About St. Joseph Abbey · Saint Benedict, Louisiana
Saint Joseph Abbey is a Benedictine monastery of the Order of Saint Benedict (O.S.B.) located on approximately 1,100 acres of pine forest along the Bogue Falaya River in Saint Benedict, Louisiana, just north of Covington in Saint Tammany Parish. Founded in 1889 by a small group of monks from Saint Meinrad Abbey in Indiana at the invitation of Archbishop Francis Janssens of New Orleans, the community lives according to the Rule of Saint Benedict under the motto Ora et Labora (pray and work). The monks gather four times daily for the Liturgy of the Hours and celebrate the Conventual Mass at midday in the historic Abbey Church, and the public is welcomed to join them. The Abbey is a member of the Swiss-American Congregation of the Order of Saint Benedict and also operates Saint Joseph Seminary College on the same grounds.
- Established
- 1889
- Patron
- Saint Joseph
- Rector
- Right Reverend Gregory Boquet, O.S.B. (sixth Abbot of Saint Joseph Abbey, elected July 14, 2023)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of New Orleans (the Abbey is a monastery of the Swiss-American Congregation of the Order of Saint Benedict; the Most Rev. Gregory Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans, conferred the abbatial blessing on Abbot Gregory in 2023)
Why belong here
Saint Joseph Abbey offers something rare in the Gulf South: a chance to worship alongside a Benedictine monastic community that has prayed the Liturgy of the Hours four times a day, every day, for more than 130 years. The public is explicitly welcomed to join the monks at any of the daily liturgies in the historic Abbey Church — Vigils at 6 a.m., Lauds at 7, the Conventual Mass at 11:15 a.m., Vespers at 5:30 p.m., and Compline at 7:15 p.m. Visitors and retreatants can experience the quiet of 1,100 acres of pine forest along the Bogue Falaya River, support the monks' well-known apostolates (Abbey Bread, the Gift Shop, MonkSoap, MonkSweets, Abbey Caskets and the Abbey Cemetery), and become part of a spiritual family that has educated clergy and laity for the region since 1889.
Mass times at St. Joseph Abbey
Weekly Mass schedule
About Saint Joseph Abbey
Saint Joseph Abbey is a Benedictine community of monks living on 1,100 acres of pine forest in Saint Benedict, Louisiana, just north of Covington on the banks of the Bogue Falaya River. The monks live according to the sixth-century Rule of Saint Benedict under the motto Ora et Labora ('pray and work') and gather four times a day for the Divine Office, centering their day on the midday Conventual Mass. The Abbey is a member of the Swiss-American Congregation of the Order of Saint Benedict, a network of autonomous Roman Catholic monasteries in the United States, Canada and Central America; the Right Reverend Justin Brown, O.S.B., former abbot of Saint Joseph Abbey, currently serves as that congregation's Abbot President. The community is approximately 45 monks strong, comprising both ordained priests and brothers.
- Order of Saint Benedict (O.S.B.)
- Swiss-American Congregation of the Benedictine Confederation
- ~45 monks (brothers and priests)
- Rule of Saint Benedict; motto Ora et Labora
- Public invited to all daily liturgies
History of Saint Joseph Abbey
The Abbey's story begins in 1889 when monks from Saint Meinrad Abbey in Indiana answered the call of Archbishop Francis Janssens of New Orleans and established a foundation in south Louisiana to train a native-born clergy. Their first site, 'Gessen,' near Ponchatoula, lasted only until 1902, when farming failures and disease drove them to relocate to a former rice plantation near Covington in Saint Tammany Parish — the site that would become Saint Benedict, Louisiana, and the home of the present abbey. After a devastating 1907 fire, Pope Leo XIII granted the community independence from Saint Meinrad, and Prior Paul Schaeuble became the first abbot. Over the next century the Abbey expanded its seminary, founded Saint Paul's College (later sold to the Christian Brothers in 1921), built the present Abbey Church in 1932, and reorganized its seminary as Saint Joseph Seminary College in 1964.
- 1889: foundation at Gessen, near Ponchatoula, by monks from Saint Meinrad
- 1902: relocation to the present site near Covington; name 'Saint Benedict' assigned
- 1907: fire destroys original buildings; independence from Saint Meinrad granted by Pope Leo XIII; Paul Schaeuble becomes first abbot
- 1907–1911: entrusted with missions of St. Tammany and Washington parishes
- 1921: Saint Paul's College sold to the Christian Brothers
- 1932: present Abbey Church dedicated
- 1964: seminary reorganized as college section of the New Orleans system
- 1967: last high-school class graduates; becomes Saint Joseph Seminary College
- 2023: Abbot Gregory Boquet, O.S.B., elected sixth abbot
Abbots: Present and Past
Saint Joseph Abbey has had only six abbots in its 134-year history — making the July 14, 2023 election of Abbot Gregory Boquet, O.S.B. a notably rare event. Abbot Gregory previously served 25 years as President-Rector of Saint Joseph Seminary College. He succeeds Abbot Justin Brown, O.S.B., who led the community from 2001 to 2023 and then was elected Abbot President of the Swiss-American Benedictine Congregation. The very first abbot was Paul Schaeuble, O.S.B., appointed in 1902 as prior and made abbot in 1907 when Pope Leo XIII granted the community independence from Saint Meinrad Abbey.
- Abbot Gregory Boquet, O.S.B. — sixth abbot (2023–present)
- Abbot Justin Brown, O.S.B. — fifth abbot (2001–2023); now Abbot President, Swiss-American Congregation
- Prior/Abbot Paul Schaeuble, O.S.B. — first abbot (1907)
Benedictine Life at the Abbey
The monks live a balanced life centered on prayer and work. Their day begins at 6:00 a.m. with Vigils, continues with Lauds, Lectio Divina, the Conventual Mass at 11:15 a.m. (11:00 a.m. on Sundays), assigned work or study in the afternoon, Vespers at 5:30 p.m., supper, an optional siesta, recreation, and ends with Compline at 7:15 p.m. Monks teach at Saint Joseph Seminary College, staff nearby parishes, schools and religious facilities, and work in the Abbey's many apostolates — Abbey Bread, the Gift Shop, MonkSoap, MonkSweets, the Casket shop, and the Cemetery.
- 6:00 AM — Vigils
- 6:30 AM — Lectio Divina
- 7:00 AM — Lauds (7:30 breakfast follows)
- 8:00 AM — Assigned work or study
- 11:15 AM — Conventual Mass (11:00 AM Sundays)
- 1:00 PM — Assigned work/study (optional siesta)
- 5:30 PM — Vespers (afternoon lectio divina)
- 6:10 PM — Supper
- 6:30 PM — Recreation (except Wednesdays/Fridays and Fridays in Lent)
- 7:15 PM — Compline
Apostolates and Monastic Work
Work (labora) is the other half of Benedictine life at Saint Joseph. In addition to teaching and parish ministry, the monks operate a remarkable range of hands-on apostolates that support the community and serve the wider Church. These cottage industries and ministries have become part of the Abbey's identity on the Northshore and are well known far beyond Louisiana.
- Saint Joseph Seminary College (undergraduate seminary on the Abbey grounds)
- Parish ministry at churches throughout the area
- Abbey Bread — monastic bakery
- Abbey Caskets — wooden caskets handcrafted by the monks
- MonkSoap — artisan soap
- MonkSweets — monastic confectionery
- Abbey Gift Shop
- Abbey Cemetery (public)
- Retreat Center
- Candle making, bee-keeping, gardening, painting
Saint Joseph Seminary College
Since its founding, seminary education has been the central mission of Saint Joseph Abbey. What began as a boarding school for boys aged 13–18 evolved into a four-year seminary high school and a two-year college, then — after the 1964 reorganization of the New Orleans seminary system and the 1967 graduation of the last high-school class — became Saint Joseph Seminary College, an undergraduate college offering bachelor's degrees in Liberal Arts for men preparing for ordination. The seminary occupies its own complex of classrooms, dormitories and recreational space, physically separated from the monastery, and the rector and many teaching staff are monks of the Abbey. The current abbot, Gregory Boquet, O.S.B., served as President-Rector for 25 years before his election in 2023.
- Undergraduate Liberal Arts college seminary
- Bachelor's degrees for men discerning priesthood
- Rector and teaching staff are monks of the Abbey
- Seminary buildings separate from the monastery
Vocations and Oblates
Men interested in Benedictine life are guided by Br. Austin Simon, O.S.B., Vocation Director ([email protected], 985-867-2249). Newcomers enter formation under Fr. Augustine Foley, O.S.B., Novice Master ([email protected]). Lay men and women who wish to share in the Benedictine way of life as associates of the community are welcomed through the Oblate program directed by Fr. Aelred Kavanagh, O.S.B. ([email protected], 985-867-1218).
- Vocation Director: Br. Austin Simon, O.S.B.
- Novice Master: Fr. Augustine Foley, O.S.B.
- Oblate Master: Fr. Aelred Kavanagh, O.S.B.
Sacraments, Weddings and Funerals
The Conventual Mass in the Abbey Church is the central celebration of the monks' liturgical life and is open to the faithful every day. Weddings and funeral rites are coordinated through the Abbot's Office and the Abbey Cemetery respectively.
- Daily Conventual Mass: 11:15 AM weekdays; 11:00 AM Sunday (also 7:30 AM Sunday)
- Wedding inquiries: Abbot's Office / Ruta Thibodeau — 985-867-2220, [email protected]
- Funeral / Cemetery inquiries: Cemetery Office — 985-867-2253, [email protected]
Visit, Contact and Directions
The Abbey's switchboard is staffed 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekdays at 985-892-1800. Visitors are warmly welcomed and can join the monks at any of the daily liturgies in the Abbey Church or make a retreat at the Abbey Retreat Center. The monastery lies about four miles west of Covington on the Bogue Falaya River. Detailed driving directions are published on the Abbey's website.
- Address: 75376 River Road, Saint Benedict, LA 70457
- Switchboard: 985-892-1800
- Office hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- From I-12: take exit 63B to US-190 W; after 4 miles turn right onto LA-437/N. Lee Road; in 1 mile turn left onto River Road; 2.6 miles to the Abbey on the right
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Prior Paul Schaeuble, O.S.B.1902–1907 (as prior; first abbot from 1907)
First leader of the Louisiana foundation; became the first Abbot of the newly independent Saint Joseph Abbey after Pope Leo XIII granted independence from Saint Meinrad.
- Abbot Justin Brown, O.S.B.2001–2023
Fifth abbot; resigned July 14, 2023 and was elected Abbot President of the Swiss-American Benedictine Congregation.
- Abbot Gregory Boquet, O.S.B.2023–present
Sixth abbot; previously served 25 years as President-Rector of Saint Joseph Seminary College; received abbatial blessing from Archbishop Gregory Aymond in September 2023.