Most Holy Trinity monastery [Maronite]

About Most Holy Trinity Monastery

Most Holy Trinity Monastery in Petersham, Massachusetts is home to the Maronite Monks of Adoration, a cloistered, contemplative Eastern Catholic community dedicated to a life of prayer and Eucharistic Adoration. Founded in 1978 and canonically established in 1989, it is an eparchial sui iuris monastery under the Maronite Catholic Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn. The community is rooted in the spiritual tradition of St. Maron, St. Sharbel Makhlouf, and St. Hardini, and stands as 'a conspicuous witness to the power of a life hidden in Christ' on its spacious grounds in the quiet center of Massachusetts.

History & Founding

The community began on September 8, 1978 (the Feast of the Nativity of Mary) in Rockport, Massachusetts, under Fr. William Driscoll, a Roman-rite priest who had been trained at the Trappist monastery of St. Joseph in Spencer. After several moves, the community relocated to Petersham in 1985. In 1981 Fr. William entered the Maronite Catholic Church with Archbishop Francis Zayek. The monastery was canonically approved and established on September 8, 1989, and on January 17, 1996 was raised to the status of an eparchial sui iuris monastery, with Fr. William blessed as its first abbot on April 21, 1996.

• 1978 – Community founded in Rockport, MA
• 1981 – Fr. William Driscoll received into the Maronite Catholic Church
• 1985 – Monastery moves to Petersham, MA
• 1989 – Canonically approved and established Sept. 8
• 1996 – Approved as eparchial sui iuris monastery (Jan. 17); Abbot William blessed April 21
• 1993 – Satellite community founded in Bethlehem, SD (Holy Nativity Monastery)
• 2000 – Dependent community founded in Monastery, Nova Scotia

Abbot William of the Sacred Heart, MMA (Founder)

Abbot William of the Sacred Heart (William Driscoll), the founder, was born on February 11, 1932 in Beverly, Massachusetts. He entered the Trappists at St. Joseph's in Spencer in 1950, left in 1956 due to health, was ordained in 1963 for the Society of Holy Apostles, and later earned a doctorate in Clinical Pastoral Psychology. He began the monastic order in 1978 and led it until his retirement in 2019. He died on September 19, 2021, at the age of 89. His autobiography, A Calling, was published in 2012.

• Born February 11, 1932, Beverly, Massachusetts
• Trained at Trappist Monastery of St. Joseph, Spencer, MA (1950–1956)
• Ordained a priest August 31, 1963 by Bishop Damasus Laberge, O.F.M.
• Doctorate in Clinical Pastoral Psychology, Andover Newton University, 1977
• Founded Most Holy Trinity Monastery Sept. 8, 1978
• Entered the Maronite Catholic Church in 1981 under Archbishop Francis Zayek
• Blessed first abbot of the monastery April 21, 1996
• Retired 2019; died September 19, 2021

Our Life — Monastic Charism

The Maronite Monks of Adoration live a traditional, contemplative, cloistered monastic life of prayer, fidelity, simplicity, and joy. Their particular charism is Eucharistic Adoration — modeled on St. Sharbel and St. Hardini — expressed in long hours of silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament exposed. The monks are thoroughly Catholic, fully faithful to the Pope and the Magisterium, and (though of an Eastern rite) live in union with the universal Church. Their life is described as 'solitude in community,' a harmonious fusion of cenobitic and eremitical living.

• Enclosed, contemplative monastic life
• Special charism of Eucharistic Adoration
• Maronite liturgical life in English
• Solitude, silence, prayer, and fraternal life
• Full fidelity to the Pope and the Magisterium
• Living the evangelical vows in a hidden life

The Particular Daily Schedule

The monks keep a strict horarium centered on prayer and work, rising at 5:00 AM and retiring at 10:00 PM. The day is punctuated by the chanting of the Divine Office in English, two hours of private adoration before the exposed Blessed Sacrament, manual work, and common meals. Sundays differ only in that Mass is at 8:00 AM rather than 7:30 AM.

• 5:00 AM – Rise
• 5:20 AM – Morning Prayer (followed by Adoration)
• 7:30 AM – Mass (8:00 AM on Sundays)
• 9:10–11:30 AM – Adoration, Spiritual Reading, or Study
• 11:30 AM – Midday Prayer; 11:50 AM – Dinner
• 12:30 PM – Siesta / free time
• 1:40–4:30 PM – Work
• 4:40 PM – Supper, followed by Adoration or Spiritual Reading
• 6:20 PM – Evening Prayer
• 7:00 PM – Adoration, Spiritual Reading
• 8:00 PM – Recreation (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday)
• 8:40 PM – Chapter; 8:50 PM – Night Prayer; 10:00 PM – Retire

Daily Liturgical Schedule (Public)

The monastery's chapel is open all day for adoration and visits, and visitors are always welcome. The daily sung liturgical schedule shared publicly is brief and contemplative.

• 5:00 AM – Morning Prayer
• 7:30 AM (8:00 AM Sundays) – Divine Liturgy (Mass)
• 11:30 AM – Midday Prayer
• 6:20 PM – Evening Prayer
• 8:50 PM – Night Prayer

Visiting the Monastery

Visitors are always welcome at the monastery. The chapel is open all day for adoration and visits, and guests may attend the Divine Office and the Divine Liturgy. Because the community is cloistered, visits are oriented to prayer and quiet retreat rather than tours.

• Address: 67 Dugway Road, Petersham, MA 01366
• Phone: 978.724.3347
• Open all day for adoration, the Divine Office, and the Divine Liturgy
• Quiet, rural setting in central Massachusetts

Vocations

The community welcomes Catholic men, Maronite or otherwise, who feel called to a life of prayer and Eucharistic Adoration. Candidates need not be Maronite; accepted candidates receive an indult of accommodation to the Maronite rite while retaining their native rite. At present the monastery can accept only candidates from within the United States.

• Open to Catholic men aged up to 45
• Indult of Accommodation to the Maronite rite for non-Maronite candidates
• U.S. citizens or visa/green-card holders only
• Stages: Observership (1 month) → Candidacy (4–6 months) → Novitiate (~1 year) → Temporary vows (≥3 years) → Perpetual vows
• Debts must be cleared before entry; psychotropic medications are not accommodated
• No internet, email, cell phones, or personal devices in formation
• Formation is shaped by the community's own rule, the Typicon

Frequently Asked Questions

The community's FAQ clarifies practical questions about entering the monastery and the character of the life. The Typicon (rule) is available on the website for download.

• Do I need to be Maronite? — No; an Indult of Accommodation is provided
• Do you accept candidates from outside the U.S.? — Only U.S. citizens or visa/green-card holders
• Do I need to be debt-free? — Yes
• Can I bring a phone? — No; phones are surrendered and disposed of before the novitiate
• Will I have email/Internet access? — Restricted to assigned tasks
• How often can I go home? — Rarely, only for major family events or necessity
• Do you accept candidates on psychiatric medications? — No

Satellite & Dependent Communities

The Petersham monastery has mothered other contemplative Maronite communities, extending the same charism of adoration to new locations while remaining confederated under the Petersham rule and the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn.

• Holy Nativity Monastery — Bethlehem, South Dakota (founded 1993)
• Monastery community — Monastery, Nova Scotia, Canada (founded 2000, under the Maronite Eparch of Canada)