PLEASE NOTE: Beginning January 1^st 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.

April 10: Tabernacle Blessing

Fitted with temporary doors, the new tabernacle was blessed by Msgr. Uppena during the Mass on April 10th; After invoking God’s blessing, Msgr. sprinkled with holy water and incensed the tabernacle

After Holy Communion was distributed, the Eucharist was reserved in the tabernacle for the first time and honored with incense

After Mass, Msgr. relocated the ciborium and luna from the old tabernacle; we expect the permanent tabernacle doors to be installed this summer but we’re grateful to be able to use the tabernacle meanwhile

April 3: Solar Array Progress

Curious plants have sprouted this Spring near the monastery; first tall stems and now flowers are appearing! The long-awaited solar array is being installed!

One of the many fatalities of budget cuts, we weren’t sure we would see the solar array realized; with your generous support we were able to add this feature back to the project. They hope to be operational by mid-June.

The 61.6 kW (DC) / 53.7 kW (AC) ground mount array should be a great help to our electrical bill, especially as the building was designed with these in mind; the five accompanying batteries will allow us to maximize our use of solar production and provide power in the event of an outage

March 28: Disposition of Relics

The community gathers for the ceremony to solemnly deposit the relics into the altar before the ‘mensa’ is placed

Msgr Bartylla presides at the ceremony; the installers and architects patriciate from the guest nave

We invoke the prayers of all the Saints (including the martyrs to be placed under the altar) during the Litany of the Saints

Three altar stones were carefully deposited: one from Fraunthal Abbey that has been used by the community from the beginning of our foundation, one from Springbank Abbey that we were entrusted with, and one from the Diocese consecrated by Bishop O’Connor, the bishop at the founding of our community

Everyone watches as the ‘mensa’ of the altar is put into place, sealing the altar stones with relics into the altar

The final touches on the altar are supervised by Mother Anne Marie and Msgr. Bartylla

March 26-28: Altar Installation

The installation crew carefully unpacks the crates; like a giant marble puzzle they figure out how the pieces fit together

The installation was assisted by a large winch used to lift and move the heavier pieces

The altar ‘mensa’ is carefully removed from it’s crate and suspended until after the relics are placed

The ambo is assembled and then blessed by Msgr. Bartylla

The beautiful tabernacle, incorporated into an altar of repose, matches the façade of the Oratory

Final touches are added to the altar; this will remain unused until it is consecrated at the Dedication ceremony

March 8: One Year Anniversary

One year ago today we relocated to the New Monastery! We look back on this past year with much gratitude to God and to our benefactors for this new home. We spent the day in prayer & thanksgiving, asking Our generous God to bless all who had a hand in this project.

We look forward to Dedicating the Oratory to God this year. We come one step closer with the installation of the new altar, now scheduled for the last week of March.

PLEASE NOTE: there will be no public Masses on Thursday March 27th & Friday March 28th while the new altar is installed.

February 14: Crates Arrive

Six crates fill the Guest Nave containing the marble pieces of the altar of sacrifice, altar of repose, tabernacle, & ambo

Assembly and installation of the pieces were scheduled to begin on Feb 24… but a medical emergency of the installer has caused a delay

January 2025: Oratory Furnishings coming

The new altars, tabernacle, and ambo for the Oratory are headed our way! They were shipped from Italy in late December and are currently on a boat on the Atlantic! In anticipation of their arrival next month, we will be preparing the Oratory.

Dec 25 – Jan 2: Novena of Masses

As our Christmas gift to all our benefactors, we are offering a novena of Masses for you and your intentions. We pray you all have a blessed and joyful Christmas Season!

December 17-23: O Antiphons

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.

December 9: Immaculate Conception Procession

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

December 1: Advent Begins

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.

October 11-12: New Monastery Tours

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!

October 2nd: Solemn Profession of Sister Mary John

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.

August 31st: First Mass in the Oratory

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)

August 24th: Investment

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.

August 20th: Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

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.

Sister Stephanie Messmer, O.Cist. 1937 – 2024

After long illness, Sister Stephanie Messmer, a nun of Valley of Our Lady Monastery, Hollandale, WI died peacefully in the Lord on July 31^stat 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.