While the pandemic has had an impact on every aspect of parish life, it has also led to a backlog of altar breads that are made by the Poor Clares in the Franciscan Monastery of St. Clare, which is situated on 17 acres of land in Langhorne in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This monastery was dedicated in 1977, and is home to 11 Sisters.
In this beautiful video the Sisters talk about the privilege of baking the altar breads that become the Body of Christ at Mass. Prior to the pandemic they were baking 15,000 altar breads a day and more than 3 million a year.
The Poor Clares are a contemplative community and part of the Franciscan family. The lives of the Siters are dedicated to praying for our Church and our world. We invite you to explore our website and get to know us. We are one of the few monasteries that still bake altar breads. We have several stoves; Raphael, Maddalena, Vincent & Benny. Breads baked on Raphael and Maddalena are a standard thickness. Vincent and Benny produce “thin” breads which are used by hospitals, nursing homes and those taking communion to the sick.
