Our Guesthouse offers more than hospitality.
Our Guesthouse aims to offer spaces of silence, beauty, and simple comfort to guests, for an hour, a day, or for a longer visit. It’s located on Memorial Drive, just off Harvard Square, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and looks over the Charles River and its flanking parklands designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.
Compared to the cacophony of the world, silence keeps catching us off guard—inviting wonder about being so loved by God.
There are many ways for you to join us as we pray our lives, including stopping by the chapel at our monastery in Cambridge for some blessed stillness and silence, or participating in one our daily worship services. For those looking for a little more or for an even more immersive experience, we offer a number of programs and retreats at our monastery in Cambridge.
Retreat and Program Offerings
For help with filling out the online reservation request form, please see our Commonly Asked Questions.
Our silent retreats offer an immersive experience of monastic hospitality. You are invited to join the Brothers for daily worship, meals, and the gift of extended silence. Choose from:
Self-Guided Retreats
Come for 3–5 days and design your own retreat. Spiritual direction is available upon request. These retreats are ideal for those who want unstructured time for rest, prayer, and reflection.
Program Retreats
Join a guided retreat led by the Brothers or guest facilitators. These retreats include teaching, group reflection, and spiritual practices around a specific theme (e.g., Lenten retreat, 12-Step spirituality, contemplative prayer).
Retreat and Program Calendar
Please note: The Guesthouse is only open on the dates listed below. We do not offer retreats outside of these dates.
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October 2026
November 2026 December 2026 |
June 2027 |
Request a Reservation →
Can’t get away for multiple days? Our Day Programs offer a taste of monastic life in a single day.
Quiet Days
Spend a full day (9 AM – 4 PM) in silence at the monastery. Join the Brothers for midday prayer and the Eucharist, and enjoy a simple lunch. Bring your own materials for reading and reflection, or simply rest in the silence.
Workshops
Occasional Saturday workshops on topics like embodied prayer, Lectio Divina, or the spirituality of pilgrimage. These are interactive, teaching-focused events (usually 2–4 hours).
[View Upcoming Day Programs →]
Can’t make it to Cambridge? Join us virtually for teaching, prayer, and community.
Live-Streamed Services
Join us for the Eucharist, Evening Prayer, Compline, and weekend Evensong livestreamed daily from the Monastery Chapel.
Online Retreats and Courses
Periodically, we offer guided online retreats and teaching series. Check our calendar for upcoming offerings.
[Explore Online Offerings →]
The Gift of Silence
One of the most defining aspects of our monastic hospitality is the silence that permeates our life. We don’t take a vow of silence, but we believe that silence is the greatest gift we have to offer those who come on retreat.
In a culture saturated with noise—literal and figurative—how can we possibly hear God? The monastic tradition bears witness to the quietness of God’s voice. As the prophet Elijah discovered, God speaks not in earthquake, wind, or fire, but in “sheer silence.” It’s sometimes put this way: “God’s first language is silence. Everything else is a poor translation.” (— attributed to St. John of the Cross)
When you come on retreat, we invite you into this silence—not as a burden, but as a gift. What might you hear?
Practical Information
Retreats at the Monastery Guesthouse follow the rhythm of the Brothers’ day. Guests are welcome to join the Brothers for any or all of the daily worship services in the Chapel, and are warmly encouraged to do so. Meals are taken in the guest refectory. Silence is observed throughout the Guesthouse, including at meals, and we ask all guests to honor this practice for the sake of everyone in residence.
The Guesthouse is open only on the dates listed in the calendar above. Arrivals are generally in the afternoon; departures are after the morning service [confirm exact check-in/check-out times]. Please do not plan to arrive outside of scheduled retreat dates.
A suggested offering covers room and board for the duration of your stay. No one is turned away for inability to pay; please contact us to discuss [confirm: is this still the policy?].
To make a reservation, contact the Guesthouse Team at reservations@ssje.org.
What to bring
Pack simply. The Guesthouse provides a private single room with linens. Bring:
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Comfortable, modest clothing suitable for Chapel services and quiet walks
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Personal toiletries
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Any medications you require
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A Bible, journal, or spiritual reading you are working with
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Weather-appropriate layers — Cambridge weather changes, and a walk along the river is always worth taking
Please leave behind: work, screens, and noise. You are invited to turn off your phone or leave it in your room. The guesthouse is largely a silent space and the silence is the gift.
Accessibility
The Monastery Guesthouse is wheelchair accessible. Accessible entrances and fully accessible bathrooms were added during renovations in 2010–2011. The Chapel is accessible via the main entrance on Memorial Drive.
If you have specific accessibility needs or questions, please contact us at reservations@ssje.org before your visit so we can ensure your stay is comfortable. We are happy to make arrangements in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be Episcopalian, or even Christian, to come on retreat?
No. We welcome people of all backgrounds and traditions. The life of prayer we offer here is for everyone who is seeking.
I’ve never been on a silent retreat. Is this right for me?
We offer a retreat specifically designed for first-timers: First Time in Silent Retreat. It provides gentle guidance and structure for those new to extended silence. We also recommend a Self-Guided Retreat as a simple, open-ended first experience.
What does a typical day look like?
Your days are your own, structured around the Brothers’ worship schedule. You are welcome to join any service, walk the grounds, read, pray, meet with a spiritual director if arranged, and rest. There is no required program on Self-Guided Retreats.
Is spiritual direction available?
Spiritual direction may be available upon request for some retreats [confirm availability and how to arrange]. Please inquire when making your reservation.
Can I bring my phone or laptop?
We ask guests to honor the silence of the Guesthouse. We encourage you to minimize or eliminate screen use during your stay.
Are there age restrictions?
We welcome adult retreatants. We are not equipped to accommodate children at this time.
Can I come for just a day, without staying overnight?
Yes. Our Quiet Days are designed exactly for this. See the Day Programs section above.
Who do I contact with questions?
The Guesthouse Team is available at reservations@ssje.org or (617) 876-3037 x10.
Contact the Guesthouse Manager
The Guesthouse Team is available at reservations@ssje.org or (617) 876-3037 x10.