Monastery and parish church
The Engelberg monastery church is also the parish church. The services of both the monastic community and the parish are celebrated here.
Parish Bulletin
The parish bulletin provides key information about parish life, including current events and liturgies.
If you would like to subscribe to the parish bulletin, please contact the parish secretariat. Pia Matter is your contact person.
Spiritual offers
We practice the Benedictine spirituality in the parish trough various offers.
Whether it is breathing with God, Bible sharing or the Taizé prayers – we look forward to working with you.
Catching your breath with God
For believers, the breath is also the place of God's presence. With every breath we take, we can remember that God himself has placed this life within us.
“Breathing with God” can mean: consciously being in God's presence, inviting God into your reality. It is an opportunity to bring everything together with God. In this way, prayer can become a breathing space for our soul.
“Breathing with God” is an opportunity to experience various forms of prayer, reflection and sharing together. The form and content vary, depending on the time of the church year or the needs of the participants. Examples include classic Bible sharing, meditation (with a spiritual impulse and much silence), retreats in everyday life, singing spiritual songs, etc. There is flexibility in meeting times and topics which can also be determined by the regular participants.
Bible sharing
Usually on the first Friday of the month, 9.30 am to approx. 11.00 am, in the old chapter house. Meeting point at the porch of the monastery church.
If you like to read from your own Bible, bring it with you. Otherwise we will provide you with a Bible. The chosen Bible texts invite you to read the Gospel text of the following Sunday's service, which we will reflect on and share in the Bible study group.
No previous knowledge is necessary, just an interest and curiosity about how the biblical words still speak to us today.
For further information, please contact Rita Lussi.
A six-month spiritual journey
What are retreats?
Retreats are spiritual exercises - times of silence, prayer and inner clarification. They help you to calm down, organize your life and refocus on God. “Exercitium” means in Latin: Exercise - a training for the soul. It is suitable for people who want to deepen their faith on their personal journey and in community and who want to discover God in the little things of life.
The Great Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life invite you to seek God in everyday life. The spiritual path follows the church year and is accompanied by weekly Gospel texts, daily prayer times and impulses from the mystic Madeleine Delbrêl (1904-1964). This offer is supported ecumenically and is carried out throughout Switzerland.
From November 16, 2025 to Pentecost 2026.
Dates
- •Information event: Wednesday, 24.09.2025, 19.00 h, Ref. church Engelberg
- •First meeting: Wednesday, 12.11.2025, 19.00 h, Ref. church Engelberg
Monthly meetings
- •Location and date will be determined at the 1st meeting
- •Depending on where the participants live, we choose the location Engelberg or Stans; with the possibility of carpooling
Taizé evening prayer
The Taizé evening prayer takes place several times a year. People from all generations come together to sing, to be silent and to pray. The Taizé team cordially invites you to celebrate with the songs and liturgy of the Taizé community.
In addition to prayer and singing, there are also valuable encounters between the generations. The evening is rounded off with an aperitif.
For further information, please contact Benjamin Ledergerber.
Groups
Numerous groups enrich the life of the parish. They are an important pillar both for the organization of church services and for social life in Engelberg. You are welcome to join many of the groups or play an active role in shaping them. Please get in touch with those responsible, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Altar servers
Altar servers make an important contribution to the solemnity of church services. Among other things, they carry the candles, bring bread and wine to the altar and ring the bell during the consecration. During solemn services, they carry the censer and the censer (incense burner).
From the 3rd primary class onwards, children are invited to join our altar servers. We look forward to welcoming them to our ranks after an introduction. Older children and young people are also very welcome. They are involved approximately every three to four weeks.
This ministry is a great opportunity for children to actively and closely participate in the organization of services, faith and church.
Occasions
In addition to the altar server service, we offer various activities:
- Christmas crafts
- Play afternoons
- Participation in cantonal and Swiss-German mini festivals
- Altar server excursion
For further information, please contact Rita Lussi.
Abbey choir
As an active member, you are an integral part of the monastery choir. Together, the entire choir or smaller ensembles create a musical framework for the festive services at Engelberg Abbey. Participation in projects is open to all active members.
Projects are also organized several times a year, for which external project singers are sought. Help us to work on selected works in an intensive rehearsal format. This will also broaden your musical horizons.
Preparation of family services
Family services are held regularly to bring the church year to life especially for children (Christmas Eve, children's blessing, vacation blessing, etc.). The members of this group prepare some of these services and enrich them with their creativity. If you are interested in organizing these services, please contact Benjamin Ledergerber. We look forward to you contacting us.
Lector group
What does a lector actually do? The ministry of the lector includes reading the service. The lector usually also reads the intercessions.
Anyone who enjoys reading clearly is cordially invited to join the lector group. It is a wonderful service to the congregation and helps to deepen your own faith. As well as being involved in the church services, the social aspect is not neglected either.
If you are interested, please contact Pastor Patrick Ledergerber.
Pfadi St. Eugen
Ready for a new adventure?
The Pfadi St. Eugen Engelberg is a group of children and young people who eagerly discover nature together and repeatedly put themselves to the test in achieving personal growth. In the Pfadi—or Scouts— youngsters gain valuable experience for life, make new friends and experience exciting outdoor adventures.
Join us and become part of the department!
Abbot Christian is the president of Pfadi St. Eugen Engelberg.
Women's Group of Engelberg
When women support each other, great things happen. We as a women's community group also want to strengthen each other by meeting, exchanging ideas, learning together and being creative.
In our diverse activities, we not only find the opportunity to network, but also to simply live and laugh together. Whether it's looking for Easter nests with the children, dancing or going on walks together - these little moments of joy and creativity connect us and remind us how important it is to enjoy the lighter and more playful sides of life.
We experience the magic of togetherness, especially when we go on an outing together, leaving the daily grind behind us.
Pastor Patrick Ledergerber is the president of the Engelberg Women's Community.
Hospice care
We accompany dying people to give them strength and comfort. If you would like to accompany someone who is dying or if you are looking for someone to organize vigils with your own family, please contact us.
Susi Schleiss, Dorfstrasse 52 A, 6390 Engelberg, Tel.: 041 637 34 46
The tradition of Samichlaus (Santa Claus)
House visits by Samichlaus (=St Nicholas) and his entourage have a very long tradition in Engelberg. In order to put a stop to the uncontrolled growth that emerged at the beginning of the 1980s, a few like-minded people founded the Samichlaus Brotherhood Engelberg in 1986. Just one year later, the first official St. Nicholas procession took place in the monastery village. The sending out of the brotherhood’s Samichlaus and the school Samichlaus by the abbot of the Benedictine monastery in the monastery church was another highlight of the Samichlaus season from 2000 onwards. The Samichlausen Brotherhood has officially been an association since 2024. The purpose of the association is to maintain the Samichlaus tradition.