About Saint Bernard Abbey · Cullman, Alabama
Saint Bernard Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Cullman, Alabama — the only Benedictine monastery in the state — home to a community of about 30 monks who live by the Rule of St. Benedict in a life of prayer and work. Founded in 1891 by German-American monks sent from Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, the abbey sits on more than 800 acres of property and operates Saint Bernard Preparatory School (a co-ed boarding and day school for grades 7–12), the Saint Bernard Retreat and Conference Center, and the world-famous Ave Maria Grotto, a four-acre garden of miniature replicas of holy sites built by Brother Joseph Zoettl, O.S.B. The monks gather in the abbey church for Mass and the full Liturgy of the Hours five times a day, and they also staff parishes in the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama, including Sacred Heart Church in Cullman and Saint Michael Church in St. Florian, the abbey's first Alabama mission.
- Established
- 1891
- Patron
- Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
- Rector
- Right Reverend Marcus J. Voss, O.S.B. (10th Abbot of Saint Bernard Abbey)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama
Why belong here
Saint Bernard Abbey is not a typical parish but a living Benedictine monastery where visitors and guests can join monks in five daily liturgical celebrations in the abbey church, including Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m. and weekday Mass at 5:00 p.m. The community welcomes pilgrims to pray with them, retreatants at the on-site Retreat and Conference Center, school families at Saint Bernard Preparatory School, and visitors to the world-famous Ave Maria Grotto. Over the past decade the abbey has experienced a notable increase in vocations — young men coming to seek Christ in community through lives of prayer and work — making it unique among American Benedictine monasteries.
Mass times at Saint Bernard Abbey
Weekly Mass schedule
About the Abbey
Saint Bernard Abbey is a community of Benedictine monks who, through lives of prayer and work, strive to seek God and glorify him in all things. The 30 men who make up the monastery share life in common — prayer, work, housing, property, meals, recreation — and gather in the abbey church at least five times a day for worship. They live according to the Rule of St. Benedict, written c. 530 A.D. The monks' labors include care of more than 800 acres of property, operating a college preparatory school, running a retreat center, supplying in parishes in the Diocese of Birmingham, and owning and operating the Ave Maria Grotto.
- Only Benedictine monastery in Alabama
- Member of the American-Cassinese Congregation
- Roughly 30 professed monks and 225 lay oblates
- Over 800 acres of property
History & Heritage
The abbey's roots trace to Metten Abbey in Bavaria, founded c. 700 A.D. Monks from Metten came to America in the 1840s; Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, became their first foundation, and in the 1870s monks were sent to Alabama to serve the German Catholic community. On September 29, 1891, twelve monks from Pennsylvania founded Saint Bernard Abbey in Cullman, naming it for Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. From 1892 to 1979 the abbey operated a high school, junior college, four-year college, and seminary at overlapping intervals; the present Saint Bernard Preparatory School, reopened in 1984, carries on that educational heritage.
- Founded September 29, 1891 in Cullman, Alabama
- First abbot: Benedict Menges, O.S.B.
- Twelve founding monks from Saint Vincent Archabbey
- Named for Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
Saint Bernard Preparatory School
The monks proudly educate young men and women in the arts of knowledge and the spiritual life at Saint Bernard Preparatory School, a co-educational boarding and day school serving grades 7 through 12. The original Saint Bernard College opened in 1892 with 59 boys; it later became a junior college (1929), a four-year college (1955), and ultimately Southern Benedictine College, which closed in 1979. Through the efforts of alumni and under Abbot Hilary Dreaper, the high school reopened in 1984 as Saint Bernard Preparatory School. A middle school program for grades 6–7 was added in 2007.
- Grades 7–12 co-educational boarding and day school
- Reopened in 1984 after closure of Southern Benedictine College
- Middle school added in 2007
- Located on the abbey campus at 1600 St. Bernard Drive SE
Ave Maria Grotto ('Little Jerusalem')
In 1934 the Ave Maria Grotto, a religious devotional creation of Brother Joseph Zoettl, O.S.B., was dedicated on the abbey grounds in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This four-acre garden walk-through features 125 miniature replicas of famous Old Testament and Christian buildings — most famously the structures of ancient Jerusalem, giving the site its popular name 'Little Jerusalem.' The miniatures, built of stone and concrete with materials Brother Joseph could find and remarkable patience and sense of symmetry, are his lifetime work and have welcomed visitors every day since.
- Built by Brother Joseph Zoettl, O.S.B.
- Dedicated in 1934
- 125 miniature replicas of holy sites
- Known worldwide as 'Little Jerusalem'
Retreat & Conference Center
In 1981 the monks opened the Saint Bernard Retreat and Conference Center, welcoming religious retreat and pilgrim groups, school groups, and other guests. The two-story center contains forty-six rooms, each with two twin beds, a private bath, telephone, and individual room temperature control. Two handicap-accessible rooms with one queen-size bed are available. Two meeting rooms are offered — a large one seating up to 80 and a small one seating up to 16. Reservations can be made by phone at 256-734-3946.
- 46 guest rooms
- Two handicap-accessible rooms
- Meeting rooms for up to 80 and up to 16
- Reservations: 256-734-3946
Daily Life & Liturgy
The monks gather in the abbey church at least five times a day for the Liturgy of the Hours and Mass. Public Sunday Mass is celebrated at 10:30 a.m., preceded by Matins & Lauds at 7:00 a.m. and Sext at 10:00 a.m., and followed by Solemn Vespers at 5:30 p.m. Weekday Mass is at 5:00 p.m., with Matins & Lauds at 6:00 a.m. and Sext at 11:55 a.m. Saturday Mass is at 11:00 a.m. Compline is prayed at 7:15 p.m. (not public on Wednesdays or Sundays). Schedules may change on major feast days and school occasions.
- Sunday Mass: 10:30 am
- Weekday Mass: 5:00 pm (Mon–Fri)
- Saturday Mass: 11:00 am
- Matins & Lauds, Sext, Vespers, and Compline observed daily
Abbey Apostolates & Work
Beyond prayer, the monks maintain an active life of work in service of the Church. They administer and pastor Sacred Heart Church in Cullman and St. Michael Church in St. Florian (the abbey's first Alabama mission), provide weekend pastoral ministry throughout the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama, and serve as chaplain for Sacred Heart Monastery (the Benedictine Sisters in Cullman). The abbey also operates several working enterprises: the Abbey Bakery (Monks' Bread), Abbey Farm, Abbey Tailor Shop, and Abbey Carpenter Shop.
- Pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Cullman
- Pastor of St. Michael Church, St. Florian
- Chaplain for Sacred Heart Monastery (Benedictine Sisters)
- Weekend pastoral ministry in the Diocese of Birmingham
- Abbey Bakery, Abbey Farm, Abbey Tailor Shop, Abbey Carpenter Shop
Vocations & Monastic Formation
Over the past decade Saint Bernard has experienced an increase of vocations that makes it unique among most American Benedictine monasteries, with young men coming each year to seek Christ in community through lives of prayer and work. Becoming a monk is a gradual process: inquiry with the vocation director, application, postulancy (typically six months at Saint Bernard, during which postulants wear the monastic tunic), novitiate (one year), simple vows for three years, and finally solemn vows. The abbey also has 225 lay oblates associated with the community.
- Vocation Director available for inquiries
- Postulancy: typically 6 months
- Novitiate: 1 year
- Simple vows: 3 years
- Solemn vows (lifelong commitment)
- 225 lay oblates associated with the abbey
Abbots of Saint Bernard
The abbey has been led by a succession of abbots since its 1891 founding. The most recent abbots include Abbot Victor Clark (8th, 1987–1995), Abbot Cletus D. Meagher (9th, 1995–July 2019), and Abbot Marcus J. Voss (10th, July 2019–October 2025). Abbot Marcus, raised at Sacred Heart Parish in Cullman, professed vows in 1964, was ordained in 1971, and played a pivotal role in re-establishing Saint Bernard Preparatory School in 1984.
- 1st Abbot: Benedict Menges, O.S.B. (1891)
- 8th Abbot: Victor Clark, O.S.B. (1987–1995)
- 9th Abbot: Cletus D. Meagher, O.S.B. (1995–2019)
- 10th Abbot: Marcus J. Voss, O.S.B. (2019–2025)
Contact & Location
Saint Bernard Abbey is located at 1600 Saint Bernard Drive SE, Cullman, Alabama 35055. The main abbey phone is 256-734-8291; the Retreat Center can be reached at 256-734-3946. The abbey is accessible via I-65 Exit 308, then east four miles on US-278. The closest major airport is Birmingham (BHM), and the closest major city is Birmingham, Alabama.
- Address: 1600 Saint Bernard Drive SE, Cullman, AL 35055
- Phone: 256-734-8291
- Retreat Center: 256-734-3946
- Email: [email protected]
- Vocations: [email protected]
- Directions: I-65 Exit 308, east 4 miles on US-278
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Abbot Benedict Menges, O.S.B.1891 –
First abbot of Saint Bernard Abbey; elected when the abbey was founded in 1891.
- Abbot Victor Clark, O.S.B.1987–1995
8th abbot; uncle of Abbot Marcus Voss.
- Abbot Cletus D. Meagher, O.S.B.1995–July 2019
9th abbot; resigned upon reaching mandatory retirement age of 75; served 24 years.
- Abbot Marcus J. Voss, O.S.B.July 2019–October 2025
10th abbot; raised at Sacred Heart Parish in Cullman; professed vows 1964, ordained 1971; pivotal role in re-establishing St. Bernard Prep in 1984.