Mission Statement

The Benedictine Abbey of Saint Martin's, founded in Lacey, Washington in 1895 as a monastery of the American Cassinese Congregation, is a community of Roman Catholic men dedicated to providing Christian witness in the Pacific Northwest through its monastic life of prayer and work, education and service to the Church.

Saint Martin's Abbey fulfills its mission through liturgical prayer and worship, through its support of Saint Martin's University and through its pastoral service to the local Church.

The basic principles and beliefs that guide its communal life are: (1.) prayer, (2.) hospitality, (3.) listening to others, and (4.) service to others particularly through education.

(1.)  PRAYER:  We seek God especially through our common prayer as well as in private meditation and spiritual reading.

(2.)  HOSPITALITY:  We seek to provide a welcoming openness to pilgrims and other visitors who come to our monastery seeking a place of prayer and peace.

(3.)  LISTENING TO OTHERS:  We strive to gently and respectfully listen to the voice of God as conveyed by our fellow monks, campus associates, and visitors.

(4.)  SERVICE TO OTHERS PARTICULARLY THROUGH EDUCATION:  Sponsorship of Saint Martin's University is our principal activity and we participate in our school in a variety of ways.

approved by the Abbey Chapter 27 May 2002