While many contemporary monastic orders are suffering from declining vocations and aging members, some monks in France are dealing with a problem of an entirely different order: that of having so many vocations that they are running out of space. Although this problem is comparably enviable, it remains a problem nonetheless.St Marie de la Garde (Diocese of Agen, France) was founded in November 2002, but its numbers have increased to such an extent that they have been forced to build a new monastery.
Construction work is expected to begin in early Autumn this year. It is to be spread over two phases:
Phase 1 will enable 25 monks to live a true monastic life with places of prayer, a communal existence and allow them to work the land. It will include a barn, commons and a supplementary wing for the workshops (for sandals, mechanics, maintenance).
Phase 2 is scheduled to accommodate at least 40 monks who will live their monastic life according to the Rule of St Benedict with all the conventional places (abbey, cloister, refectory, chapel), workshops, a warehouse, and a guest house that can accommodate twenty retreatants.
6 comments:
Philip,
Thank you for the posting of the Holy work that these monks do every day, they surely need our help.
There is another Traditional Catholic Monastary in the United States, in Wyoming that is recieving so many vocations that they need to move to a new site.
Please help and pray for these Cloistered Carmelites as well.
Here is their webpage:
http://www.carmelitemonks.org/
They could buy Stanbrook Abbey in Worcestershire, england for the amount they will spend on phase I. I dont's think it's been sold yet. Will try and find out. Pugin chapel; fantastic library, printing press, lots of land, guest house in grounds.I'll try and find out more and le the monks know.
What Congregation are they? Solesmes?
They are part of Le Barroux
Thanks Anon.
English Catholicism could sure do with them!
Let us not forget the construction projects of the Benedictines here in the United States. Our Lady of the Annunciation Monastery at Clear Creek is currently in the process of building their multimillion dollar monastery and will next start construction on their church. Check out http://www.clearcreekmonks.org
There must be some wonderful old monastery even in France that could be refurbished & updated for less than it would cost to build a new one?
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