Monastery News Page
March 02, 2010


Holy Face Monastery


    Braving the wintery February weather, last month Fr. John Martin Shimkus and Br. Jacob Orcutt made a much anticipated road trip to our Holy Face Monastery, located in Clifton, New Jersey.  The visit was an opportunity for Br. Jacob to experience our East Coast monastery and shrine for the first time and make a brief stop in New York City which he had seen only once before – at the age of four!  “I was struck by the amount of activity that takes place at Holy Face despite the small size of the monastic community”, reflected Br. Jacob, “and the devotion of the people (the church seems never to be empty of pray-ers) was also very inspiring.”

     The two monks who presently make up the Clifton community are Fr. Bernard Schinn - who was actually born and raised in Brooklyn - and Fr. Louis Marie Navaratne, of our Sri Lankan Priory.  They continue a tradition of prayer and service that goes back to 1953 when Holy Face Monastery was founded.  Situated on ten tree-lined acres just opposite the Manhattan skyline twelve miles away, this peaceful place continues to attract large numbers of people from throughout the metropolitan area.  In addition to quiet spaces for reflection, Holy Face Monastery also offers daily Masses, weekly novenas and a monthly healing Mass.   Confessions are available almost every day and monthly presentations on the Holy Shroud of Turin add a unique spiritual and educational opportunity.  The enduring popularity of this monastery and shrine is a testimony to the dedication of our confreres who live and minister there and to the spiritual longing of its many pilgrims.


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