Albert Holtz, O.S.B., is a Benedictine monk of Newark Abbey, Newark, New Jersey, working in the monastery's inner-city prep school, where he teaches New Testament. He has served as master of novices for 25 years and as a retreat master for Benedictine communities around the United States. He is the author of Downtown Monks, From Holidays to Holy Days, and Walking in Valleys of Darkness.He lives in Newark, New Jersey.

“The Downtown Monks will win your heart. There can be no question about that; for Holtz’s telling of their story is nothing less than a delicious, but deadly serious, saga of Jesus’ men at work in the city today and among us . . . all of which means that these monks will feed your hope, nourish your belief in goodness, and delight your mind all at the same time and all in one set of covers.”—Phyllis Tickle, Compiler, The Divine Hours

“Weaving a rich tapestry of description and reflection Fr. Albert invites us to look at life with new eyes to discover the deeper meaning that is present every day. Using engaging descriptions of his own experiences along with scripture passages and thought-provoking questions for reflection, Fr. Albert offers a model for living more deeply into the presence of God as we plumb for the spiritual meaning of everyday living.”—The Rev. Dr. Jane Tomaine, author of St. Benedict’s Toolbox: The Nuts and Bolts of Everyday Benedictine Living