Together with the Benedictine Mission House, we are part of Christ the King Priory, which belongs to the Abbey of Muensterschwarzach in Germany and to the Missionary Benedictine Congregation of St. Ottilien.

Our Community of eight monks, four priests and four brothers, was founded in Schuyler in 1935. For decades, THE focus of our ministry has been to help our missionaries and local churches in Africa, South America, and Asia.

In the early 1990's we felt it to be necessary to respond more to the needs of those around us in the heartland. A retreat house is a very good way for us to share our spirituality and hospitality with people in the Mid-West. We provide sacred ground in the midst of corn and bean fields in Nebraska. We listen to those who come to us and help them to find the answers to the important questions in life.

Our Center

We invite individuals for private or directed retreats. We offer retreat programs that help to get in touch with the mystery of God within us and in all reality and that give guidance toward a healthy and more authentic spirituality, but also toward better self-knowledge and toward coping with difficult human situations. Please see our Calendar of Events if you would like to participate in one of these programs.

We are also a conference center and, after the completion of our new addition, offer 100 beds for overnight stays of one night or several nights. We are fully air conditioned and have private bathrooms in each room.  40 of our 60 guestrooms are double rooms, each with two twin beds.  Among the 20 single rooms, two are reserved for retreat directors or those in charge of events and again two others are accessible for persons with disabilities. An exercise room is available. We have full kitchen facilities, three dining rooms and seven conference rooms. We can host groups of up to 300 in the conference area, and also provide food for this number of people.

We have built into the Center many peaceful and quiet spaces. We have created a man-made lake, a large park and outside area. There is a solarium with a fire place and small library. And we have an amphitheater for groups who want to make use of it during the warmer seasons. Ours is a smoke free environment.

The lake is about four acres and as a special attraction hosts a bronze statue of St. Benedict. This statue was created by Rudolf Torrini of St. Louis, Missouri. It is a special point of interest when you walk around the lake.

From the lake a bridge will take you over to the surrounding park area and also up to our monastic cemetery. Four monks of the Community are buried there. Along the path you will see fifteen Stations of the Cross, created by Lore Friedrich, Germany, with meditative questions on the back that make connections from the suffering of Christ to our present time. From the east side of our park you have a wonderful view of St. Benedict Center as it is spread out over 600 feet from south to north.

Our large chapel can accommodate about 300 people. There is also a separate Adoration Chapel for private, silent prayer for those who want to be alone with the Eucharistic Lord. Nothing distracts in this sacred space from the curved wall with the Tabernacle.

We have provided a large park and a man-made lake on the east side of our property. You can walk around the lake in all seasons and enjoy trees, bushes, and flowers kept up meticulously to make the outside environment inviting. It is conducive to prayer and meditation for those who like to be close to nature.