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Portsmouth, Rhode Island: Portsmouth Abbey Monastery

 

The history of Portsmouth Abbey:

In a magnificent physical setting on Narragansett Bay, Portsmouth Abbey is a community of Benedictine monks under the Rule of St. Benedict. The monastery was founded in 1918 by Dom Leonard Sargent, an American monk of Downside Abbey in England. In keeping with the congregation’s early history, they run a college preparatory boarding school for boys and girls here as well as helping local parishes.

The monks also focus on scholarly and artistic work, hospitality, as well as helping local parishes.

The English Congregation, of which Portsmouth Abbey is a member, is the oldest of the Benedictine congregations. They run schools attached to their monasteries and, in addition, serve some 30 parishes and 14 Mass centers in England and Wales.

The monks run schools attached to their monasteries and look after 27 small parishes and mass centers near them. In addition, 30 parishes and 14 mass centers in England and Wales are served by EBC monks.

Here in Portsmouth the Portsmouth Abbey School continues to flourish as the nation’s leading coeducational Catholic Benedictine boarding school for 350 students in grades 9 through 12. Unique in its English Benedictine tradition, the School offers a challenging academic curriculum rich in mathematics and science and built upon a signature humanities program.

 

About Portsmouth Abbey:

Visitors are welcome to join them for a respite of prayer, work, rest, and recreation. They offer visits to men aged 18-50 who would like to get a taste of monastic life before deciding to answer the call.

The program can be scheduled around your availability and is open-ended; you may spend a few days or an entire week at the Abbey. During your stay, you will share the life of the monks, including prayer, spiritual reading, manual labor, daily conferences, exercise and rest.

This is a unique opportunity for you to better understand monastic life and consider the possibility that you are called to it yourself.

The Abbey Church of Saint Gregory the Great here is simple yet beautiful. The focal point is the limestone altar, carved by distinguished sculptor John Benson, one of the first members of the School’s faculty.

Weekday and Sunday Masses are available for all, as well as Vespers daily.

Traveling to Portsmouth Abbey:

Address: 285 Corys Lane Portsmouth, RI 02871

GPS coordinates: 41° 36′ 8.4024” N, 71° 16′ 15.9924” W

Tel:   +1 (401) 683-2000

email:   abbotcaedmon@portsmouthabbey.org   (for vocation visits)

Click here for the official website of Portsmouth Abbey


 

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