Dear Friend of Mary Mother of the Church Abbey,

Thank you for visiting our website.  My name is Abbot Patrick Moore the administrator of this abbey (abbot is a title indicating one who is the leader of a monastery that is an abbey).  By way of the electronic wonder that is the internet I and all the monks of Mary Mother of the Church Abbey welcome you. We pray that your investigation of the monastic life as practiced here in Richmond will be a source of inspiration for you.

We are Benedictine monks living on the west end of the Capital city of Virginia in Goochland County, on a 50 acre plot of land overlooking the James River.  Benedictine monks have prayed and worked in this very historical city since 1860 coming first from an abbey in Pennsylvania and later from the abbey of Belmont in North Carolina.  These monks brought with them the 1500 year old Benedictine tradition of community, scholarship, missionary work, faith, prayer and Christ-centered spirituality. In 1989 the small group of Richmond monks asked to become an independent abbey and the privilege was granted – the monks placed the new abbey under the patronage of Mary Mother of the Church.  

These monastic ideals are being carried on here in central Virginia by the 15 monks who make up the community of Mary Mother of the Church Abbey today.  We live in community and gather for common prayer several times each day, we hold all goods in common, and work in a variety of ministries including teaching, retreat work, parochial and chaplaincy work.  Our principal work is operating Benedictine High School in downtown Richmond on Shepherd Street founded in 1911 by the monks from Belmont Abbey.  It is a four-year military secondary school for young men who seek a rigorous and disciplined education while being influenced by the great Benedictine values of love of God, prayer, work, respect, community, hospitality, tolerance, moderation and balance.   

As we continue to struggle to serve God faithfully in the monastic manner of life and as we work to sustain ourselves in the midst of a great city, please pray for us.  We, on our part, pray daily for all whose lives we touch in any way as well as our relatives, oblates, friends and benefactors.  Thank you again for visiting us by means of this website.  If you have the opportunity to come to Richmond please stop in and visit us.  We are blessed here and I believe you will be too.

If you have any questions now or after visiting the other avenues of this website, please contact us.  In the name of the Lord may friendships flourish.  May God’s peace be with you.

Sincerely,

Abbot Patrick Moore, O.S.B

Administrator