MISSION: To promote the exploration of Catholic thought and the restoration of Christian culture in the spirit of St. Benedict, our patron. ABOUT US: The Portsmouth Institute for Faith and Culture is a Benedictine center for the Catholic intellectual and contemplative life. It is a foundation of Portsmouth Abbey and Saint Louis Abbey, two American houses of the English Benedictine Congregation (the oldest continuously operating Benedictine congregation in the world, erected by the Holy See in 1216). We host academic programs for students, educators, and lifelong learners, publish on the intersection of Catholicism and culture, and promote research on topics related to Benedictine history and theology. The Institute offers encounters in Portsmouth, RI, Saint Louis, MO, Oxford, UK, and in cities across the U.S.