frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Just finished my annual eight-day retreat at the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, CT serving as chaplain for Mass. It is a cloistered monastery where approximately 40 Benedictine nuns live the Benedictine motto: "Ora et labora", work and prayer.

The monastery was founded in the late 1940's and grew over the years. It sits on 400 acres of forested land. The nuns make cheese, farm, have a herd of milk cattle and a small herd of sheep for wool.

The nuns, who range in age from the mid-20's to over 80, gather seven times daily for prayer either in the monastery church or in the chapel that is within the main monastery. While there I celebrated Mass using the novus ordo chanted in Latin in traditional Gregorian chant.

The land is beautiful. Quite a bit of it is outside the enclosure and thus accessible to those not in the community. This is the first of what will probably be several sets of photos.

Men's guesthouse. It was the original monastery when the first tiny group of nuns arrived. The chaplain's quarters were here.


The main monastery a bit up the hill from the guesthouse.


Inlaid pebbles at the entrance to the portress' reception area.


The chapel attached to the main monastery where several of the hours are sung. Mass is here when the church is inaccessible. The curtain is drawn to the side for Mass and the hours of the liturgy.


The view from the back of the monastery church that sits atop a hill.


The view of the altar and the cloister grille from the back of the chapel. The chapel is open to the public for Mass and hours of the office that are sung there.


Detail of the grille.


A still life while playing with the Olympus E-30 in the chaplain's quarters.

Sirius_one Loc: S.F. Bay Area

You have presented a very interesting look at several areas of the monastery. What a beautiful setting it is in. I love your still life: very beautiful.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thank you for the comments. The Abbey is a truly beautiful place. A young woman entered the novitiate in a moving ceremony while I was there.

Sirius_one Loc: S.F. Bay Area

I attended the taking final vows of a niece of my husband's many long years ago, and was impressed by the beautiful ceremony. Many of my late husband's relatives are, and were, priests and nuns, including my sister-in-law.

richgin60 Loc: Central New York

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Nice photos Fr Jack. Lived in Willimantic, Ct for ten years...in the 70's& 80's. Just finished a workshop on "Contemplative Photography down near Corning, NY. I live in Syracuse and we have the Stella Maris Retreat Center right nearby in Skaneateles. I used to go to the Mercy Center in Madison, Ct. Met Henri Nouwen there a few times and met with Pierre Wolfe as Spiritual Director for a few years.

dennisallard Loc: Southern Maine

Nice shots and an excellent variety.

gwr Loc: South Dartmouth, Ma.

great stuff, Frjack. nice bit of info on the facility. still life is really good. gary

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks for the comments. Who ran the workshop on contemplative photography? Would like to know more about that. I use a lot of photos when giving retreats, days or recollection or conferences. A year ago I did my final vow retreat within the enclosure at the Trappist house in Spencer, MA. I hope to return to Regina Laudis.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thank you for your comments. The play of the changing light in the abbey church could keep a photographer busy for days to say nothing of the rest of the place.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks. The abbey is a fascinating place. Will post photos of the 18th century Neopolitan creche a bit later.

richgin60 Loc: Central New York

Sounds good. I led the retreat on "Contemplative Photography" we spent a month at Cape Cod this fall, enjoyed the Museum of Art and Andrew Wyeth's paintings.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Have you ever visited the Brandywine River Museum in (I think) Media, PA? An old round barn was converted into the museum focusing on the Wyeth family. Splendid location too just of US Rt 1 about 30 miles south of Philadelphia. Not far from Longwood Gardens, the old Dupont Estate.

richgin60 Loc: Central New York

Yes we've been there a few times, especially to see Andrew Wyeth's work. Have some photos somewhere. My website has some contemplative photos if you go to albums you can find a few.
Www.flickr.com/photos/richgin60

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Nice photos; I enjoyed seeing them.

magicray Loc: Tampa Bay, Florida

The abby is famous for Rev. Mother Dolores Hart an American Roman Catholic nun and former actress. She made ten films in five years, playing opposite Stephen Boyd, Montgomery Clift, George Hamilton and Robert Wagner, having made her movie debut with Elvis Presley in Loving You. By the early 1960s an established leading lady, she "stunned Hollywood" by announcing that she would be giving up her career to enter a convent. She is now Prioress of the Benedictine Abbey of Regina Laudis in Connecticut.