The Community of Jesus in Orleans, Massachusetts, is an ecumenical Christian community in the Benedictine monastic tradition overlooking Cape Cod Bay. It is home to the Church of the Transfiguration, a place of peaceful serenity and beautiful architecture with an inspiring story. The church is truly world class, featuring stunning mosaics, art, glass, and a majestic door. The interior is impressive and interesting, with a mosaic on the ceiling and floor of the altar and an attractive baptismal font. The surroundings are beautiful, creating a quiet place to visit. Worship services include Holy Eucharist, Liturgy of the Hours sung in Gregorian chant, and Choral Evensong. The quality and dedication to worshipping God through the arts is exemplary, with musicians recognized for their performances. The community offers free docent-led tours during open hours, a wonderful gift shop called Priory Books & Gifts, and a publishing house, Paraclete Press. It also provides retreats, a guesthouse, and concerts, including at a new performance center in Brewster. Visitors find it a welcoming, spiritual, and incredible place where they feel overwhelmed, revived, embraced, and refreshed by God’s spirit. The community acknowledges a complex past and has spoken of parts of its history it is not proud about, finding grounding in the Benedictine tradition. Today, it is seen as traveling a path of growth. It is described as a gem and a treasure, a peaceful place where so much love and dedication has gone into building the church. The world badly needs it.
This is truly an astonishingly beautiful church complex. A crown jewel of Cape Cod. The beautiful mosaics in the main Church of the Transfiguration are amazingly done and are incredibly complex. I'd like to thank Lexa and all of the clergy for this unique visit!
March 2024
Great place, went in with $100,000, left with -$100,000. Now my soul and wallet feel lighter, and I feel like firewood.
March 2023
A Gem discovery. So welcoming and spiritual. Beautiful architecture, with an inspiring story of how it came to be. Take the free tour and relax in the peaceful serenity.
