Saint Andrew’s Abbey

Another way to say Christ in all His glory is to say Christ in all His beauty. An experience of Christ through beauty awakens faith or fortifies it to a deeper surety. God allows us to see breathtaking beauty in nature. David Clayton proposes that “the aims for the supernatural transformation of the person are […]

Marriage is beautiful, but it is also a spiritual battleground. Every couple discovers, at some point, that loving one another the way Christ calls us to love can feel harder than expected. This retreat offers couples a chance to step away from the noise, reconnect with God, and rediscover each other within the peace of […]

  This retreat will examine what happens to us after we die, using the Scriptures and Tradition. We will use the book “The Soul After Death” by Fr Seraphim Rose as a springboard. There will be some discussion on the phenomenon of near-Death Experiences, including true Christian experiences of heaven during these, particularly in relation […]

On the Solemnity of Christmas, we first contemplate the mystery of the Word becoming Flesh. The liturgical celebration at the Abbey starts with First Vespers on Christmas Eve and ends with Night Prayer on Christmas Day.   *If the event is listed as sold out, please call us at 661-944-2178 for real-time availability and a […]

The principal sources of contemplative prayer in the early Church were the Scriptures and the sacred liturgy, where the Scriptures are transformed into poetry and song.  In this workshop, we will seek to rediscover in the Benedictine liturgical tradition of music and prayer our capacity to delight in and reverence the mystery of the God […]

Let us join together and help one another remove the junk from our lives that blocks the flow of the Living Water. Let us fill ourselves with good prayer, good community, and the blessings of creativity. Come refresh and renew one another from the well of our blessed human experiences with uplifting sacred music, word, […]

During these days of silence at the monastery, the whole Church begins the sacred season of Lent. Short reflections will be offered daily, emphasizing the traditional Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. The desert silence and the monastery's liturgies will provide an atmosphere conducive to deep reflection. This is a wonderful opportunity to make […]

St. Luke, Rembrandt, and Henri Nouwen are our human guides as we examine and discern the different spiritual states revealed in Holy Scripture's parable of The Prodigal Son. Art, writing, and personal experience combine to help us realize the broader implications of this narrative and how they apply to our lives. Careful attention to art, […]

The Sacred Triduum is the holiest time of the Church's liturgical cycle. You are invited to share the monastic experience of this sacred liturgy, beginning on Holy Thursday and concluding on Easter Sunday. (Since this time is rooted in silence and reflection, we ask that you plan to arrive in sufficient time to be settled […]

       This retreat is open to artists at all levels, including beginners. Photographers, sculptors, and writers are also welcome to experience the colors and beauty of the high desert in the monastery setting. Escape the stress of daily life while deepening a spiritual vision in your art. Presenter: GREGORY MICHAEL HERNANDEZ is a […]

This retreat provides a unique opportunity to pray with the Word of God and film.  Movies are stories that reflect our common human experience and the gift of relationships.  When we bring our faith into conversation with movies, we can be inspired to be more authentically human.      Cinema Divina is based on the ancient practice […]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, CCC 2003 tells us that “Charisms, or spiritual gifts, are special abilities given to Christians by the Holy Spirit to be powerful channels of God’s love and redeeming presence in the world. Whether extraordinary or ordinary, charisms are to be used in charity or service to build up the […]