Visit the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land!
Welcome to the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America! We invite you to make a pilgrimage to see our beautiful church and replicas of Holy Land shrines, wander in our contemplative gardens, pray the rosary along the Rosary Portico, attend an event and learn about Christians and the Franciscan ministry in the Holy Land.
Wander our century-old gardens with replicas of sacred shrines, roses and many native plants; pray the rosary as you walk the Rosary Portico; volunteer in our vegetable garden and enjoy God’s creations.
When you shop at the Holy Land Gift Shop, your purchase helps Christian families in the Holy Land, who make many of the items we offer.
Take time away to hear God speaking to you during a personal retreat in one of our two hermitages.
We welcome school, parish and other groups for pilgrimages, stations of the cross, retreats and other spiritual activities.
The Franciscan Monastery has a range of meeting spaces with wifi and videoconferencing, as well as the beautiful event space, St. Francis Hall, which accommodates up to 250 people.
Guided Tours
Visitors are welcome to enjoy the main church and gardens on their own, but we also invite you to join a guided tour, which includes an introductory video, “behind the scenes” information and access to places not visible without a guide.
Special tours, such as Saints in Stained Glass on Nov. 1 (All Saints Day) are offered periodically and listed on the calendar.
Church and Catacomb Guided Tour
Guided tours of the church and its Mount Calvary and Holy Sepulchre shrines, plus the catacombs, Purgatory Chapel and Visitation and Nativity grottoes (lower level of the Church) are held daily:
• Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m.
• Sunday: 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m.
Reservations are not required for groups of 5 or less.
Learn more here
Special Guided Tours:
Marian Tour
This tour is called the Franciscan Crown Tour with Lourdes and is offered on Marian Feast days.
These Special Tours, by reservation only, are held at 1 p.m. on the following dates:
2018
November 21: Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
December 8: Immaculate Conception
December 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe
2019
February 2: Presentation of the Lord
February 11: Our Lady of Lourdes
March 25: Annunciation
May 13: Our Lady of Fatima
May 31: Visitation
June 10: The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church
July 16: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
August 15: Assumption
August 22: Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
September 12: The Most Holy Name of Mary
October 7: Our Lady of the Rosary
November 21: Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
December 9: Immaculate Conception
December 12: Our Lady Guadalupe
Lenten Tour
This specialized tour is presented at 1 p.m. on the Fridays of Lent. It uses the replicas of the monastery church as well as the words from Sacred Scripture and St. Francis of Assisi to reflect on Our Lord’s Passion and Death.
Student Lenten Pilgrimages
These special programs are offered during Lent to students who take the daily tour of the church and Catacombs and pray the Stations of the Cross, weather permitting, at the outdoor stations in our garden. Following the Pilgrimage, each student is presented a certificate of participation with a blessing.
Stained Glass Tour
This specialized tour is given at noon on November 1, the feast of All Saints, to honor the saints of the Franciscan Order and others who are depicted in the church’s stained glass windows. Among the saints are St. Francis, St. Bonaventure, St. Clare, and St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Explanations are given of the symbols in the windows as well as a short synopsis of the life of the saints.
Check the calendar of events for individual dates and times.
Group Reservations
To ensure we can provide the best service possible, we ask groups of six or more to make a reservation by contacting us at 202-526-6800 or using our online form.
Garden Tours
Garden Tours
Docents from our volunteer Franciscan Monastery Garden Guild offer free tours of the gardens on Saturdays from April to September.
You will learn about the history, architecture, plants and friars as you explore the formal upper garden, more natural lower garden and the vegetable garden and bee apiaries behind the monastery.
Tour Times
Guided Garden Tours are every Saturday during the summer.
11 a.m. & 12 p.m.
Viewing Hours
Gardens are open daily to the public.
9 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.
We would love for you to visit, but go ahead and start with our virtual tour!
The Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America is one of Washington, D.C.’s hidden treasures. It stands as an Oasis of Peace in the middle of bustling Washington. It is at once a house of worship, an architectural marvel and a sprawling expanse of gardens.
If you cannot visit the Monastery, we encourage you to take our virtual tour. Use our interactive map to see photos and videos from the inside of the church.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Brookland Metro stop on the Red Line is several blocks away. From there, the H6 Fort Lincoln bus will take you directly in front of our building.
Unfortunately, The Franciscan Monastery does not have guest accommodations. We encourage visitors to stay at area hotels, in College Park or, by Metro, downtown Silver Spring.
Housing for Priests/Consecrated Religious
Rooms are available in our friary for priests and male consecrated religious who are studying at CUA and other religious schools of higher learning. Please contact us at mail@myfranciscan.com for details.
Hermitage
Our on-site hermitage is intended solely for use a a spiritual solace and reconnecting with God. If you are seeking a personal retreat experience, you can learn more about the hermitage here or contact us at hermitage@myfranciscan.com to schedule your retreat.
Please note that the sole purpose of the Hermitage is for spiritual solace and reconnecting with God. Use of the lodgings for the sole purpose of accommodations is not in keeping with this purpose and mission.
Schedule a Tour
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