The Monastery of St. Clare in Oakville is one of nine designated Jubilee Pilgrimage sites in the archdiocese
The Poor Clare nuns at the Monastery of St. Clare in Oakville rarely leave their cloister, but this year, they’re welcoming pilgrims to come to them.
The Monastery of St. Clare is one of nine Jubilee Pilgrimage sites in the Archdiocese of St. Louis designated by Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski for the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope. The faithful can obtain a plenary indulgence — remission of the temporal punishment due to sins — by visiting any of the nine sites for a pilgrimage or pious visit, in addition to the usual conditions for indulgence.
The monastery was also a designated pilgrimage site during the Jubilee Year of Mercy in 2015, and the sisters were excited to learn it would be one again, abbess Mother Mary Elizabeth said. While the sisters remain removed from visitors, they’ve noticed quite a few signatures in the guest book. And, during Mass, “you can hear them when the kneelers go down, so we know they’re out there!” she said.
The Poor Clares were founded in Italy the 13th century. In 1212, foundress St. Clare left her home to follow in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi. She was clothed in a poor habit as a sign of her consecration to God. Several others joined her at the Church of San Damiano, just outside of Assisi, and began what was called the Poor Ladies. After St. Clare’s death in 1253, the community became known as the Poor Clares or Nuns of the Order of St. Clare.
The Poor Clare nuns established a monastery in St. Louis in 1959 at the invitation of then-Archbishop Joseph E. Ritter. As a bishop in Indianapolis, he knew the Poor Clares who had a monastery in Evansville, Indiana. The Monastery of St. Clare of the Immaculate Conception was erected in Oakville in 1958, and the following year, six nuns moved into the new monastery. In 2010, the sisters completed work on an addition that expanded the monastery’s size. Today, there are nine professed sisters in the community, with one more discerning postulancy.
The sisters’ daily schedule includes prayer, readings, communing with God and silent meditation. Living in community is another critical aspect of the sisters’ charism. They share responsibilities for the upkeep of the monastery. The community also makes altar breads for use in the Holy Mass.
The monastery’s public chapel is open for prayer after the 6:15 a.m. Mass until about 5:30 p.m. each day. The sisters lead the Jubilee prayer at the end of daily Mass and during the Sunday evening Benediction.
Several parish and school groups have also called to arrange special pilgrimage visits, Mother Mary Elizabeth said. A group of Redemptorist priests will be celebrating a special Mass at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 22, with the sisters singing in choir.
This year also marks the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Poor Clares in the United States. On Aug. 18, Bishop Mark S. Rivituso will celebrate Mass to mark the anniversary of the death of Mother Mary Magdalena Bentevoglio, who came from Italy and founded the first Poor Clare monastery in the country.
The annual novena to St. Clare will also take place nightly at the monastery from Aug. 2-10, and the sisters expect a larger crowd than usual during the Jubilee Year, Mother Mary Elizabeth said.
Whether visitors attend an event or simply come to the monastery for Mass or prayer, Mother Mary Elizabeth encourages all “to take the opportunity to come up and receive our Lord’s graces right now — the Lord knows we do need it, with everything going on!” she said. “And for our loved ones that are still in purgatory — that’s one of the things that seems to be a little closer to my heart right now…this Jubilee Year indulgence isn’t just for ourselves, but for the poor souls.”
Jubilee Indulgences
Options to receive a Jubilee indulgence:
Pilgrimage to a sacred Jubilee site, where the faithful participate in Mass, another liturgical service such as Morning or Evening Prayer, or acts of piety such as Stations of the Cross, praying the Rosary or a penitential celebration.
Pious visit: Individually or in a group, devoutly visit a Jubilee site and engage in eucharistic adoration and meditation, concluding with the Our Father, the profession of faith from Mass, and a prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Those who are unable to take part in pilgrimages or pious visits for serious reasons, such as cloistered religious, the elderly, the sick and those who care for them, or the imprisoned, may obtain the indulgence by uniting themselves in spirit with those making pilgrimages or pious visits, reciting an Our Father, a profession of faith, and other prayers in harmony with the purpose of the Jubilee Year, and offering up their sufferings and hardships to the Lord.
Works of Mercy and Penance: This includes participation in formational activities on the documents of Vatican II or the Catechism, initiatives that put into practice the spirit of penance, and performance of corporal or spiritual works of mercy.
For the full details on Jubilee Indulgences, read the papal bull: stlreview.com/3POKFln
Usual conditions for a plenary indulgence:
• Be in a state of grace and have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin
• Sacramental confession (can be received several days before or after)
• Reception of holy Communion
• Prayer for the pope’s intentions
Help the souls in purgatory
The faithful who have carried out an act of charity on behalf of the souls in purgatory, if they receive holy Communion a second time that day within Mass, can obtain the plenary indulgence twice on the same day, applicable only to the deceased.
Designated Pilgrimage Sites in the Archdiocese of St. Louis
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis | St. Louis
Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France | St. Louis
Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters | St. Louis
The Carmel of Saint Joseph | Ladue
Saint Mary’s of the Barrens – National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal | Perryville
Monastery of St. Clare | Oakville
Passionist Nuns of St. Louis | Ellisville
Immaculate Heart of Mary | New Melle
Immaculate Conception | Union
>> Visit the Monastery of St. Clare
200 Marycrest Drive, St. Louis, MO 63129
Mass Times: 6:15 a.m. Monday-Saturday; 6:30 a.m. Sunday
Eucharistic Adoration: The chapel is open for prayer during the day. Benediction and Evening Prayer are held at 4:30 p.m. on Sundays, lasting about 40 minutes.
Holy Hour for vocations: 7 p.m. on the first Friday of each month, ending with Benediction
This is the third in a monthly series featuring each of the nine designated pilgrimage sites in the Archdiocese of St. Louis during the Jubilee Year 2025. To read other stories in the series, visit stlreview.com/Jubilee-2025-sites.
