One of the core Catholic, Benedictine values is hospitality, which means welcoming all people to our community, regardless of faith or beliefs.
Our campus has 31 monks who call Saint Anselm their lifetime home, pledging all of their days to following their spiritual calling. You will find them teaching in the classroom, working in the administration, cheering on the Hawks, and playing trivia in the pub. Together this special community asks the big questions of life. You too can learn and grow through the exploration of faith, reason, and community engagement.
Portraits Feature: The Next Generation of Faith →
Alumni magazine, Portraits, features a story on the current state of the Saint Anselm Monastery. Today, nearly one-third of the 31 members of the Saint Anselm Abbey were born during the post-baby boom era - representing a powerful example of the community's continuity and vow of stability for generations to come.
Practicing Faith
At Saint Anselm you’ll find that the identities and practices of people of all faith backgrounds are deepened through open and honest dialogue and interaction with one another. In support, we offer numerous campus-wide opportunities for engagement, ranging from memorial and prayer services to interfaith dialogue events. And our multi-faith prayer room is available to all students throughout the year.
In addition to daily Mass and liturgy of the hours held on campus daily in The Abbey Church, students, faculty, and staff may choose to participate in Campus Ministry events and activities including spiritual retreats, service-oriented break trips, small faith sharing groups, and Christian Meditation.
By the Numbers
10 Benedictine hallmarks
Love, Stability, Obedience, Humility, Hospitality, Prayer, Conversatio, Discipline, Stewardship, Community
15.00 15
local churches of other denominations
60.00 60 +
peer ministry programs offered every year
18.00 18
monks teaching and working at the college
Media
Additional Resources
Masses are celebrated daily and twice on Sundays during the school year in the Abbey Church. Mass is also celebrated at 9 p.m. Wednesdays in the Lower Church when classes are in session. Special occasions (e.g., Family Weekend, Palm Sunday, and vacation periods) may require the rescheduling of Masses; please consult the Campus Ministry Office at those times at (603) 641-7130, or for a schedule of Masses, please visit our Mass Schedule page.
When school is in session, Confessions are heard in the Lower Church on Monday and Friday, 4 - 5 p.m. If you would like to go to confession at another time, you may arrange for an appointment with a priest on staff or any one of the priests on campus.
During the seasons of Lent and Advent there are communal celebrations of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. At these services, participants have the opportunity to make a private confession to one of the several priests who assist with this service.
Members of the college community interested in preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Communion, or reception into the Catholic Church through our RCIA program are advised to contact the Office of Campus Ministry. Weekly classes begin in the fall semester and the Sacraments of Christian Initiation will be celebrated at a Sunday 7 p.m. mass in April. For more information, please contact Br. George Rumley at grumley@anselm.edu or (603) 641-7731.
Saint Anselm College offers the Catholic Sacrament of Marriage in the Abbey Church to its full-time students and alumni of the college. Weddings are offered only on Saturdays. Since times available for weddings are limited, advance planning is needed. For availability and other details, contact the the Office of Campus Ministry at (603) 641-7530 or email Br. George Rumley, O.S.B. - grumley@anselm.edu
Students, faculty, and staff are invited to serve as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and altar servers at the Sunday evening Mass and the Wednesday student mass at 9 p.m. If you are interested in serving the worshipping community as a liturgical minister, please email Fr. Francis McCarty at fmccarty@anselm.edu. The dates for the training sessions will be announced at the weekend masses at the beginning of each semester.
The Choir is one of the most active and popular groups on campus and most students who are involved say that it is one of the most important parts of their time at Saint Anselm. The choir is primarily a liturgical choir and sings each week at the Sunday Choral Eucharist at 7 p.m. The choir also performs on feast days and special occasions such as Family Weekend, Alumni Masses, New Student Orientation Weekend, the Baccalaureate Mass, and at a annual spring concert.
The choir's repertoire includes a variety of folk, contemporary, and traditional choral music. Membership is open to students who have had no choral experience as well as those who have sung in choirs before entering college. A brief, simple audition is required. Inexperienced students will receive tutoring in vocal technique and music reading.
Rehearsals are held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m. in the Lower Church and at special times as needed. There are no rehearsals after Thanksgiving in the fall semester or after Easter in the spring semester so that members can concentrate on preparing for their final exams. Membership is limited to 100 students.
Students who are interested in joining the choir should visit the Choir webpage or e-mail Eric Bermani, Director of Liturgical Music.