Franciscan Monastery Garden Guild

“Seven Nights of Lights” is back at the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America this Christmas.

Dedicate a luminaria in honor (or memory) of a loved one, or just make a gift to the Garden Guild. This is a beautiful gift and way for you to remember your special intentions. Orders must be received by Dec. 17, 2022, so we can prepare the candles.

Names will be placed on luminarias placed along the Monastery portico or in the Portiuncula Chapel from Dec. 24-31, 2022. They also will be listed on the Luminaria Tribute page on this website and included in the friars’ daily prayers during Christmas week.

Join Us on Christmas Eve for the Blessing and Lighting

Join the friars and Garden Guild members at the Franciscan Monastery (1400 Quincy St. NE, Washington, DC) on Dec. 24, 1 p.m., for the blessing and to help light the luminaria.

And, thank you. Your donation supports the care and preservation of the historic Monastery gardens and the Franciscan Monastery Garden Guild’s fresh farm program, critical to helping address hunger in our community.

Thank you for your support and have a Blessed Advent and Christmas.

1400 Quincy St NE – Brookland House & Garden Tour is Sunday, June 5, 2022 – 12 PM – 5 PM

Tickets Required: $20 – $25 Order online :

Franciscan Monastery’s Restored 1915 Metropolitan Greenhouse

About this event:

The Franciscan Monastery Garden Guild (FMGG) was established in 1998 with an original purpose of preserving the formal front gardens of the Franciscan Monastery in Washington, DC. In 2014, its mission expanded including the raising of produce to address food insecurity in the metropolitan Washington area. During the past eight years, it has raised more than 34.5 tons of fresh produce for donation to local food pantries and soup kitchens.

FMGG conducts operations year-round. Its volunteers start seedlings in the Franciscan Monastery’s recently restored 107-year-old, Metropolitan cast-iron-and-glass greenhouse for springtime transplanting in garden beds.

From 2020 – 2021, FMGG expanded the land under cultivation from three-quarters of an acre to two acres to help combat food insecurity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the pandemic has abated, inflation has driven food prices higher, making it harder for food banks to remain fully stocked. Additional information about the garden guild is available via gardenguild@gmail.com

1st In-Person since 2019!

Saturday, April 30 (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.) & Sunday, May 1 (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.)

Come early for organic herbs, annuals, perennials, vegetables, Monastery-grown plants, roses, azaleas, etc. while enjoying food, crafts, and the Monastery’s gardens.

Free garden tours Saturday at 11 a.m., 12 noon, 1 p.m., and 2 p.m., and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 12 noon.

Sponsored by the all-volunteer Franciscan Monastery Garden Guild. Proceeds support the preservation of the monastery’s historic gardens, restoration of the 107-year-old Metropolitan Greenhouse, our urban beekeeping program and our community vegetable program, which supplies fresh produce (34.5 tons since 2014!) from our urban farm to those in need through partnerships with local food non-profits and parish food pantries.

Free parking across from Monastery’s Main Gate or Metro Red Line – Brookland/CUA Stop – Transfer to H6 – Ft. Lincoln

No pets…please leave your dog at home