Our response to COVID-19

If you are planning to come to Mount Angel in the near future, please check this page for updates to our regular schedule.
At this time, following state and local health authority guidelines, face masks are required for individuals age 5 and older in all public buildings. Face masks are required outside when safe social distance cannot be maintained between people who are not of the same household.

For general questions not answered on the website, please email or call 503.845.3030.
If you have reservations for the Saint Benedict Guesthouse and Retreat Center, please email or call 503.845.3025 for updates, questions or concerns.
Current hours of operation or closures for the Abbey facilities are listed at the bottom of this page. 

(Updated September 27, 2021)

Dear friends,

It isn’t easy to look back and realize that more than 18 months have passed since the first cases of COVID-19 were reported in the State of Oregon. Those cases were quickly followed by the restrictions and closures of facilities which became all too familiar.

I won’t say that we became “used to” living with the pandemic as that implies some normalcy to the situation, and I am reluctant to acknowledge that. But even as we continue to mourn the immense loss of life, livelihood, and so much else, we see hope on the horizon. The wide availability of vaccines is encouraging. Reports show the spread of the virus is slowing, and many restrictions are lifting in Oregon.

We are happy to say that the Abbey church, bookstore, library, and museum are now open. (The hours and days open are listed below.) The Saint Benedict Guesthouse and Retreat Center is open for group and individual retreats. In all our public indoor spaces, we will continue to follow the guidelines of Marion County and the Oregon Health Authority for the duration of the pandemic. The State of Oregon once again requires face masks be worn in all indoor public spaces. Face masks are also required outdoors when social distancing is not possible among people of different households. This applies to those vaccinated and unvaccinated, ages 5 and older. More about the guidelines can be found here.

Please know we monks continue to pray for the sick, the dying, healthcare workers, and all who have been negatively affected by the pandemic. I produced short, weekly videos for more than 18 months in response to the virus. They were a way to keep in touch and share messages of hope and inspiration. You can find them online for replay and sharing with friends.

Please join us in seeking out the blessings hidden within this genuinely challenging time. It is a global crisis, but one in which we may yet find new depths in our faith and trust in the love of Christ.

Peace to you,
Abbot Jeremy Driscoll, O.S.B.

Please note: Because keeping our monks, staff and guests safe is our highest priority and essential to our remaining open to all who come, we are following the guidelines from the State of Oregon for Marion County for reopening.

Adjusted hours as of September 28, 2021

• The Bookstore & Coffeehouse is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 am to 3 pm. (Please note: On Saturday, the bookstore is closed from 11:50 am to 1:15 pm.) No beverages or food items are available at this time.
• The Abbey library is open to the public. Please check here for days and hours of availability.
• The Abbey church is open during the day for individual prayer and for all who wish to join the monks for Mass and the Divine Office. The daily liturgies are also live-streamed, you can check the schedule here.
• The Guesthouse is open only to registered guests.
• The Abbey museum is open for self-guided tours Wednesday through Sunday, from 10 am to 4 pm.

Please check back often for updates or additional changes to our normal hours of operation.