“…Silence is the way to foster holiness.”

“…A site that is convenient and suitable for the observance proper to your order….”
- The Rule of Saint Albert

The layout and external and internal arrangement of the entire monastery breathes a climate of peace and prayer. We believe we are blessed to have this setup for solitude in a unique way in the Savannah Carmel. Our Monastery is situated on the Forest River, a tidal basin of the Atlantic Ocean. There is a floating dock that almost doubles as a hermitage. The skies and sunsets over the water are breathtaking and beautiful; occasionally we see a school of dolphins playing or a single one swimming back and forth to the sea. So we have an expansive view over the water and can enjoy nice walks along the bluff together with walks through the wooded areas. The enclosure consists of almost five acres, much of which contains flowering azaleas, camellias and large live oaks. Therefore, our grounds provide inspiration and a sense of presence within our environment of solitude.

Our arrangement of the monastery is different because we have four separate buildings. Our Main Building houses the Chapel, Choir, kitchen and refectory, recreation room, infirmary, front door area and the prioress’s office. The “Annex” is a separate building for the Nuns’ cells where we are in a surrounding of solitude protected from the intrusions that can occur in the Main Building. The third building houses the laundry, and various offices and workrooms. This arrangement fosters solitude during our work time as well as when we would normally be alone in our cell. Our fourth building we call the “Residence.” It provides for our library and also serves a variety of needs at various times, such as, recreation room, hermitage or guest house.

In addition our times of solitude are ensured by volunteers that come to answer the door and phone on Monday thru Friday in the morning and afternoon. Some of our volunteers do shopping for us; hence, our need to go out is limited.

To deepen our spiritual life we have an annual retreat in common. We also have the opportunity for a yearly individual retreat. There is a community hermit day each week and individually we each have a personal hermit day once a month. We have agreed as a community that the “Residence” is reserved for the hermit’s use on the individual nun’s day and for the duration of each nun’s private retreat. The hermit can prepare her meals in the kitchen there. As our library is also there, reading material is readily available together with audiotapes. This building is located close to the dock and has a glassed in, second floor porch overlooking the river. We feel blessed to have such a serenely located monastery on the river.

The daily schedule shown on this link provides a sample of what our days are like.