A pilgrimage itinerary to Saint Joseph Abbey
- Aimee Boudreaux MacIver
- Aug 4
- 4 min read
Nestled amid a thousand acres of native pine forests just an hour north of New Orleans, St Joseph Abbey is a deep breath for your soul. It’s quiet and beautiful and feels immediately contemplative—the tangible fruit of monasticism. I’ve often come to the Abbey for retreats and Saturday morning Mass, visits to the cemetery and gift shop, or to pray the liturgy of the hours with the monks. Whether you’re visiting New Orleans or live in the area, this little pilgrimage itinerary is a worthy way to invest your day. A pilgrimage to St Joseph Abbey offers reflective silence, immersion into the wonder of creation, and community prayer—and, like all pilgrimage, a deep experience of integrating our bodies and souls.
A century of grace
In 1889, the archbishop of New Orleans asked a community of German Benedictine monks to found a new seminary for native-born clergy. At the time, local congregations were being served mostly by French-born priests and the archbishop recognized a need for more indigenous ministry. The monks chose a site and began instructing their first seminarians in 1891 (always wild to realize how quickly missionaries take action!). That original site proved to be too marshy for the monks’ farming needs, so in 1902 they relocated to the current site of St Joseph Abbey, perched just above the Bogue Falaya River.
In 1903, Pope Leo XIII granted the community monastic independence. Over the next 120 years, the work and mission grew to include a thriving seminary college, a boys’ high school (now St Paul’s School), and service to countless Catholics seeking prayer, sacraments, and direction—“a century of grace,” as the monks say.
Today, the monks continue to live out the Rule of St Benedict through prayer, work, study, and community. Their apostolates are still quietly thriving: public fine art classes rooted in the sacred tradition; fresh bread delivered weekly to the poor; woodworks shop crafting simple, beautiful cypress caskets; a retreat center open to guests and groups; a charming gift shop filled with original art, spiritual books, local products, and monk-made goods.
Join the monks to pray Lauds at 7 a.m.
The monks gather four times daily for Liturgy of the Hours and again for Mass; all are open to the public. You can see their daily schedule here. Lauds is a particularly beautiful way to begin the day—with Scripture and psalms rising like incense in a quiet, echoing church.
Have a picnic breakfast at the pond or under the live oaks.
Bring a simple picnic breakfast to enjoy after Lauds. Sit on the benches or bridges surrounding the pond, or find a shady place under the magnificent live oaks. Stop by the welcome center for a campus map and fresh coffee. Fruit, cheese, and bread feel special when enjoyed in silence and gratitude.
Explore the grounds and forest trails.
The Abbey’s forested campus has several designated hiking trails. Choose one and wander while you pray the Rosary or reflect in sacred silence. Look for the resident geese waddling across the grounds and the apiary that produces honey sold in the gift shop. You will also pass small vegetable plots, herb gardens, goats, and other delights of monastic farming. Creation is tended here with such quiet dignity—like walking through a living psalm.
Walk the cemetery.
The monastic cemetery is tucked beneath a grove of live oak trees. Simple white crosses and stones mark the graves of monks and others who are buried here (we have several dear personal friends resting at the Abbey). Cemeteries are always an apt place for reflection.
Join the monks for Mass at 11 a.m. in the Abbey Church.
Head back to the Abbey Church for Mass with the community, then remain to pray and explore the side chapels. The soaring church with thick stone walls that keep the space quiet and cool is truly the jewel of the Abbey. My favorite element are the vibrant murals painted in the 1940s by Benedictine artist Fr. Gregory de Wit. I especially love de Wit’s use of color: saints and patriarchs in reds and yellows, angels with mint and rose wings, Jesus draped in sky blues. De Wit designed his murals to symbolize Psalm 113:3: “From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised.” Images of sunrise and sunset mark the two ends of the church; between them is the church’s daily work of prayer and sanctity. P.S. Watch our friend David Warren’s excellent film about Dom de Wit here.
Browse the locally-focused gift shop.
Before you head to lunch, stop in the charming gift shop stocked with monastic books, icons, soap, honey, crosses, and local products. You’ll often find items handmade by the monks themselves or created by artists who teach in the Abbey’s art program.
Head to a late lunch at Lola.
Drive to nearby Covington and enjoy a cozy late lunch at Lola, a local restaurant run by a husband-and-wife team in a converted train depot. The menu features simple, seasonal, and local dishes served with generous hospitality—perfectly aligned to the Benedictine charism.
Return for Vespers at 5:30 p.m.
Close the day in prayer. Return to the Abbey church for Vespers sung by the monks. Your soul will be stirred by the light slanting through the stained glass and the rhythm of the monks’ voices.
Other things to do at St Joseph Abbey:
The community offers public fine art classes through Abbey Art Works, a space where sacred art is taught in continuity with tradition. You can check current class offerings here.
You can make a retreat in the Abbey guest center. See and book current offerings here.
Comments