Shortly after establishing the Order of Prémontré in 1120, St. Norbert welcomed women into the Order to live the ideal of evangelical and apostolic life recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. The women lived a contemplative life which overflowed in duties of service to the community of canons and to the laity and pilgrims who came to the monastery. As the first Foundation of Norbertine Canonesses in America, we are blessed to continue the legacy of St. Norbert at the Bethlehem Priory of St. Joseph.

As Canonesses, we are especially dedicated to the solemn and reverential celebration of the Church’s Sacred Liturgy, which we celebrate in keeping with the traditions of our Order’s Praemonstratensian Rite, with pride of place given to the Latin language and Gregorian chant. We are devoted to the ancient monastic tradition of the Laus Deo in Choro (praise of God in choir), that is, the Liturgy of the Hours, which we pray seven times a day in choir, including at the Midnight hour. Our monastic horarium alternates our day between prayer and work. Our work, in addition to our daily household tasks, includes cultivating our land, caring for our farm animals and operating our dog-breeding program. All of which contributes to our self- sustenance.

Blessed Gertrude, an early Norbertine Canoness, serving the poor and pilgrims at her Norbertine monastery's hospice.

Our Holy Founder St. Norbert St. was especially fond of this ministry of charity and in canonical tradition of hospitality, we welcome guests to Our Monastery which is situated in the Tehachapi Mountains. Our location offers an oasis of silence and solitude away from the hustle and bustle of daily life in the city. With the beauty of nature surrounding us—towering pines and red-woods, wild flowers, stream-fed lakes, rolling hills for hiking, and an abundance of wildlife, such as deer, ducks, herons, and countless species of birds—God’s presence is everywhere, providing a variety of settings for prayer and meditation.

“As a spiritual oasis, a monastery reminds today’s world of the most important, and indeed, in the end, the only decisive thing: that there is an ultimate reason why life is worth living: God and his unfathomable love”
(Pope Benedict XVI, Address at Heiligenkreuz Abbey, September 9, 2007).

Guests are welcome to join us for Holy Mass from Monday to Saturday. Holy Mass is at 8:00 a.m. each morning. Guests are also welcome to pray in the chapel during the day, and to join us for the Liturgy of the Hours and other prayers at the times listed on our schedule.

As our schedule may change without notice, you are welcome to contact us in advance to confirm our Mass times and other times of prayer.

Our gift shop hours are typically 10:00-11:30 and 2:30 to 4:50 daily. As our schedule may change without notice, you are welcome to contact us before your visit to confirm our hours.

To learn more about our community
and our contemplative vocation, visit our website:

www.norbertinesisters.org

Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are ever restless until they rest in Thee.


From the Confessions of St. Augustine