About Abbey of the Genesee · Piffard, New York
The Abbey of the Genesee (formally Our Lady of the Genesee Abbey) is a Trappist monastery in the Genesee River Valley near Piffard, New York, home to about 24 contemplative Cistercians of the Strict Observance (O.C.S.O.). Founded from the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky in 1951, the monks live a balanced daily rhythm of prayer, lectio divina, and manual labor — most famously baking Monks' Bread — in an atmosphere of simplicity and silence. The abbey welcomes visitors to its public Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours and offers three retreat houses (Bethlehem, Bethany, and Nazareth) for men and women seeking a few days of monastic silence. It falls within the Diocese of Rochester.
- Established
- 1951
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Genesee (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Gerard D'Souza, O.C.S.O. (Abbot, elected May 30, 2012)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rochester
Why belong here
The Abbey of the Genesee is not a typical parish to "join" but a contemplative monastery to encounter: visitors are welcomed at the abbey church for daily Mass (7:00 a.m.; Sundays at 8:00 a.m.) and the full Liturgy of the Hours, from Vigils in the middle of the night to Compline in the evening. Travelers, day visitors, and retreatants of any Christian denomination can spend time in the church or grounds, stay in one of three silent retreat houses (Bethlehem, Bethany, Nazareth), or sample the bread, fruitcakes, jams, and gourmet coffee that support the community.
Mass times at Abbey of the Genesee
Weekly Mass schedule
About the Abbey
The Abbey of the Genesee is a Trappist monastery of about 24 Cistercians of the Strict Observance, set in the verdant Genesee River Valley near Piffard, New York. Founded from Gethsemani Abbey in 1951, the community is rooted in the Rule of St. Benedict and lives by a balanced rhythm of communal prayer, lectio divina, sacred reading, study, manual labor, and hospitality.
- Full name: Our Lady of the Genesee Abbey
- Order: Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Trappists)
- Mother house: Abbey of Gethsemani (Bardstown, Kentucky)
- Diocese: Diocese of Rochester
History
The community was born of a 570-acre gift from Porter R. Chandler to Dom James Fox of Gethsemani in 1949. Six brothers and a priest arrived in Piffard on April 4, 1951, and the abbey was formally established on May 26, 1951. The first abbot, Dom Gerard McGinley, died unexpectedly during the 1955 General Chapter in Dijon; successive abbots oversaw the transition to English liturgy, the building of a new church (1974), and the maturation of the abbey's now-iconic bakery.
- 1949 — Land on the Genesee River offered to Gethsemani Abbey
- March 25 / April 4, 1951 — Founding monks arrive in Piffard
- May 26, 1951 — Abbey of the Genesee formally established
- 1952 — First loaves baked in a wooden shed behind Bethlehem
- 1956 — Present commercial bakery opens
- 1974 — New abbey church completed under Dom John Eudes Bamberger
- 1977–78 — Daughter foundations launched in Brazil and Nigeria
- 2012 — Abbot Gerard D'Souza elected; major church interior renovation follows
Abbots of Genesee
Six men have shepherded the abbey since its foundation. The current abbot, Rev. Gerard D'Souza, was elected on May 30, 2012.
- Dom Gerard McGinley (founding superior, 1951–1955)
- Dom Raymond Ryan (second abbot)
- Dom Jerome Burke (third abbot, appointed 1964)
- Dom John Eudes Bamberger (fourth abbot, elected 1971)
- Rev. John Denburger (fifth abbot, elected 2001)
- Rev. Gerard D'Souza (sixth abbot, elected 2012)
Daily Monastic Schedule
Seven times a day the community gathers for the Opus Dei, beginning with Vigils in the middle of the night and ending with Compline in the early evening. The Eucharist is concelebrated daily after Lauds. The work of the day — including bread-baking — flows around these hours of prayer.
- 3:30 AM — Vigils
- 6:30 AM — Lauds
- 7:00 AM — Mass (8:00 AM Sunday)
- 8:00 AM — Terce
- 12:00 PM — Sext
- 2:00 PM — None
- 5:30 PM — Vespers
- 7:30 PM — Compline
Visiting for Mass and Prayer
Visitors of any faith are welcome to join the community for liturgical prayer in the Abbey Church or to spend time in solitary prayer. Daily Mass is open to the public at 7:00 a.m., and Sunday Mass at 8:00 a.m. The church and reception area are open daily from 3:15 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Daily Mass — 7:00 AM
- Sunday Mass — 8:00 AM
- Liturgy of the Hours — seven times daily, open to the public
- Reception area and grounds available for quiet reflection
Retreat Houses
Men and women of any denomination who want to "come away and rest awhile with the Lord" can stay in one of three retreat houses. Bethlehem is the most popular, ideal for individual retreatants; Bethany and Nazareth accommodate small groups wishing to schedule their own retreats.
- Bethlehem — individual retreatants
- Bethany — group retreats
- Nazareth — group retreats
- Year-round availability; a small fee covers expenses
- Directed and private retreats available; contact the abbey to arrange
Monks' Bread and the Bakery
Baking is the community's principal work and chief source of income. Brother Sylvester baked the first loaves in 1952 and shared them with guests; demand from neighbors and churches grew so quickly that the present commercial bakery was opened in 1956. Today the bakery turns out nearly 40,000 loaves a week — including white, whole wheat, rye, and raisin varieties — distributed across New York and surrounding states and sold online through Monksbread.com.
- White, whole wheat, rye, and raisin breads
- Gourmet coffee, jams, and fruitcakes
- Monksbread.com online store
- Abbey Gatehouse Store (Tue–Sat, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.)
Vocations and Formation
Single Roman Catholic men between 21 and 50 who are discerning a monastic vocation are invited to apply for a Private Vocation Discernment Retreat at Bethlehem Retreat House. The process begins with contact to the Vocation Director, followed by questionnaires, references, and a personal visit of one to two weeks living with those in formation. Successful candidates proceed through observership and postulancy before novitiate.
- Vocation Director: Fr. Isaac Slater, O.C.S.O.
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: (585) 243-0660, ext. 34
- Open to Roman Catholic men, ages 21–50, in good standing
- Converts to the Faith wait at least two years before applying
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Gerard McGinley, O.C.S.O.1951–1955
Founding superior; died unexpectedly in Dijon, France, during the 1955 General Chapter.
- Dom Raymond Ryan, O.C.S.O.
Second abbot; oversaw transition to English liturgy, permanent monastic buildings, and growth of the bakery.
- Fr. Jerome Burke, O.C.S.O.1964–
Third abbot, appointed by the Vatican May 19, 1964 (abbatial blessing December 5, 1964); implemented the decrees of Vatican II and arranged private cells for each monk.
- Dom John Eudes Bamberger, O.C.S.O.1971–1977 (first term); 1977– (reelected)
Fourth abbot, elected November 12, 1971 (abbatial blessing January 26, 1972); completed a new church in 1974; helped found daughter houses in Brazil and Nigeria.
- Rev. John Denburger, O.C.S.O.2001–
Fifth abbot, elected October 2, 2001 (abbatial blessing November 5, 2001); launched the online store Monksbread.com.
- Rev. Gerard D'Souza, O.C.S.O.2012–present
Sixth abbot, elected May 30, 2012; led extensive interior renovation of the church and reorganization of the community's life and businesses.