Our guestmaster is Br. James. His job is to see to it that all who come to the monastery are comfortable and at ease with their surroundings. He is in charge of the resident guests and day visitors. He may be reached in the guestmaster's office, directly across from the gift shop.

How long may one reside with us, you may ask? We want you to benefit from your time spent here; thus the minimum stay is two days and two nights. It takes time to settle down from life's hectic pace and to fit into the monastic rhythm. Guests usually stay several days, a week or a bit longer. To stay in the guesthouse longer than a month requires the approval of the Abbot and his council of senior monks. Accommodations allow for men and women to be on private retreat. There are nine single and three double rooms for a maximum of seventeen people at the main guesthouse. Our Ranch House (St. Benedict's) has three double rooms.

We believe that the best way that we can give hospitality in the desert is to offer our guests a chance to share in our Benedictine way of life. The key elements of this life are charity, prayer, spiritual reading and manual labor. The atmosphere most conducive to this kind of sharing includes silence and some solitude.

We warmly invite guests who wish to seek Christ to come and share our life. Our guesthouse is a place where individuals can find quiet time for prayer, privacy, reading and reflection, inspired by God's Word speaking in the liturgy and silence. Guests are always welcome to attend our daily prayers and Eucharist with the monastic community.

We do not provide directed retreats, nor regular spiritual direction. We encourage our guests to take part in the common prayer, the meals and the work of the monastery. Guests who wish to speak with one of the monks may arrange this through the guestmaster.

Day Visitors

Day visitors are always welcome to visit the monastery and to join in our prayer. However, meals are provided for resident guests only.