St. Michael's Abbey

St. Michael's Abbey is a Norbertine monastery in Silverado Canyon, California, situated on extensive grounds that include a church, residential cloister buildings, administrative facilities, and a prominent bell tower. These structures are arranged to support monastic life and allow visitors to understand how the community functions within this setting.

The monastery was founded in 1961 by seven Norbertine priests who fled from Hungary to escape Communist persecution in their homeland. These priests established a new religious community that continues to this day while maintaining ties to its origins.

The Norbertine community here lives between prayer and service to others, spending their days with liturgical practices, spiritual guidance, and teaching work. Visitors can experience this living tradition directly when they enter the monastery and observe the rhythm of daily monastic life.

The monastery is open to visitors on weekdays and provides spaces for personal reflection and access to spiritual guidance. The setting in Silverado Canyon is hilly and natural, so comfortable footwear and readiness for unpaved paths are advisable.

Beneath the church lies a crypt with burial vaults for abbots, an unusual architectural feature for North American monasteries. The community also maintains archival spaces containing historical documents that document the monastery's story since its founding.

GPS coordinates: 33.68038,-117.61895

Latest update: December 10, 2025 15:48