and commemoration.
Pastoral care at the Stiftsschule includes: Religious worship, seeking meditation, observing Advent and Lent, participation in Contemplation Days (Besinnungstage), confirmation instruction, a pilgrimage, encountering other denominations and religions, engaging in outreach, saying morning and evening prayers and grace, relationship building, communal celebration of holy days, excursions, ministration and reading the roster, assisting in the organization of topics and music for church services, spending a week in Taizé, utilizing opportunities for advice and support, participating in church-sponsored youth events, experiencing a day with the monks in the monastery, exchanging ideas about passages from the Bible or concerns of faith.
School Theatre
Theatre at Stiftsschule Engelberg
Theatre is fun. Nearly all of my actors and actresses would agree with that statement. But theater is also hard work; through it one gets to know a lot more about oneself and others. Yes, I am convinced that involvement in theatre contributes much toward the personal development of young people and fulfills a basic requirement in educating them. Body, mind and feelings are equally involved, so theatre has a tremendous potential to influence. It provides something profoundly long-lasting, in contrast to other experiences that prove fleeting and short-lived. Theatre experiences become part of one’s biography. Those involved in theater activities will never forget them.
When it comes to making a piece stage-worthy and giving shape to the whole, there is also a certain amount of frustration bound to the process. It takes discipline, perseverance, and team spirit to bring a project to a happy ending. The process is just as important as the product – or how you get there is as important as to where you are going. Sometimes it’s maybe even more important. But that’s an individual call. Indeed, playfulness and light-heartedness are also part of the experience. There is much laughter, and time and again magical moments trigger something in each individual, awakening creativity as well as a feeling of group belonging. In keeping with monastery schools – theatre is a tradition!
Abbey Choir
The Abbey Choir has existed ever since the services of the Abbey Church began to feature singing in several ranges of voice. Originally, the choir was comprised exclusively of monks and male students from the school. From the 1970s on, the Abbey Choir was opened up to singers – male and female – from the town. Singing together strengthens the body and soul and enlivens church services as we celebrate our faith. Today, the Abbey Choir serves as an important link between Stiftsschule Engelberg, the monastery, and the town.
Rehearsals take place in the music room of Stiftsschule Engelberg every Thursday evening at 7.30 p.m. Monks, day students and boarders come together with residents who love to sing.
Since the summer of 2012, the Abbey Choir has been under the direction of Ruth Mory-Wigger. Her focus is on bringing musical variety to the church services. Song should match the occasion and those celebrating together. Familiar songs and little-known pieces, old and modern music, world-famous songs and treasures found in the monastery’s music library all belong to the program. Whoever takes pleasure in singing different styles will find themselves at home and welcome in the Abbey Choir.
Director of Music
Ruth Mory-Wigger
Stiftsschule Engelberg
+41 41 639 61 94
ruth.mory@stiftsschule-engelberg.ch
Chair
Father Guido Muff OSB
Monastery Engelberg
+41 41 639 61 61
p.guido@kloster-engelberg.ch
Music School
Music is a fundamental component of human communication. It is an important element in today’s education, especially in the personal development of children and young people. Making music develops intellectual and manual abilities. Music also influences other skills in areas such as language development, motor skills and creativity. Playing in an ensemble is an enriching experience that complements individual performance. The Engelberg Music School offers individual music instruction to everyone. Since February 2016 the school is under its own separate roof.
Today, some 200 students and adults tap into the numerous classes the Music School has to offer. Its core duties are to provide basic music instruction, to spark the interest of young musicians in amateur music-making, and to further gifted musicians through contemporary learning methods and models. The school offers a broad range of activities and instruction.
Instruments & subjects include:
- Recorder (soprano and alto)
- Singing / Voice
- Violin, viola, cello, contrabass
- Piano
- Classical guitar, electric guitar, electric bass
- Flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone
- Trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba
- Accordion, “Schwyzerörgeli” (accordion)
- Percussion / Drums
Physical Education
At Stiftsschule Engelberg, students enjoy excellent sports facilities, including a fully equipped fitness suite, multiple gyms, a tennis court, two football pitches, and volleyball and basketball areas. A recent addition to our campus is a disc golf course – an exciting blend of strategy, skill, and fun.
Our setting in the heart of the Alps provides ideal conditions for skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, and curling in winter, while the warmer seasons invite tennis, golf, hiking, jogging, swimming (indoors and in the wild), biking, and both outdoor and indoor climbing. The local cable car operators offer our students discounted season passes, ensuring the mountains are always within reach.
On special days throughout the year, the entire school community ventures out together – carving through fresh powder in winter or hiking the high trails and swimming in Lake Lucerne come summer – enriching our physical well-being, the spirit of camaraderie, and forging memories and friendships through shared adventure.
Special Days
Vakanztage – days on which regular classes are pre-empted by recreational activities – have long been a tradition at our school. They enhance the regular school programme with outdoor activities and social fun enjoyed by the entire school.
Special days in winter are enjoyed by students and teachers alike on Engelberg’s slopes – mainly snowboarding, sledding and skiing. On Winter Sports Day, individuals, as well as small teams from each class, participate in friendly competition. Organized activities include ski races, snow golf and creating snow sculptures.
On a pleasant summer’s day, Aawassertag takes place. The whole school sets off from Engelberg on foot and hikes along the Aa River ravine, destination Lake Lucerne. Once there, it is time for sunning and swimming. A Summer Sports Day, plus an additional day for a school trip to various locations in Switzerland complete the special day programme for the year.
Student Association
Angelomontana is a co-ed student association that was founded at Stiftsschule Engelberg in 1907. It is one of the biggest sections in the Society of Swiss Students (Schweizerischer Studentenverein). Since 1970 Angelomontana has also been a member of “Gymnasia”.
With its regular meetings and events Angelomontana offers a varied programme to its members, i.e. students in the last three years of school. Angelomontana also promotes lasting friendships, valuable contact with universities, and networking among alumni of the school.
Alumni
Stiftsschule Engelberg and the Monastery of Engelberg strive to keep in contact with former students. Many of them remain in close contact with Stiftsschule Engelberg long after graduation. The Monastery of Engelberg invites its formers students to a Matura reunion 10, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 55, and 60 years after their graduation.