Community of Peace

Community of Peace is an ecumenical, Christ-centered community located in Louisa, Virginia, dedicated to fostering healing transformation through welcome, sung prayer, dialogue, and solidarity. Inspired by the Community of Taizé in France, the community maintains a daily rhythm of prayer, singing, and silence three times a day—morning, midday, and evening. Members and visitors work together, share meals, and build lifelong friendships in an intentionally inclusive environment.

The community is open to everyone, regardless of creed, faith, nationality, age, gender, or ability, and actively encourages intercultural dialogue. Its membership includes visitors, interns, vowed residents, and vowed monks from diverse global backgrounds, including the United States, India, Germany, Ethiopia, and Canada. Leadership is provided by Abbot Br. Stefan Waligur, who guides the community’s spiritual and practical life.

In addition to its spiritual practices, Community of Peace offers a variety of hands-on activities for guests, such as walking the on-site labyrinth, trail maintenance, cabin building, housekeeping, and communal cooking. The Community of Peace Giftshop sells handcrafted items—including clothing, music, self-made rosaries, and original mandala prints by novice monk Barb Miller—to support the community’s mission. Custom orders for mandala note cards and prints are welcomed.

Special programs explore themes like gratitude, grief, and the divine feminine, often shared through video and newsletters. The community invites all who seek peace, prayer, and connection with nature to visit and participate in its rhythm of life.