St. Bernard Abbey

St. Bernard Abbey is a community of Benedictine monks, established in 1891. Today, after over 125 years of work and prayer, St. Bernard Abbey stands as a vibrant and growing monastery, known with affection and respect for the role it continues to play in the life of the Church in North Alabama. From the abbey’s foundation, the monks’ primary apostolate has been their school, known presently as St. Bernard Preparatory School, a coeducational boarding school. Additionally, the monks pastor several parishes in the Diocese of Birmingham. On campus, the monks also operate a retreat center, serving the needs of pilgrim groups and individuals. Many know the abbey as the home of the Ave Maria Grotto, a garden of shrines and miniature models of famous religious sites created by Br. Joseph Zoetle, O.S.B. Finally, there are monks engaged in various crafts and the manual tasks necessary for the operation of their more than 850-acre property, including its farm, buildings, and grounds.