Center for Benedictine Life
We are the Monastery
The Center for Benedictine Life
at the Monastery of St. Gertrude:
All of us: The Monastery of St. Gertrude is more than just the sisters; it is becoming the Center for Benedictine Life which includes sisters, oblates, employees, cohousing, volunteers, friends and benefactors.
Sharing Benedict: Our purpose is to share Benedictine spirituality, values and practices with the world.
With New Purpose & Leadership: St. Gertrude’s will continue into the future as the Center for Benedictine Life, creating new ministries and supported by new forms of leadership.
June 13, 2022
Our vision
Prayer awakens. Justice impels.
Compassion acts.
Thy Kingdom Come.
The Gonzaga Choir is Coming!
On Sunday, September 10, the Center for Benedictine Life will host the Gonzaga University Concert Choir. During the 10:30 am Mass, their voices will add to the music and, at 1:30 pm, they will present a concert in the monastery chapel. Attendance is free, but seating is limited!
Join Us in Prayer and Fasting for Ukraine and an End to Gun Violence.
We ask that you pray with us for peace and wellbeing for all.
Our Ministries
Historical Museum
Spirit Center
Inn at St. Gertrude
Enjoy One of the Upcoming Retreats
All are welcome!
Individual Retreat
flexible dates
St. Benedict said, “Listen with the ear of your heart.” Why? It is this type of listening that allows the hearing of divine wisdom and inspiration that guides our lives into ever-increasing fullness, peace, and joy. But sometimes the noise and blur of life make that difficult. That is why we offer you the opportunity to come to Spirit Center and listen.
A Watercolor Journey II
SEPTEMBER 19 – 21, 2023
Take the next step toward becoming a confident watercolorist. Revisit the techniques learned in “A Watercolor Journey” and move forward to new skills. Any beginner class will serve as a prerequisite for this retreat. All materials provided.
Introduction to Centering Prayer
SEPTEMBER 22 – 24, 2023
St. Benedict frequently unites silence and prayer in the work of seeking God. Centering prayer is one of several prayer practices that flow out of Benedictine Life. Thomas Merton describes centering prayer as “a ‘return to the heart,’ finding one’s deepest center, awakening the profound depths of our being in the presence of God.” The goal is to be present to the Lord and aware of the divine action within you. This introductory retreat will provide the background and fundamentals of Centering Prayer and teach how to develop a continuing practice.
Visit Us
All are welcome to visit the monastery chapel, the Welcome Center, Museum, Spirit Center and the Inn at St. Gertrude. The Welcome Center and Historical Museum Hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Saturday, in the Pacific Time Zone.
For those who are unable to visit, the 11:30 am Sunday Mass is livestreamed on our Facebook page.
