Retreats At The Abbey
Bethlehem House
 Our main retreat house is Bethlehem a short walk down the road from the Abbey. It is surrounded by ample grounds with paths for walking through the fields and along the Genesee River.
The house is over one hundred years old, probably a hotel back in the days of the Erie canal that ran nearby. It was the first monastery for the founders of our community in 1951 when they first arrived in the Genesee Valley.
The first floor contains a chapel, two parlors, four bedrooms, guestmaster's and retreat house manager's offices, bathrooms with showers, dining room and kitchen. Eleven bedrooms and a bathroom are on the second floor. Altogether Bethlehem accommodates fifteen people each with a private room.
All bedrooms are equipped with a single bed, desk and two chairs. Towels, blankets and linens are provided. Retreatants need to provide their own toiletries: soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc. Hiking or waterproof shoes are recommended for those who plan to walk to the abbey or use the farm roads and Greenway.
Bethlehem is ideal for individual, private retreats though it can be used for large groups. Dinner and supper are prepared and taken together. Breakfast is pickup and taken individually. Silence is observed at all meals as well as throughout the house, though one of the parlors can be used for speaking. Conferences are given by one of the monks in the library though attendance is optional. A monk is also available for private talks.
Guests arriving on Mondays and Fridays are asked to check in after 2:00pm, as these are the days on which the house is cleaned. Guests departing on Fridays are asked to check out by 9:00am. Guests departing on Sundays are asked to check out by 2:00pm.
No Pets Please. In consideration of those coming after you suffering from allergies no pets are allowed at any of our guest houses.
For Travel Information see directions on our visitors page.
For some pictures of Bethlehem's interior see the Bethlehem Photo Album page.
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Click on the signs for further information about each house. |
To check on the availability of dates or to make reservations and travel arrangements contact Fr. Jerome by e-mail at Guest master or telephone at 585-243-2220 or by writing him:
Guest Master
Abbey of the Genesee
3258 River Road
Piffard, NY 14533
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