About Sacred Heart monastery [Maronite] · Castle Rock, Washington
The Sacred Heart Maronite Monastery is a cloistered contemplative community of the Maronite Monks of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, situated on 65 acres of rolling farmland near Castle Rock in Cowlitz County, southwestern Washington. It is the only Maronite Catholic monastery west of the Mississippi and one of only two in the United States, belonging to the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles under Bishop Elias Zaidan. The order was founded in 2011 by Abouna Jonathan Decker, the land was acquired in 2014, and the monastery chapel was dedicated and consecrated on October 1, 2022. The monks live a hidden life of prayer, rising at 3 a.m. to chant the Divine Office, celebrating the Holy Mysteries (Mass) daily in the Syriac-Aramaic Maronite liturgical tradition, and offering spiritual direction, retreats, and hospitality to the faithful.
- Established
- Order founded 2011; land purchased 2014; monastery chapel consecrated October 1, 2022
- Patron
- Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (with the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Chaste Heart of Joseph)
- Rector
- Abouna (Father) Jonathan Decker — monastery Prior and founder; also referred to as Abbott Jonathan Decker
- Diocese
- Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles (Maronite Catholic, in full communion with Rome), under Bishop Elias (Abdallah Elias) Zaidan, M.L.M.
Why belong here
Sacred Heart Monastery is one of only two Maronite monasteries in the entire United States, the spiritual home of the Eastern Catholic tradition that traces its monastic life back to St. Maron, St. Sharbel, and St. Nimatullah Kassab. The brothers adore the living God in silence and solitude, pray unceasingly in reparation for sin, and live a Eucharistic life of fraternal charity — and they share the fruits of that hidden life with the faithful through spiritual direction, retreats, and warm hospitality. Visiting for the monthly First Saturday Holy Mysteries (Mass in the Syriac-Aramaic Maronite rite), praying the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary with the monks, and going to confession afterward with three priests available is a uniquely contemplative encounter with the Eastern Catholic tradition in the Pacific Northwest.
Mass times at Sacred Heart monastery [Maronite]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday following First Saturday Mass, 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM (three priests available)
Adoration times
- Monks keep a perpetual contemplative prayer life; the community rises at 3:00 AM for the first prayer of the day and follows a structured horarium of prayer, study, and work.
Identity and Charism
The community is a Maronite Catholic monastic order — a contemplative brotherhood following the ancient Syriac-Maronite tradition of St. Maron, St. Sharbel, and St. Nimatullah Kassab. Its official self-description is 'a Maronite Catholic community of contemplative monks called to a prayerful life of service to the church, the clergy and the world.' The charisms listed on the order's website are: seeking the heart of God in silence and solitude; bringing light to the Church and the world through devoted intimacy with God; sharing the fruits of that life through fraternal love, hospitality, spiritual healing, and direction; living Eucharistic lives of communion with the Holy Trinity; and offering unceasing prayer of reparation, praise, and thanksgiving.
- Founded 2011 by Abouna Jonathan Decker
- Governed by the typicon signed by Bishop Zaidan on Christmas 2014
- In full communion with Rome under the Magisterium and the Bishop of Rome
- Only Maronite monastery on the West Coast; one of two in the United States
Founding and Search for Land
After founding the community in 2011 with Bishop Emeritus Robert Shaheen's blessing, Abouna Jonathan and the brothers spent five years searching for a site. They were given land in Idaho but found it too remote and sold it; in 2014 they settled on 65 acres near Castle Rock in Cowlitz County — chosen because the Pacific Northwest is the most unchurched part of the United States and because Bishop Zaidan 'is funding the education of our monks.' Local residents welcomed the community warmly, with about 20 volunteers once spending a day baling hay on the property.
- Order founded 2011
- Land purchased in 2014
- Bishop Zaidan signed typicon (constitution) Christmas 2014
- Original community met in a barn-converted chapel while construction proceeded
Construction of the Monastery
While the brothers lived in a small rented house in Beaverton, Oregon — some sleeping on floors — construction progressed in phases: exterior completed in fall 2019, fire-suppression system and interior framing through 2020, sheetrock and painting through Easter 2021, chapel wainscoting and ceiling in mid-2021, kitchen, laundry, bathrooms, and office progressing through summer 2021. Final capstone dates included installation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph on September 28, 2022; completion of the altar; and dedication of the building on October 1, 2022.
- Exterior completed October 2019
- Sheetrock complete by Easter 2021
- Sacred Heart statues installed September 28, 2022
- Altar installed and chapel consecrated October 1, 2022
Chapel and Sacred Furnishings
The chapel at Sacred Heart Monastery unites 1870s Belgian craftsmanship with 21st-century 3D technology. The marble high altar was carved in the 1870s for an Antwerp Carmelite convent that later closed; the monks found it for sale online, watched the price drop, and shipped it just before the pandemic began. A wrought-iron rood screen hammered by hand over about a year separates the spaces. Behind the altar, the Sacred Heart mural is a large 3D digital print that Father Anthony said visitors continually mistake for a painting. A century-old statue of St. Therese of the Child Jesus was transported from Pennsylvania without damage.
- 1870s Antwerp Carmelite altar
- Hand-hammered wrought-iron rood screen (~1 year to make)
- 3D-printed Sacred Heart mural
- Century-old statue of St. Therese of the Child Jesus
The Monks and Clergy
At consecration in October 2022 the community numbered five monks. The founder and Prior, Abouna Jonathan Decker, had previously served for 26+ years as pastor of St. Sharbel Maronite Church in Portland, Oregon. Abouna Anthony Joseph Alles was the first brother to enter in 2011 and was ordained a priest on December 27, 2014. Abouna John Michael Morgan is the third priest of the community. Two deacons — Daniel Thomas and Raphael Jude Thaddeus — were ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Zaidan on October 2, 2022, the day after the chapel was dedicated. The monks wear a simple black habit with an iskeem (belt) and hood, are bearded, and wear a crucifix around the neck.
- Abouna Jonathan Decker — Prior & founder
- Abouna Anthony Joseph Alles — ordained Dec 27, 2014
- Abouna John Michael Morgan
- Father Daniel Thomas — ordained Oct 2, 2022
- Father Raphael Jude Thaddeus — ordained Oct 2, 2022
Daily Horarium and Monastic Life
The community follows the Maronite monastic horarium of prayer, study, work, and spiritual direction. The monks rise daily at 3 a.m. for the first prayer of the day, chant the Divine Office, and celebrate the Holy Mysteries (Mass) at 6:30 a.m. They take two meals a day, the main meal in the afternoon, and are in bed by 9 p.m. Their life is described by the eparchy as a life of 'unceasing prayer of reparation for sin' on behalf of clergy and people. The monastery is cloistered, but the monks accept visitors for public liturgies and by appointment for spiritual direction.
- 3:00 AM — rise for first prayer
- 6:30 AM — Holy Mysteries (daily Mass)
- Two meals daily; main meal in afternoon
- 9:00 PM — night rest
Liturgy and Sacraments
The Maronite Divine Mysteries are celebrated in the Syriac liturgical tradition — a dialect of Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke — with chanting by the monks and vestments distinct from the Latin rite. The Divine Office (Ramsho, Vespers, etc.) is also chanted in the monastery chapel. The emphasis of the Maronite liturgy is on the Holy Trinity and the Holy Spirit. The most important public event on the calendar is First Saturday, when the community welcomes the faithful for the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, the Holy Mysteries at 10:30 AM, hospitality lunch, and confessions with three priests available from 12:30 to 2:00 PM.
- Daily Holy Mysteries at 6:30 AM (private monastic liturgy)
- First Saturday: 10:00 AM Rosary, 10:30 AM Mass, lunch, 12:30–2:00 PM Confessions
- Ordinations performed at the altar (Oct 2, 2022: Daniel Thomas & Raphael Jude Thaddeus)
Pastoral Outreach and Retreats
While the monks are cloistered, the order's stated purpose includes sharing the fruits of their interior life through hospitality, spiritual healing, and direction. Lay volunteers assist with farming, the website, and cooking — the monks cite the Lebanese proverb 'You can't clap with one hand.' A retreat house for both religious and laity is part of the long-range plan for the property. Prayer intentions are accepted by email, and visitors may approach the monks for individual spiritual direction.
- Spiritual direction (by appointment)
- Planned retreat house for religious and laity
- Prayer intentions accepted via [email protected]
- Hospitality lunch after First Saturday Mass
Building Project and Donations
The monastery was completed in phases funded almost entirely by donations. Initial fundraising aimed at $1 million for the first phase; $3 million is the cost of the full vision including the chapel, cloister, and 20-monkw living quarters. The community still depends on gifts to finish work on the property, supports itself on donations, and hopes to add farm-based income in time through hay, cattle, and possibly goat cheese. A donate button on the website receives ongoing contributions.
- Exterior complete October 2019
- Sheetrock complete by Easter 2021
- Building fully completed October 1, 2022
- Community supported by donations; long-term plan includes farm income
Diocese and Jurisdiction
The community belongs to the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles, an Eastern Catholic diocese of the Maronite rite serving roughly 50,000 registered Maronite faithful (and many more unregistered) across 42 churches and missions of the western United States. It is in full communion with the Bishop of Rome. Bishop Elias (Abdallah Elias) Zaidan, M.L.M., is the current eparchial bishop; Bishop Emeritus Robert Shaheen originally approved the community in 2011. This monastery is described as 'the only one of its kind in the eparchy'.
- Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles
- Current Bishop: Elias Zaidan
- Bishop Emeritus who originally blessed the community: Robert Shaheen
- 42 churches/missions across the western United States
Plan a Visit
Visitors are welcome at the monthly First Saturday liturgy. Please arrive by 10:00 AM to pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary; the Holy Mysteries (Maronite-rite Mass) begin at 10:30 AM, followed by a hospitality lunch at noon and confessions from 12:30 to 2:00 PM with three priests available. Prayer books are provided in the chapel for those unfamiliar with the Syriac-Maronite liturgy. Those seeking spiritual direction or unable to attend in person may email the monks. Visitors are not admitted to the residential quarters of the monastery.
- First Saturday schedule on the events page
- Prayer books provided in the chapel
- Email [email protected] for prayer intentions or spiritual direction
- 2308 Delameter Road, Castle Rock WA 98611
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Abouna Jonathan Decker2011–present (founder & Prior)
Founded the order in 2011 after 26+ years as pastor of St Sharbel Maronite Church in Portland, OR. Received canonical approval from Bishop Emeritus Robert Shaheen and Bishop Elias Zaidan.
- Abouna Anthony Joseph AllesOrdained December 27, 2014
First brother to enter the community in 2011.
- Abouna Daniel ThomasOrdained October 2, 2022
Ordained by Bishop Elias Zaidan the day after the monastery was consecrated.
- Abouna Raphael Jude ThaddeusOrdained October 2, 2022
Ordained alongside Daniel Thomas at the new altar.