St. Gregory's Abbey, Shawnee, Oklahoma

11/06/2026

The monastic community, Oblates and friends celebrated the Commemoration of Deceased Monks today in the Abbey cemetery to remember those Monks who have passed before them. A feline friend also stopped by for a visit.

10/30/2026

Br. Damian has started his newest weaving project! It will be auctioned in April at the Abbot's Table. Stay tuned for more updates! It will be fabulous!

10/29/2026

All are invited to the annual visit to the Abbey Cemetery to commemorate those members of our monastic community who have passed. Join us on Friday, November 6th at 11:45 a.m. for a brief prayer service in the cemetery.

10/29/2026

All are invited to join us for Mass on the Solemnity of All Saints, Sunday, November 1st at 10:00 a.m. in the Abbey Church.

Mass on the Commemoration of All Souls Day will be held Monday, November 2nd at 8:15 a.m.

10/26/2026

Welcome Oblates to the Fall 2026 Shawnee Oblate Sunday! It was wonderful seeing everyone. This year we held our program in the Rockwood Center on campus!

10/26/2026

Tomorrow is the 71st anniversary of the consecration of the Abbey Church. While it was constructed in 1942, the chapel (as it was known at that time) was not consecrated until the completion of the monastery in 1955.

Join us for Mass tomorrow morning at 8:15 a.m. for this commemoration.

10/25/2026

10/13/2026

151 years ago, Benedictine monks first arrived in what is today the state of Oklahoma on October 12, 1875. Fr. Isidore Robot, O.S.B., and Br. Dominic Lambert, O.S.B., monks of the French monastery of Notre Dame de la Pierre-qui-Vire, entered the Indian Territory at the suggestion of the Bishop of Little Rock, Arkansas. Spending their first few months in Atoka, the pioneer monks eventually settled with the Citizen Band Potawatomi Indians.

In 1876, they established Sacred Heart Abbey, near what is present-day Konawa, Oklahoma. Along with communal monastic observance, the pioneer monks also established a school for the children of Native Americans and white settlers of the region. The monastery at Sacred Heart was known for its strict observance, its generous hospitality, its model farm, and its beautiful formal gardens.

Our founder, Rev. Isidore Robot, O.S.B. was named Abbot honoris causa and the first Prefect Apostolic of the Indian Territory. In many ways, he can be considered the founder of the Catholic Church in what is today Oklahoma. In addition to their monastery and schools, the Benedictines of Sacred Heart Abbey established over 40 parishes and missions throughout the Oklahoma and Indian Territories, including several present-day parishes in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa. In fact, Rome chose the first two Prefects Apostolic for Oklahoma from among this group of missionary Benedictines. In this way, one can say that the Church in Oklahoma is built upon the foundation laid by Benedictine monks.

09/29/2026

The State Council of the Knights of Columbus and the Knights of Columbus Foundation of Oklahoma have made grants totaling $120,000.00 to St. Gregory’s Abbey during celebration of Mass in the Abbey Church on September 12. The grants are in support of recent initiatives of the Benedictine community in Shawnee. One-hundred-thousand dollars will be used toward facility improvements to provide secure transitional housing for young people aging-out of foster care and twenty thousand will support the establishment of a House of Discernment at the Abbey.

Click here to read entire story:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ISsb9a9UBlq4GlQrbZL7qLuStYrUpYFmlPR802gMU9M/edit?usp=sharing

09/29/2026

Our expanded Summer issue of MonksOK is now posted on our website at:
https://monksok.org/news/monksok-magazine

This issue includes the Passing of Fr. Martin Lugo, OSB, the Golden Anniversary of Br. Damian Whalen, OSB, Anniversary celebrations of Fr. Charles Buckley, OSB and Br. Benet Exton, OSB, the profession of vows of Br. Sebastian Kilburn, OSB and Br. Isaac Acosta, OSB and other news from around the Abbey! Watch your mailboxes over the next week for your printed copy!