Officials have successfully completed Phase 1 of their Anniversary Campaign for St. Bernard. Begun in honor of the 130th anniversary of the founding of the monastery in 1891, the Anniversary Campaign has raised $12 million to renovate the monastery building where the monks live, pray and work.
The second phase of the campaign is underway and the monks have set a goal of $245,000 for furnishings and equipment.
“Over the last several years, we’ve invested significantly in the campus,” Abbot Marcus Voss, O.S.B. said. “We’ve renovated the Heidrich Library, built a gym, expanded the Grotto Gift Shop, remodeled Boniface Hall Retreat Center and improved the dorms, along with putting new roofs on many of our buildings. But, the one thing that remained until now was the monastery building.”
Built in 1963, architects judged the frame and exterior shell of the monastery building to be in good shape. With poured concrete walls and structural support columns, the bones of the structure are sturdy and set to last another 60 years. However, heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical systems have long outlived their life expectancy.
“I don’t think many people were aware of the condition of the monastery,” said Fr. Paschal Pautler, O.S.B., director of Development for St. Bernard Abbey and Prep School. “That’s understandable, as the monastery cloister is not open to the general public.”
Pautler said once benefactors saw photos of the interior, they understood why the project was necessary.
During a visit last year, Pautler invited St. Bernard College alumnus Ronnie Barnes to tour the cloister for a first-hand look.
“Ronnie was surprised by what he saw and said, ‘I can’t believe the monks are living in those conditions. You’ve been sacrificing your resources for the good of other projects on the campus,’” said Pautler. “With more than 15% of the bathrooms in the building inoperable, and collapsing plaster and mold growth on the walls throughout, something had to be done.”
Now, though the generosity of donors and foundational gifts secured, the project is finally off the ground. With several large cornerstone gifts acquired to anchor the project, Voss, Pautler and Monastery Vocation Director Father Joel Martin, O.S.B., began visiting friends and benefactors across the country to seek support for the monastery renovation.
“I’m amazed at people’s generosity,” Voss said. “There have been gifts large and small and broad involvement from alumni and the business community.”
“Why did they support us? I think it’s three reasons,” Pautler said. “First, people value the fact that the monks are praying for them every day. Second, they appreciate the work of the monks, especially in our school and want to thank them for that. Third, people see young vocations here at the Abbey. They want to support those young men by providing a healthy place for them to live.”
Work has already begun on the monastery. Cullman company Eidson & Associates have been contracted to carry out the renovation work. Plans include repairs and upgrades to plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems, as well as instillation of fire alarms and life-safety systems throughout the monastery. A fully renovated infirmary features handicap-accessible bathrooms, a nurse’s station to monitor monks who need round-the-clock care, a common kitchen and a dining room that looks out upon the greenery of the monastery courtyard. To foster wellbeing of the elderly monks, community space will be reconfigured in the infirmary to create more natural light and a living room where elderly monks can visit each other and guests.
The third floor of the monastery will become a formation wing where postulants, novices and junior monks live and study. The novitiate wing, where monks in the early stages of monastic formation live, will include a classroom, laundry room, recreation room and an office for the Novice Master to meet in conference with the younger monks.
“A well-planned novitiate tells young men entering the monastic life that they have a place, they matter and that the monks of the Abbey welcome and support them as they learn to give themselves totally to God in the monastery,” Martin said.
With the cost of major repairs covered, the development office is now turning its attention to Phase 2 of the campaign.
“We need to furnish and equip the monastery once it is renovated,” Pautler said. “That will include hospital beds and medical equipment for the infirmary, appliances for laundry rooms and kitchens, furniture for common areas and allowances for new paving and sidewalks, among other things.”
Donations can be made to St. Bernard Monastery Renovations, 1600 St. Bernard Drive, S.E.; contact Pautler at 256-255-5854.