Holy Trinity Monastery

Lovely stop between Tucson and Bisbee… a Benedictine monastery with shady gardens and ponds. A feeling of peace permeates the entire complex.

If I were to picture a mirage in the desert, it might look a bit like Holy Trinity Monastery, minus the gigantic cross.
The cross is impressive, the first thing you see, but it isn’t what draws me to these grounds. There are so many celestial nooks and crannies to explore here that you might need to give yourself a couple of hours to fully appreciate all that HTM has to offer.
Yes, some of the buildings are in need of a paint job and a little TLC but that doesn’t detract from the beauty here. The gazebo woven of living branches that beckons you to the front of the church, the lush, open bird sanctuary, the meditation pond, complete with bridge and giant Koi, THESE are the things you’ll remember.
And if you’re so inclined, there are outdoor stations of the cross, set amidst the peaceful woods that surround the church.
There is a bookstore, thrift shop and RV park. They even offer an opportunity for a retreat, if you ever need a break from the madness of the modern world.

This place is pretty, but looked a little run down on our recent visit. My friend had been there before many years ago and raved about it, which is why we drove out of the way to visit, but I wasn’t impressed.
It was quiet, but we saw zero people on the property.

I usually hate the phrase «oasis in the desert» because I think it is corny and way overused in reviews but in this case it applies. The surrounding area is dry prairie land and high desert scrub but miraculously the monastery grounds are full of green grass, tall Cottonwood trees, wildflowers and other vegetation. They even have a Koi pond which appears to have a natural water source since there was no visible lining on the bottom or pipes. I am guessing there is an underground water reservoir or river located below the town and so it is quite literally an oasis.
I came here last Saturday (11÷12÷11) for their twice annual Festival of the Arts. This event gives local artists and craftsmen a chance to try to sell their wares. It is free to get in but the $ 3 parking fee and money collected from the vendors go to the monastery, their charitable works, and The Catholic Church. The day we went was uncharacteristically cloudy so the festival was not too crowded. My parents go every year and they said usually they have to park much further away. We had a good time walking around, eating kettle corn and looking at the merchandise in all the stalls. There wasn’t really anything amazing there… it was mostly the usual wind chimes, jewelery, leather works, and handmade soaps. We did end up buying some matted pics of San Xavier mission from a local photographer. I would have liked to have seen more paintings/​sculptures. Also, there wasn’t much in the way of food offerings. However, a big plus was that they had real bathrooms instead of port-​a-​potties.
Overall, it is worth the drive if you have guests in town or are just looking for something to do. Even if it is not a festival weekend they do offer a daily mass and I believe that the entire grounds are open to the public. They have a bookstore and thrift store onsite that you can peruse. There is even an RV park if you want to camp out for a while. Their website has more info on special events like lectures, concerts, and spiritual retreats that they put on so it seems like they really have a lot to offer.

If I could give this place 10 stars, I would! I had the pleasure of taking a retreat to help me reflect on relationships, prayer and where God wants me to go in life. Words cannot express the amazing experience I had at this very progessive and open minded monastery — Holy Trinity Monastery. So here are some common monastery myths debunked because this place was AMAZING! Very reasonable rates, great value RVs and travelers are welcomed!
Myth #1: Monasteries have walls surrounding them like a fence.
UM NO! This place has nothing but open spaces (except walls in my room). They also have a library, a gift shop, a chapel, dinning hall and little meditation bungalows.
Myth #2: Monasteries are not open to new ideas.
This place has the outdoor stations of the cross! Most churchs have indoor stations of the cross with premade images — at this monastery, you can imagine your own.
Myth #3: Monasteries are mostly gardens and large stone buildings.
There is a beautiful iron and cement bridge designed and built by an engineer (a lay person too!) living on the monastery. The bridge crosses a pond actually has koi fish and peacocks walking around it.
Myth #4: Only Monks live at a monastery and only men live at a monastery.
This monastery is one of the few that allows your average Joe or Jane to live on the grounds or just visit.
Myth #5: There are only religious books at a monastery.
The monastery library contained thousands upon thousands of non religious books, even a whole section on CS Lewis and fiction books like «Alice in Wonderland».
Myth #6: All masses are held indoors at a monastery.
The biggest cross with the biggest outdoor altar with one of the biggest outdoor churches you’ve ever seen is at this monastery. During the summer and for special occasions mass is held outside.
Myth #7: You eat soup out of wooden bowls at a monastery and only have 1 meal per day.
THE FOOD HERE IS DELICIOUS! Every morning, lunchtime and dinner, we had something different, from a complete salad bar with breaded chicken breast to homeade fench toast with oatmeal and pecans.