About Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem · Charles Town, West Virginia
The Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem (C.R.N.J.) are a small religious institute of Augustinian Canons who serve at the Priory of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in historic Charles Town, West Virginia, in the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston. Founded in 2002 by Fr. Daniel Augustine Oppenheimer with the blessing of then-Bishop (later Cardinal) Raymond Leo Burke, the community lives under the Rule of St. Augustine and celebrates exclusively the Traditional Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form, 1962 Missal). Their oratory on South George Street is open to the public for daily Mass, the full Liturgy of the Hours, confession, and a growing Catholic youth movement — the Federation of North American Explorers.
- Established
- 2002
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Annunciation (patron of the Priory); the community itself takes the title "New Jerusalem" as a sign that its members are Canons of the Church to come in eternity.
- Rector
- Very Rev. Dom Daniel Augustine Oppenheimer, C.R.N.J. — Prior since the community's foundation in 2002.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston (West Virginia)
Why belong here
The Priory offers the full Catholic liturgical life in its traditional form: daily Mass in the Extraordinary Form, the complete Liturgy of the Hours prayed in choir seven times a day, regular confession, Eucharistic adoration, and a community that lives according to the Rule of St. Augustine. Parishes and visitors from across the region come for the beauty of the Traditional Latin Mass and the Gregorian chant sung by the Schola and congregation, for the Federation of North American Explorers youth program that forms Catholic boys and girls in virtue, and for the chance to make a retreat in a quiet, candle-lit sanctuary. For those drawn to a reverent, contemplative Catholic culture rooted in centuries of tradition, the Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem welcome visitors and aspirants to their vocations alike.
Mass times at Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- Sunday: 6:45 AM – 7:30 AM and 8:00 AM – 9:15 AM
Adoration times
- Votive candles burn constantly before the image of Our Lady of Walsingham at the Lady Altar (perpetual)
Who Are the Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem?
The Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem (C.R.N.J.) are an American religious institute of Augustinian Canons founded on 22 June 2002. A canon is, historically, a priest who lived under the laws ("canons") prescribed for clergy by the Church; from the 600s through the 900s reform movements shaped this identity, and since the 12th century observant canons live under the Rule of St. Augustine as Canons Regular. The members of this institute take solemn vows of Stability, Conversion of Life, and Obedience and pursue the common life in a way that places the Liturgy — both the Mass and the full Divine Office — at the heart of their work and witness.
- Founded 22 June 2002 in the Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Co-founded by Fr. Daniel Augustine Oppenheimer and then-Bishop Raymond Leo Burke
- Later resident in Chesterfield, Missouri (Archdiocese of Saint Louis)
- Now resident in Charles Town, WV (Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston)
- Operate under the authority of the diocesan bishop of Wheeling–Charleston
Our Name: Why "New Jerusalem"?
There is a mystagogical meaning to the term "New Jerusalem," which refers to Heaven. By nature, canons are attached to a specific church and are referred to as the Canons of "the name of that church." Because the Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem were founded without a specific church building, they chose this name to highlight the supernatural end of Christianity, to signify that they are members of the Catholic Church — itself the New Jerusalem — and to indicate that they are canons of the "Church to come" in eternity.
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office)
The Canons pray the full Liturgy of the Hours in choir seven times a day, in Latin and Gregorian chant. Vespers are also livestreamed, allowing the faithful near and far to join the community's prayer.
- Matins: 5:40 AM
- Lauds: 6:20 AM
- Prime / Terce: 7:25 AM
- Sext: 12:10 PM
- None: 12:50 PM
- Vespers: 5:00 PM weekdays; 6:00 PM weekends
- Compline: 8:15 PM weekdays; 8:30 PM weekends
The Religious Habit
The habit of the Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem is characteristic of Augustinian regular canons: a white robe (the color shared by the Cistercians, Carthusians, Norbertines, Dominicans and other Gregorian-reform orders, signifying the angelic life), together with a belt and white scapular, and a black "camail" (a shoulder cape with a hood). The black camail signifies the mortality of this life, which after death will be replaced by a new, white camail in eternal life. For liturgical services, when not celebrating Mass as priests, the Canons also wear a white "rochet" over the robe.
Priory of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The community's home is the Priory of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a small church at 219 South George Street in historic Charles Town, West Virginia, just a block from the town center. Charles Town itself was founded in 1786 by Charles Washington, brother of the first U.S. President. The Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston entrusted the church to the Canons as their permanent oratory; they have transformed it into an intimate, candle-lit sanctuary reminiscent of the medieval Shrine of Walsingham, with votive candles burning constantly before an image of Our Lady of Walsingham at the Lady Altar. The dedication to Our Lady of the Annunciation is intentional: it recalls the Augustinian canons' original foundation at the ancient Shrine to Our Lady at Walsingham in England, destroyed during the Protestant Reformation.
Federation of North American Explorers (FNE)
Sponsored by the Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem, the Our Lady of the Annunciation FNE Group brings the Catholic scouting program known as Scoutisme to children and young adults in West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia. The FNE is the American branch of the International Union of Guides and Scouts of Europe (UIGSE-FSE), a lay association of Pontifical right recognized by the Holy See, rooted in the vision of Baden-Powell as adapted by the Venerable Fr. Jacques Sevin, SJ. The CRNJ-sponsored group was one of the first FNE units in the United States.
- Separate units for boys and girls, ages 5–17
- Young adult units for men and women ages 18–25
- Biweekly Saturday meetings plus weekend camps
- Outdoor private property 15 minutes from the Priory in warm months; meetings at St. James the Greater Catholic Church in winter
- Inquiries: Deputy Chief Maria Schau at [email protected]
Sacred Music and Gregorian Chant
The Priory's liturgical culture is anchored in Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony. A talented group of young Catholic musicians comes regularly to sing the Mass Propers (such as those of William Byrd for Corpus Christi); the Schola sings Gregorian chant hymns and antiphons during devotions such as the Eucharistic Procession, and the whole congregation joins in the chant Ordinary of the Mass and in four-part harmony hymns. This commitment to sung liturgical culture is at the heart of the community's identity as canons regular.
Visit Us, Vocations, and Hospitality
The Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem welcome visitors, retreatants, and men discerning a vocation to the religious life. Inquiries about visiting or discerning a vocation should be directed to the Fr. Guestmaster (or the Prior, Very Rev. Dom Daniel Augustine Oppenheimer). Aspirants committed to the traditional Liturgy and to the common life under the Rule of St. Augustine will find here a small, prayerful community praying the Mass and the full Divine Office daily in Latin.
- Visit inquiries: contact the Fr. Guestmaster via the official website
- General email: [email protected]
- Postal: Priory of the Annunciation, 219 South George St., Charles Town, WV 25414
- Phone: +1 (304) 724-6995
Livestreams and Online Presence
Many of the Masses and the Divine Office (including Vespers) are livestreamed, allowing the faithful near and far to join the community's prayer. The community uses Facebook for livestreams, schedule updates, and notices of special feasts, and maintains a dedicated YouTube channel hosting the streams.
- Facebook: The Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem
- YouTube livestreams: youtube.com/@thecrnj/streams
- Schedule changes and additions for special feasts are posted on Facebook
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Very Rev. Dom Daniel Augustine Oppenheimer, C.R.N.J.2002–present
Founder and Prior of the Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem since the institute's establishment on 22 June 2002.