Christian community service in Peru, Illinois

St. Bede Abbey, located in Peru, Illinois, has been serving the Illinois Valley area since 1891. The Benedictine monks at St. Bede Abbey operate St. Bede Academy, a co-educational Catholic high school for day and boarding students. The monks follow a simple and austere way of life, marked by obedience, silence, humility, prayerfulness, and community. Their primary purpose is to seek God through listening to His word and responding with obedience and generosity. The monks live a celibate life in relative solitude, dedicated to achieving holiness through their way of life. They aim to contribute to the local and universal church through their witness to Christian values and service to others. St. Bede Academy, owned and operated by the monks, provides education for young men and women in grades 9-12, emphasizing hospitality, education, and pastoral ministry.