+ Welcome +
Welcome, and thank you for visiting the Benedictine Fellowship of Saint Laurence online. We hope that you will benefit from learning about our mission and unique facilities located in Fremont County, Colorado, high in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Please enjoy your virtual visit, and by all means come for an actual visit! We would love to greet you and share with you our faith, our daily life and worship, and our beautiful campus.
Below, you will find easy access to useful information on the various aspects of our ministry, along with information on how to contact us or find our secluded campus.
Below, you will find easy access to useful information on the various aspects of our ministry, along with information on how to contact us or find our secluded campus.
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About Us
The Benedictine Fellowship of St Laurence is an independent, Colorado nonprofit corporation (501.c.3), established to carry out religious and charitable purposes.
Its mission is to promote spiritual renewal and worship according to the ancient traditions of Orthodox Catholic Christianity. Taking inspiration from the classic monastic Rule of St Benedict (d. 547 A.D.), the Fellowship sponsors a retreat center and resident monastic community dedicated to promoting balanced Christian living through a combination of daily worship, study, prayer and contemplation, hospitality, and work. |
Retreats & Events
It is our pleasure to welcome both individuals and groups to St Laurence Retreat Center for times of worship, learning, and spiritual renewal.
We are open year-round and are currently able to host approximately 40 people in overnight accommodations, depending on the configuration of a group. Our 600 acre property is a wonderful location for religious services, weddings, funerals (including burial in our hillside cemetery), receptions, mercy meals, and other events of a spiritual nature. The campus and main church are available to Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant guests. |
Monastic Affiliates
Since the time of its purchase by the Fellowship, the Fremont County campus was envisioned as a home for an Orthodox monastery where, according to the ancient Western traditions of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, monks and/or nuns would live, pray, study, worship, and minister to guests.
In the summer of 2012, this vision came to fruition through the presence of two Orthodox monastics, formerly resident at other, canonical, Orthodox monasteries, who are now blessed to reside at St Laurence, enabling it to serve as a year-round facility. |
Cemeteries
In response to pious requests by Orthodox Christians, in 2008 the Fellowship established ST LAURENCE CEMETERY, a new, consecrated, Orthodox Cemetery on a gently sloping hillside just inside the main gate. There, beneath a large, wooden cross, faithful men and women rest in expectation of the Resurrection of the dead at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Just this year, also in response to several requests, we have undertaken the development of the new ST SERAPHIM PET CEMETERY, adjacent to the main cemetery. |
Lancelot Andrewes Press
In 2012, Lancelot Andrewes Press became part of the BFSL and now serves as its publishing arm and helps to support the ministry of the Retreat Center.
The Press specializes in liturgical and devotional books, including books of chant for the Psalms. Many of its offerings are quality reprints of classic works that were hitherto unavailable. We invite you to visit the web site for the Press and browse the materials available for purchase there. |
Mountain Monk Designs
In accord with the teaching of St Benedict and the other monastic Fathers and Mothers, and as a means towards becoming self-supporting, the resident monastics have undertaken to produce greeting cards, inspirational plaques, prayer-ropes, and other handicrafts.
We have placed our efforts under the patronage of the Holy Prophet Elijah (shown at the left). We hope that you will avail yourself of these hand-produced items and spread the word about their availability. |