A Benedictine Monastery in the Heart of Washington, DC
Near the north-east boundary of the District of Columbia, twelve minutes by Metro from Union Station and twenty minutes from the Capitol, is a thriving Benedictine monastery. Here, we monks live the life of prayer established by our sixth-century founder St. Benedict and where we continue that life and the aspirations of our founder for the glory of God and the sanctification of our nation and world.
Within an urban oasis of 40 acres of secluded woodland surrounding the monastery, the usual sounds of a busy city are subdued. Here, too, stands our highly regarded middle school and high school, where the values of our patrons, St. Benedict and St. Anselm, are proclaimed among our youth as we prepare them for lives of service to God and their fellow human beings.
Some have referred to the abbey as “Washington’s best kept secret”; perhaps this is because monks are not naturally given to the more ostentatious ways of projecting themselves upon the surrounding world. Monasteries are primarily places of prayer and virtuous activity, and our evangelization is precisely through prayer, spiritual direction, and education. We cordially invite you to share our secret. We invite you to “come and see.”
HOLY WEEK and EASTER WEEK 2023
These services will be in person at the abbey as well as streamed
Mon., Tues., Wed. of Holy Week: Mass at 8:30 a.m.
Thurs., Fri., and Sat. of Holy Week: Morning Prayer at 8:30 a.m.
Holy Thursday: Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 5:00 p.m.
Good Friday: Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion at 5:00 p.m.
Holy Saturday: Vespers at 5:00 p.m.
Easter Vigil: 9:00 p.m.
Easter Sunday: Sung Lauds at 8:30 a.m.
Easter Sunday Day Mass: 10:30 a.m.
Easter Sunday Vespers and Benediction:6:00 p.m.
Easter Monday: Mass at 8:30 a.m.
Easter Tuesday through Friday: Mass at 7:30 a.m.
Dear Friends of St. Anselm’s,
As we continue follow guidelines from the D.C. government and the archdiocese, we no longer require masking on the part of those who come to worship with us, even though we recognize that many persons will prefer to wear a mask, which is perfectly fine. All of our liturgical services are now open to the public. For the time being, holy Communion at Mass will be offered only under the species of bread, and the sign of peace should be exchanged by a bow or wave and so not yet by shaking hands. This may seem to some persons as overly cautious, but we have been spared any outbreak of the virus thus far and are taking reasonable precautions so that everyone, both monks and guests, may stay healthy.
Sincerely in St. Benedict,
--Abbot James Wiseman, OSB
All Masses and Sunday Vespers are streamed on our YouTube Channel.