About Corpus Christi Priory · Springfield, Illinois
Corpus Christi Priory is a community of Norbertine Canons Regular (Premonstratensians, O.Praem.) in Springfield, Illinois, opened July 1, 2023 as a daughter foundation of St. Michael's Abbey in Silverado Canyon, California. The community of seven priests live a common life of liturgical prayer at the former Chiara Center site on Springfield's northeast side, sharing the property with the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, for whom they serve as chaplains. The priory operates the priory church within the Church of St. Francis of Assisi on the same campus and is the home of the Evermode Institute, a Catholic educational apostolate launched August 15, 2023. Immersed in the 900-year tradition of St. Norbert, the canons serve the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois as chaplains, scholars, teachers, and preachers, with a daily round of Mass, the full Liturgy of the Hours, Adoration, Benediction, the Rosary, and regular confessions.
- Established
- 2023
- Patron
- Corpus Christi (the Body of Christ)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Augustine Puchner, O.Praem. (Prior and Rector of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Why belong here
Corpus Christi Priory offers a rare glimpse into the full rhythm of Catholic monastic-liturgical life in the heart of Springfield: daily Holy Mass, the complete Liturgy of the Hours prayed in common from Matins through Compline, nightly Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction, the daily Rosary, and confessions three evenings a week. Pilgrims and faithful can drop into a church where canons regular live out the 900-year-old Norbertine vocation of 'being the Church at her best' through reverent worship and prayer. The community also hosts the Evermode Institute, which forms Catholic educators and catechists, and welcomes the faithful to retreats, conferences, and diocesan events on the shared Hospital Sisters of St. Francis campus.
Mass times at Corpus Christi Priory
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
- Wednesday 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
- Friday 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Adoration times
- Monday – Saturday 7:30 PM (followed by Benediction at 8:20 PM)
- Sunday 7:30 PM (followed by Benediction at 8:20 PM)
- Holy Thursday: Adoration continues in the Canticle Prayer Room Chapel after the Mass of the Lord's Supper until midnight
About the Priory
Corpus Christi Priory is a community of Norbertine Canons Regular serving the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois from a shared campus with the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis on Springfield's northeast side. Founded in 2023 as a daughter house of St. Michael's Abbey in Silverado Canyon, California, the priory carries forward the order's 900-year tradition of liturgical prayer, formation, and pastoral service. The Norbertines at Corpus Christi live a common life centered on the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours, and they minister to the diocese as chaplains, scholars, teachers, and preachers.
- Type: Norbertine Priory (Canons Regular of Prémontré, O.Praem.)
- Founded: July 1, 2023
- Motherhouse: St. Michael's Abbey, Silverado Canyon, California
- Diocese: Springfield in Illinois
- Patron: Corpus Christi (Body of Christ)
History & Founding
The Norbertines came to Springfield through a chain of providential connections Bishop Thomas John Paprocki has publicly described. After meeting Abbot Eugene Hayes of St. Michael's Abbey at the 2019 dedication of Christ Cathedral in Orange, the diocese invited the Norbertines to consider a foundation; the simultaneous availability of the former Chiara Center property on Laverna Road allowed the vision to take concrete shape. Father Augustine Puchner was appointed founding prior in spring 2022, and Corpus Christi Priory officially opened on July 1, 2023. The priory remains canonically dependent on St. Michael's Abbey while it builds toward future independence.
- Founded: July 1, 2023
- Founding prior: Very Rev. Augustine Puchner, O.Praem.
- Site: former Chiara Center, Hospital Sisters of St. Francis property
- Diocesan connection: Bishop Kevin Vann of Orange, a Springfield native
- St. Michael's Abbey history: 1950 (Hungarian exile) → 1957 (LA) → 1961 (Silverado)
The Norbertine Tradition
The Canons Regular of Prémontré — also known as Premonstratensians or Norbertines — were founded by St. Norbert of Xanten in 1121 in Prémontré, France. Canons regular are priests who live in community and adapt their ministry to the needs of the local Church, rather than being dedicated to a single apostolate such as teaching or missions. Their motto, 'Prepared for every good work,' comes from St. Paul. The St. Michael's community that founded Corpus Christi Priory began with seven Hungarian priests who fled communism in 1950; they were invited to California by Cardinal James McIntyre in 1957 and settled at Silverado Canyon in 1961.
- Order founded 1121 by St. Norbert of Xanten
- Rule of St. Augustine (professed Christmas Day 1121)
- Motto: 'Prepared for every good work'
- St. Norbert d. June 6, 1134 (feast: June 6)
Liturgical Schedule
The priory observes a full monastic round of prayer open to the public. Daily Mass is offered every day of the week, with the full Liturgy of the Hours — Matins, Lauds, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, and Compline — sung in the priory church. Each evening closes with Eucharistic Adoration, Benediction, and Compline. The Sunday Mass is celebrated at 9:00 AM; weekday Mass at 7:00 AM. A number of holy days and civil holidays follow the Sunday schedule.
- Daily Mass: Monday–Saturday 7:00 AM; Sunday 9:00 AM
- Daily Office: Matins & Lauds, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, Compline
- Nightly Adoration at 7:30 PM, Benediction at 8:20 PM, Compline at 8:30 PM
- Daily Rosary at 4:30 PM
Holy Week & Triduum
The priory follows a distinctive Holy Week and Easter schedule. Tenebrae (the chanted office of Morning Prayer) is sung at 6:30 AM on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. The Mass of the Lord's Supper is celebrated at 7:00 PM on Holy Thursday, followed by Adoration until midnight. Good Friday includes the Passion Liturgy at 2:30 PM, a Rosary with the Divine Mercy Novena at 5:00 PM, Stations of the Cross at 7:00 PM, and Compline at 8:00 PM. The Easter Vigil is celebrated at 9:00 PM on Holy Saturday; Easter Sunday Mass is at 9:00 AM, followed by Paschal Vespers at 5:00 PM.
- Tenebrae: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday at 6:30 AM
- Mass of the Lord's Supper: Holy Thursday at 7:00 PM
- Easter Vigil: Holy Saturday at 9:00 PM
- Easter Sunday Mass: 9:00 AM; Paschal Vespers: 5:00 PM
Special Schedule Days
The following holy days and civic holidays are observed according to the Sunday schedule rather than the regular weekday schedule: January 1 (Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God), Memorial Day, June 6 (Solemnity of St. Norbert), July 4 (Independence Day), August 15 (Solemnity of the Assumption), August 28 (Solemnity of St. Augustine), Labor Day, November 1 (All Saints), Thanksgiving Day, December 8 (Immaculate Conception), and December 25 (Christmas).
Clergy & Community
Corpus Christi Priory is led by Very Rev. Augustine Puchner, O.Praem., as founding prior and rector of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi. He is joined in residence by Norbertine priests from St. Michael's Abbey, including Fathers Stephen Boyle, Godfrey Bushmaker, Ambrose Criste, Gregory Dick, Anselm Rodriguez, and Herman Joseph A. Johanneck (in residence from 2025). The community serves as chaplains to the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis who continue to live on the same campus. Vocations inquiries are routed through St. Michael's Abbey in California.
- Prior & Rector: Very Rev. Augustine Puchner, O.Praem. (2023–present)
- Community size: seven Norbertine priests at founding (2023)
- Motherhouse: St. Michael's Abbey (Abbot: Rt. Rev. John Caronan, O.Praem.)
The Evermode Institute
Housed on the same campus as Corpus Christi Priory, the Evermode Institute is a Catholic educational apostolate of the Norbertines that offers formation in the Catholic faith to those most responsible for handing it on: Catholic school teachers and administrators, parish catechists, and parents. Named for St. Evermode, a 12th-century companion of St. Norbert renowned for his 'great and effective works of evangelization and formation in the Catholic faith,' the institute launched on August 15, 2023, the Solemnity of the Assumption. Its curriculum is described as uncompromisingly orthodox and oriented toward reclaiming a clear Catholic identity in schools and parishes.
- Launched: August 15, 2023 (Solemnity of the Assumption)
- Patron: St. Evermode (12th-century companion of St. Norbert)
- Audience: Catholic teachers, administrators, catechists, parents
- Director: Fr. Ambrose Criste, O.Praem.
- Instructors include Fr. Victor Szczurek, Fr. Sebastian Walshe, Fr. Hugh Barbour, Fr. Norbert Wood, Fr. John Henry Hanson (Scripture Scholar)
- Inquiries: [email protected]
Campus & Location
The priory occupies a building and grounds on Springfield's northeast side that have stood on the site for nearly a century, originally developed by the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis as the Chiara Center. The Hospital Sisters continue to live in a convent on the property, and the Norbertine fathers serve as their chaplains. The priory church is housed within the Church of St. Francis of Assisi; visitors enter through the South Entrance, park in the South lot, and follow interior signage down corridors and up one floor by elevator. The community notes it is working on a more intuitive church entrance.
- Address: 4867 Laverna Road, Springfield, IL 62707
- Shared campus with Hospital Sisters of St. Francis
- Church: St. Francis of Assisi (South Entrance)
Contact & Inquiries
The priory office is the point of contact for general inquiries, liturgical questions, and visits. Inquiries related to the Evermode Institute should be directed to the institute separately, and questions about the Norbertine order, vocations, or the Abbot's Circle should be addressed to St. Michael's Abbey in California.
- General inquiries: [email protected]
- Evermode Institute: [email protected]
- Norbertine order / Vocations: [email protected]
- Office phone: (217) 572-9200
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Very Rev. Augustine Puchner, O.Praem.2023–present
Founding prior of Corpus Christi Priory and rector of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi; previously pastor of St. John the Baptist, Costa Mesa, CA; born August 4, 1964; ordained June 30, 1997; a native of Milwaukee, WI.