Where to Pray

The Mission of Mt. Irenaeus is to join with Jesus Christ in "making all things new!" We celebrate morning prayer, evening prayer and Eucharist every day in the Chapel with some variations in times. You’re invited to find your own time for prayerful recreation.

 Holy Peace Chapel

Holy Peace Chapel, on the hill above our common house and cabins, offers us a place for morning and evening prayer and daily Eucharist. Our chapel is always open for private visits. We have a small library in the under story of our chapel, offering space for reading as well as two rest rooms.

The Knoll

Naomi’s Knoll is found on a short trail rising above our Chapel and is a small, grass-covered prominence, opening to magnificent views out over hills and valleys far beyond “the Mountain.” We came upon this clearing early on and students took down small shrubs and trees, lending to the airiness of this space where people often come for quiet prayer, sitting on a bench or a group that has been on a walk, will gather for some reflection after some silence and a closing prayer.    
 
Named after Naomi Burton Stone, a good friend of Thomas Merton’s and ours and a benefactor of the Mountain, we remember her here along with her friend Tom and others who invite us to find our contemplative hearts opening in the midst of all of creation.  
 
Hope trail leads away from the back of the clearing on Naomi’s Knoll and find sits way through the woods to Peace Path which then loops around the upper part of the highest point of Mt. Irenaeus. One can walk from here to the over eight miles of trails that lead through various experiences of terrain and growth in the back woods of Mt. Irenaeus.

 
The Pond

A large stand of spruce that was first planted to be Christmas trees was partially cleared and harvested so that we might have a pond on the Mountain. “Sister water,” one of Francis’ favorites among all of the creatures, blesses us here with a  place of quiet reflection and an opportunity to delight in wildlife that has found its home, both in the water and around the pond. In the summer months we enjoy swimming in this clean, fresh water pond as well as discovering it as an early morning or evening place for reflection and prayer.  A screen shelter, a lovely place of cover that overlooks the pond, was constructed here from trees from the land and dedicated to Charles “Chuck” Hurley, the brother of our own Fr. Dan Hurley, OFM.  
 

Labyrinth Garden

The Mountain is a place of healing and reconciliation, a place of discovering as well as creating and working at peace. The labyrinth is an ancient practice which allows a person to walk in silent meditation, entering into the center of life and returning through concentric circles as one makes this healing and reconciling walk of inner peace-making. This garden was designed as a place of peace and can be found between the parking lot near the Chapel and the Chapel itself.  
 
Cleared and then excavated by some of our summer interns and friends, the stones to create our labyrinth were gathered by students. In the center of this garden of circular paths is a large concrete disc containing in it stones and sand from various nations and shores, shaped into a “rose cross.” Under this concrete cover is a container, a “time capsule,” containing the names of all of our friends and benefactors who are honored and remembered here. This then is also a garden of gratitude and remembrance dedicated to all who have been a benefit to us over the years and are our friends and members of the Mountain community and our daily prayer. Benches built to surround this garden and Tau Crosses help to create this outdoor space as one of quiet, humble appreciation for the healing we find here and the goodness of others. We invite our guests to remember all of our friends and benefactors daily here and in our Chapel of prayer.

Trails

We have miles of trails for guests to walk, pray and enjoy. Find maps in cabins or the House of Peace.