The Abbey of the Genesee - Baking Monks' Bread for over 50 years
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Visit The Abbey

3258 River Rd. | Piffard, NY 14533

We welcome visitors to join the community for liturgical prayer in the Abbey Church or to spend time in quiet solitary prayer. A porter is available throughout the day to provide assistance and answer questions. The Church and reception room are open from 2:00 AM until 7:00 PM. For the times for Mass and Liturgy of the Hours throughout the day see our Liturgical Schedule page.


The reception room provides a quiet place to rest and reflect for a time. The grounds in front of the abbey provide a quiet and peaceful setting for quiet walking and sitting.

Book and Bread Store
Adjoining the reception room we offer a selection of books and CDs about spiritual and monastic life. A variety of Monks' Bread products from our own bakery along with select products from other monastic communities is available in our enlarged bread store. Our normal bread store hours are:

Monday to Saturday
9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Sunday
8:30 AM to 9:30 AM
After Mass to 12:00 AM
Closed All Afternoon

For exceptions to the regular hours visit our Bread Store page.

Group Visits
Because we are a cloistered monastery, there are no tours of the abbey. We have a meeting room, Merton Hall, where we welcome groups for a talk on monastic life and a video tour of the monastery. In keeping with our monastic schedule we are normally able to receive groups as follows: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday from 1:30 to 3:30 PM. Because of the size of Merton Hall groups are limited to approximately 40. NOTE: Bread store closed Sunday afternoons.

If you are interested in bringing a group for a presentation contact the Guestmaster, Fr. Jerome: (585) 243-0660, ext. 14; email: group visit.

Retreats
We also have facilities for men or women wishing to make a quiet, monastic retreat. For information on making individual or group retreats visit our retreats page.

Directions
We are five miles west of Geneseo, 35 miles south of Rochester, and 55 miles east of Buffalo.

from 390: Exit 390 at the Geneseo exit, proceeding west on 20A, through Geneseo to 63 North, to the River Road intersection in Piffard. Continue to 3258 River Rd. | Piffard, NY 14533

from NYS Thruway I-90: Exit I-90 at the Batavia exit, take 63 South to the River Road intersection in Piffard. Continue to 3258 River Rd. | Piffard, NY 14533

NOTE: Use Google Maps rather than Mapquest for driving directions. The former is correct while there are errors in the latter.

Public Transportation
Trailways and Greyhound provide daily bus service to Geneseo, NY. The Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA) provides daily service from various points in Rochester, NY to nearby Avon, NY. See their website site RGRTA for schedules. The abbey will provide a ride from Geneseo to the monastery and at no cost.

The closest airport is Monroe County Airport in Rochester, the nearest train station is Amtrak also in Rochester.

Travel Costs
Should a ride to or from any of the Rochester terminals be required a $50 fee to the abbey will help cover the costs. All arrangements for special rides are to be made with the Guestmaster or with the Retreat House Manager when making reservations. Please call Bethlehem at 585-243-2220 or e-mail the Guestmaster.

Miles to Abbey from...
Albany, NY - 225
Buffalo, NY - 55
Cleveland, OH - 250
Erie, PA - 150
New York City, NY - 350
Rochester, NY - 35
Syracuse, NY - 90
Toronto, Canada - 170


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St. Benedict
 
Abbey of the Genesee