MOUNT SAVIOUR MONASTERY

(Located between Elmira & Corning NY on Route 225 )
231 Monastery Rd. Phone: (607) 734-1688
Pine City NY 14871-9787 FAX : (607) 734-1689

Fr. Martin Boler OSB, retires as Prior of Mount Saviour Monastery.

Fr. James Cronen OSB, replaces him as of 15 June 2008.

Abbot Timothy Kelly OSB, with the unanimous approval of our Monastic Chapter has appointed Fr. James Cronen as Prior Administrator.

I distinctly remember the then Abbot Primate Rembert Weakland congratulating Rev. Father Damasus Winzen when he retired, because as Rembert said it takes more wisdom and courage to retire at the right time than to take on a task in the first place. I have been listening prayerfully enough for years to recognize both the wisdom and the courage of saying “NOW”. As I retire as Prior of the Mt. Saviour community it is with joy and confidence I can make my own prayer that of the author of psalm 137:(138) “I thank you for your faithfulness and love which excel all we every knew of you. On the day I called, you answered; you increased the strength of my soul”.

Father Martin Boler, OSB

Dear Oblates, friends, guests and visitors to Mount Saviour. The above mentioned news of Father Martin’s retirement as prior of the monastery no doubt came as a surprise. It was for all of us too, until we reflected a little and realized that the years have slipped by, nearly forty of them, since October 29, 1969. We thank God for Fr. Martin’s many years of leadership and all of you who have been an important part of these years. We invite you to continue to share with us as we seek God in his Word, in Prayer and Worship, in our Work and in our love and support of one another and all of you.

Father James Cronen, OSB

MISSION STATEMENT
The Monastery of Mount Saviour is a community of monks striving to live a simple, genuine and full monastic life according to the Scriptures and the Rule of St.Benedict . As member of an autonomous monastery within the American Cassinese Congregation, we seek to remain faithful to our authentic tradition continually revitalized by the Holy Spirit. We are committed to honor and glorify God through the harmonious balance of prayer, study work and hospitality. Through moderation, in the use of material goods, we acknowledge our continual dependence on God and promote the chaste beauty of essentials in all forms of expression and communication. We recognize our affinity with all who follow the monastic way of life, especially those who are part of the Benedictine tradition. Called together by God to a community of fraternal love, we believe our life itself to be apostolic and in the context of the church and the world community, we seek to serve all God's people. United in faith, we celebrate God's kingdom through prayer, life in common and work.

Monastery buildings

HISTORY

Fr. Damasus Winzen and three companions came to a wooded hill outside Elmira NY, which they named Mount Saviour in honor of our Saviour's Transfiguration. In 1951, the life was hard and lacked many of the comforts that people take for granted. The new monastery was not to be divided into 'choir monks' and 'lay brothers' as has been the custom in recent centuries. The monks share equal opportunities and equal burdens of work, study and prayer. The monks utilize 250 acres of the land for raising sheep and producing market lambs, yarn and pelt products while many other acres serve as a woodlot. There is also a book and gift shop. Members of other faiths come to share the peace and quiet and to pray with the monks. Concern that the door is open to those who wish to attend St.Benedict's 'school of the Lord's service' has largely determined the physical development of the hilltop. The chapel is an octagon with the altar placed in the middle. In the center of the crypt, stands a 14th century statue of Our Lady, Queen of Peace.

HOSPITALITY

Calling to mind the Gospel precepts and the traditions of the earliest monks, we welcome guests to our monastery. In the strictest sense, we do not conduct a retreat house, since we do not ordinarily provide conferences. Our guests are invited to structure their own day according to the monastic schedule of the Divine Office, Eucharistic Celebration, silence and reflection. At times, the guests are invited to join the monks in so me aspects of the daily work. A guest brochure contains more details. The guestbrother can be reached by E-mail: guest@msaviour.org or fill out our request form

Our e-mail: info@msaviour.org

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Revised 4/17/2006