stained glass window

The Monasteries

The Catholic community under the French name of Les Recluses Missionnaires was founded in 1943, in Alberta, Canada. The community offers its members a monastic way of life, with perpetual adoration of the Eucharist and an accent on silence and solitude, following the example of Jeanne LeBer, a recluse who lived in the early days of Montreal.

The Recluse Sisters live in two monasteries located in the Province of Quebec: Montreal and St. Jerome. The Montreal monastery, situated in the East of the island, along the Rivière-des-Prairies, is surrounded St.Jerome monastery

by a regional park. The St. Jerome monastery is located in the beautiful Laurentian mountains. Photos to enlarge

The "two windows"

The "two windows" of Presence to God and Presence to the world illustrate very well the spirituality of the Recluse Sisters, as well as that of recluse women of Medieval times. Tradition tells us, in fact, that most of these women lived in a small apartment attending a Church. Through one window, the recluse had view on the tabernacle of the Church. The other window allowed the people around to confide their intentions of prayer to the recluse.

Thus lived Jeanne LeBer (1662-1714), who is an inspiration for the Recluse Sisters. Jeanne, a well-balanced woman, lived in complete seclusion during thirty-four years. Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament was her loadstone. In her cell, she embroidered masterpieces, some of which are preserved. Her way of life seems to us today more admirable than imitable. Nevertheless, the spirit which was hers, of eucharistic adoration and intercession for her brothers and sisters, may harmonize with any state of life. Stained-glass window Jeanne Le Ber

You are not to spread out, but to deepen yourself;
you are not to be exhausted, but to be fulfilled.

Aelred of Rievaulx to his sister recluse, XII th Century

Presence to God

Enlarge the tabernacle here
The icon of the Annunciation on the doors of the tabernacle symbolizes
Mary's place near her Son.

Day and night, the Recluse Sisters take turns for adoration in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed in their chapel. The Eucharist celebrated and adored is the core of their life. Their spirituality is one of offering and thanksgiving to the Father, through Jesus, in the Holy Spirit.

Morning, midday and evening, the community gathers to pray the Divine Office. This Liturgy, mainly composed of Psalms, is the great prayer of the People of God who praise Him and recognize His action in the universe.

The Word of God, meditated privately, lectio divina in the monastic tradition, is the daily bread of the Recluse Sister. While ruminating the Word, she progressively learns the eminent science of Jesus Christ, as urged by saint Paul.

Contemplative life tends to grow in a climate of peace, detachment and interiority which fosters the search for God. The community offers the Sisters a schedule and an environment assuring solitude within common life. Silence makes this possible. A Father of the Desert declared one day that silence is the portable cell that never leaves a man of prayer.

Authentic solitude is not isolation. For the Recluse Sister, it is solitude-communion: communion with her Sisters who sustain her in her human and spiritual progress; communion with her brothers and sisters of the world to whom she feels bound.

Presence to the world

Prayer of adoration and prayer of intercession are inseparable. How can one adore the Creator and forget the creature? The Recluse Sisters are keenly aware of their double mission of adoration and intercession. They are missionaries mainly through prayer. It is said of the ancient recluse women, though vowed to a strict seclusion, that they hospitalized
in their heart the sorrows and joys of all men and women. The Recluse Sisters intend to carry on this tradition.

A privileged and concrete way for monasteries to open wide their window of Presence to the world is through hospitality. By reserving rooms or hermitages for guests in each of their monasteries, the Recluse Sisters share with seekers of God the prayerful atmosphere of the house and the beauty of the surroundings.

A stay of one or more days at the monastery is always a spiritual experience for a guest whatever the motive: contemplation, rest, study, reflection. Preserving the quietness of the monastery is essential. Therefore is it required that the guest be capable of silence, thus preserving his inward peace and that of others.

We offer hospitality to God-seeking people who wish to share the gift of prayer with us
in the Liturgy and in silent adoration.

Reservations by phone only

Montreal Monastery The Recluse Sisters 12050 East Boulevard Gouin Montreal Qc H1C 1B8 Ph. 514-648-6801	St. Jerome Monastery The Recluse Sisters 2351 Boulevard du Curé-Labelle St.Jerome Qc J7Y 5E9 Ph. 450-438-1852
Accommodations : - 8 single rooms, sink; one with bath, toilet; - 2 twin rooms, sink; one with shower, toilet; - 2 hermitages, kitchenette, shower, toilet; - 2 meeting rooms, max. 40 persons.	Accommodations : - 3 single rooms, bath or shower, toilet; - 1 single room, dining room, bath, toilet; - 1 hermitage, kitchenette, toilet; - 1 meeting room, 20 to 30 persons.
Facilities : Chapel, library, hiking trails, biking and skiing.	Facilities : Chapel, library, hiking trails, biking and skiing.
Location : East end of the island of Montreal ; Autoroute 40 Metropolitaine; Exit 83 from West; 85 from East; Blvd. St-Jean-Baptiste North for 2km; Turn right, drive 2km. At non-traffic hours, exit 92, turn left on Gouin; Drive 1 km West. Road Map Access by City bus.	Location : North of St. Jerome, on Highway 117; From Montreal, autoroute 15 North; Exit 45, drive 2 km on 117 North Direction Prévost/Ste-Adèle; Do not turn at Lafontaine sign; Monastery to your right on top of hill. Road Map Access by bus, Montreal / Sainte-Agathe; The driver drops you at the monastery upon request.

Montreal monastery

St. Jerome monastery