St. Michael’s Abbey is an autonomous abbey of the Norbertine Order. The Abbot is assisted in his governance of the community by members of his council. The canonry currently has 47 priests, and 18 seminarians studying for the priesthood. All members of the abbey live a full priestly and monastic common life; with daily attendance at the choral Office in the abbey church and life in community. Priests from St. Michael’s Abbey give spiritual direction and retreats to many different religious communities, both in California and internationally. Confreres assist in many Catholic organizations locally and nationwide, prison ministry and staffing of parishes in the dioceses of Orange and Los Angeles. Confreres regularly give retreats; spiritual direction and counseling; sacramental care to the dying; and assistance to Catholic cemeteries. Confreres – who have a variety of graduate degrees from Roman, American and European institutions – also write and publish books and articles.