Bishop Sweeney visits hermits in bucolic beauty of Chester #Catholic - <img width="150" height="150" src="https://beaconnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Hermitage_0976-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://beaconnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Hermitage_0976-150x150.jpg 150w, https://beaconnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Hermitage_0976-480x480.jpg 480w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /><p><strong>On July 20, the Hermits of Bethlehem</strong> and visitors of Bethlehem Hermitage, situated in the rustic splendor of Chester, N.J., welcomed Kevin J. Sweeney. He celebrated Mass in the chapel. The hermitage is a foundation of Catholic hermits — men and women who live a life of prayer, penance, silence, and solitude.</p>
<p>Founded on March 15, 1975, Bethlehem Hermitage sits on 18 acres of land. The hermits live in what is called a laura: a colony of small solitary wooden cottages situated a distance from each other around a chapel and central house. They combine hours of work with hours of prayer.</p>
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<p>The Bethlehem Hermitage offers a retreat based on principles of silence and solitude. An integral part of it is the daily celebration of the sacrament of the Eucharist and Eucharistic adoration. It is a time to encounter self and deepen one’s faith, hope, and love through prayerful listening and reflection on Sacred Scripture, which speaks when the retreatant is open in a prayerful disposition.</p>
<p style="text-align: right;"><em>For more information, visit <a href="https://www.bethlehemhermitage.com/retreats.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bethlehemhermitage.com.</a></em></p>
<div style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"><strong>BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI & JESSICA MARTINEZ</strong></div>
<div> [<a href="https://beaconnj.org/bishop-sweeney-visits-hermits-in-bucolic-beauty-of-chester/">See image gallery at beaconnj.org</a>] </p>
</div> - <img width="150" height="150" src="https://beaconnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Hermitage_0976-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://beaconnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Hermitage_0976-150x150.jpg 150w, https://beaconnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Hermitage_0976-480x480.jpg 480w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />On July 20, the Hermits of Bethlehem and visitors of Bethlehem Hermitage, situated in the rustic splendor of Chester, N.J., welcomed Kevin J. Sweeney. He celebrated Mass in the chapel. The hermitage is a foundation of Catholic hermits — men and women who live a life of prayer, penance, silence, and solitude. Founded on March 15, 1975, Bethlehem Hermitage sits on 18 acres of land. The hermits live in what is called a laura: a colony of small solitary wooden cottages situated a distance from each other around a chapel and central house. They combine hours of work with hours
On July 20, the Hermits of Bethlehem and visitors of Bethlehem Hermitage, situated in the rustic splendor of Chester, N.J., welcomed Kevin J. Sweeney. He celebrated Mass in the chapel. The hermitage is a foundation of Catholic hermits — men and women who live a life of prayer, penance, silence, and solitude.
Founded on March 15, 1975, Bethlehem Hermitage sits on 18 acres of land. The hermits live in what is called a laura: a colony of small solitary wooden cottages situated a distance from each other around a chapel and central house. They combine hours of work with hours of prayer.
The Bethlehem Hermitage offers a retreat based on principles of silence and solitude. An integral part of it is the daily celebration of the sacrament of the Eucharist and Eucharistic adoration. It is a time to encounter self and deepen one’s faith, hope, and love through prayerful listening and reflection on Sacred Scripture, which speaks when the retreatant is open in a prayerful disposition.
For more information, visit bethlehemhermitage.com.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI & JESSICA MARTINEZ
Bishop Sweeney visits hermits in bucolic beauty of Chester #Catholic –
On July 20, the Hermits of Bethlehem and visitors of Bethlehem Hermitage, situated in the rustic splendor of Chester, N.J., welcomed Kevin J. Sweeney. He celebrated Mass in the chapel. The hermitage is a foundation of Catholic hermits — men and women who live a life of prayer, penance, silence, and solitude.
Founded on March 15, 1975, Bethlehem Hermitage sits on 18 acres of land. The hermits live in what is called a laura: a colony of small solitary wooden cottages situated a distance from each other around a chapel and central house. They combine hours of work with hours of prayer.
The Bethlehem Hermitage offers a retreat based on principles of silence and solitude. An integral part of it is the daily celebration of the sacrament of the Eucharist and Eucharistic adoration. It is a time to encounter self and deepen one’s faith, hope, and love through prayerful listening and reflection on Sacred Scripture, which speaks when the retreatant is open in a prayerful disposition.
For more information, visit bethlehemhermitage.com.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI & JESSICA MARTINEZ
![Bishop Sweeney visits hermits in bucolic beauty of Chester #Catholic - On July 20, the Hermits of Bethlehem and visitors of Bethlehem Hermitage, situated in the rustic splendor of Chester, N.J., welcomed Kevin J. Sweeney. He celebrated Mass in the chapel. The hermitage is a foundation of Catholic hermits — men and women who live a life of prayer, penance, silence, and solitude.
Founded on March 15, 1975, Bethlehem Hermitage sits on 18 acres of land. The hermits live in what is called a laura: a colony of small solitary wooden cottages situated a distance from each other around a chapel and central house. They combine hours of work with hours of prayer.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
The Bethlehem Hermitage offers a retreat based on principles of silence and solitude. An integral part of it is the daily celebration of the sacrament of the Eucharist and Eucharistic adoration. It is a time to encounter self and deepen one’s faith, hope, and love through prayerful listening and reflection on Sacred Scripture, which speaks when the retreatant is open in a prayerful disposition.
For more information, visit bethlehemhermitage.com.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI & JESSICA MARTINEZ
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/bishop-sweeney-visits-hermits-in-bucolic-beauty-of-chester-catholic-on-july-20-the-hermits-of-bethlehem-and-visitors-of-bethlehem-hermitage-situated-in-the-rustic-splendor-of-chester-n-j-welco.jpg)