Retreats at St. Joseph’s Abbey
Adjoining the monastery is a small Retreat House with eleven private rooms each with a private bath, linens are provided. There are two retreats per week: Monday afternoon to Friday morning or Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. The retreat house closely conforms to the atmosphere of the monastery. The celebration of Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours frame the structure for each day with a generous amount of time also set aside for private prayer, reading and contemplative quiet. Conferences are given by one of the monks on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for weekday retreats and on Saturday and Sunday for the weekend retreat, with time available for private conversation with him or the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The Retreat House is closed for renovations until Winter 2022-23
Check for the status of future reservations in December 2022.
retreats@spencerabbey.org 508-885-8710.
PHASE 1 (Completed)
In 2019 we planned several renovations and additions to the retreat house. We have completed the first phase of the renovation which included new cloister windows, floor covering in the hallways, new cabinets in the pantry, and new landscaping in the cloister garden. This was done with the generous donations that we received from you, in our recent appeals.
PHASE 2
Phase 2 of the renovations began in May and is now in progress (photos below). This includes the enlargement of the dining room, with new flooring and lighting, a new meeting room, public restrooms that will be handicap accessible, a new entrance to the cloister for the retreatants, fire suppression and sprinkler systems throughout the old and new buildings, a reading room, and new landscaping.
We thank all those who have generously contributed to these renovations. We are anxious to make them available to you. God willing all will be ready before the new year and we will be able to welcome you back soon.
DAILY SCHEDULE
Guests are welcome to join the monastic community for the Liturgy of the Hours and for Mass in the Abbey Church beginning with Vigils at 3:30 am, Lauds (morning prayer) followed by Mass at 6:00 am on weekdays and 6:40 am on weekends. None (mid-afternoon prayer) is celebrated at 2:00 pm, Vespers (evening prayer) at 5:40 pm and Compline (night prayer) at 7:40 pm. Retreatants attend Lauds, Mass and Vespers in the church in a section reserved for them. A psalm book is provided for the hours of Lauds and Vespers. Retreatants attend the other hours from side chapels located at the entrance of the church.
RESERVATIONS
Reservations can be made online or by phone: 508-885-8710. Retreat reservations can be made up to six months in advance but not beyond. You don’t have to wait six months for a retreat since we often have openings for upcoming retreats. A second retreat may be made in the same calendar year but with a six month interval between them. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact the Guest master.
PLANNING FOR AN ABBEY RETREAT
– Food and Meals
– Silence
– Access
– Proper Attire
– Groups
– Monastic Enclosure