The Monastery of the Angels is a Dominican cloistered monastery located in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1924, it became home to a community of women dedicated to a life of prayer, study of the Holy Scriptures, and spiritual service. You can also read about the history and mission of the Downtown Women’s Center. More on losangeleska.
A Look Back at the Monastery’s History
Initially, the convent was housed in a 12-room residence, famously known as the Monastery of the Angels. It featured a chapel for perpetual adoration open to visitors. However, the nuns’ life in a regular residential building demanded significant effort. In 1934, with the support of wealthy friends, the order acquired the former estate of Joseph Louis Gireau on Carmen Avenue in Hollywood, which architect Frederick Roehrig had designed in 1912. This building became the sisters’ new home.
In 1949, the construction of the new monastery complex, situated on four acres of land, was completed. From then on, the monastery served as a sanctuary where women performed their ministry of praying for the world, living in seclusion from the hustle and bustle of secular life. The monastery was also renowned for its gift shop, where visitors could purchase religious literature, medallions, prayer cards, as well as the famous pumpkin bread and handmade chocolates, which helped support the convent.
The Heart of the Convent: The Chapel
Specialized sculptures were commissioned for the chapel. By 1950, a community of 30 nuns gathered there to pray. It was where they worked, lived, prayed, and served the Church. They followed a pescetarian diet, having only one meal a day. Beyond prayer, their daily work included baking communion wafers for local churches, sewing vestments for priests, tending a flower garden, and ministering to the sick and needy who came to the chapel.
Even though the nuns were an enclosed society, Wallace Neff designed the new Monastery of the Angels campus with a public-facing presence. Directly across from the chapel was a gift shop where visitors could buy spiritual books, medallions, prayer cards, and, of course, the famous pumpkin bread and chocolates.
The Chapel of the Monastery of the Angels in Los Angeles was central to the spiritual life of the community of Dominican nuns. Located on the monastery grounds at 1977 Carmen Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90068, the chapel hosted daily prayers and services. Following the monastery’s closure in 2022, public access to the chapel was halted. Since January 1, 2024, all liturgies in the chapel have ceased, and the monastery grounds are closed to visitors.
Prayers and Support from the Faithful
The Monastery of the Angels in Los Angeles was known for its hospitality and spiritual support for visitors. It served as a haven for prayer and spiritual retreat for many believers. The Dominican sisters dedicated their lives to studying the Holy Scriptures and praying for those who sought their support and repentance. The monastery was a place where Catholics could gather for communal worship, receive spiritual guidance, and find peace in the bustling city.
People often approached the sisters with requests for prayer for health, well-being, and resolution of life’s difficulties. Visitors came to the monastery chapel to participate in daily masses and other services. The convent was famous for its pumpkin bread and handmade chocolates, baked by the sisters. Many visited the monastery shop to purchase these treats and other religious souvenirs. After the monastery closed in 2022, access to the chapel and shop was discontinued. However, the sisters continue their spiritual mission in another location, and support for their work remains important to many believers. Thus, the Monastery of the Angels was not only a spiritual refuge for the Catholic community but also a significant cultural landmark in the context of Hollywood, symbolizing the connection between spirituality and modern life.
The Closure of a Landmark
In its final years, the monastery faced financial challenges. In 2009, during the global financial crisis, the monastery’s land was sold for redevelopment. At the time, about 20 women lived there. During the COVID-19 pandemic, only four women remained. With the diminishing number of sisters and their advancing age, the convent faced challenges regarding its future. In 2022, the monastery closed, and the sisters relocated to the Corpus Christi Monastery in Menlo Park, California. Dominican friars and sisters collaborated to preserve the property, honor the legacy of the sisters who faithfully served, and support the monastery’s confectionery business.
Thanks to its unique atmosphere and location in the heart of Hollywood, the Monastery of the Angels left a notable mark on the cultural and spiritual life of Los Angeles and the United States. The Monastery of the Angels remains an important part of LA history, a symbol of spirituality and dedication amidst the urban frenzy of Hollywood. For Catholics and members of the Hollywood community who visited the Monastery of the Angels since its founding, it was a place of spiritual tranquility, architectural, and natural beauty.