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Find more information about the parts of the Rite of Dedication and their symbolism in our recent newsletter
March 29: Palm Sunday
Holy Week began with a beautiful celebration of the blessing of palms, a solemn procession, and the proclamation of the Lord’s Passion on Palm Sunday. We pray for a grace-filled Triduum for all, as we enter more deeply into the Paschal mystery.
February 6-11: Abbot General’s Visit
The Abbot General of the Cistercian Order came for a friendly visit to Valley of Our Lady Monastery. We were delighted to welcome Dom Mauro-Giuseppe Lepori for the first time at the New Monastery. His visit brought many blessings to our community. He was able to update us on the goings on in the Order and share about his private audience with Pope Leo. He further blessed us with a beautiful conference, times of recreation with the community, and grace-filled liturgies. He enjoyed getting a tour of the monastery and the grounds and catching up with the nuns.
January 25 – February 2: Novena for Vocations
Please join us in prayer for Vocations to our community and to our Cistercian Order – beginning on the eve of the feast day of the Founders of our Order (Jan 25) through the Solemnity of the Presentation of Our Lord (Feb 2), the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life.
“If you build it, they will come” says the famous line from the movie Field of Dreams. May Our Lord call many brides to serve Him in our community and fill the New Monastery built in His honor.
We unite our prayers to those of the Blessed Mother, praying a Memorare each day of the Novena:
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence I fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
January 15-16: Tabernacle Door Installation & Blessing
The Holy Spirit arrived by UPS! The long awaited Tabernacle door!
Architect Kevin and acoustical engineer Dominique arrived soon after and they were able to install the door. Bishop Hying also had a retreat scheduled at the monastery, and gave the door a proper blessing.
All Saints Day Relic Veneration
We were blessed with many guests on All Saints day who came to venerate the relics of the Saints
Fervent prayers were offered; we trust many graces were received through the intercession of the Saints
Young and old found friends among the Saints and prayed among the relics
Most of the relics were displayed in cases but reliquaries housed some relics like this wood from the Last Supper Table
Many paused to pray at the Shroud of Our Lord’s Holy Face and other meaningful relics
Biographies of the Saints were provided for guests to learn about the inspiring lives of the Saints as they venerated their precious relics, like these larger bones of the female Sts. Ursula, Helena, Gertrude, & Scholastica
Nov 1: All Saints Day Relic Veneration
Join us on All Saints Day for a day of public veneration of our relic collection. Veneration opens at 9:30 and goes until 4:30, with presentations on relics and how to venerate them on the hour and half-hour throughout the day. More than 100 relics will be available for veneration. Find a list of most of the relic collection here.
We invite you to connect with the Communion of Saints and experience their powerful intercession. For more information and to sign up, follow this link: All Saints Day
Sept 14: Exaltation of the Holy Cross
We celebrated the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross with a Solemn Vespers. The liturgy began with exposing a relic of the True Cross. All joined in the singing of the antiphons, psalms, hymn, etc. of Vespers for this Feastday. The Blessed Sacrament was exposed and accompanied by silent adoration. After Benediction, the nuns and the faithful were also solemnly blessed with the relic of the True Cross. All were invited to process up and venerate the relic. We are grateful to all who participated in this grace-filled liturgy.
Aug 24: Rite of Dedication Mass
While the faithful are finding their seats, the ministers gather in the courtyard for the entrance procession
The bells peal with great joy at this solemn event; the procession begins from the courtyard into the oratory
We were blessed to have three abbots present (Abbot Vinzenz Wohlwend, O.Cist., Abbot Peter Verhalen, O.Cist. & Abbot Emeritus Brendan Freeman, OCSO) and Bishop Hying presiding
Once all were gathered in the Oratory, holy water was blessed
Bishop Hying then sprinkled with holy water the Oratory walls and the people, then the sanctuary and the altar; Afterwards, all joined in singing the Gloria
After the readings, the homily and the Creed, all knelt for the Litany of the Saints as we invoked these heavenly patrons’ intercession
After the Litany of the Saints, Bishop Hying prayed the lengthy Prayer of Dedication, asking God to pour forth from heaven your sanctifying power upon this church and upon this altar to make this forever a holy place
Bishop Hying poured Sacred Chrism on the center and four corners of the new altar
Bishop Hying then covered the entire altar with Sacred Chrism, definitively consecrating the altar to God
Bishop Hying and Abbot Vinzenz, O.Cist., accompanied by the acolytes, move through the Oratory to anoint the walls
Twelve locations were anointed with Sacred Chrism, marked by a tile and adorned with a candle
Bishop Hying burned incense upon the newly anointed altar
Then Bishop Hying incensed the altar
Abbot Vinzenz & Abbot Peter then walk through the Oratory incensing the walls and the people
The sisters then cleaned the altar
The nuns then lovingly dressed the altar
The nuns carefully prepared the altar for the Liturgy of the Eucharist
The nuns put the final touches on the altar to prepare it for the Liturgy of the Eucharist
Mother Anne Marie received a light from the Bishop with the words: Let the light of Christ shine brightly in the Church, that all nations may attain the fullness of truth; She then lit the the altar candles for the first time
The acolytes then lit the candles at the twelve anointing locations throughout the Oratory
The Mass then continued as usual; our eldest nuns brought up the gifts
Bishop Hying prayed over the gifts: May the gifts of your joyful Church be acceptable to you, O Lord, so that your people, gathered in this holy house, may come through these mysteries to everlasting salvation
It is the presence of Christ that truly consecrates the altar; we were blessed with many concelebrating priests for this first Eucharist upon the new altar
We pray this Oratory always be For the Glory of God!
A good time was had by all; guests make their way to the luncheon
We were blessed to have two abbesses present for the celebration, including Mother Bede, O.Cist. from Frauenthal Abbey
Mother Anne Marie addressed the guests at the reception, bringing both laugher and tears, but most of all – gratitude of God
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
Ground-breaking
Site excavation continues in earnest
Drilling in Action
Basement wall Formwork begun
Foundations begin to take shape
Foundation in place for the Communion Wafer Workshop
Foundations continue to take shape
Site work continues, despite the weather
Basement wall complete
The first wall goes up!
Communion Wafer Workshop wall framing
Communion Wafer Workshop takes on new heights
Construction undaunted by winter weather
Communion wafer workshop gains roof trusses
The first steel floor joists are placed over the basement
Masonry walls for the elevator shaft and stairwell reach the first floor
Drone’s-eye view of the building site March 3
Sr Aleydis & Architect Kevin Clark inspect insulation for basement
Western stairs and elevator shaft completed
Finishing up the foundation walls around the cloister
Loading dock and garage framed and sheathed
Northeast stair tower is begun
Much progress made
Bell tower & Stair tower complete
Progress continues
Rainwater harvesting equipment installation
Wall Mockup 3.0
May 2023 to January 2024
Drone’s-eye view of the progress May 15
Getting started on the stone wainscot
Careful Sealant Treatment
Windows installed
Sisters envision the completed Monastery
Stone facing at the loading dock
North Range third floor underway
Steel for Chapel frame arrives
Newly framed statue alcoves
Stonework in Courtyard
Drywall in CWW
Chapel Framing Continues
Siding making good progress
Progress on the stone cladding on the West stair-tower
Siding nearing completion
Electrical Work
Chapel Window Framing
Drywall installation & touch ups
Chapel Sheathing
Floor and Ceiling work
Chapel windows installed
The nuns christen the Chapel with prayers
Progress continues, Autumn scenery
Sidewalks going in
Chapel Façade nearly complete
Chapel adorned with a Cross!
Parking lot & turn around paved
Stone on West & North complete
Stone on East wall of Chapel
North Range framing
Elevator Installation
Chapel fully Enclosed
Phase I Bakery Relocation
Bakers Disassembled
January 2024 to March 2025
Phase II Bakery Relocation
Baker Reassembly
Baker Testing
Phase 3 Bakery Relocation
Preparations for the Move!
Community Relocation!
Chapel filled with scaffolding for ceiling work
Bell Blessing
Bell Installation
Chapel Groin Vaults
Grounds work continues
Sanctuary steps poured
Plants for Landscaping
Cemetery Blessing
Cemetery moved to New Monastery
New Novice Invested
First Mass in the Oratory!
Sr Mary John Professes Solemn Vows
New Monastery Tours Oct 11-12
Novena of Masses Begins
Crates arrive with altar, ambo, & tabernacle
Altar, Ambo, & Tabernacle installed!
Relics solemnly deposited in the new Altar
April 2025 to August 2025
Solar Array Installation Begins
Tabernacle Blessings
Solar Progress
Solar Array Up
Ascension Procession
Solar Testing
Solar up and running
Solar Array Blessed
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
