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Benedictine Presence

The Benedictines came to Central Minnesota from St. Vincent Abbey, Latrobe, Pennsylvania in 1856, and earlier, to Latrobe in 1846 from the European Bavarian abbey of Metten. 

The monks of the Saint John's Abbey community number 164 professed today and are the second largest Benedictine community of men in the Western hemisphere behind St. Vincent Latrobe Archabbey which numbers 176 professed.

Saint John's Abbey is a vibrant monastic community of Catholic men called by Christ to support each other in the search for God through prayer, work and a common life lived under the Rule of Benedict.   The Rule of Benedict envisions a permanent, autonomous community, seeking God, living closely together under an abbot. The monks make common prayer the heart of every day. The love thus generated by preferring nothing whatever to Christ is expressed and shared in generous hospitality and creative accomplishment. 

The monks' shared community life encourages learning, creativity in the arts and trades and care for God's creation.   

During the past 150 years, the Benedictines of Saint John's Abbey in Collegeville have also served thousands of people in the Diocese of St. Cloud, Diocese of Minneapolis, other dioceses in the United States, in missions in Asia and South America and most especially in Collegeville.   The monks of Saint John's serve the Church and the wider community in education, pastoral ministry, the missions, publishing and in hospitality to people of all faiths.

The fruits of their prayer and work include the Saint John's Preparatory School, Saint John's University, the Liturgical Press and the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library.  To learn more about their history, influence and future...