PLEASE NOTE: Beginning January 1st all online donations will be considered general donations to Valley of Our Lady Monastery, and not specifically toward the New Monastery construction. With the construction wrapping up (God wiling!) and to simplify our bookkeeping, we will be bringing the capital campaign to a close with the end of the year. If desired and indicated, gifts may be given toward the New Monastery Maintenance Fund.
We begin the traditional ‘O Antiphons’ during this final stretch of the Advent Season. Drawing from Old Testament imagery, these Magnificat Antiphons call on the Savior to ‘Come!’
Here is the translation of the first antiphon pictured left from the Cistercian Antiphonal: O WISDOM that proceeds from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end, mightily and sweetly disposing all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence.
We encourage you to check out our community Advent newsletter.
You can sign up to receive our newsletter (or update your mailing address) on our contact page.
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception was transferred to December 9th this year; as with other Marian Solemnities we made a procession on honor of Our Lady
The beautiful new ‘cloister walk’ – the first floor corridor around the interior courtyard – functions as a liturgical space for processions
Four statue alcoves adorn the cloister walk and function as the stations during processions; Sisters are also found praying at these statutes throughout the day and lovingly adding flowers
The first Advent candle is lit in the new Oratory. As we begin a new liturgical year, we look back on the previous year with gratitude and look ahead to this new season with hope. Know of our prayers during this Advent Season as we prepare for the coming of the Christ-Child.
Find a link to our Community’s Advent newsletter here.
Informal tours of the New Monastery were offered October 11 & 12. Thank you to all who joined their prayers of gratitude to ours during these blessed days. While we’re still awaiting some final touches and furnishings, construction is happily approaching a conclusion. We continue our prayers that all those who had a hand in the project be abundantly blessed and that this monastery may always be For the Glory of God!
Completing her initial formation, Sister Mary John professes her perpetual vows. Pictured above, after invoking the prayers of all the saints, Abbot President Vinzenz Wohlwend, O.Cist. prays over our sister before she processes her vows.
While prostrate, Sister Mary John receives monastic consecration; Abbot Vinzenz prays the beautiful triple prayer to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Mother Anne Marie clothes Sister Mary John in the black veil and cuculla of Solemnly Professed nuns.
With much joy we moved into the Oratory! Many of the faithful joined us for the first Mass. Gratitude to God abounded for such a gift. Mass ended with the sweet melody of the Te Deum accompanied by the pealing of the Bells. All were astounded by the celestial acoustics of the sacred space and the simple beauty of the Cistercian architecture. (For inquires about Mass times and attendance contact us at liturgy@valleyofourlady.org)
After one year of formation and donning the postulant garb, our postulant Elise was Invested with the monastic habit and received her religious name: Sister Marie Stella. Please pray for our new Novice! Find more photos on our community website.
Today we celebrate one of our Cistercian Fathers and Doctor of the Church, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. This dynamic Saint drew hundreds to embrace monastic life and help spread the Cistercian Order throughout Europe. Considered one of the giants of the Middle Ages, his influence on Catholic theology and spirituality continues to this day.
Construction is wrapping up on the Oratory, North Range, and Guest House. There are still some Chapel furnishings that can be sponsored.
Please join us in praying a ‘Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…’ in thanksgiving to God for the gift of the New Monastery and that it may truly be for His Glory.
After long illness, Sister Stephanie Messmer, a nun of Valley of Our Lady Monastery, Hollandale, WI died peacefully in the Lord on July 31st at the age of 87, after more than 70 years in religious life. A native of Richardton, North Dakota, she entered the Benedictine Monastery at Yankton, SD at the age of 16. In 1984, feeling the call to a contemplative life, she transferred to Valley of Our Lady Monastery. She served our community as seamstress, oblate directress, cellarer, and in other assignments. May our sister rest in peace.
The graves at the old monastery cemetery were carefully and reverently disinterred
The remains were carefully placed into vaults and then onto trucks, then they were immediately on their way to the New Monastery cemetery
Mother Anne Marie accompanied the relocation by her presence and her prayers; here the vaults are placed in the new cemetery
The community is reunited now that the deceased members are laid in their new resting place; the nuns gather to bless the graves and pray for our deceased sisters
The scale and detail of the main Chapel nave are taking shape; a hopeful completion date of early September
Carpenters are installing the millwork in the Chapel; painters quickly follow
Wayne and helper from Bruce Co., with Mark from CGS, adjust the Cloister courtyard fountain pump
Preparing the way electrical conduits before laying the wood choir flooring
Carpenter Derek plans his next move to install the rose window trim in the Guest Nave
Tile-setters are taking particular care with the floor of the sanctuary
The drywallers finish up some of the final high work in the Chapel
Overhead view of the Guest Courtyard: pavers and drainage now complete, plantings in process
After much tweaking of the pavers, drainage and irrigations systems, plants have arrived in the Cloister courtyard
Mama Robin found a perfect spot for a nest on the scaffolding in the Cloister Courtyard; scheduled for removal next week the sisters are hoping the 3 chicks will be ready to fly soon!
The ceremony began in the temporary oratory, then the community processed to the cemetery
Monsignor Bartylla presided at the cemetery blessing, on his final day as Vicar General
Following readings and prayers the entire cemetery was blessed with holy water and incense
Monsignor Bartylla incenses the future cemetery plots with the Oratory in the background; We’re hopeful to soon relocate the old cemetery to it’s newly blessed home
View towards the south; Generous Spring rains have made the countryside green and lush
Meeting in the Chapel of the design and contractor teams to work through details
Hundreds of plants have arrived, just waiting for final topsoil to be spread, to transform the grounds
Excitingly, the scaffolding which has filled the Chapel for months is coming down today!
The concrete Sanctuary steps have just been formed and poured
The excavators are anticipating the arrival of topsoil and final grading next week, and are readying the fire lane
Nowadays the excavating and grading equipment is mostly guided via GPS; Here a Madrell operator demonstrates the satellite-controlled system
The Chapel scaffolding completely filled the space; it takes the crew most of a day to disassemble, sort and pack up the pieces, and truck it away
Sister Aleydis meets with Eric Schmidt, CEO and Tony, senior project manager, of CGSchmidt
View of the Sanctuary from the Guest Nave; now free of scaffolding, a raised floor is being constructed
The 10-foot tall mound of topsoil is being re-spread; the topsoil was preserved and stored on-site since the original building excavation in late 2022
Dodging the unusually frequent rains this Spring, workers from Madrell Excavating have been able to complete the placing of topsoil around the Cemetery
With most of the site “hardscape” now in place, final grading, seeding and planting can proceed, just in time for the growing season
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
“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
