Community of St John Baptist, USA (CSJB)

The Community of St John Baptist was founded in England in 1852. The spirit of the Community is to “prepare the way of the Lord and make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” We follow the call of our patron through a life of worship, community, and service.

Our Community is made up of monastic women, who share life together under the traditional vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Our life includes daily participation in the Eucharist and the Divine Office, prayer, and ministry to those in need. We also have married or single Oblates, who commit themselves to a Rule of life and service in the Church, and Associates, who make up the wider family of CSJB.

We live by an Augustinian Rule, which emphasizes community spirit. Those who live with us include Oblates and friends, as well as our dog and cat. Our Retreat House and guest wing are often full of persons seeking spiritual direction and sacred space. Our buildings are set in a beautiful wooded area.

Our work includes spiritual direction, retreats, hospitality, youth ministry and ordained ministry (two sisters are priests). The Community participates in a mission in Africa, helps the homeless, and works in parishes.