As with any old house, repairs and maintenance are ongoing at the Abbey. The monks perform most of the upkeep on the Abbey’s dozen buildings located on 75 acres. Our in-house “GC” is Brother Joachim Sanderson, O.S.B. who can often be found on top of a ladder installing insulation or under the sink fixing the plumbing.
But even he will tell you, “There’s only so many times you can fix something—after that, it’s time to replace it.”
In 2015, with the help of consultants, the Abbey undertook a complete energy assessment of the main building, Saint Therese House. Saint Therese House predates the Revolutionary War (and has had very little upgrading since). It is the residence for the monks, and includes the chapel and the St. James relic room. We have developed a comprehensive plan, which, when implemented, will reduce our utility costs by more than 30% and will include upgrades of our heating and cooling systems, including the replacement of 140 windows and 8 doors with new energy efficient windows and doors.
Although we are seeking to obtain some of the funding for our energy efficiency plan and other projects from foundation grants—especially those which promote ‘green’ energy – we need your assistance to complete them. You can donate online here.
Funds are needed for the following Capital Improvements projects:
- 1938 Kilgen pipe organ maintenance
- Renovate kitchen
- Replacement of 140 windows in the monks’ residence, Saint Therese House
Your financial support is important to keeping the Abbey functioning for future generations of monks and visitors.
We thank you for your past support and continued dedication to Saint Benedict Abbey. We invite you to pray with us daily.