In the forested hills of eastern Oklahoma, far from any city, Benedictine monks chant the ancient prayers of the Church seven times daily. Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey, founded in 1999 by monks from the Abbey of Fontgombault in France, represents a remarkable flowering of traditional monasticism in 21st-century America. The monks celebrate Mass exclusively in the Extraordinary Form (Traditional Latin Mass) and are constructing a massive Romanesque church that will take decades to complete.
The abbey welcomes pilgrims and retreatants who seek the rhythm of monastic life. The day begins with Matins at 4:45 AM and ends with Compline at 7:30 PM. Between the Hours, monks work at building their church, tending cattle, producing goods in their industries, and maintaining the property. Visitors can attend all liturgies, stay in the guesthouse, and experience the peace that comes from a life ordered by prayer.
For Catholics drawn to traditional liturgy and contemplative spirituality, Clear Creek offers something increasingly rare: a growing, thriving monastery of young men living the ancient Benedictine Rule in all its rigor. The journey to this remote corner of Oklahoma becomes part of the pilgrimage—a detachment from the noise of modern life.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey traces its origins to the Abbey of Fontgombault in France, a community that revived traditional Benedictine life after centuries of decline. In 1999, monks from Fontgombault established a new foundation in the rolling hills of northeastern Oklahoma, purchasing land in the Cookson Hills.
The community has grown steadily, attracting young men seeking the contemplative life lived according to the ancient Benedictine tradition. The monks follow the Rule of St. Benedict in its 6th-century form, gathering seven times daily for the Divine Office and once for the conventual Mass.
Construction of the permanent church began in 2012. When completed, it will be one of the largest Romanesque churches built in America. The monks do much of the construction work themselves, following medieval building techniques where possible.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Hulbert
Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey
Traditional Benedictine monastery in the Oklahoma hills
The abbey welcomes visitors for retreats and days of prayer. The temporary church hosts the traditional liturgy; the new church rises nearby. The grounds include a gift shop selling monastic products and a bookstore.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Assumption of Mary — August 15
Major feast at the abbey with solemn liturgy.
All Saints — November 1
Solemn celebration of the communion of saints.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Abbey Guesthouse (pilgrim accommodation) — Simple accommodations for men on retreat. Contact the abbey for arrangements.
Hampton Inn Tahlequah ⭐⭐⭐ — 20 miles south in Tahlequah. Reserve this hotel
Best Western Tahlequah Inn ⭐⭐⭐ — Affordable hotel in Tahlequah, convenient to the abbey and the Cherokee Nation capital. Reserve this hotel
Inn at Muskogee ⭐⭐⭐ — Hotel in Muskogee, 40 miles west of the abbey and a good alternative base for exploring eastern Oklahoma's Catholic heritage. Reserve this hotel
🚗 Getting There
By Air: Tulsa International Airport (TUL) is 75 miles west.
By Car: From Tulsa, take Highway 51 east to Tahlequah, then Highway 62 north. Follow signs to the abbey. A car is essential.
🔗 Useful Links
Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey — Retreat information, Mass schedule, monastic products.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Oklahoma City (200 km west) — Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may he bring us all together to everlasting life." — Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 72
