Muenster – St. Peter’s Abbey
Founded in 1903, St. Peter’s Abbey in Muenster is the oldest Benedictine monastery in Canada. The monks originally came from a small community in Illinois and relocated to Saskatchewan to serve the rapidly growing German Catholic settlement known as St. Peter’s Colony.
After arriving on the prairies, the monks established a rhythm of daily prayer that continues today. They played a central role in building the colony, founding parishes, supporting schools, and providing pastoral care to thousands of German Catholic homesteaders. By 1906 the monastery had grown steadily and had become a spiritual and cultural anchor for the region.
St. Peter’s Abbey remains an important symbol of German Catholic heritage in Saskatchewan and the enduring legacy of the early settlers who shaped the community.
In this podcast, St. Peter’s Abbott Peter Novescosky, and Father Lawrence DeMong share the history of St. Peter’s from its early days to life as it is today.
