PLEASE NOTE: Beginning January 1st all PayPal 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.
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 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.
July18: Cemetery Relocation
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
Views from July 16
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
Views from early July
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!
June 30: Cemetery Blessing
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
Views from June 21
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
Views from June 14
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
Views from May 31
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
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
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 April 2024
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
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