When
the Keck Family and their friends visited from New York, their parents
assured us that, "Yes, they even smile in their sleep!"
A VISIT TO THE ABBEY
We do not give “directed” retreats, but rather we invite our guests to
participate in our own monastic schedule to whatever extent they
desire.
Seven times each weekday, and four times each Sunday the monks gather
in
chapel for common prayer (Click here to
see
the daily schedule) Morning Prayer, Community Mass,
Meditation,
Noon Prayer, Rosary, Evening Prayer and Night Prayer---most of which is
sung in Gregorian Chant, and all of which is open to guests. The Guest
House, which can accommodate nearly 70 people, is available all year to
individuals, families and groups.
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES
If you come alone, or with family or friends, you may simply
join with
the monks in all or part of our daily horarium. Breakfast, lunch
and dinner are available in the guest dining room, which is also open
for
coffee, tea and snacks anytime. The Abbey’s 75 acres of lawns, fields
and
woodlands, with trails leading to the Nashua River, provide ample space
for all. The view of Mt. Wachusett to the west~ especially at sunset,
is
spectacular. (One monk testifies that in all his 35 years here, he
has
never seen any two sunsets exactly alike.) Every evening there is a
“get together” known as “Evening Snack,” when any of the monks and
guests
may meet in the guest dining room. And finally, the day ends as it
begins,
with prayer, at 9:00 p.m.
A visit to
the Abbey sounds great, but exactly where areyou located and
how do we get there!
What
else can I find on your website?
|
Apostolate
of
Hospitality
Saint
Benedict remarks in his Rule For Monks that, "Guests are never lacking
in a monastery." Hospitality has been a long-standing tradition here at
St. Benedict's - even back to its days in Cambridge, Massachusetts (see
history) when they hosted spaghetti dinners for hungry
college
students.
Today,
more than ever people are hungry for spiritual things. Sadly, many do
not
know where to look. Even though a lot of people are taking some bizarre
routes to attain a transcendent experience, we believe that that
yearning
represents a God-given desire for God which the Creator has placed in
every
human heart.
When
groups
like Fr Loiselle's Catechetical Team Leaders spend a day at the Abbey,
we are encouraged by their strong faith and enthusiasm for learning
more.
GROUP RETREATS
Throughout the year, especially on weekends, we also host numerous
group
retreats, i.e. adult groups who use our guest facilities for their own
organized retreats. Many groups include some of our prayer times (often
Mass, Vespers or Compline) in their retreat programs. For those who
wish
to come as a group, we provide:
1) In the Guest House. a reserved section which -depending
on
the size
of the group-includes bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, a conference
room,
a small chapel and a library.
2) Three full meals served buffet style in a reserved dining
room.
3) A tour of the monastery upon request.
Because of the high demand for group retreats, a
non-refundable deposit
is required to secure group reservations, with the balance paid before
departure.
Saint Benedict Abbey
252 Still River Road
Post Office Box 67
Still River, MA 01467
Phone: (978) 456-3221
Fax: (978) 456-8181
You
can E-mail us at abbey@abbey.org
or
Email the guestmaster directly
|
Abbey
News
