Our History

Corpus Christi Monastery was founded in response to a desire of the Western Dominican Provincial and the Archbishop of San Francisco to have a contemplative monastery in this area whose purpose would be to honor and promote devotion to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Father A.L. McMahon, OP had been working on this project as early as 1908, but it took until May 29, 1921 to clear away all the difficulties involved in establishing this shrine of love and adoration. On that day eight Dominican Nuns set out from their monastery in the Bronx, New York to begin the new foundation in California. The Sisters were housed temporarily in the home of a Catholic lady in San Francisco who gave them hospitality until a suitable property could be found for a permanent monastery.

By April 9, 1928 our new home in Menlo Park was ready and the Sisters joyfully moved into the newly constructed gothic building on Oak Grove Avenue. Here the community grew and flourished striving to continue the apostolate of fostering love and devotion to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

Our public chapel is open daily from 6:30 AM until 5:30 PM for our friends who need a quiet place to come away and pray in the presence of Jesus exposed in the monstrance. They are welcome to join us at the celebration of the Eucharist, praying the Office, or simply "being" with the Lord.