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St. Mary & St. Moses AbbeySt. Mary & St. Moses Abbey
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  • St. Mary & St. Moses AbbeySt. Mary & St. Moses Abbey
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    • St. Mary & St. Moses Abbey
    • The Coptic Church
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    • Saint Moses the Strong
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    • His Grace Bishop Youssef
    • Bishops from our Monastery
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  • Please take a few minutes to thoroughly read and understand the rules and guidelines of St. Mary and St. Moses Abbey and that of the retreat house.

    Visiting the Monastery

    St. Mary & St. Moses Abbey is a Holy Monastery of Our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a place of repentance and redemption for those men leading a monastic life and for the pious visitors. Yet, St. Mary & St. Moses Abbey welcomes all visitors, but through advance arrangements for those who would like to stay overnight.

    Daylight Visit

    The Abbey's grounds are open to those who wish to visit from 4:00 AM to 10:00 PM every day.

    Retreat Center Facilities

    The Retreat Center's facilities include two buildings — St. Mary Hall and St. Moses Hall. St. Mary Hall, for women, contains 17 rooms and each room has four beds and a full bath. This building accommodates 70 occupants. St. Moses Retreat House accommodates men only. All retreatants must bring their own bed sheets and pillowcases to use during their stay at the Retreat Center.

    The Abbey does not offer Wi-fi.

    If you are driving, please note that the gate hours of operation are from 4:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily. Also, those with cars who are planning to go out during the length of their stay, please notify the 'Robetta', or Economus - the Father responsible for the monastery before doing so. Thank you for your cooperation.

    As much as possible, the monastery attempts to check retreat requests daily and respond accordingly. Typically, you will receive a confirmation for your request within three days after the monastery receives your permission letter. Therefore, please work with your father of confession to ensure it is submitted.

    If your application is denied, you will be notified through e-mail. The Abbey reserves the right to deny any application without explaining the reasons.

    DO NOT book any plane/bus tickets, until you receive a confirmation email from the retreat house stating that your registration has been approved.

    If your final flight destination is not Corpus Christi, you will need to book a bus ticket to the Corpus Christi Greyhound bus station.

    Permission Letter

    A permission letter is required from every individual that visits the monastery for the first time. Once you submit your registration, a permission letter will be sent automatically to your father of confession via email. Please note that the registration will not be complete except if the individual's Confessor Father or the Church Priest sponsoring the overnight retreat at the Abbey has approved your retreat.

    Female Retreatants

    Female retreatants are allowed to stay for an overnight retreat at the Abbey only when accompanied for the whole duration of their stay by:

    1) a Priest,

    2) father,

    3) husband,

    4) brother - only if he is 18 years of age or older,

    5) son - only if he is 18 years of age or older.

    6) son in law.

    In order for your registration to be approved and not denied, you have to provide the name of the priest that will accompany you.

    Thank you for your understanding.

    Helpful Tips:

    • The Abbey's mailing address is: 101 S Vista Drive, Sandia, TX 78383 - Do NOT use for driving directions.
    • The Abbey's physical address: 102 Scout's Path, Sandia, TX 78383
    • Corpus Christi Airport (CRP) is approximately one (1) hour and 15 minutes, 56 miles, away from the Abbey.
    • The monastery only offer rides to overnight retreatants.
    • If you fly in, we will pick you up and drop you off at the airport in Corpus Christi or the Greyhound bus station in Corpus Christi.

    Please read the rules and guidelines of St. Mary & St. Moses Abbey and also of the retreat center.

    For registration inquiries, please contact us at (361) 236-7589 or send an email to stmarystmosesretreathouse@gmail.com

    Thank you.

    Please take a few minutes to thoroughly read and understand the rules and guidelines of St. Mary and St. Moses Abbey and that of the retreat house.

    You must scroll all the way down.

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    Group Registration COVID-19 Release Waiver Submission:

       

    1) The Trip Coordinator should download the “Visitors COVID-19 Waiver Release Form” from the link below and send a copy of the waiver to all the adults who wish to possibly visit the monastery.

    2) Each visitor should agree on the terms in the waiver by adding his/her initials, print his/her name, and sign the waiver.

    3) All visitors under 18 years of age must also have a Parent/Guardian sign this waiver as well.

    4) The Trip Coordinator should upload all the signed waivers for EACH GROUP MEMBER.

    Note:

    All waivers can be easily filled out and signed electronically using Microsoft Edge software.

  • Hidden

    Download Visitors COVID-19 Waiver Release Form

  • Hidden

    Please upload all the signed waivers for EACH GROUP MEMBER down below. If you don't have them ready, skip this step, and send them to us later.

    Drop files here or
    Max. file size: 32 MB, Max. files: 300.
    • Daytime Group Visitors

      -Are you trying to register for more than one family? If so, please have each family register separately with their own email address, and sign their own waiver.


      – The Abbey is open for daytime visitors between the hours of 4:00 am to 8:00 pm, without exceptions.


      – All daytime visitors (including individuals, male or female, or families) who are registered for a ”Daytime visit” MUST leave the Abbey grounds by 8:00 pm. Only individuals who are registered and staying overnight at the Abbey may remain after 8:00 pm. If 8:00 pm is too early for you, please postpone your visit till the family retreat house becomes available.


    • Please enter a number greater than or equal to 9.
    • Hidden
    • Very Important:

      – The Abbey is open for daytime visitors between the hours of 4:00 am to 8:00 pm, without exceptions.


      – All daytime visitors (including individuals, male or female, or families) who are registered for a ”Daytime visit” MUST leave the Abbey grounds by 8:00 pm. Only individuals who are registered and staying overnight at the Abbey may remain after 8:00 pm. If 8:00 pm is too early for you, please postpone your visit till the family retreat house becomes available.

    • The Monastery won't be able to offer rides to Daytime Visitors. We ONLY offer rides to Overnight Retreatants.

      MM slash DD slash YYYY
    • The Monastery is open for Daytime Visitors from 4:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

       

      I will arrive at the monastery around this time frame:

    • All daytime visitors (including individuals, male or female, or families) who are registered for a ”Daytime visit” MUST leave the Abbey grounds by 8:00 pm. Only individuals who are registered and staying overnight at the Abbey may remain after 8:00 pm. If 8:00 pm is too early for you, please postpone your visit till the family retreat house becomes available.

       

      I will depart from the monastery around this time frame:

    • Are you coming and leaving the monastery for only one day or for several days (without an overnight stay)?
    • MM slash DD slash YYYY
    • MM slash DD slash YYYY
    • Donation Information
      Once you have submitted this form, you will be redirected to the diocese website. Please donate there by selecting “St. Mary and St. Moses Abbey” or one of our project designations as the option. Thank you for all of your support.
    • Info

      Note:

      Please review your form before submission.

      For registration inquiries, please contact us at:

      - Phone/Text: (361) 236-7589

      - Email: stmarystmosesretreathouse@gmail.com


    • Submission Preview:

      Please note, you will also receive a confirmation containing these details to your email. Thank you.


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    • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

    St. Mary & St. Moses Abbey

    Mailing Address

    101 S Vista Dr
    Sandia, TX 78383

    Driving Address

    102 Scout's Path
    Sandia, TX 78383

    Contact

    - Retreat House:

    +1 (361) 236-7589

    Retreats & Visitation Inquiries

    - General Inquiries:

    +1 (361) 389-2674

    General Inquiries

    Sayings of the Desert Fathers
    monks learning

    61

    إحذر أن تتكلم بكلام فارغ ولا تسمعه
    من غيرك أو تفكر فيه وليكن كلامـك
    فى ذكر اللـه وإستغفاره
    الأنبا أنطونيوس الكبير

    Beware lest you speak in vain and refrain from hearing them from others nor think of them, but let your words remember God and His mercy.

    -St. Anthony the Great

    Prayer Request
    • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

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    Copyright 2025 © St. Mary & St. Moses Abbey
    Glory be to the Holy Trinity, our God, unto the Ages of all ages, Amen.
    • Home
    • About
      • St. Mary & St. Moses Abbey
      • The Coptic Church
      • Holy Theotokos Saint Mary
      • Saint Moses the Strong
      • His Holiness Pope Tawadros II
      • His Grace Bishop Youssef
      • Bishops from our Monastery
    • Donate
    • Gallery
    • Retreat Registration
    • Daily Schedule
    • Retreats & Visits
      • Statement of Faith
      • Abbey & Retreat House Rules
      • Service Schedule
    • Resources
      • Audio
      • Monastic Library
    • Media
      • Bishop Youssef Channel
      • SUSCOPTS Channel
    • St. Moses Bookstore
    • Prayer Request
    • Contact