The Episcopal House of Prayer – A Ministry of Spiritual Transformation

Our Mission

Our mission is:

~assisting in the ongoing work of discerning God's voice, both within ourselves and in the world

~providing guidance in the search for wisdom

~teaching forms of contemplative prayer

~offering training in the inner work of the spiritual life.

Our Scriptures tell us, humanity has been created in "God's image".  The ongoing work of the Christian is, then, a spiritual revolution which involves detaching from the false illusions of "self", in order to take hold of the new, True Self, that has been created in God's likeness.  Recognizing that the wisdom of recreation through spiritual transformation is often lost to our cultures and societies, we believe it is the vocation of the House of Prayer to support individuals and groups as they seek to be "formed into Christ".  (Galatians 4:19)

Location

The Episcopal House of Prayer is situated on five acres of wooded land provided by St. John's Abbey, a Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery in Collegeville, Minnesota.  We are a mere 76 miles west and north of the Twin Cities via I-94 (Exit 156 "St. John's University") and 90 minutes from the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport.  Need a map?

Our new facility "House of Prayer in the City" is located next to St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Minneapolis at 425 Oak Grove Street.

Facilities

The House of Prayer and its Oratory are a blend of wood, glass and stone, designed to evoke an experience of solitude and awareness of God's presence.

In the House, there are nine single and four double bedrooms with individual sinks, desk, chair and reading lamp.  There are separate toilet and shower facilities for women and men.  Towels and sheets are provided.  Guests make their beds with clean sheets before leaving.

A living room with vaulted ceiling and large stone fireplace offers a space for relaxation and meetings and comfortably seats 24 persons.  It has a small library with a focus on spiritual life and meditation.

There is the Bishop Anderson Prayer Room at the end of the residential wing.  It is reserved at all times for silent meditation.

The dining room seats 24 people.  Meals may be catered by St. John's University dining service at guest's request.  Meals may also be prepared by guests in the House of Prayer kitchen.  Guests participate in the hospitality of the House by assuming responsibility for serving meals and for dish washing.

The House and Oratory are surrounded by lawn, trees and shrubs.  There is a meditation path in the woods behind the House and miles of walking trails in the nearby Abbey woods. 

The House of Prayer is a smoke-free facility.

Guidelines for Use of the House of Prayer

The House of Prayer is a place for the integration of silence, reflection, worship and work.  Groups using the House for any purpose other than a place for silence or retreat are asked to include a rhythm of quiet, reflection and worship in their activities.  We recommend a pattern of morning, midday and evening worship or reflection.  Assistance is available for planning reflection or worship.  Groups and individuals who stay at the House are encouraged to join the monastic communities at St. John's Abbey (http://www.sja.osb.org/vocations/voc2.html#prsched) or St. Benedict's Monastery (http://www.sbm.osb.org/invitation.html) for at least one time of prayer.

Costs and Booking Policy

Weekends are usually booked for periods of Friday night through Sunday afternoon.   A deposit of $500 is necessary in advance in order to reserve a weekend.

A deposit of $200 is necessary in advance in order to reserve an overnight weekday retreat.

Meals are catered through St. John's University Dining Service at a cost of $30 per person per day.  A minimum of six persons is necessary in order to cater meals.  Dining facilities are available on campus for groups of fewer than six persons.  Groups may also elect to bring their own food.  The House has a full service kitchen that may be utilized by guests while they are here.

Deposits are applied toward the facility use fee of $200 per 24 hour period.  The deposit is non-refundable if an event is cancelled less than six weeks prior to the scheduled date. 

Sleeping rooms are $50 per person per night.