The bells are carefully placed onto stands in preparation for Sunday’s blessing; these solid bronze bells weigh several hundred pounds
Rob Nurre, crafter of the bell stands, carefully attaches the bearings which allow the bells to swing in place
The community gathers for this once-in-a-lifetime ceremony
The largest of the bells, now christened St. Raphael, came from the old St. Raphael Cathedral in Madison; two bells were newly cast to accompany this donated bell – now named St. Gabriel & St. Michael
After a reading and responsorial psalm the bells were blessed with lengthy prayers
Then the bells were washed with Holy Water
Then the bells were anointed with Chrism, inside and out
And finally, the bells were filled with incense
After happily ringing the bells together, Bishop Hying, Msgr. Bartylla, & Mother Anne Marie pose for a photo
One by one the bells were hoisted to the bell tower with a crane
The crew on the ground and the crew in the tower coordinated the transfer beautifully
St. Raphael safely in place on its stand
Views from April 19
The complex ceiling vaulting and walls of the Guest Nave are nearly ready for painting
A mockup of the pavers for the Guest Courtyard check for color and pattern
View of the north side of the monastery, with the cemetery in the foreground; timing of landscaping and plantings will depend on what the spring weather allows
Drywallers and finishers follow close behind the steel framers as everyone hustles (conscientiously!) to complete the Chapel by July
Scaffolding still fills the entire Chapel nave as work on the ceiling groin vaults continues
Views from late March & early April
The steel framers and the drywallers continue their satisfying and successful collaboration on shaping the Chapel’s complex groin vaults
View of the Monastery from above St. Peter’s Rock looking west, before the trees soon begin to leaf out
Newly arrived bells! A bell from the old St. Raphael’s cathedral plus two newly cast bells to accompany it, plus our existing Ave Maria bell arrive at their new home
The cloister paving, modeled on the St. Benedict medal, was barely completed before being covered by an early-April snowfall
The work to finish up the Guest Wing is all interior now; landscaping and plantings are awaiting favorable weather
Aerial view of cloister courtyard
March 8: Community Relocation
No dry eyes as we bid farewell to our community’s home for nearly 70 years
After an early celebration of Holy Mass the oratory was dissembled; the empty wall where the crucifix hung is a fitting reminder of the imprint the nun’s prayers leave behind on these old buildings
Nuns and volunteers scramble through the hallways doing the final packing
Capital City Transfer removes the last of the chapel furniture
The rooms are bare and empty as the community departs
A procession of cars proceeds down the driveway bringing the community to their new home!
Meanwhile, volunteers help unload the moving trucks while the community is en route
Saint Ambrose students help assemble furniture
Bachmann Construction delivers and installs pews to the Chapter Room
The community is welcomed home!
The nuns are thrilled to see the New Monastery
Finally the nuns take up residence and are seen walking the corridors
Lots of new sights; here Sister Roberta points out the Church (still under construction) to Sister Stephanie
Signs help the community find their way until they become familiar with the new setting
The unpacking begins…
Monsignor Bartylla, Vicar General, arrives to inspect the temporary oratory; He reverently transports the Blessed Sacrament into the oratory
After a prayer service, Monsignor Bartylla blesses every room in the New Monastery
We’re Moving!
Beginning March 4th the community items were transported to the new location. Sisters fill the now empty bakery with boxes and furniture for the movers to pick up. Volunteers assist at the New Monastery, delivering items to the correct room. The monastery is abuzz with workers preparing for the community’s arrival.
Views from February 29:
Bird’s-eye view of the New Monastery looking south-west; the monastery is abuzz with preparations for the community’s relocation next week!
The light-steel groin vault framing in the Guest Nave awaits drywall
Electricians and plumbers assist with the CWW equipment installations; if all goes smoothly, the nuns will be back to altar bread production the week of March 11
All of the light-steel ceiling vault action in the main Chapel is happening above scaffolding that fills the nave
Drywallers, on stilts and on foot, are crafting the arches in the second floor Chapel gallery
Preparations for the Move!
The sisters are becoming experts in stretch film application! The remainder of the bakery will relocate on Monday (Feb 26); the community move will commence the week of March 4th
Volunteers Paul & Karen help with the choir furniture modification in order to fit them into the New Monastery temporary oratory; God willing, the community will be fully moved in on March 8th
February 23: Phase Three Bakery Relocation
The baking aspects of the bakery were relocated last month; now we begin moving the atomizing, cutting, packaging, shipping areas in anticipation of the community move
Accompanied by many prayers, four large machines were loaded up – three cutting machines and (shown above) a packaging machine
Safe delivery to the CWW
Through the intercession of Saint Joseph, the last minute installation of the dock lift made this delivery possible
Views from February 19:
Stonework on the guest entrance to the Chapel just completed
The cornerstone was blessed by Bishop Hying at the site blessing in October 2021
Chapel façade shines in the winter sun
Views from February 10:
The mild winter has allowed the stonework for the north side of the Chapel to be completed quickly
Stonework for the Guest entrance to the Chapel is nearly complete
The Chapel is filled with scaffolding as the light-steel framers shape the vaulted ceiling
Painting of the Refectory is finished; now, all that remains is final cleaning
Views from February 3:
The Eastern façade cladding is complete!
New Monastery exterior nearing the finish line
The Guest entrance to the Chapel narthex is framed and almost ready for the stonemasons
The bookshelves are installed in the Library—next is moving in some 6,000 volumes!
Sr Marie Pierre tests the hook heights for all the utility rooms to be sure they can accommodate various brooms and mops
Many thanks to Ben Sanders and his dad—the new layout table is in place in the sewing room
January 30-February 1: Baker Testing and Tweaking
We’re baking! Each plate gets regulated for even batter placement
Tweaks and repairs needed as the baking goes along
Philippe and Alfred carefully watch the baker function to be sure all is well
Further tweaks and experimentation
The baked sheets of bread are piled, sorted, and stored for future cutting
After three days of test-baking, both bakers are up and running smoothly
The baking irons are carefully return to their home on the carousel
Philippe & Alfred put the roof back on so the exhaust can be installed; the machine parts filling the CWW are clearing out
Previous Videos
January 11 VIDEO CLIP
November 7 VIDEO CLIP
October 25 VIDEO CLIP
October 11 VIDEO CLIP
July 18 VIDEO CLIP
June 1 VIDEO CLIP
APRIL 24 VIDEO CLIP
Slideshow of Previous Updates:
September 2022 to April 2023
May 2023 to January 2024
Media Links
“Cloistered Religious and the Common Good”
Bridge Builder Podcast; 7 March, 2021
“The Monastery and Evangelization”
Blazing the Trail Podcast; 24 February, 2021
“Making a Monastery”
Spectrum News 1; 14 February, 2021
“Cistercian Nuns and the Fermentation Fest”
WI State Journal; 28 September, 2020
“Living Life as a Cloistered Cistercian Nun”
Blessed Is She Blog; 20 February, 2020
“Cistercian Nuns Seek Help”
Catholic News Agency; 30 January, 2020
“Valley of Our Lady In Need of a New Monastery”
Sancrucensis Post; 28 January, 2020
“Sisters Find Grace in the Challenges”
Global Sisters Report; 16 December, 2019
“Drawing Our Will Into God’s”
St Paul-Minneapolis Catholic Spirit; 5 November, 2019
“Cistercian Sisters Seek Prayer and Support”
Madison Catholic Herald; 9 October, 2019
“Enclosed in Silence: Cistercians’ Life of Prayer Draws Millennial Women”
National Catholic Register; 3 June, 2019
“The Rediscover: Hour,” Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis
Radio interview; 29 March, 2019
