Sacred Stones, Sacred Stories

Southern view of monastery, mid-December

We have not posted a panoramic shot of the monastery’s construction site for quite a while.  Thought this would be a good time to be reminded of what we are trying to do and what progress has been made thus far.

We want to make the building as accessible as possible for Sisters who live here and for our guests. This means leveling floor variances and making entry ways easier to access.  The top picture shows the new front of the building where guests will have easier access to our chapel, heritage room and gift shop.

We want to use a renewable energy source for the heating and cooling of our home.  The geothermal system we are installing meets this value we hold.  It will also cool the entire building efficiently, which is a first in the history of the monastery.

Excavation work is complete

Crews have completed excavation work for the new construction. Soon they will pour new footings and foundation. Seeing all these changes are exciting after spending so much time in discernment. We know this project will prove fruitful for generations to come.

We thank you for your continued prayerful support.  Please know that we continue to hold you in our prayers as we gather to praise God and place our needs in God’s loving hands.  We pray to a God who is near – not far away, a God who knows our hearts’ intentions before we can whisper them.  Thanks be to God!

When I walk into a church or a historical museum, I am in awe of the quiet atmosphere.

It seems we dare not speak so we can respect what has been and who is present.  I myself become quiet and tap into that reverential mode.

Even though the monastery has been emptied as a dwelling place for our community, the work crews are still reverential and respectful.  I have encountered numerous work crew members, and I want to commend them for their respect shown to us Sisters and to our monastery.  We are most grateful that the hallowed ground upon which they work is being respected and revered.

And speaking of work, crews are busy with the geothermal project. It will be such a wonderful day when we can begin decreasing our dependence on fossil fuels!

Crews work on the geothermal energy project

Bits and pieces of Marian Wing West are all that remain after the wing was taken down earlier this week.  First went the attic, then the floors and finally the walls.

Former Marian kitchen doorway

The first picture shows where the Marian Wing kitchen door used to be.

The old dumbwaiter

The second picture shows part of our dumbwaiter system that made serving meals in our old infirmary much easier than carrying trays up three flights of stairs.

The building wings that needed to be removed are now down.  Next comes the cleaning of all the rubble.  As you walk by, you can see remnants of pipes, wall fixtures and sink faucets strewn along the ground.  Glass is lying in a broken mosaic in another area.  While clean-up is being done near the monastery, geothermal work is underway in another area.  Yes, work is progressing.

Good stewardship continues to part of this renovation project.  We have recycled lots of things from wood to metals to windows.

We are reducing our building space and will heat and cool the renovated building using renewable geothermal energy.

Materials have arrived for the geothermal portion of the renovation

Materials have been delivered;

Marking where the geothermal loops will be located

loop locations have been marked with little white flags, and drilling for the coils has begun.

The company begins early each day and works until sunset.  We are excited about moving into this phase.