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Saint Joseph's Abbey

  • Homepage
  • November–Prayers for the Faithful Departed
  • Meet Our New Abbot
  • Test page
  • Retreats at St. Joseph’s Abbey
  • Our History
    • Saint Joseph’s Abbey 1950-Present
    • Our Lady of the Valley 1900-1950
    • The Foundation of Petit Clairvaux 1825-1857
    • The Second Founding 1857-1900
    • Cistercian Beginnings
  • Monks
    • Brother Joseph
    • Brother Benedict
    • Brother Stephen
    • Brother John
    • Father Emmanuel
    • Father Simeon
    • Brother Mikah
  • The Cloud of Unknowing
  • We Live by the Work of Our Hands
  • Our Chant
    • Jerusalem
  • In Formation
  • St. Joseph’s Abbey Gift Shop
  • Our Day
  • Becoming a Monk
  • Support the Abbey
  • December: Advent late November
  • Mary With Us During the Pandemic
  • The Year of Saint Joseph
  • January: Winter at the Abbey
  • April: Eastertide
  • The Monks with Mary: Tibhirine
  • February: Lent
  • July-August: Corpus Christi
  • March: Holy Week Covid Version
  • June: The Sacred Heart
  • March: Holy Week
  • Monastic Experience Weekends: with dates
  • October: Month of the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  • Monastic Transformation
  • Vocational Visits
  • Planning for an Abbey Retreat
  • Masses and Scrolls

Masses and Scrolls

The monks of Saint Joseph’s Abbey accept donations for Masses and Scrolls of Enrollment.

We Live by the Work of Our Hands

The Holy Rood Guild
Trappist Preserves

Our Chant

Here at Spencer, traditional Gregorian chant predominates in both the Divine Office and the Mass.

Retreats at St. Joseph’s Abbey

Meet Our Abbot

Dom Vincent

The Cloud of Unknowing

A conceptual documentary film about our monastery.

Our Day

An ordinary day in the life of a monk.

Becoming a Monk

It takes time, prayer and patience but once I get in touch with this deep down place of my desire, everything will be changed, transformed. I will want to follow and pursue what I love with my whole heart, with all my strength.

Our History

St. Joseph’s Abbey Gift Shop

Abbey Diary

Daily reflections from the cloister

Meet a Monk

Brother Mikah’s Solemn Profession

SAINT JOSEPH’S ABBEY
167 North Spencer Road
Spencer, MA 01562
508.885.8700
monks@spencerabbey.org

DIRECTIONS
Google Maps

Visitors may walk in the areas in front of the church entrance but should not enter the areas of the enclosure. The monks are happy to welcome visitors and send our prayers and blessings to all our guests.

ABBEY RETREAT HOUSE
508.885.8710
retreats@spencerabbey.org

VOCATION DIRECTOR
508.885.8700 x518
vocation@spencerabbey.org

ABBEY GIFT SHOP and BOOKSTORE
Hours: Thurs-Sat 10:00 AM–4:30 PM
508.885.8720

THE HOLY ROOD GUILD
Showroom Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00-4:30 
(closed Noon-1:00 daily)
508.885.8750
www.holyroodguild.com

TRAPPIST PRESERVES
Order online or available in the Abbey Gift Shop 

MASS and PRAYER
The doors to the Abbey guest chapels are open for Mass and prayer from 5:30 AM until after Compline every day. And guests are welcome to pray with us for:

Lauds – morning prayer at 6 AM on weekdays, 6:40 on weekends
Mass – which follows immediately after Lauds
Sext – midday prayer at 12:15
None – midafternoon prayer at 2 but 2:15 on Sundays
Vespers – evening prayer at 5:40 but 5:10 on Sundays
Compline – night prayer at 7:40
Support the Abbey
  • Advent – The Coming of the Lord
  • In Formation
  • Abbey Diary
  • Meet Our New Abbot
  • St. Joseph’s Abbey Gift Shop
  • Retreats at St. Joseph’s Abbey
  • The Cloud of Unknowing
  • Our Day
  • Our History
  • We Live by the Work of Our Hands
  • Becoming a Monk
  • Meet a Monk
  • Our Chant
  • Support the Abbey
  • Advent – The Coming of the Lord
  • In Formation
  • Abbey Diary
  • Meet Our New Abbot
  • St. Joseph’s Abbey Gift Shop
  • Retreats at St. Joseph’s Abbey
  • The Cloud of Unknowing
  • Our Day
  • Our History
  • We Live by the Work of Our Hands
  • Becoming a Monk
  • Meet a Monk
  • Our Chant
  • Support the Abbey