Join Us For A Fun Filled Weekend!!

The Abbey Horse Festival will be hosting an event in Ocala, Florida to assist the aide and needs for houseing, teaching, counseling, hospitals, schools and educational needs.

     In the 1840’s monks from Metten Abbey in Germany, a monastery founded 700 A.D., came to America to plant the Benedictine monastic life in the United States and to minister to the growing German-speaking immigrant population. St. Vincent’s Abbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania became the first foundation, and in the 1870’s monks from St. Vincent’s were sent to Alabama to serve the needs of German Catholics here. In 1891 they gathered to establish St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Alabama. One year later, 1892, a school was opened at the new Abbey.
At overlapping intervals from 1892 to 1979 St. Vincent’s operated a high school, junior college, four-year college, and seminary. The present St. Bernard Prep School , opened in 1981, and is the recipient of this Catholic educational heritage.

     In 1981 the St. Bernard Abbey Conference and Hospitality Center were opened. This center welcomes religious retreat and pilgrim groups as well as Abbey guests, school groups, and others. The center provides a beautiful campus setting, meeting space, lodging, and meals for an exceptional spiritual or meeting experience. Boniface Hall, the lodging and meeting facility, is presently undergoing major renovations while continuing to welcome guests.

     St. Bernard Retreat and Conference Center welcomes guests and visitors to experience the hospitality of the Benedictine monks of St. Bernard Abbey. People of all ages and faiths are invited to find here a place of peace, joy and refreshment. Whether you are looking for a quiet setting for a group retreat, or hosting a meeting, conference or workshop.

     All the members of our community work together to operate the Abbey, it's schools, parishes, and it's guest and, retreat facilities. These jobs include teaching, counseling, helping pilgrims and guests, scholarly work, parochial ministry both full-time and weekend assistance, cooking, maintenance, bookkeeping, administration,landscaping and much more.